We invite you to maintain a spirit of silence as the prelude begins our service.
OUR APPROACH TO GOD
Prelude
Introit
Our help is in the name of the Lord
WHO MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH.
Welcome
The Blessing of the Greens
The Lighting of the Second Advent Candle
By John Henry Newman
They watch for Christ
WHO ARE SENSITIVE, EAGER, APPREHENSIVE IN MIND, WHO ARE AWAKE, ALIVE, QUICK-SIGHTED,
ZEALOUS IN HONORING HIM,
Who look for him in all that happens,
AND WHO WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED, WHO WOULD NOT BE OVER-AGITATED OR
OVERWHELMED, IF THEY FOUND THAT HE WAS COMING AT ONCE...
Then this is to watch:
TO BE DETACHED FROM WHAT IS PRESENT,
And to live in what is unseen,
TO LIVE IN THE THOUGHT OF CHRIST AS HE CAME ONCE,
and as he will come again,
TO DESIRE HIS SECOND COMING, FROM OUR AFFECTIONATE AND GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE
OF HIS FIRST.
*Hymn BB 64 "Savior of the Nations Come"
Let us be before our God in silence.
Unison Prayer: Psalm 63: 2-7
O GOD, YOU ARE MY GOD, FOR YOU I LONG: FOR YOU MY SOUL IS THIRSTING. MY BODY PINES FOR YOU LIKE A DRY, WEARY LAND WITHOUT WATER...FOR YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE, MY LIPS WILL SPEAK YOUR PRAISE. SO I WILL BLESS YOU ALL MY LIFE, IN YOUR NAME I WILL LIFT UP MY HANDS. MY SOUL SHALL BE FILLED AS WITH A BANQUET, MY MOUTH SHALL PRAISE YOU WITH JOY!Kyrie (sung)
LORD, HAVE MERCY ON US.
CHRIST, HAVE MERCY ON US.
LORD, HAVE MERCY ON US.
A Word of Assurance: Isaiah 62: 1-3
The Summary of the Law (Mk 12: 29-31)
This is the first commandment:
HEAR O ISRAEL, THE LORD OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE! THEREFORE YOU SHALL
LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, WITH ALL YOUR
MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.
This is the second commandment:
YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.
There is no greater commandment than these.
Anthem
THE WORD OF GOD
*Responsive Reading: Psalm 85: 8-13
*Gloria Patri (Hymn No. 623)
GLORY BE TO THE FATHER AND TO THE SON AND TO THE HOLY GHOST. AS IT
WAS IN THE BEGINNING, IS NOW AND EVER SHALL BE, WORLD WITHOUT END, AMEN, AMEN!
The Greeting of Peace
Announcements & Children's Moment
*Hymn BB 46 "On Jordan's Bank"
Scripture Lessons:
Jewish Scriptures: Isaiah 40: 1-5,
9-11
Epistle: 2 Peter 3: 8-14
Gospel: Mark 1: 1-8
Communion Meditation
OUR RESPONSE TO GOD
*The Offering
Doxology (625) and Prayer
PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW;
PRAISE GOD ALL CREATURES HERE BELOW;
PRAISE GOD ABOVE YE HEAVENLY HOSTS;
PRAISE FATHER (CREATOR), SON (CHRIST) AND HOLY GHOST.
Hymn BB 40 "Comfort, Comfort, O My People"
The Invitation to the Table
The Communion Prayer
The Breaking of the Bread
The Prayer of the People & the Lord's Prayer
*Hymn BB 44 "Lift Up Your Hands"
*The Benediction
*Response to the Benediction
*Postlude
*Please stand if you are able.