I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to his word. -Lk 1: 38

Processional Hymn: #362 Tell Out My Soul

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings give my spirit voice;
tender to me the promise of His Word;
in God my Savior shall my heart rejoice.

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of His name!
Make known His might, the deeds
his arm has done;
his mercy sure, from age to age the same;
his holy Name, the Lord, the mighty One.

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of His might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by;
proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight;
the hungry fed, the humble lifted high.

Tell out, my soul, the glories of His Word!
Firm is His promise, and His mercy sure.
Tell out my soul, the greatness of the Lord
to children's children and forevermore!

Welcome & Acknowledgment of Land

Call to Worship 
Come as an Advent people; praise the God of promise. 
We come with glad and thankful hearts.
Follow the holy way; make the path straight.
We will walk the road to Bethlehem. 
(Seasons of the Spirit)

Advent Candle Lighting (Love) 
VU # 6 v.4 “A Candle is Burning”
A candle is burning a candle of love, a candle to point us to heaven above. A baby for Christmas, a wonderful birth, for Jesus is bringing God’s love to our earth. 

(We prepare our hearts for worship in silence)

The Gathering of the Community (Service begins on p. 185)

Kyrie Eleison p. 186

Collect  Heavenly Father, who chose the Virgin Mary, full of grace, to be the mother of our Lord and Saviour, now fill us with your grace, that we in all things may embrace your will and with her rejoice in your salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

The Proclamation of the Word   (Led by Lynn Gray)
Hebrew Scripture:    ISAIAH 7:10-16
PSALM 80:1-7, 16-18
    Refrain: Show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved. 
The Epistle:    ROMANS 1:1-7

Gospel Hymn:  #116 Your Kingdom Come on Bended Knee

"Your kingdom come" - on bended knee
the passing ages pray;
and faithful souls have yearned to see
on earth that kingdom's day.

But the slow watches of the night
not less to God belong;
and for the everlasting right
the silent stars are strong.

And lo, already on the hills
the flags of dawn appear;
Gird up your loins, you prophet souls,
proclaim the day is near:

the day in whose clear-shining light
all wrong shall stand revealed,
when justice shall be throned in might,
and every hurt be healed;

wen knowledge, hand in hand with peace,
shall walk the earth abroad - 
the day of perfect righteousness,
the promised day of God.

The Gospel:    MATTHEW 1:18-25

Homily: (The Rev. Marg Misner Preaching)

Affirmation of Faith: The Apostles’ Creed     p. 189 (please stand as able)

Prayers of the People    (Led by Tim Ray)

Confession and Absolution p. 191

The Peace    p. 192

Offertory Hymn:  #485 Love Divine, All Lives Excelling

Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heav’n, to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling,
all thy faithful mercies crown.

Jesus, thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation;
enter ev'ry trembling heart.

Come, Almighty, to deliver,
let us all thy grace receive;
suddenly return, and never,
nevermore they temples leave.

Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray, and praise thee without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.

Finish, then, thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee,

changed from glory into glory,
till in heav’n we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love and praise.

Prayer over the Gifts Gracious God, by the power of the Spirit who sanctified the mother of your Son, make holy all we offer you this day. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen 

The Celebration of the Eucharist 

The Great Thanksgiving 

The Lord’s Prayer (sung)        p. 211

The Breaking of the Bread (prayer # 5)     p. 212

The Communion (all are welcome to receive communion)

Communion Hymn:  #69 We Who Live by Sound and Symbol

We who live by sound and symbol,
we who learn from sight and word,
find these married in the person
of the one we call our Lord.
Taking bread to be his body,
taking wine to be his blood,
he let thought take flesh in action;
he let faith take root in food.

Not just once with special people,
not just hidden deep in time,
but wherever Christ is followed,
earthly fare becomes sublime.
Though to sound this seems a mystery,
though to sense it seems absurd,
yet in faith, which seems like folly,
we meet Jesus Christ our Lord.

God, our Maker, send your Spirit
to pervade the bread we break.
Let it bring the life we long for
and the love which we forsake.
Bind us closer to each other,
both forgiving and forgiven;
give us grace in this and all things
to discern the hand of heaven.

Prayer after Communion:  Faithful God, in this sacrament we receive the promise of salvation. May we, like the Virgin Mary, be obedient to your will. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen

Doxology (Old 100th): Praise God from whom all blessings flow! 
Praise him all creatures here below! Praise him above ye heavenly
hosts! Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost! Amen
The Blessing

Closing Hymn:   #91 People Look East, the time is Near

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. Though 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
God 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 with shouts of mirth
Christ who brings new life to earth.
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.

The Dismissal    p. 215