Dear friends,
THIS SUNDAY the Rev. Linda Faith Chalk will be leading us in worship. Sunday marks the second week of Advent, a season when Christians around the world wait and prepare to celebrate the birth and incarnation of Jesus, the promised Messiah. Advent, however, is not just a time to reflect and look back into history and past prophecies fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ, it is also a season of preparation for Christ’s Second Coming, when he will return to establish his eternal Kingdom on earth.
OUR NEW TESTAMENT READING is taken from the gospel according to Luke 3: 1-6, “John the Baptist Prepares the Way”. The final book of the Old Testament, Malachi, ends with the prophet declaring to the Israelites: “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.” – Malachi 3: 1.
This prophecy was fulfilled about 400 years later in the person of John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus Christ, our Immanuel: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us), Matthew 1: 23.
Order of Service
Prelude
Welcome
Lighting of the Advent candle followed by Hymn: “He comes down” (vs 2)
Call to Worship
Hymn 129: “Prepare the way O Zion”
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Time
Hymn 128: “There’s a voice in the wilderness crying”
Malachi 3: 1-4 (en français BFC – English on the screen)
Sung Scripture; Hymn: 752 “Blest be the God of Israel”; paraphrase of Luke 1: 68–79
Philippians 1: 3-11
Luke 3: 1-6
Sermon: “Have you ever been the message?”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 126: “On Jordan’s bank” (vs 3 & 4 en français)
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 118: “Hark the glad sound”
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude