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(Welcome to worship today. Bold responses are spoken by the congregation.
Note that an * indicates when all are invited to rise in body or in spirit.)
Prelude “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” 17th century tune
Arr. John Carter
“Pastorale” Keith Chapman
Greetings and Announcements Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
This is the day the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
An Act of Praise
Introit “Glory of the Father” Hovland
*Westminster Chimes
*Singing for Light
Martha and Jim Galloway with their son’s family, Jonathan, Willi, and Grady Galloway.
(This Advent will be a season of song, and as we prepare to light the Advent candles, we will sing a verse each week of a song written by our own John Goff. Michael will play it through once then the congregation will join in.)
*Invitation to Worship and Lighting of Candle Rev. Junha Kim
Wake up! Cry out! Listen to our cries, O God:
How long must we wait for your peace to come?
The needy are oppressed, the captives have not been set free.
How long must we wait for your justice to come?
The hungry are not fed, the sick are not healed.
How long must we wait for your Savior to come?
We light this Advent candle in our waiting. We are God’s people and will not fear.
(the first candle is lit)
Let us worship God.
*Hymn #88 “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” veni emmanuel
- 1,2,4,6,7
1 O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.
2 O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
who orderest all things mightily:
to us the path of knowledge show;
and teach us in her ways to go. [Refrain]
4 O come, thou Root of Jesse, free
thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
from depths of hell thy people save
and give them victory o’er the grave. [Refrain]
6 O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death’s dark shadows put to flight. [Refrain]
7 O come, Desire of nations, bind
all peoples in one heart and mind;
bid envy, strife, and discord cease;
fill the whole world with heaven’s peace. [Refrain]
*Invitation to Confession Rev. Junha Kim
We mean well, and we generally DO well. Mostly we see what needs doing and we get up and do it. But there are times when we do not. We are beginning to discover that our actions speak louder than our words, and that they do not necessarily preach the gospel. We need a fresh start, and that begins with telling the truth, first in silence and then together.
*Silent Prayer
*Unison Prayer of Confession
The truth is, we need You in order to return to You. At this moment, we find ourselves in a sea of sales and stress and activities. We find ourselves strangely jealous of the happiness of others, finding perhaps a sense of entitlement beneath it. We hear the judgment of the prophets and give an easy theological assent to the coming “day and hour when all will be set right.” We act as if this story is only about a 2,000-year-old birth and not something to prepare for today. Teach us to be ready here and now for Your interruption. Teach us to return to You, without dread, without fear. Teach us to “BE the gospel” for which we wait.
*Assurance of Forgiveness
Friends, there is good news! God knows we need help. God’s salvation does not depend on our intentions, good or otherwise. God’s offer of life in abundance depends on God alone.
Hallelujah! Thanks be for God’s unending faithfulness!
*The Passing of the Peace
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
An Act of Proclamation
The Scripture Reading Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44 (NRSVUE)
Rev. Eileen Parfrey
Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is already the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone; the day is near. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us walk decently as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in illicit sex and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
“But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so, too, will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken, and one will be left. Keep awake, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Moments with Children Eliz Roser
Anthem “Keep Your Lamps” an Advent spiritual
arr. Andre Thomas
Keep your lamps trimmed and burning, the time is drawing nigh.
Children don’t get weary ’til your work is done.
Christian journey soon be over, the time is drawing nigh.
Keep your lamps trimmed and burning, the time is drawing nigh.
Sermon “Gloom, Doom, Tomb, Womb: Fear Not!” Rev. Eileen Parfrey
A Moment for Silent Reflection
An Act of Response
*Hymn #97 “Watchman, Tell Us of the Night” aberystwyth
1 Watchman, tell us of the night,
what its signs of promise are.
Traveler, what a wondrous sight:
see that glory-beaming star.
Watchman, does its beauteous ray
news of joy or hope foretell?
Traveler, yes; it brings the day,
promised day of Israel.
2 Watchman, tell us of the night;
higher yet that star ascends.
Traveler, blessedness and light,
peace and truth its course portends.
Watchman, will its beams alone
gild the spot that gave them birth?
Traveler, ages are its own;
see, it bursts o’er all the earth.
3 Watchman, tell us of the night,
for the morning seems to dawn.
Traveler, shadows take their flight;
doubt and terror are withdrawn.
Watchman, you may go your way;
hasten to your quiet home.
Traveler, we rejoice today,
for Emmanuel has come!
Sharing Joys & Concerns Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
(At the conclusion of spoken joys, let us pray together, “Thanks be to you, O God.”
For concerns, let us make them our own by praying, “Lord, hear our prayer.”)
Pastoral Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
Community Moment Christmas Cookie Exchange Jason and Greg Houser
Offering Ourselves and Our Gifts
(Text 73256 the word WESTPRESPDX to give using your mobile device. This number will never send unsolicited texts to you. To cancel further messages, text STOP. If you need assistance with text giving, text HELP. Standard text message and data rates may apply.
If you’re new to Westminster, please let us know by filling out a pink visitor card and dropping it in the offering plate. Thank you.)
Offertory Anthem “People Look East” music: Mitchell Covington
test: Eleanor Farjeon
Michael Barnes and Leslie Lehmann, 4-hand piano
People, 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, through earth is bare, one more seed is planted there:
Give up your strength, the seed to nourish, that in course the flower may flourish.
People, look East and sing today: Love, the rose, is on the way.
Birds, though you long have ceased to build, guard the nest that must be filled.
Even the hour when wings are frozen, He for fledging time has chosen.
People, look East and sing today: Love, the bird, is on the way.
Stars, 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 to man and beast Him who cometh from the East.
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.
*Doxology – Hymn #606
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
-OR-
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host;
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*Hymn #87 “Comfort, Comfort Now My People” genevan 42
“Comfort, comfort, now my people; tell of peace!” So says our God.
Comfort those who sit in darkness mourning under sorrow’s load.
To my people now proclaim that my pardon waits for them!
Tell them that their sins I cover, and their warfare is over.”
For the herald’s voice is crying in the desert far and near,
calling us to true repentance, since the reign of God is here.
O, that warning cry obey! Now prepare for God a way.
Let the valleys rise in meeting and the hills bow down in greeting.
Straight shall be what long was crooked, and the rougher places plain.
Let your hearts be true and humble, as befits God’s holy reign.
For the glory of the Lord now on earth is shed abroad,
and all flesh shall see the token that God’s word is never broken.
*Benediction Rev. Eileen Parfrey
*Postlude “Toccata on Huron Carol (Twas in the Moon of Wintertime)”
Brenda Portman
(You may be seated for the postlude or you may depart.)