Neillsville,
Wisconsin
Pastor Jacoba Koppert
Church 715-743-2147
Pastor's Office
715-743-2117
December 3, 2017 10:00
a.m.
First Sunday of Advent
All who are comfortably able are invited to
stand at those
places in the service indicated by an
asterisk*
We ask you to please turn off all telephones
and electronic devices.
We Gather to Worship God
PRELUDE Karen Mohr
Chorale Prelude on ÔWachet aug, ruft, uns die StimmeÕ (J.S Bach)
RINGING OF THE BELL
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
GATHERING MUSIC ÒPrepare the WayÓ
Reprinted under OneLicense.net A-723900
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Come
to be among us, Lord God of heaven and earth.
People: Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be
saved.
Leader: Let your hand be upon us, those you have
made strong for yourself.
People: Then, we will never turn back from you; give us life and we
will call upon your name.
Leader: Restore
us, O Lord God of heaven and earth; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
*HYMN ÒWhen the
Lord ComesÓ (Insert)
We
Confess Our Sin and Seek GodÕs Forgiveness1
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Holy
One, we have turned away from you. We have sinned against you and one another. We
want you to come and save us and yet we have not prepared for your coming. We
do not call on your name; we fail to notice you among us; neither are we alert
to your coming. Wake us up.
Increase our faith; increase our love; renew our hope. In the name of Jesus, we
ask for your mercy. Amen.
SILENCE FOR PERSONAL PRAYERS
ASSSURANCE OF PARDON
We are GodÕs people and God will not remember our sin forever. Through GodÕs love for the world, Christ comes to make all things right. Take heart; God forgives us. Repent and believe the good news, in Jesus Christ we are a new creation.
PASSING THE PEACE
At peace with God, let us now offer the peace of Christ to one another. The peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
(All are invited
to greet others with handshakes or hugs while saying
to them ÒThe peace of Christ be with youÓ and
responding, Òand also
with
you.Ó)
* SONG
OF PRAISE ÒGloria CanonÓ (sing twice)
Gloria, gloria,
in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, gloria, alleluia, alleluia!
We
Listen for the Good News
LIGHTING
THE ADVENT CANDLE1
Jill, Scott, Colton and Tyler Williams
(The
Candle of Hope is lit.)
This is the first Sunday in Advent. Today, we light one blue candle. This is the candle of hope. Advent is a time of waiting and hoping. We wait for the day when we celebrate again the birth of Jesus. We hope that everyone will come to know Jesus and his love.
When we look at the first candle, we remember GodÕs promise. God promised to send a Savior to the people. When we listen to our Bible reading, we hear what the prophet Isaiah wrote about God. God is the potter who molds us. We are GodÕs people. This gives us hope.
CHILDRENÕS TIME ÒThe PotterÓ Isaiah 64:8
PRAYER
Dear God, thank you for your Son, Jesus.
Thank you for the words from the Bible that remind us you give us hope. Help us
to live each day, letting you form us in a way that shows the love of Jesus in
our lives. Amen.
ADVENT MUSIC Sung by the Senior Choir
ÒRise Up, Come On and Get ReadyÓ (Pepper Choplin)
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Isaiah 64:1-9 Russell and Susie Karl, Mason Roenz
Mark 13:24-37
SERMON ÒCome on DownÓ Pastor Jacoba Koppert
We Respond to the Good News
*HYMN ÒHope of the WorldÓ vs. 1, 2 #229
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
INVITATION TO OFFERING
THE OFFERTORY
ÒCome, Thou Long Expected JesusÓ with
ÒHe Shall Feed His FlockÓ (arr. By Anna Laura Page)
*THE DOXOLOGY
Praise
God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise
God, all creatures here below;
Praise
God for all that love has done;
Creator,
Christ and Spirit One. Amen.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
The Sacrament of
Holy Communion2
WE COME TO THE LORDÕS TABLE
Pastor: We thank and praise You, O God
for You are not distant and uninvolved
in our lives and our world
But, You have come to us, humbly and gently,
challengingly and irresistibly.
People: And
whoever receives You, whoever believes in You becomes a child of God, born of
the Spirit.
SILENT
REFLECTION
THE
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
Pastor: So, we
remember JesusÕ birth and life,
His suffering and victory.
On the night before His crucifixion,
Jesus shared His last meal with His friends;
He took the loaf of bread and blessed it,
then breaking it, He offered it to them saying:
People: This is my body
broken for you. Eat this in memory of me.
Pastor: After the meal, He took the cup of wine and blessed it, then He offered it to them saying:
People: This is my blood
shed for you. Drink this in memory of me.
Pastor: So, we eat and we drink and we remember.
People: With hope and joy
in the new life which comes in GodÕs kingdom. Amen.
THE
CONSECRATION
Pastor: God of Grace, Come to us again in this meal,
and as we share this bread and the fruit of the vine, may we share in the Bread of Life and the Cup of Blessing; Bless these elements that they might be a sign of your heavenly banquet at the close of the age.
May we offer ourselves to you again,
and may we become one with Christ
and with each other – a single, unified body.
All: Amen.
THE
LORDÕS 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.
THE BREAKING AND THE POURING
COMMUNION IS RECEIVED
The United Church of Christ practices
open communion. People of all ages who confess Jesus Christ as Savior are
welcome. Today we will receive the elements remaining in our pews. The
Deacons/nesses will serve bread; Pastor Jacoba will serve the gluten-free
wafers in the pews to those who request it. Light colored glasses contain juice
and dark glasses contain wine.
Please hold the elements until all have received them and we will
commune together as one body.
WE GIVE THANKS
Pastor: We
thank You, Lord God,
People: For
breaking into our world, our lives and our
experience.
Pastor: We thank You, O Christ,
People: For
this meal of remembering, and the stories of love and grace that it tells.
Pastor: We thank You, O Spirit,
People: For
Your Presence and Your challenge
for us to become agents of GodÕs
compassion.
Pastor: In
JesusÕ Name. Amen
*HYMN ÒHope of the WorldÓ vs. 3 & 4 #229
*THE
BENEDICTION
*RESPONSE ÒLift
Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty GatesÓ
Redeemer, come, with us abide; Our Hearts
to thee we open wide; Let us they inner presence feel, Thy grace and
love in us reveal.
*POSTLUDE
Karen Mohr
The Light of Christ Leads Us into the
World
1 Adapted from https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/2017-advent-home-worship written by MaryJane Pierce Norton
3Written
by John van de Laar Û 2008
Sacredise .This liturgy may be copied for congregational use, but may not be used
in any for-sale publication or for gain in any way without the written
permission of the publisher
Advent Activities for Week 1
First Week of Advent –
Hope
Monday, December 4: Today read again Isaiah 64:8. Memorize this verse. How do you think this verse gives hope to people?
Tuesday, December 5: Is there someone you know who needs to hear words of hope? Make or select a card for that person and mail it today.
Wednesday, December 6: Hope is something we need in our world. Today, pray for the president and the members of congress. Pray for their leadership for our country.
Thursday, December 7: As we get ready to celebrate again the birth of Jesus, we sometimes get very busy. Today, take a ten-minute break. Sit quietly. If it helps you to concentrate, look at your Advent wreath. Pray, asking GodÕs help to bring quiet and calm to a busy world.
Friday, December 8: Think about your family. Some may live with you. Others may be far away. Who in your family needs GodÕs hope? Pray for this family member.
Saturday, December 9: There are people in our neighborhoods, in our church, and in our community who need to know of GodÕs hope. Select someone to visit today. Visit by phone or in person. Go as a family or by yourself. It doesnÕt necessarily have to be a visit to a home. Maybe there is someone you always see at the library. Stop by today and talk with that person. Tell the person you visit one way he or she helps you feel hopeful.
.
Announcements
We welcome you to this service of
worship. We hope you will
experience the love of God and your neighbors. You are invited to join us in
the Fellowship Hall downstairs for coffee/refreshments and conversation.
Whoever you are and -
Note: You will find the attendance folders in the pews on the center racks of every pew - please take time to fill out the attendance sheet including your full address and return them to the side aisles, ushers will collect them during the last hymn. Thank you.
Radio Broadcast Sponsors – The radio broadcast portion of our worship service today is given anonymously by a faithful radio listener.
Today: 3:00 p.m. Communion will be served at the Neillsville Retirement Community; come and join us if you wish.
Calendar
Monday, December 4 - 6:30-7:30 p.m. Nar-Anon.
Tuesday, December 5 - 6 p.m. Pastor/Parish meeting.
Wednesday, December 6 - 3:30 CDÕs & Confirmation; 6 p.m. Christmas Angel Project worknight; 7 p.m. Sr. Choir practice.
Saturday, December 9 - 9 a.m. Christmas Angel Project workday.
Next Sunday, December10 – Second Sunday of Advent; 10 a.m. Sunday School Christmas Program; JesusÕ Birthday Party downstairs in Fellowship Hall after service.
Poinsettias – If you would like to order a poinsettia to place in
the sanctuary this Advent Season, now is the time to order. The cost is $13 each. If you write a check, please make it
out to ÒFalls Florist.Ó Names will be printed in the Christmas Eve
bulletin. Order in Memory of
someone, in Honor of someone or for any other reason you may have. You may take
your plant home following the Christmas Eve service. Deadline for ordering is December 10.