The First Week of Advent – It’s all About HOPE

Narrative Lectionary Series

“Be Resilient !” 

Based on Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14 – Jeremiah’s Letter to Exile

       Jeremiah writes to the Israelites in Babylon to be resilient in their exile, for God will bring them back and give them “a future with hope.” Often, we find ourselves stuck in an impossible situation with no relief in sight. The question then is how we can be resilient by living the best possible life we can as we work to find joy while in it. orld. But we can be grateful for the light of Christ that shines in our darkness.

 Order of Worship Service | November 28^th, 2021

Prelude: “Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel”, arr. John Behnke

Welcoming & Candle Lighting

Call to Worship
Grace to you, and peace from God.
As Advent people, we give thanks to the One who is faithful.
Let us proclaim the wonder of the God who came, is coming,
and will always come.
In word, action, and with gentleness of spirit, we celebrate
the Advent of our God.

Advent Candle Lighting
“Hope Is a Star” VU7

Hymn: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” VU 2

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14, Jeremiah’s Letter to Exiles

Anthem: “Christ, Be Our Light” Bernadette Farrell

Sermon: Be Resilient!

Communion
God be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift our hearts in prayer.
Let us give thanks to God.
It is good to give God thanks and praise.

Blessed are you, Breath of peace, —

Prayers of the People & the Lord’s Prayer

Sharing the Bread and Cup
The body of Christ,
the Bread of life.
The lifeblood of Christ,
the cup of blessing.
Let us eat and drink together for our strengthening in the faith,
and for the sake of the world.

Communion is served

Meditative Music: “Once in Royal David’s City”, arr. David Lasky

Prayer after Communion
We thank you, God, for breaking into our world and pouring into
our lives and our experiences. We thank you, God, for this meal of
thanksgiving and the stories of Love, grace, and hope that it tells.
Amen.

Hymn: “When a Star Is Shining” VU 97

Commissioning and Benediction

Postlude: “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice”, arr. John Leavitt

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Land Acknowledgment:

We acknowledge we worship on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.  We thank them for having cared for this land and look forward to relating with them as covenant people of God as we continue to care for this land together.

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