Hybrid Church, December 3, 2023, First Sunday of Advent, Sally Bullus

Hybrid Church 

December 3, 2023 

First Sunday of Advent

Rev. Sally Bullas 

Musician: Dorothy Dittrich 

We acknowledge these lands upon which we worship are the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. 

Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here! 

Welcome & Announcements

Whether you are gathering in person, on zoom or worshipping at home with the bulletin, welcome! We are one community, one in the body of Christ.  

Greeting

One:   The grace of Christ Jesus, the love of God,     and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

All:   And also with you 

Lighting the Candle of Hope 

One: Arise and be bold, good news of hope is here!

All: The warm glow of the Divine lightens our hearts. One: Here we are together, not alone. We join with the cloud of          witnesses here, there, elsewhere, and everywhere. On this first      Sunday in Advent, we will dream and imagine a different future,           a rising-up and life-flourishing one. We are witnesses to hope.  

(the candle of Hope is lit)

Don Moser shares a story of hope dreamt/imagined and how it took shape or became real (or is becoming). 

And Our Response 

All: Our habit of hope and hoping finds sustenance and  meaning       in God’s promise of fullness of life! 

And We Pray 

One: God-of-righteous-dreaming, lighten our hearts with an enlarged   imagination to dream new possibilities: to imagine a world where transformation will happen, where creation is mended and restored, and where exiles and strangers will find a home. Become in our lives the way to what we need, to what we can become, and to what we can do.

Hymn: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel vs. 1,2,5,7                             VU #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. O come, O Wisdom from on high, who ordered all things mightily; to us the path of knowledge show, and teach us in her ways to go. Refrain

O come, O Key of David, come and open wide our heavenly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery. Refrain

O come, Desire of nations, bind

All peoples in one heart and mind; O bid our sad divisions cease and be for us the Prince of Peace.

Refrain                 

Opening Words       (From “Gathering,” Anna Atkinson, adapted) One: Hear ye, hear ye, good people!   

All: What news?   

One: Good news, which shall be for all people!   

All: Good?  How? 

One: See the Anointed One comes!  In the breath of the wind, she whispers.  In the feel of grass and leaves, he reaches out.  In the transformation of ice to water to ice, they sing. In starlight and candle flame, the way is lit…

All: We reach for the presence of God. 

One: We are thirsty for the light of hope, the water of peace, the wind of joy, and the ground of love.   All: Good news!  The Anointed One comes!   

One: The Anointed One comes from God, whose love for us is  everlasting!

Response: Hope is a Star vs 1                                                        VU #7 
Hope is a star that shines in the night,

Leading us on till the morning is bright.

Refrain:                                  

When God is a child there's joy in our song. The last shall be first

and the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid.                                                   

Opening Prayer                                  (From “Gathering,” Laura Turnbull, adapted)

One: Holy One, our hearts are filled with anticipation.  The promise of  new life is proclaimed. Our hearts are overflowing.

All: Take any jadedness that we hold on to and set if free, so that  we might fully embrace this wondrous time of year.

 One: May the joy of this blessed season be experienced by all people, especially in gentle ways for those who are hurting and lonely.   

All: Grant life-changing peace and love to your beloved ones. 

One: This we pray, focusing on the stable of Bethlehem.

All: Amen. 

As a Shared Ministry—We Covenant in Hope: 

We, Christ Church Gabriola, followers of Jesus Christ in a shared Anglican and United Church ministry, covenant as a      community with

You: to WORSHIP You with openness to the movement of Your Spirit, by using inclusive language, musical diversity,   creativity, and the grounding we have in our traditions. 

Passing of the Peace 

One: The Peace of Christ be with you.

All:  And also with you. 

You are invited to turn to those directly around you and share Christ’s peace. Those on zoom, please unmute and share with one another. 

Reader: By the gift of your Spirit, calm and quiet our souls that we may hear your Word today and be lifted up to walk with you. In Christ’s  name we pray. Amen

 

Gospel Reading:      Reader: Nancy Hetherington Peirce 

As is your custom, please stand or sit for the reading of the gospel.  

Reader: God be with you.   

All: And also with you 

Reader:  The Good News of Jesus the Christ according to Mark All:  Glory to you, Christ Jesus. 

Mark 13:24-30 

‘But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened,    and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven,    and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

‘From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.

Reader: This is the Gospel of Christ.    

All:      Praise be to Jesus Christ        

Reflection: “Come Again!”

Hymn: All Earth is Waiting                                                               VU #5 
1All earth is waiting to see the Promised One, and open furrows await the seed of God. All the world, bound and struggling, seeks true liberty; it cries out for justice and searches for the truth.

Thus says the prophet to those of Israel,

2'A virgin mother will bear Emmanuel.'

One whose name is 'God with us', our Saviour shall be, through whom hope will blossom once more within our hearts.

3Mountains and valleys will have to be made plain, open new highways, new highways for our God, who is now coming closer, so come all and see, and open the doorways as wide as wide can be.

4In lowly stable the Promised One appeared. Yet, feel that presence throughout the earth today, for Christ lives in all Christians and is with us now; again, on arriving, Christ brings us liberty.

Offering

Doxology                                                                               VU #218 vs 1 

We praise you, O God, our Redeemer, Creator;  in grateful devotion our tribute we bring.   We lay it before you; we kneel and adore you; we bless your holy name, glad praises we sin

Offering Prayer       (From “Gathering,” David Sparks, adapted)

One: We place hope in the gifts we give, Loving God, and you place   hope in us as the gifts are used. 

All: Our hope of skill and talent, well used. 

          Our hope of loneliness, compassionately overcome. 

          Our hope of devotion, faithfully offered. 

          Our hope of neighbourhood needs, joyfully met. 

          Our hope of mission projects that bring new life. 

One: We realize that with our gifts comes our commitment to serve in the Way of Jesus, so we ask you, Loving God, to offer your loving blessing to our service.

All: Amen. 

Prayers of the People                                                             Betty Schultz         

One:  Loving God

All:  Hear Our Prayer 

The Prayer of Jesus                                                                    VU #959

            Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name, your kin-dom come, your will be doneon earth as in heaven.                      Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.Save us from the time  of trial and deliver us from evilfor the kin-dom, the power  and the glory are yours,  now and forever. 

Hymn: Go, Tell It on the Mountain                                                VU #43  

Refrain:

Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere. Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.

2The shepherds feared and trembled when lo, above the earth rang out the angel chorus that hailed our Saviour's birth. Refrain

3Down in a lonely manger the humble Christ was born, and God sent our salvation that blessed Christmas morn. Refrain While shepherds kept their watching o'er silent flocks by night, behold, throughout the heavens there shone a holy light.

    Refrain

Thank You 

Blessing       (From “Gathering,” David Sparks) 

One: Live hopefully, as you leave this Advent service, for we believe           that the good new of Jesus’ imminent arrival will find, within us,    a response beyond imagining.

All: We will connect with others and share joy and compassion. One: We will recognize our own loneliness, and show friendship to     others who are lonely.

All: We will be aware of the selfishness within and around us,              and confront the intolerance. 

One: We will give generously and receive graciously. All: We will be sure that the love of God will find a place in our            families and in our circles of friendship. 

One: In this coming Advent week, go live hopefully in the name of

          Jesus.

All: Allelujah and Amen!