Sunday Worship Service Advent IV, Love December 22, 2024 10:00am

Hybrid Church

Advent IV - Love

22 December, 2024

Presider: The Rev. Deborah van der Goes

Musician: Dorothy Dittrich

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

Words For Worship

Words in bold italics, please say together

Prelude: Mary, Woman of the Promise      M.F Fleiscbaker & A. Fedak 1988                                                                                  

Singing Bowl 

We follow the sound of the singing bowl into silence,

and there we meet God.

Gathering                         (adapted from Diocese of BC Liturgy of Islands & Inlets)

In this time and in this place

We gather on the ancestral lands of the Kwakwaka’wakw, 

Nuu-chah-nulth and Coast Salish peoples.

From many places and many peoples 

we come to this house in prayer.

In this time and in this space

We are not alone

For we meet in the presence of the living God.

In this time and in this place

We are not alone

For the Risen Jesus stands in our midst.

In this time and in this space

We are not alone

For the wind of the Spirit 

moves in and through us.

In this time and in this space

as the nights lengthen

and the days are dim,

We light this candle to

remind us that our Light comes.

The Christ Candle is lit

Lighting the Advent Candles

A  I dream of music that makes my heart swell.

B  I dream of trees that take my breath away.

A  I dream of sunrises that wrap me in light.

B  I dream of family dinners that feel like home.

A  I dream of church services that give me hope.

B  I dream of love as the default.

A  So today, as we draw near to Christmas day, 

     we light the candle of love.

Light candles 

B  May this light burn bright as a reminder that God is here 

     and God is love.

A  We are not alone. Thanks be to God for a love like that. Amen

Hymn: Hope is a Star (v 4)                                                            VU #7

Love is a flame that burns in our heart.

Jesus has come and will never depart.

When God is a child there’s joy in our song.

The last shall be first and the weak become strong, 

and none shall be afraid.

Almighty God,

       to you all hearts are open, all desires known,

       and from you no secrets are hidden.

       Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

       by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,

       that we may perfectly love you,

       and worthily magnify your holy name;

       through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hymn: O Come, Divine Messiah                                                   CP #95

The Collect for Advent IV

Eternal God, as Mary waited for the birth of your Son,

so we wait for his coming in glory;

bring us through the birth pangs of this present age

to see, with her, our great salvation,

Jesus the Promised One.  Amen.

First Reading: Micah 5:2-5a (NRSV)                               Reader: Susan Brockley

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.

But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,

   who are one of the little clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth for me

   one who is to rule in Israel,

whose origin is from of old,

   from ancient days.

Therefore he shall give them up until the time

   when she who is in labour has brought forth;

then the rest of his kindred shall return

   to the people of Israel.

And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord,

   in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.                                    3

And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great

   to the ends of the earth;

and he shall be the one of peace.

   If the Assyrians come into our land

   and tread upon our soil,

we will raise against them seven shepherds

   and eight installed as rulers.

This is the Word of God.

     We give thanks for this word today.

Hymn: My Soul Proclaims Your Glory, Lord                           CP #363

Gospel Reading: Luke 1:39-45 (NRSV)           Reader: Deborah van der Goes                                 

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

God be with you.  

       And also with you

The Good News of Jesus the Christ according to Luke

       Glory to you, Christ Jesus.

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’

This is the Gospel of Christ.   

       Praise be to Jesus Christ       

Sermon: Those Who Dream Are Not Alone

Silence

We Affirm Our Faith

       We believe in God. 

       We believe that God has dreams for humanity. 

       We believe in the Holy Spirit. 

       We believe that the Holy Spirit comforts us 

       when our dreams turn to nightmares. 

       We believe in Jesus.                                                                       4

       We believe that Jesus walked this world to wake us up, 

       Inviting us to be the church in the world. 

       We believe in dreams. 

       We believe in the power that dreams 

       have to show us a new way.

       So in this Advent season,

       We are those who dream and those who wake up. 

       May it be so. Amen

Prayers of the People                                                              

We pray to our God,                                                                  Tim Leadem

       Hear Our Prayers

Life & Work of the Church

The Peace (please stand as you are able)

The peace of Christ be with you! 

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.

The Celebration of the Eucharist

The Offerings 

Let us now gather our offerings

(Immediately the Elements of bread and wine are brought forward to the altar. While the altar is being prepared, monetary offerings are gathered, and quiet music is played) 

Offertory Response

(When all is ready at the altar, the monetary offerings are brought forward while the congregation sings)

Doxology                                                                                                                                         CP #669

Praise God the Source of life and birth,

Praise God the Word, who came to earth.

Praise God the Spirit, holy flame.

All Glory, honour to God’s name.

Prayer over the Gifts                    (for Advent IV – Book of Alternative Services)

Gracious God, By the power of the Spirit 

Who blessed Mary, Mother of Jesus,

Make holy all we offer you this day,

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.

       Amen                               

The Great Thanksgiving                                      (Lutheran book of Worship)

The Lord be with you.

       And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

       We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

       It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and all places, give thanks and praise to you, Almighty and Merciful God, through our Saviour Jesus Christ.  With all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and hosts in heaven, we praise your holy name and join in their unending hymn.

Sanctus and Benedictus                                    (VU p. 942 or CP#735)

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,

Heaven and earth are full, full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.

Holy One,

The beginning and the end, the giver of life;

Blessed are you for the birth of creation.

Blessed are you in the darkness and in the light.

Blessed are you for your promise to your people.

Blessed are you in the prophet’s hopes and dreams.

Blessed are you for Mary’s openness to your will.

Blessed are you for your Son Jesus, the Word made flesh.

In the night in which he was betrayed, 

our Lord Jesus Christ took bread, 

and gave thanks; and broke it, 

and gave it to his disciples, saying: 

Take and eat, this is my body given for you.  

Do this to remember me.

And again, after supper, he took the cup, 

gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: 

This cup is the new covenant in my blood, 

shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.  

Do this to remember me.

Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:

       Christ has died and Christ is risen, Christ will come again! 

With this bread and cup

We remember your Word

Dwelling among us, full of grace and truth.

We remember our new birth

In his death and resurrection.

We look with hope for his coming.

       Come Lord Jesus.

Holy God, We long for your Spirit,

Come among us. Bless this meal.

May your Word take flesh in us.

Awaken your people.

Fill us with your light.
Bring the gift of peace on earth.

       Come Holy Spirit.

All praise and glory are yours,

Holy one of Israel,

Word of God incarnate,

Power of the Most High,

One God, now and forever

       Amen

And now as Jesus has taught us, let us sing.                              VU #960

       Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,

       Thy Kin-dom come, thy will be done
       on earth as it is in heaven.

       Give us this day our daily bread.

       Forgive us our trespasses, aw we forgive

       Them that trespass against us.

       And lead us not into temptation,

       But deliver us from evil

       for thine is the kin-dom, and the power
       and the glory, for ever and ever.  Amen. 

The Invitation to Share Communion

Taste and see that the Lord is good

       Thanks be to God

Prayer After Communion for Advent                  (Liturgy of Islands & Inlets)

Jesus, whose Mother dreamed of hope for the poor,

is now present with us in this bread.

He who birthed dreams in the hearts of many

Is now present in this wine.

     May we live into God’s dream of a new and just society

Hymn: Joy Shall Come                                                              CP #104

Blessing and Dismissal for Advent                  (Liturgy for Island and Inlets)

Our souls magnify the Lord

     Our souls rejoice in God our Saviour

Go into the world that is waiting

     We go bearing the promise of God.  

Postlude: Herald Sound the Note of Gladness     adapted from J. Neander

 ca 1960