Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Come, let us go in gladness to the house of the Lord.
Let us call on the name of the Lord our God, who does awesome deeds we do not expect.
To you, O Lord, we lift up our souls. In you we trust, O God.
Let your face shine, O god; save and restore us. For you we will wait all day long.
Advent Candle Lighting
Reader 1: In the days of exile and uncertainty, the prophet Isaiah cried out:
O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence. As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you! For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you. (Isaiah 64:1-3)
Reader 2: In the midst of our own encounters with uncertainty and upheaval and our longing for deliverance, Jesus calls to us, “Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come” (Mark 13:35).
Congregation: We wait as people surprised again and again by God who shakes us out of our complacency and wakes us up to the work of the kin-dom all around us.
Reader 1: We light this candle as a sign of our shocking hope. May we stay awake to God’s activity in the world as we wait in expectation that even now God is with us, working to restore us to the fullness of life with God and one another. Amen.
Light the first candle of the Advent wreath.
Opening Hymn
O Come, O Come, Emanuel UMH 211 Vs. 1,2
Prayer of Confession
Call to Confession:
God knows the measure of the tears we drink, the weight of our burdens. But God gives us life when we call on God's name. Let us lay our tears and our burdens before God.
You have promised, O Lord, to forget your anger and remember our sins no more. We confess that we have not always walked in your paths or trusted your promises. We look for security in the wrong places, and fail to lean on your mighty, outstretched arm. We are distracted by worries and possessions and do not see the favor of your grace surrounding us.
We desire the things that will not last and neglect the abundant gifts of your Spirit. Wake us up to your goodness and mercy: hear us; forgive us; restore us. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Words of Assurance
Now consider this: we are all God's people. God will lead us like a flock, open for us streams of water in the desert, and give us life.
Thanks be to God!
Passing of the Peace
First Reading:
Jeremiah 33:14-18
Second Reading:
Luke 16:19-31
Sermon:
Caught in Chains We Cannot See by Pastor Kevin Rutledge
Hymn of Response
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
Tithes and Offerings
In the Bleak Midwinter UMH 221 Vs. 4
Why This Song:
What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb,
if I were a wise man I would do my part,
yet what I can I give him, give my heart.
Offertory Prayer
Lord of Compassion, your Word assures us of your faithfulness and your desire to show mercy. As we give today, we express our gratitude for the compassion you've shown us. We recognize that in our acts of kindness and generosity, we can break chains for others. Bless these offerings, and use them to extend your love to those who need it most. In Jesus' compassionate name, we pray. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer and Lord's Prayer
Announcements
Closing Hymn
People, Look East UMH 202
Benediction
Said Each Week as A Communal Prayer:
Send to us all the people who feel unwanted and unloved in other places, and if they can't come to us, send us to them.
Postlude
This Week's Reading Plan
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Reading: |
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Monday
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Young Jews in Exile: Daniel 1:1-7
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Tuesday
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Faithful Living in a New Land: Daniel 1:8-17
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Wednesday
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The Wise Exiles: Daniel 1:18-21
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Thursday
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Worship the Golden Statue: Daniel 3:1-7
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Friday
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Three Faithful Men: Daniel 3:8-18
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Saturday
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The Fiery Furnace: Daniel 3:19-30
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Sunday
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Comfort, Comfort My People: Isaiah 40:1-11
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Reflections and Caring Conversations
Please use the prompts and prayers below to aid you in your devotions for this week.
Morning Prayer: Heavenly Father, as I start my day, I am reminded of your boundless love and mercy. Open my eyes to the chains that may be binding me and hindering my walk with You. I ask for the wisdom to recognize them, and the strength to cast them aside. Help me to fully embrace the transformative power of Your grace, as we explore in our recent sermon. Let my actions today reflect Your love, compassion, and kindness. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Evening Prayer: Lord of Comfort, as I reflect on the day, I acknowledge my fears, regrets, and the chains that may have bound me. Help me to confront these chains and strive for transformation. Help me to embrace the wisdom from our beloved Christmas stories and use it to inspire my personal growth. As I sleep tonight, may I rest in Your assurance of hope and freedom. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Reflection Question 1: Considering the parallels drawn in the sermon between the rich man in the biblical story of Lazarus and Ebenezer Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol," how can we recognize and address any similar attitudes of indifference or selfishness in our own lives?
Reflection Question 2: The sermon discusses the concept of being bound by metaphorical chains, which may be caused by past experiences, present circumstances, or fears of the future. Reflect on what chains might be holding you back in your life and consider ways you might work towards breaking free from them.
Reflection Question 3: The sermon discusses the role of the Holy Spirit in helping us recognize the chains that bind us. How can we become more attuned to the Spirit's guidance in our journey towards self-discovery and transformation?