Order of Service – Sunday 3 December 2023 – ADVENT 1 – HOPE

Click the link below to download the Order of Service.

Order-of-Service-6-Deceember-2023Download

CALL TO WORSHIP

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

Here we will encounter Christ, King and Redeemer of all of 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 meet our Redeemer and our King.

Here we will worship God.

HYMN:       210       “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing”

OPENING PRAYER

Mighty God, speak Your truth to us this day. Give us the treasure of Your wisdom and love, that we might become for the world the treasure You seek us to be. Clothe us with Your compassion, love and courage, that we might be Christ’s body and give to a hurting and suffering world. In Your name we pray. Amen!

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE (Candle of Hope)            Virginia

As we light our first Advent Candle, we open ourselves up to Your Hope in our lives.

We light the Advent Candle and remind ourselves of the ways You have provided for us, and we live in the Hope that You will use us this Advent Season to bring Hope to those in need.

This is the candle of Hope.

ADVENT PRAYER                                                                Virginia Knowles

Father, all powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give You thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord when He humbled Himself to come among us, He 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 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:       626       “Lord of Creation, to You be All Praise”

HEARING GOD’S WORD

Heavenly Father, give us ears to hear Your word, hearts to accept it, faith to receive it, understanding to know what it means, and the will to put it into practice, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!

BIBLE READINGS –                                                                               Brian Cartwright

Isaiah 64:1-9 (Page 742)                                               Mark 13:24-37 (Page 1050)

MUSICAL REFLECTION:

MESSAGE               “Watch, Wait and Hope!”            Krikor Youmshajekian

HYMN:       315      “Mine Eyes have Seen the Glory”

NOTICES –

  • Movie/Pizza Night – Tuesday, 5 December 6:30 pm.
  • Congregational Meeting – Sunday 10 Dec after the Service.
  • Elders’ & Council Meeting – Wednesday 13 Dec 12:30 pm.
  • Carols Service – Sunday 17 December 9:30 am.
  • Food & gifts for Exodus Foundation. Canned, ring pull open tin food, biscuits, cereal, long life milk and pasta are much needed – All in by 17 December.
  • Christmas Eve Service on the Lawn – Sun 24 Dec 7:00 pm.
  • Christmas Day Service – Monday25 December 9:00 am.

OFFERING  –  Give freely and thankfully for all the gifts God has

             given. He has given His best. What about us?

DEDICATION of OFFERING

Loving God, use our gifts for safety in our world. May we be a people known for love, inclusion and welcome.

We pray for the work and supported programs that provide safety for refugees. Bless these gifts, we pray. Amen!

HYMN:       429       “Break Now the Bread of Life”

THE PEACE

The peace of the Lord be always with you. 

And also with you.

THE INVITATION

Dear friends, the Lord has prepared His table for all who love Him and trust Him alone for their salvation. All who are truly sorry for their sins, who sincerely believe in the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, and who desire to live in obedience to Him, are now invited to take with gladness from the table of the Lord.

BREAKING THE BREAD

Christ is the bread of joy, who shares food with sinners.

Christ is the cup of life, who revives the faint-hearted.

Let us receive what we are; let us become what we receive.

The body of Christ.

We break this bread and take this cup so that we can share in the life of Christ. God’s gifts for God’s people.

PRAYER OF INTERCESSION

Loving and Creative God, we pray for those who have fled their homes. We pray for their families and friends left behind or stranded in different places.

Loving God, we look out over our world and wonder where the Hope is we long for.

Creative God, remind us of the stories of the people who took refugees and countless others in. Remind us of the stories of Hope we see in the lives of those who have fled and reached safety. We are thankful for the kindness they have experienced.

We pray that our communities will be places of safety for those fleeing war, terror and climate disasters.

May we be a people of Hope as we join together with all Your disciples throughout the globe and history in saying the prayer Jesus taught us:

Our Father ….

HYMN:       777       “May the Grace of Christ”

SENDING OUT

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

We go assured that God is love, and God our Hope.

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!

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