Hope with teeth and claws
Live stream with Pastor Sue
Accompanied by a worship assistant
Accompanist Andrea Llafet
Mill Plain UMC10 am
Sunday November 28, 2021
Scripture:
Luke 21: 25-36
Music:
Come thou Long Expected Jesus
Days Of Elijah
For the Beauty of the Earth
I want to walk as a child of the light
To Make an Offering: https://millplainumc.org/giving/
Mill Plain UMC 10 a.m.,
Sunday, November 28, 2021
Prelude
Lighting of the Advent Candle
Worship assistant: Where is hope?
People: Be on your guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life
Worship assistant: Where is hope?
People: Climate change and political dissension, a racial reckoning and family disputes: it seems our world is falling apart.
Worship assistant: Where is hope?
People: The days are surely coming when God will cause a Righteous Branch to spring up and execute justice and righteousness in our land.
Worship assistant: Where is hope?
People: Today we light the first Advent candle as a tiny beacon of hope in a troubled time.
(First Advent Candle is lit)
Worship assistant: Where is hope?
People: Hope is in the flicker of a candle, in you and me who persevere, who show up when life is hard and who look for better days to come.
Song Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
Young Disciples
Song Days Of Elijah
Opening Prayer
Hope of all the earth, we come to you in distress: all around us we see cruelty and pain, violence and hatred. We are so weary of pandemic restrictions and grieved at the continuing loss of life and the tensions in our society over how to slow the spread of the virus. We do not know how to fix things and make them better. It seems the things we can do are so small in the face of the problems in our world.
Fill us with the hope of a small flame flickering in the darkness, with the assurance that you bless our tiny efforts. Breathe on our tiny flames that they will bring light to the world.
We pray in the name of Jesus,
Amen.
Silent prayer
Pastoral Prayer
Presentation of Our Offerings
Doxology
New Testament
Luke 21:25-36
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Song For the Beauty of the Earth #92
The Message Hope with Teeth and Claws
Prayer: Our God, in this season of hope, open our eyes to the unexpected ways you bring it to us. Help us to let go of our desire for hope to be in the delicate and dainty and instead to seize hope in the discards of life and the gritty things that crawl in the corners. We pray in the name of our Savior, Amen.
Reception into Membership
Commendation and Welcome
Congregation: We give thanks for all that God has already given you and we welcome you in Christian love. As members together with you in the body of Christ and in this congregation of The United Methodist Church we renew our covenant faithfully to participate in the ministries of the church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, and our service, that in everything God may be gloried through Jesus Christ.
SONG I Want to Walk As A Child of the Light #206
Benediction
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.