Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Isaiah 11: 1-10

 

Peaceable Kingdom 

The Branch From Jesse


A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;

    from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
    the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
    the Spirit of counsel and of might,
    the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord
and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.

He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
    or decide by what he hears with his ears;
but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
    with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
    with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
Righteousness will be his belt
    and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

The wolf will live with the lamb,
    the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling[a] together;
    and a little child will lead them.
The cow will feed with the bear,
    their young will lie down together,
    and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
    and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
They will neither harm nor destroy
    on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
    as the waters cover the sea.

10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious. 


By Edward Hicks - National Gallery of Art, Washington, D. C., online collection, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=175611

Monday, November 29, 2021

December 2021 Christmas Joy Offering

Our gifts support dedicated pastors, church workers, and retirees who find themselves facing urgent financial needs. This can range from supplements to maintain independent living to emergency funds to meet unexpected expenses.

Additionally, 50% of the offering goes to support Presbyterian-affiliated racial ethnic schools and colleges, enabling students to develop their gifts and find their callings.

The Joy Offering was initiated in the 1930’s and is just as essential today. $1.1 million of gifts from 2020 have been used this year in support of current and retired church workers and the Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color. The need is no less in 2021. Please give generously.

During the last months many things have changed, but what remains constant is God’s love and support of us. We are still very much together, and that offers each of us the challenge and opportunity to support those who have served us and now need some assistance and to help those Presbyterian organizations serving young people of racial and ethnic backgrounds. Please give generously to the Christmas Joy Offering. The envelope is in your December packet or just designate it on your check.

Sunday, November 28, 2021

Order of Worship November 28: Hope



 

CENTERING PRAYER

 

Holy God, you promised us that the day of salvation is near. Keep us faithful in love and watchful in prayer, so we may stand with confidence and joy at the coming of Christ, our redeemer and Lord. Amen.

 

PRELUDE (Sunday Worship) Trumpet Tune on “WACHET AUF”      Sobaje 


WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS 


ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING:


 We light this candle as a sign of the coming light of Christ. In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord! Make a highway in the desert for our God. From ages of old, no ear has heard, no eye has seen one so glorious as the Lord our God, for whom we wait. Let us live into HOPE! 


† HYMN      “Come, Thou Expected Jesus”      Hymnal #82


 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

Lord, have mercy on us. We are not ready for your coming. We live in sin, as though there was no justice. We live in fear, as though there were no grace. Forgive us, Lord. Show us your mercy and steadfast love. Lead us in your truth, and teach us your paths, for you are the light of the world and the God of our salvation. (Silent Confession)

 

ASSURANCE OF GRACE † 


SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST 

The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. 


†GLORIA PATRI     Hymnal #581 


TIME WITH CHILDREN (Sunday Worship) (All children will remain in the sanctuary for the remainder of worship) 


SCRIPTURE Jeremiah 33:14-16 


SERMON      “There and Back Again”      Rev. Dr. Dave Burgess 


† AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Westminster Confession of Faith, Shorter Catechism Question One 

Q. What is our chief end? A. Our chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy God forever. 


OFFERING Waiting, Wandering, Wondering      Schram 

Mixed Vocal Ensemble, Nicole Lesh - clarinet


† THE DOXOLOGY Hymnal #606 


PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE 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. 


† HYMN    “While We Are Waiting, Come”    Hymnal #92


 † CHARGE AND BLESSING 


† BENEDICTION “Peace On the Earth”



POSTLUDE (Sunday Worship) Noel Provencal Candeille 


† You are invited to stand, as you are able

Saturday, November 27, 2021

Scripture for November 28


A 17th-century oak carving of the Tree of Jesse
 from 
St Andrews CastleRoyal Scottish Museum


14 “‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.

15 “‘In those days and at that time
    I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line;
    he will do what is just and right in the land.
16 In those days Judah will be saved
    and Jerusalem will live in safety.
This is the name by which it[a] will be called:
    The Lord Our Righteous Savior.’

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 33:16 Or he

Friday, November 26, 2021

Daily Prayer November 26

 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. I was dead and behold I am alive forever and ever. Because I live, you also will live.


Daily Readings for Friday, November 26, 2021

O God of grace, you have given us new and living hope in Jesus Christ. We thank you that by dying Christ destroyed the power of death, and by rising from the grave opened the way to eternal life. Help us to know that because he lives, we shall live also; and that neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come shall be able to separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. By your power, great God, our Lord Jesus healed the sick and gave new hope to the hopeless. Though we cannot command or possess your power, we pray for those who want to be healed. Mend their wounds, soothe fevered brows, and make broken people whole again. Help us to welcome every healing as a sign that, though death is against us, you are for us, and have promised renewed and risen life in Jesus Christ the Lord. (Add your prayers.) Amen.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

(Opening sentences, prayers, and blessings are from the Book of Common Worship. Readings are from the daily lectionary in Daily Prayer. Both are published by Westminster/John Knox Press.)

Sunday, November 21, 2021

Order of Worship for November 21, 2021

CENTERING PRAYER

 Eternal God, Jesus taught that true power is made known in service: we are to love you, our neighbors, and ourselves as we reveal your reign of peace. Give us the will to do this work and the grace that we may accomplish it; with you, in Christ, and through the Holy Spirit, on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.


PRELUDE (Sunday Worship) Trumpet Voluntary on “St. George’s Windsor” Barr, 1995 


WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS 

 

CALL TO WORSHIP (Psalm 97)

 

The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice.

The heavens proclaim God’s righteousness; all people behold God’s glory.

Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.

Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to God’s holy name!

Come! Let us worship Christ the King!


† HYMN     “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name!”     Hymnal #263

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

Holy God, how often we put trust in the promises of earthly rulers instead of the power of your love; help us to turn our hearts toward you. Restore us in your love, and set us free to forgive as we have been forgiven. We ask this by the grace and mercy of Christ. (Silent Confession)


ASSURANCE OF GRACE 


† SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST 

The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. 


†GLORY TO GOD “Morning Has Broken” Hymnal #664 


TIME WITH CHILDREN (Sunday Worship) (Children 5th grade and younger may leave to attend Sunday School) 


SCRIPTURE Revelation 1:4b-8 


SERMON “King of Kings” Rev. Dr. Dave Burgess

 

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – Philippians 2:5-11

 

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.

 

Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.


OFFERING     A Psalm       Beck 

Chancel Choir


 † THE DOXOLOGY Hymnal #606


 PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE 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. 


† HYMN      “Crown Him with Many Crowns”      Hymnal #268 


† CHARGE AND BLESSING 


† BENEDICTION      “Soon and Very Soon”      Hymnal #384 Verse 1 


POSTLUDE (Sunday Worship) DIA DEMETA Rutz, 2014 


† You are invited to stand, as you are able