Order of Service – Sunday 18 December 2022 – ADVENT 4 -LOVE
Click the link below to download the Order of Service.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Give us life and call us to Yourself
And we will call upon Your name.
Restore us, O God.
Let Your face shine, that we might be saved.
Shine on us this day, O God,
We come to praise and worship You
– God coming to be with us!
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE (Candle of Love)
We continue the story of generations, telling a story into the circle of lights. This fourth light is for compassion and heart.
This is the candle of LOVE.
Let us honour the Light! (Pause)
ADVENT PRAYER
All powerful and ever-living God, we give You thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord who humbled Himself to come to us and fulfilled the plan You formed long ago and opened for us the way to salvation.
Now we watch for the day, hoping that the salvation promised to us will be ours when Christ will come again in His glory.
And so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven we proclaim Your glory and join in their unending hymn of praise. Amen!
HYMN: 134 “Praise, My Soul, the King Of Heaven”
A LITANY FOR ADVENT
Lord Jesus, You are the light of the world.
Come, Lord Jesus.
You are light in our darkness.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Son of God, save us from our sins.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Son of Mary, deepen our love.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Bring hope into the lives of all people.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Give Your peace to all nations.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Be the joy of all who love You.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Bring unity among all who believe in You.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Bless us as we gather here in Your name.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Lord Jesus, stay with us always.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Let us pray:
May Christ give us His peace and joy and let us share them with others. All peace and glory are His for ever.
Amen!
CHOIR: “I Sing the Birth was Born To-Night”
Words by Ben Jonson and Melody from M. Praetorius
“The Silver Stars Are in the Sky (Lullaby Carol)”
Words by John Wheeler and Music by William G. James
BIBLE READING Dianna Brookes
Romans 1:1-7 (Page 1112) Matthew 1:18-25 (Pages 955-956)
MUSICAL REFLECTION
SERMON: “Loved – Jesus is Our Love” Krikor Youmshajekian
HYMN: 217(i) “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”
PRAYER OF INTERCESSION – SHARE LOVE
God, whose name is LOVE,
Send Your Spirit of compassion upon the earth.
Give double measures to people who work in the caring professions.
Increase the numbers of volunteers giving for the sake of others.
Bless those who put themselves in harm’s way, to protect the defenceless.
Hear the cries of Your people, O God.
Hear the silent accusations of the forgotten and bring them comfort.
Hear the confessions of the guilty and shamed and restore them.
Advocate on our behalf, O Jesus – help us to know and be known in our humanity.
Give us voices to stand in solidarity with those who are mute.
Rescue our loving, when it fails or fades. Bring back our passion for life
and love.
Enter the places of hate and conflict and impose Your amazing love.
Encourage compassion between peoples and nations to bring a miracle of lasting love.
Let the whole world know how to love again.
Offer us opportunities to show love and be loved.
Vanish hatred by Your presence.
Emmanuel – come – we need You!
NOTICES –
- Christmas Eve Service – Saturday 24 December 7:00 pm.
- :Christmas Day Service – Sunday25 December 9:30 am.
- Time4U – Recommences on Wednesday 1 February 2023.
- Movie/Pizza Night – 6:30 pm Tuesday 7 February 2023.
- Elders’ & Council Meeting – Wednesday 8 Feb 12:30 pm.
- Congregational Meeting – Sunday 12 February 10:30 am.
OFFERING and DEDICATION
The hungry have been fed with the bread of tears. (Psalm 80:5)
May our tables expand to feed people from our own plates.
May our hearts break open as we break bread, so that sharing with others is our spiritual fulfillment.
May this sharing bring Your sacred love into Your world once more. Amen!
HYMN: 153 “God is Love, Let Heav’n Adore Him”
THE LORD’S PRAYER
SENDING OUT AND BENEDICTION
With hearts full, go into Christmas week, prepared to see all of creation
embodied in a tiny child.
With generosity and compassion, see beyond tinsel to the stars that guide us.
Be blessed by the God who comes, again and again:
Creator, Emmanuel, Comforter. Amen!
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To contact Krikor call 0418 417 411
Church Website: http://www.longueville.unitingchurch.org.au
Church email: standrewsunite@tpg.com.au
Church Office phone: 9427 4740