Musing Worship

CALL TO WORSHIP: One: This is it! Tonight is the Night! All: The night we gather to share in the Christmas Story! One: The night we relive the marvel and excitement of a newly born child. All: We come together as one to worship and adore the child Emmanuel, the child of God. One: We come tonight to feel God born anew within us all. All: This is a holy night. One: This is a night of wonder.

Sung to VU 62 Once in Royal David’s City In this season of the darkness, we await the holy child. God who comes to dwell within us, bringing *hope to humankind. God is with us – this we know, Come spread *hope where e're we go. (* changes with the week – hope, peace, joy, love)

Sung to VU 62 Once in Royal David’s City In this season of the darkness, we await the holy child. God who comes to dwell within us, bringing *hope to humankind. God is with us – this we know, Come spread *hope where e're we go. (* changes with the week – hope, peace, joy, love)

Scripture for Advent 1 is Daniel 6:6-27 Daniel in the Lions’ Den Call to Worship: (Based on lyrics from hymn “O radiant Christ, incarnate Word” by Ruth Duck 1991 found in Voices United #84) One: Come, let us prepare ourselves this Advent, our faith and hope and love renew. All: God, come, lead the peoples to your peace. One: We gather for a time of waiting and preparing for the light to be born within us again. All: God, come, shine upon our shadowed world. One: We come into this time to pause, to pray, and to share in our worship. All: God, come, make your home within our hearts. Call to Confession: O Holy God Today we come to you asking for your forgiveness for those times when we have not left room for you to build a home within our hearts and our lives; those times when we have pushed you out of our hearts and lives. Advent is a busy time in our world when so many activities, parties, and events pull us away from you, forgive us when we leave you to the last of ou...

SCRIPTURE: A reading on prayer from Matthew 14:22-23, Mark 1:35, Luke 5:15-16 Jesus spoke often about how we might find a relationship with God and one of the best ways he taught about prayer was the way he lived.   He regularly would take some time away from the hustle and bustle of his life and ministry and spend time alone in prayer with God.   We regular hear that Jesus would find time to be alone in prayer particularly after spending a lot of time working. In the Gospel of Matthew we read that after Jesus had spent time with the people: “ Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,” (Matthew 14:22-23) In the Gospel of Mark we hear that after Jesus had worked hard in Capernaum healing the people “In the morning, while it was still very dark, Jesus got up and went out...

SCRIPTURE READINGS: Psalm 23 Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.   Luke 8: 26 – 39 Jesus heals the Gerasene Man Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. When he...