Songs:
“O Come, All Ye Faithful” by C. Frederick Oakeley & John Francis
Public Domain
Used by Permission. CCLI License #2003690
“Angels We Have Heard on High” words & music Traditional French Carol
Public Domain
Used by Permission. CCLI License #2003690
“The First Noel” words and music Traditional English
Public Domain
Used by Permission. CCLI License #2003690
“What Child is This” words and music by William Chatterton Dix
Public Domain
Used by Permission. CCLI License #2003690
“Our Great God” by Fernando Ortega & Mac Powell
© 2002 New Spring, Word Music & Dejamesolo Music
Used by Permission. CCLI License #2003690
“Doxology” by Thomas Ken & Louis Bourgeois
Public Domain
Used by Permission. CCLI License #2003690
Call To Worship: Advent Week Three – Hope
Like the shepherds, we wait and watch for the appearing of the mystery of our great Savior – Jesus Christ. O hope of heaven, come to hopeless earth and be found in us today. God has made known the riches of the glory of this mystery: Christ in you, the hope of glory. And this God of all hope will fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Christ, the hope of all the earth, the joy of every longing heart, be found in us today.
Classic Prayer: Kim Thomas
We celebrate you Lord Jesus, the HOPE of every nation. Pausing to be enveloped by that hope, Father we gladly set aside the time wasting ways we have hoped, ways that seem silly as we ponder the gift of Christ.
We’ve hoped that situations and circumstances would change, regardless of whether our own hearts have changed, hoped that relationships would be birthed when love and servanthood lay dormant in selfish hollows, hoping for changes in national legislation when locally, we don’t even know our neighbors’ names – so we move ourselves forward, urged by the season to do our part to restore the sinews and strands of hope. And even so, good Father, we acknowledge that our own trying and striving will never be sufficient, and that our hopes can only be met in you, who came, just as it was promised.
We indeed welcome a hope that doesn’t disappoint, that is perfectly invasive and eternally reliable.
Oh come to us, abide with us. Draw us to ponder and return to consider through this week, that our hope is not without promise, because you so loved the world, and sent Jesus the hope of every heart, and every nation, Christ our Savior. Amen.