Digital Liturgy 12/6/20
Invitation to Worship
To all who are weary and need rest
To all who mourn and long for comfort
To all those who wander and are looking for a story
To all who feel isolated and miss community
To all who are broken and want healing
To all who feel worthless and wonder if God cares
To all who are oppressed and yearn for justice
To all who fail and desire strength
To all who sin and need a Savior
To all who hunger and thirst for righteousness
And to whomever will come–
This church opens wide her arms and offers welcome
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
Call To Worship
A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
As we worship today,
let us prepare to welcome God’s dramatic work in our midst,
in our hearts, in our community, and in all of creation.
Let us worship God.
Songs
Second Sunday of Advent
Today we continue to remember the season of Advent as a church, along with millions of Christians all around the world. “Advent” means coming. Advent helps us prepare our hearts during this season by reflecting on the two comings of Jesus: first, his coming through his incarnation in Bethlehem and second, his future coming in glory to judge the living & the dead & to set all things right.
As a church, we celebrate Advent with a wreath and candles. Each Sunday during the four weeks of Advent, one candle—each representing a different theme—is lit. Last week, we lit the Prophecy Candle, which represents the promises that were kept in Jesus' First Coming, his birth in Bethlehem, and the hope and expectation of Jesus' Second Coming, his promised return.
The second purple candle is called the Bethlehem candle. It represents the humility of Jesus' First Coming and the meekness that is to mark his people as we follow Jesus in the world and await his Second Coming. This candle calls us to remember that Jesus was born not in power and strength, but in humility and meekness. He came not to served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Read the following:
As we come to light the second candle of Advent, let us listen to the prophecy of Micah:
[1] Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops;
siege is laid against us;
with a rod they strike the judge of Israel
on the cheek.
[2] But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.
[3] Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of his brothers shall return
to the people of Israel.
[4] And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth.
[5] And he shall be their peace. (Micah 5:1-5 ESV)
As you light the Prophecy Candle, say:
We light the first candle of Advent to remind us to look up with hope and center our hearts and minds upon a loving God who sent us his Son, who is coming again.
As you light the Bethlehem Candle, say:
We light the second candle of Advent to remind us of the humility of Jesus, who took on the form of a servant, and to remember that God's great gift came to us in Bethlehem and to look forward to his coming again.
Pray aloud:
Father in heaven, who sent your Son to redeem the world and will send him again to be our judge: give us grace so to imitate him in the humility and purity of his first coming that, when he comes again, we may be ready to greet him with joyful love and firm faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Sermon “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
A sermon preached by Pastor Nate Downey. The sermon will premiere at 10:30 AM on December 6 and will be available to stream anytime after that.
Response
In response to God’s goodness and faithfulness, let’s respond through giving and singing.
Give
If you are part of the Town Church family, you can give online or text any dollar amount to 84321 to give. As Pastor Nate mentioned, you can designate a gift specifically to support the Silamo family who are planting a church among the Rendille people in Kenya.
Sing
Benediction
Say this together:
May the Lord make you increase and
Abound in love for one another and for all,
As we do for you,
So that he may establish your hearts
Blameless in holiness before our God and Father,
At the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
Amen