Order of Worship
Let us be as open vessels that God’s spirit may enter.
The Community Gathers: Experience God’s presence in the assembly. Please greet one another with joy and welcome new friends into our community of love.
You are welcome here…come and worship!
Welcome: Rev. Paula Norbert
Gathering Music: What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise [One], I would do my part;
Yet what can I give Him: I will give my heart.
Reader: Beth Baskin
We unwrap a present on this third Sunday of Advent with great anticipation for the gift that God will reveal.
People: We open our hearts as we open the gift.
Reader: The promise of Joy is the Divine Gift we receive.
People: And what will we do with it?
Reader: The gift of joy is not the equivalent of happiness, but rather the deep conviction that we are called to be present in the work of bringing about “great things” — 0a better world for those who need it most.
People: We light this Candle of Joy as a sign that we will
Be Present with Joy in the world.
What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise [One], I would do my part;
Yet what can I give Him: I will give my heart.
Opening Prayer: Holy Living Light of God, you are our Joyful Presence. Let this joy grow in our lives each day, so we may be a Present of Joy to others. Unwrap and open our hearts to your Love and Joy Amen.
Lord’s Prayer
Opening Hymn: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee #611
Scripture: Isaiah 61: 1-4; 10 and Psalm 126: 1-3 -Beth Baskin
Gospel and Sermon: Luke 1: 41-55 -Rev. Paula Norbert and Paul Schlaver
Reflections on Advent 3
In this week before the coming of the Christ Child, we speak of joy. Joy in life and purpose, joy in faith, family and friendship, joy in connecting with the deepest parts of ourselves and working for the best kind of world. This special song of Mary, the Magnificat, is the prophetic voice of a young woman soon to be a mother. The strength she draws from her own faith in quoting the beautiful prophet Isaiah from Hebrew Scriptures is blended with her hopes for the people of her time, the hopes she carries for the child she carries. In her canticle, she claims the overturning of injustice even before it has come to pass. Joy is not the equivalent of happiness, but rather the deep conviction that we are called to be present in the work of bringing about “great things”–a better world for those who need it most.
Jesus will himself again quote this passage from the prophet when he visits his hometown in Luke 4. These are some of the important words that guide his ministry and they reflect God’s hopes for the world. In this second part of Isaiah, these were important words of hope for a people who have been exiled, providing encouragement to return home. Joy and hope intermingle here as Isaiah talks about what will happen and how he will rejoice in the Lord. The “year of the Lord’s favor” is also known as Jubilee and is associated with a time when all will be released from debts and servitude, and so this is a passage about freedom from so many of the things that keep people from living fully and joyfully. Isaiah speaks powerfully of how God will bind up the brokenhearted and so it is also meant for us, the brokenhearted as well as for us to help heal others whose hearts are broken.
In our Gospel, we see how joy enters this passage, not only through Mary’s Magnificat, but in the real joy of these two women sharing the news of the babies to come. This passage contains an intimate and universal experience of connection between two women who are each going through one of life’s transformative experiences. And Mary’s song also expresses joy that remembers moments of what the “Mighty One” has done, or joy through her confidence in what the “Mighty One” will do. How can our souls “magnify” the Lord? In this holy season, how may we find great joy even as we acknowledge that there is still much work to be done to accomplish this beautiful and prophetic vision.
I would now like to invite my dear friend, Paul Schlaver, to share some words about how he has been present to Joy in his own life.
Music: Meditative Instrumental. (By Michelle Currie & Jennifer Comeau) -Michelle Currie & Jennifer Comeau
Musical call to Prayer: (sung two times) -Michelle Currie
Hush now in quiet peace, be still your mind at ease.
The spirit brings release, so wait upon the Lord.
Prayers of the People:
Offertory: Angels In Front of Me (by Jennifer Comeau) -Jen Comeau
Doxology: Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God above ye heavenly hosts. Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Closing Music: Hark, the Herald Angels Sing #119
Blessing: So now go and be truly present so you may be
a gift of the holy presence for others. That’s all that is expected — that the gift that is YOU is the best gift you can give. We ask this in the name of the Holy Presence, the Divine Gift of Christ, and the Spirit of Joy that is just waiting for us to unwrap abundant life. Amen
Postlude: We Need a Silent Night In Here (by Marsha Jean Moors-Charles/Chuck Bell)
-Michelle & Congregation
We need a silent night in here.
We need your presence to come near.
Give us the hope we seek
and the peace we need.
We need a silent night in here.
Give us the hope we seek
and the peace we need.
We need a silent night in here.
With great thanks to our Music Director, Michelle Currie and Guest Musician, Jen Comeau. Thank you also to our Reader and the Deacons for today.