Sacred Space – Advent Week Three – Joy

Link to Sermon

Reflecting the Sacred

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:  Opening Meditation

Pre – Gathering Music: 

Upon this moment, upon this people,

upon this place, the holy comes.

And sacred knowing brings sacred being

for sacred doing of God’s plan.

Reader:   Please repeat after me:

We pray for Joy this day.

We pray for Joy this day.

We open to see the Sacred reflected in all things.

We open to see the Sacred reflected in all things.

We open to see each moment

We open to see each moment

as a gift of holy presence.

as a gift of holy presence.

This is the gift of the Christ Mystery,

This is the gift of the Christ Mystery,

lighting the way to hope.

lighting the way to hope.

Advent Wreath: Lighting the wreath

Music:  Upon this moment, upon this people,

upon this place, the holy comes.

And sacred knowing brings sacred being

for sacred doing of God’s plan.

Gathering:  New Axe (by Jack Johnson)  -Rob Duquette

Opening Prayer: 

Living God, Christ Mystery, Spirit of Joy,

we give you thanks for this space for gathering.

As we take in the joy you offer,

may we be a reflection of your light,

expanding the sacred space of “right here”

into the sacred place of “everywhere.” Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

Opening Hymn:  Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee     #611 

Scripture:  Isaiah 35: 1-10, Luke 1: 46b-55     -Nancy Batchelor

Sermon:                                                        

Music:  Little Road to Bethlehem (by Michael Head)        -Rob Duquette

Musical call to Prayer:  (two times)  Hush now in quiet peace, be still your mind at ease. The Spirit brings release, so wait upon the Lord.

                          Prayers of the People

            Silent Prayers            Pastoral Prayer

Offertory:  Simple Gifts (by Joseph Brackett)            -RobDuquette

Doxology:  Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God above ye heavenly hosts, Cre-ator, Christ and Holy Ghost.  Amen.

Closing Music:  Joy to the World    #134    vs. 1,2 & 4

Blessing: 

When you see lights twinkle,

when you catch a reflection in a mirror,

when you notice the sunlight dancing on a surface

or a candle glowing in the darkness,

let these be signs that the Christ Light is revealed

again and again in and through this world.

Know that your brilliant presence

is pouring more hope into a weary world.

God loved us by becoming us.

This means you are already reflecting the sacred.

In the name of the Creator, Christ, and Spirit of Hope. Amen.

Postlude:  We Need a Silent Night In Here

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.

Many thanks to Music Director, Michelle Currie and to Rob Duquette, Guest Musician today. Thank you to our Zoom Host and Reader. Many thanks to our Worship Leader.

Worship Notes:  Worship series design © Worship Design Studio by Marcia McFee. Used and adapted with permission. www.worshipdesignstudio.com.