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WELCOME
Greeting & Announcements
Prelude -Let There Be Peace On Earth, S. Miller/J. Jackson, arr. R. Morrill
Robin Morrill, piano
Advent Candle Lighting - Kerygma
Hymn 89 “For You, O Lord, My Soul In Stillness Waits”
Refrain: For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits; truly my hope is in you.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb.
And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me,
that the mother of my Lord comes to me?
For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.
And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was
spoken to her by the Lord.”
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…
Call to Worship
“For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.”
For as soon as I heard the sound of your laughter, I rejoiced in your joy.
For as soon as I heard the sound of your weeping, I sat down beside you.
For as soon as I heard the sound of your anger, I listened.
For as soon as I heard the sound of your questions, my curiosity was stirred.
For as soon as we hear the sound of your greeting, our spirits rejoice, and we sing God’s praises.
+ Hymn 99 - My Soul Gives Glory to My God
+ Call to Confession
+ A Prayer of Confession
What do our souls magnify, O God, our light? In this time of expectant waiting, may it be love. Where hate and fear divide, show us how to embrace and cherish each other. Where injustice sows the seeds of that hate and fear, show us how to cede the center of our own desires and share Your carefully crafted creation equitably.
What do our lives magnify, O God, our light? In this time of expectant waiting, may it be love. Open the eyes and ears of our hearts to the joy that only comes in sharing. Give us hands that hold others; give us feet that walk with and beside, not over and away from; may our lips sing a love song to the world.
When we get tired of waiting, when we expect the worst in each other, when we dim our lights so there’s more for us, love us back to life. Shine Your light on our path so we can find You and each other. Magnify Your vision in our lives. Hear now our silent prayers of confession…
• Assurance of Pardon
• Response to Forgiveness: Hymn 581 Gloria Patri
Passing of the Peace
Children’s Message
Prayer for Openness
Open us, Holy One, to your Word and your Way. As we make our final preparations before Christmas, clear our minds of holiday distractions and long lists of to-dos. Help us approach your Word with awe and wonder, so we may hear the message you intend for us today. Amen.
Scripture Reading - Micah 2.2-5a
But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labour has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace.
This is the written testimony to the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
ANTHEM - People, Look East, Tom Mitchell, Chancel Choir
Scripture Reading - Luke 1:39-55
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”
And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord,and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’
Sermon - Love in Context, Rev. Matt Falco
Statement of Faith - Colossians 1:15–20
Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible. All things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn of the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. Amen.
+ HYMN 87 - Comfort, Comfort Now My People
Prayers of the People & The Lord’s Prayer (Debts/Debtors)
Offering
• INVITATION
• Offertory - Infant Holy, Infant Lowly, arr. Quigley, Arrow and Bethany Watt
• Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessing flow Praise Christ the Word in flesh born low;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore; One God, Triune, whom we adore. Amen.
• Prayer of Dedication
+ HYMN 107 - Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn
Hunger Offering
On the fourth Sunday of the month, we collect a special Hunger Offering to support the Hunger Ministries of Maxwell Street. We offer a community meal every Thursday night, support area programs such as a backpack program for Maxwell Street Elementary and the Big Blue Pantry on the UK Campus. You can support these programs on our online giving webpage, MSPC app, or by check with Hunger Ministries in the memo line.
Charge and Benediction
Benediction Response - Hymn 103 - Come Now, O Prince of Peace vs. 4 (Sing Twice)
Come, hope of unity; make us one body.
Come, O Lord Jesus; reconcile all people.
Postlude
*Portions of this Sunday’s Liturgy were inspired by the Very Rev. Sally Foster-Fulton.
Greeting & Announcements
Prelude -Let There Be Peace On Earth, S. Miller/J. Jackson, arr. R. Morrill
Robin Morrill, piano
Advent Candle Lighting - Kerygma
Hymn 89 “For You, O Lord, My Soul In Stillness Waits”
Refrain: For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits; truly my hope is in you.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb.
And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me,
that the mother of my Lord comes to me?
For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.
And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was
spoken to her by the Lord.”
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…
Call to Worship
“For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.”
For as soon as I heard the sound of your laughter, I rejoiced in your joy.
For as soon as I heard the sound of your weeping, I sat down beside you.
For as soon as I heard the sound of your anger, I listened.
For as soon as I heard the sound of your questions, my curiosity was stirred.
For as soon as we hear the sound of your greeting, our spirits rejoice, and we sing God’s praises.
+ Hymn 99 - My Soul Gives Glory to My God
+ Call to Confession
+ A Prayer of Confession
What do our souls magnify, O God, our light? In this time of expectant waiting, may it be love. Where hate and fear divide, show us how to embrace and cherish each other. Where injustice sows the seeds of that hate and fear, show us how to cede the center of our own desires and share Your carefully crafted creation equitably.
What do our lives magnify, O God, our light? In this time of expectant waiting, may it be love. Open the eyes and ears of our hearts to the joy that only comes in sharing. Give us hands that hold others; give us feet that walk with and beside, not over and away from; may our lips sing a love song to the world.
When we get tired of waiting, when we expect the worst in each other, when we dim our lights so there’s more for us, love us back to life. Shine Your light on our path so we can find You and each other. Magnify Your vision in our lives. Hear now our silent prayers of confession…
• Assurance of Pardon
• Response to Forgiveness: Hymn 581 Gloria Patri
Passing of the Peace
Children’s Message
Prayer for Openness
Open us, Holy One, to your Word and your Way. As we make our final preparations before Christmas, clear our minds of holiday distractions and long lists of to-dos. Help us approach your Word with awe and wonder, so we may hear the message you intend for us today. Amen.
Scripture Reading - Micah 2.2-5a
But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labour has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace.
This is the written testimony to the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
ANTHEM - People, Look East, Tom Mitchell, Chancel Choir
Scripture Reading - Luke 1:39-55
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”
And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord,and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’
Sermon - Love in Context, Rev. Matt Falco
Statement of Faith - Colossians 1:15–20
Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible. All things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn of the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. Amen.
+ HYMN 87 - Comfort, Comfort Now My People
Prayers of the People & The Lord’s Prayer (Debts/Debtors)
Offering
• INVITATION
• Offertory - Infant Holy, Infant Lowly, arr. Quigley, Arrow and Bethany Watt
• Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessing flow Praise Christ the Word in flesh born low;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore; One God, Triune, whom we adore. Amen.
• Prayer of Dedication
+ HYMN 107 - Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn
Hunger Offering
On the fourth Sunday of the month, we collect a special Hunger Offering to support the Hunger Ministries of Maxwell Street. We offer a community meal every Thursday night, support area programs such as a backpack program for Maxwell Street Elementary and the Big Blue Pantry on the UK Campus. You can support these programs on our online giving webpage, MSPC app, or by check with Hunger Ministries in the memo line.
Charge and Benediction
Benediction Response - Hymn 103 - Come Now, O Prince of Peace vs. 4 (Sing Twice)
Come, hope of unity; make us one body.
Come, O Lord Jesus; reconcile all people.
Postlude
*Portions of this Sunday’s Liturgy were inspired by the Very Rev. Sally Foster-Fulton.