Order of Service – Sunday 17 December 2023 – ADVENT 3 – CAROLS SERVICE

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Order-of-Service-17-Deceember-2023Download

CALL TO WORSHIP

Here we meet.  Here we encounter. Here we worship God.

Here we will encounter Christ, the Joy of all creation.

Here we will celebrate what it means to be the people of God in this place.

Here we will give thanks for the Word made Flesh. 

Here we will love with joy.

Here we will worship God.

HYMN:      152       “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You”

ADORATION

Eternal God, Lord of heaven and earth, we praise You for Your greatness. Your wisdom is seen in all Your works. Your grace and truth are revealed in Jesus Christ Your Son. Your presence and power are given to us through the Holy Spirit. Therefore, blessed Trinity, we worship and adore You for ever and ever. Amen!

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE (Candle of Joy)   Penny Goodley

As we light our third Advent Candle, we celebrate the Joy of having You in our lives.

We light the Advent Candle (the pink candle) and remind ourselves of the ways You bring Joy into our world, and we live in the Hope that You will use us to bring about Joy in our world this Advent Season.

This is the candle of Joy.

ADVENT PRAYER                                                               Penny Goodley

Loving God, we open ourselves to You, trusting that this is how You made us: You created and formed us for joy-filled hearts and lives. Show us the creative power of hope. Teach us the peace that comes from justice. Fill us with the kind of joy that cannot be contained but must be shared. Prepare our hearts to be transformed by You so we may walk in the light of Christ. Amen!

HYMN:       268       “Joy to the World! The Lord is Come”

BIBLE READING 1 –                                                     Adrienne Cholakyan 

Micah 5:2-5 (Page 922)

HYMN:       316       “O Little Town Of Bethlehem”

BIBLE READING 2 –                                                               Robyn Irwin

Luke 2:1-7 (Page 1014)

HYMN:       318            “Away In a Manger”

PRAYER

O heavenly Father, send into our hearts and in the hearts of all people everywhere the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ.                                                                 John Oxenham 1861-1941

BIBLE READING 3 –                                                       Roslyn McCawley

Luke 2:8-20 (Page 1014-1015)

HYMN:   299    “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night”

BIBLE READING 4 –                                                                      Ivy Lee

Matthew 2:1-12 (Page 956)

HYMN:     301      “The First Nowell the Angel Did Say” (Vrs. 1,2,4 & 6)

BIBLE READING 5 –                                                             Wendy Phelps

Isaiah 9:1-7 (Page 683)

HYMN:       311                 “Silent Night”

BIBLE READING 6 –                                                              Chris Butters

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 (Pages 739-740)       Zephaniah 3:14-20 (Pages 935-936)

MESSAGE:                    “Everlasting Joy”                  Krikor Youmshajekian

HYMN:     313      “Good Christians All, Rejoice”

NOTICES –

  • Advent 4 Sunday Service – Sunday 24 December 9:30 am.
  • Christmas Eve Service on the Lawn – Sun 24 Dec 7:00 pm.
  • Christmas Day Service – Monday25 December 9:00 am.
  • Food & gifts for Exodus Foundation. Canned, ring pull open tin food, biscuits, cereal, long life milk and pasta are much needed. All in today!

OFFERING  –    God gave His best, He gave His Son. What about us?

DEDICATION of OFFERING

Generous God, we pray for our offerings. May we use them to create a safer world, a world where people can experience the Joy of Your love, safe from the fear of war and terror. May our community be one of peace and joy. We pray for all the charity organisations and their partners in the Middle East and around the world. Amen!

HYMN:      283       “Long Ago, Prophets Knew”

PRAYER OF INTERCESSION (Prayer for Syria)

Creator God, we thank You for the bread and all kinds of food we have. We thank you for all Syrian farmers and the joy they experience on their farms. We pray for all people leaving their family farms and moving across borders seeking safety. We pray especially for the families fleeing Syria.

We thank You for the work of the Near-East Council of Churches and their provision of lifesaving food. We pray for Syrians who have fled, often more than once.

We pray that Your Joy will reign and that many return to their family farm. Bless them as we pray the prayer Jesus taught us:

Our Father ….

HYMN:       304       “O Come, All Ye Faithful” (Vrs. 1,2,5 & 6)

SENDING OUT

Go from this place filled with Joy because of what God is doing in our world. Go now, as people of God.

We go assured that God is love, and God is the Joy of our world.

We go to love our neighbour as ourselves.

Go now, held in the loving hands of God Most High.

Go now and follow Christ in all things.

Go now, in the love and fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

Amen!

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To contact Krikor call 9453 0787 or 0418 417 411

Church Website:  http://www.longueville.unitingchurch.org.au

Church email: standrewsunite@tpg.com.au

Church Office phone: 9427 4740