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Stettler United Church
Advent III: Joy
December 16, 2018
White Gift Sunday

 

Welcome, Gathering and Announcements
(Portions of the service printed in bold are spoken by the whole congregation. The asterisk (*) indicates congregation stands, but please feel free to sit at any time. Children are always welcome at our services. Books/toys are available at the front and back of the sanctuary.)

Lighting the Christ Candle & Centring:
“This Advent, may we not only receive the gift of God’s grace freely offered to us but also generously share it with others”.
From “The Gift of the Nutcracker”, by Matt Rawle

Call to Worship:
In anticipation we gather.
With expectation we wait.
We gather to hear Good News.
Open our ears and hearts, O God,
that we may hear with joy the word you speak.
In this spirit let our praise begin.
Let our prayers be lifted.
Let our celebration bring new life.
Reprinted from Worship for All Seasons © 1993 The United Church Publishing House

Gathering Song: What Can I Do? #191 MV

Advent Candle Lighting: (Christa & Kyler Cornelssen)
Two blue candles are lit.
Reader 1: As increasing light colours the skies in a chorus of pinks and reds, birds, too, raise their song of greeting for the coming day.
Reader 2: Like that coloured sky, these flames remind us of the growing light that announces Jesus’ birth with a chorus of angels’ songs proclaiming a new day.
Reader 1: May we pause to hear the twitter of that song and join our voices to the joyful cries of praise at Jesus’ birth. Amen.
The pink candle is lit.
Written by James Ravenscroft. Reprinted, with permission, from page 69 of gathering A/C/E 2018

Sing: Hark! the Herald Angels Sing #48 VU (1st verse & chorus)

Prayer of Confession:


Music is the Message:
In the style of a Cantata, choir Anthems, instrumentals, duets & solos will flow one to another, with Sarah Stratulate as narrator.
• Music: “Come and See the Light”, by David Goodwin, accompanied by Barbara-Lynn Goodwin
• Music: “Let It Be Christmas Everywhere”, by Alan Jackson, played and sung by Malcolm Fischer
• Music: Silent Night, piano solo by Jaden Norman… and Advent Alphabet Review as presented by children & youth
• Music: “Mary Did You Know”, Stettler United Church choir
• Music: “O Holy Night”, instrumental duet, Jenny Munholland and Isaac Hernando
• Music: “Ring the Bells”, sung by Evelyn Shursen,
• Music: “Oh, What a Wonderful Gift”, by Linnea Good, shared today by Jan & Bob Richardson

Presenting our Gifts:
Bringing gifts on White Gift Sunday is an example of an act of giving love in the name of Jesus, God’s gift of love to the world.

Let us gather our gifts together and present them as an offering to God.

Offering Prayer:
To the stable, each brought what they could, and each gave what they had:
the animals, warmth;
the shepherds, awe;
the magi, gifts.
To this world and its people, we offer our gifts:
our faith, which seeks to do as well as to believe;
our joy, which persists even in times of trial;
our love, freely offered, as it was to us. Amen.
Intergenerational Christmas Service http://www.adventunwrapped.ca/at-church/

Prayers of the Gathered Community
& The Prayer Jesus Taught

*Blessing and Sending Forth:
We go into the world, to extend Christ’s love
Remembering our neighbours who live here
and those around the world.
In the joyful times, share the celebration.
In the difficult times, share the hope.
In all times, remember this: we are not alone.
Thanks be to God!
Written by Richard Bott. Reprinted from Mandate, summer 2018.

* Parting Hymn: “Go, Tell It on the Mountain” #43 VU