Let us prepare our hearts to await the birth of Jesus, in the flesh, and the return of Christ, the Messiah. Take a moment to breathe out anxiety and grief, to breathe in God’s love and peace, to center yourself in this moment and this space knowing that all places and times are holy.
Choral Opening: VU#22, “Wait for the Lord”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OEcMxhvfGo(words are slightly different to those below)
Wait for the Lord, God’s day is near.
Wait for the Lord, be strong, take heart!
Call to Worship:
Days of heavy clouds stifling the sunlight, the world burdened by greyness and gloom.
Open our eyes, God, to the coming of your light, lifting the burden of darkness from our lives.
Chillness that seeps deep into bones, hearts and spirits rigid with frost hardness, souls wrapped up against cold and loneliness.
Open our souls, God, to the warmth of your coming, melting the hardness that keeps us from you and from each other.
Trees- branches bare against the steel skies, stems crumpled under weight of frost, weight of snow. Last year’s leaves –blackened and slippery underfoot – nature oppressed by wintriness, yet resting, awaiting rebirth.
Cherish our hearts, God, oppressed by wintriness. Assure us of your coming and your call to new life. Amen.
Celtic Litany of Praise:
In this place where heaven and earth whisper greeting;
where the High King of Heaven comes to meet us;
In the soft darkness of this place, we kindle lights of hope for the world.
We join with the saints here and departed to give glory and praise to God.
As you listen to this next hymn, you are invited to light a candle if you wish.
*HYMN: VU#19, “Kindle a Flame to Lighten the Dark”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5Dju6BIX7U(skip the ad at the beginning)
Kindle a flame to lighten the dark
And take all fear away.
A Time for Personal Reflection: “Creating Memories”
One of the ways to find light in the dark is to return to our good memories. What are some of your good memories of Advent, of waiting in joyful anticipation?
Readings and Reflection:“Light and Darkness”
Scripture: John 1:1-5
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
Reflection
In the beginning, Holy One
I was alone
Like the earth
before your Spirit moved over the waters.
I was formless and empty
and darkness filled the depths of my heart.
Then, it was as if you declared
‘Let there be Light’
and out of the darkness
I began to see hope
like a shimmering ray of love
breaking through the parting clouds
at the conclusion of the night.
In the beginning, Holy One I was alone
but when I saw you in the light I was no longer afraid.
You held out your hand
and though I had a choice
I had no choice
because to refuse
was to embrace again the darkness.
In the beginning, Holy One I was alone
now I am again a part
of your creation
loved, wanted, needed, family.
In the light of your presence
I hold out my heart that others
might glimpse through it your reflection
and be drawn from the darkness that I once embraced
into the light of your sunrise
the brightness of your face
Christ Jesus, Child of God, Saviour of the world
Be the centre of all that we are and the life that we lead.
Christ Jesus, Light in this dark world, illuminate our hearts and minds.
Be the centre of all that we are and the life that we lead.
Scripture: John 1:6-9
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
Reflection
Several years ago, our little Cumberland United Church congregation was gathered for our first intergenerational messy church event. I was talking about how Jesus is the light of the world and I asked, somewhat rhetorically, if folks thought one person could light up a whole world. One little five year old with a mop of curly dark hair leapt to her feet, threw her arms in the air, and cried, “I can!” And in that luminous moment she believed she could, we believed she could, and it was so.
It’s a bittersweet memory now because that congregation formally disbanded at the end of 2017. But its light was not lost, and is rekindled now in the form of the unique United Church plant “Weird Church Cumberland”. It’s a good reminder for us now, as the days grow ever shorter and the dark evenings ever longer. The light may be dispersed, or temporarily hidden, but it is never lost.
The introduction to John’s gospel reminds us of the source of the Light that we carry: the incarnation of the love of God in the world, the eternal unknowable Word shaped like us so we can finally recognize its truth. Christ arrives as a child, full of life and grace, throwing her arms in the air and inviting us all to accept the great gift of God’s love and to carry that divine light wherever we may go.
Prayer (based on Voices United #366 by Daniel Charles Damon):
Light of the World, you arrive among us like a child, like a friend, to reveal and to mend.
Christ Jesus, you arrive like a child on the street, with ragged clothes and dirty feet. Like a child we once knew coming back into view, like a child born anew, you invite us to celebrate new life with you.
Emmanuel, God With Us, show us the way. Kindle your flame once again in our hearts; call us again to carry your light into the world. Challenge us to leap to our feet and throw up our arms and exclaim “I can!” because we know that you are with us, Child Jesus, here to stay. Amen.
A Reflection Based on Isaiah 40:1-5
In the lonely places
The wilderness
Where we stand forlorn
Windswept and alone
Your voice calls out
Prepare a way for the Lord
In the dark places
The shadows
Where we hide our fears
Embrace our tears
Your voice calls out
Prepare a way for the Lord
For the desert places in which we walk
The streets we roam
The paths we cross
Guide our feet
Take us to places
Where you would go
Give us words that you would use
That in this Advent season
Of promise and preparation
We might point the way with John the Baptist
To the Lamb of God.
Scripture: Isaiah 52:7-9
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,
who brings good news,
who announces salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
8 Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices,
together they sing for joy;
for in plain sight they see
the return of the Lord to Zion.
9 Break forth together into singing,
you ruins of Jerusalem;
for the Lord has comforted his people,
he has redeemed Jerusalem.
Offering: We are creatively combining work and play in the Spirit, talking, dreaming, and planning for a new way of being the church and connecting with the Denman Island community. We continue to need your support through your sharing of time, talent and treasure. If you are worshipping from home and you are able to support us financially, your donations can be mailed to:
Denman Island United Church, 4575 Denman Road, Denman Island BC V0R 1T0
*Prayer of Dedication
O come to us, Emmanuel, and make our giving holy. For what is here is freely given, with hope and joy and love. Let our small gifts join with others so that our world may become your dream of peace.Amen.
A Circle Prayer
In a circle prayer, our prayer concerns spread out from own hearts to encompass the whole world, like ripples spread across a pond when a stone is dropped into it.
Circle us, God
Circle us with the light of your presence, bright within this dark world
Enable us to be overcomers of fear and temptation
Enable us to be victors over sin and despair
Enable us to become that which you would desire
(Silent prayer)
Loving Creator God,
Circle us with the light of your presence
Circle us, God
Circle our family within the shelter of your outstretched arms
Protect them in each moment of their daily lives
Protect them in the decisions that they face
Protect their homes and relationships
(Silent prayer)
Loving Creator God,
Circle our families with the light of your presence
Circle us, God
Circle this nation with Advent love and hope
Create a desire to listen to the Advent message
Create a willingness to understand and respond
Create a need to reach out to the Christ Child
(Silent prayer)
Loving Creator God,
Circle our nation with the light of your presence
Circle us, God
Circle this world with the joy of your Salvation
Where there is sickness and disease bring healing
Where there is hunger and despair bring hope
Where there is torture and oppression bring release
(Silent prayer)
Loving Creator God,
Circle this world with the light of your presence
Circle us God as we pray together:
Our Father-Mother, who is in the heavens,
May your name be made holy,
May your dominion come, may your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today the bread we need;
And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors;
And do not put us to the test, but rescue us from evil.
For yours is the dominion, and the power,
And the glory forever. Amen.
A Prayer from St. Patrick
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock
I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me;
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s hand to guard me.
Afar or anear,
Alone or in a multitude.
Christ shield me today
Against wounding;
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ in me.
I arise today
Through the mighty strength
Of the Lord of Creation. Amen.
*HYMN: VU#9, “People, Look East”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vwel-dlLSAY
Peope, look East, the time is near of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able, trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look East and sing today, Love the guest is on the way.
Furrows be glad. Though earth is bare, one more seed is planted there.
Give up your strength to seed to nourish, that in course the flower may flourish.
People, look East and sing today, Love the rose is on the way.
Star, keep the watch. When night is dim, one more light the bowl shall brim,
Shining beyond the frosty weather, bright as sun and moon together.
People, look East and sing today, Love the star is on the way.
Angels, announce with shouts of mirth Christ who brings new life to earth.
Set every peak and valley humming with the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look East and sing today, Love the Lord is on the way.
*Commissioning & Benediction
We take the light of our prayer into the world.
We take the light of our compassion into the world.
We take the light of God’s power into the world.
May our God bless us,
Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit,
And until we meet again, may Godhold us in the palm of her hand.
Amen!
Offering Dedication by Kate Crawford, used by permission from “Gathering” Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 2016-2017. Commissioning and Benediction adapted from www.wellsprings.org.uk Additional liturgy and prayers by John Birch from www.faithandworship.com
