Cover image from https://www.hopeink.com/printables/                                                                           

Call to worship adapted from a prayer in Book of Common Worship (1993).                                                            

Prayer of Confession adapted from a prayer by Chris Shelton.

ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING  Peace    

In the face of anxiety and distress, we light this candle of peace.

In the face of hatred, division and warfare, we light this candle of peace.

We proclaim the coming Prince of Peace,

as we light this candle of peace. 

CAROL #38 It Came Upon a Midnight Clear v.1, 4

*CALL TO WORSHIP     

One: Eternal God, through long generations you prepared a way for the coming of your Son.

All: By your Spirit, you still bring light to illumine our paths. 

Renew us in faith and hope

that we may welcome Christ to rule our thoughts and claim our love.

As Lord of lords and Prince of peace,

we call upon his presence here today 

as recipient of our thanks and praise 

and teacher of our souls. Amen.                                

*HYMN #1 Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)                                                                        

Liberating God,                                                                                                                  

We pray to you from the midst of your broken, beloved world.

We lift our hearts to you, hungry for you to do something to set things right.

We look to you, and yet we find you looking back at us.                                       

You commission us as your people for such a time and place as this.                            

You call us to share our prosperity with the poor.                                             

You ask us to give from our fullness to the empty.                                                    

You lead us to set aside our comforts for those who struggle to survive.                                                                         

Yet we do not always follow your call.                                                                  

Instead, there are times when we hide your light under a bushel.              

Forgive us, O God.    –SILENT CONFESSION–

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS (John 1:3-5 The Message) 

What came into existence was Life, and that Life is Light to live by.

The Life-Light blazes out of the darkness; the darkness cannot put it out.

Thanks be to God for the light of the Good News: 

In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.                                                                                              

*GLORIA PATRI #579

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

OLD TESTAMENT  READING     Esther 4:1-17   NIV p. 780-1 /NRSV p. 399

NEW TESTAMENT READING Matthew 5:13-16   NIV p. 1501 /NRSV p. 780

            The Word of the Lord.  Thanks be to God!

HYMN #339 Be Thou My Vision (by request) 

SERMON For Such a Time as This                   Rev. Barb Hedges-Goettl                                    

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (from the Confession of 1967)  God the Holy Spirit fulfills the work of reconciliation in our human life. In spite of our sin, the Spirit gives us power to become representatives of Jesus Christ, and of the Gospel of reconciliation to all.  The Holy Spirit creates and renews us as the church, and as the community in which we are reconciled to God and to one another. The Spirit enables us to receive forgiveness as we forgive one another, and to enjoy the peace of God as we make peace among ourselves. Thanks be to God.

*CLOSING HYMN #25 Away in the Manger