Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Leader: Come, all who need help!
People: Our help comes from God, the One who made heaven and earth.
Leader: When life feels overwhelming, and we’re not sure where to turn, we ask: Where does our hope come from?
People: Our hope comes from God.
Leader: When stress and despair weigh us down, we know we’re not alone. God is with us, guiding us through every challenge.
People: God watches over us now and always, in our struggles and our joys.
Leader: Come, let us worship the Lord, the source of our hope.
People: We lift our eyes and hearts to You, O God, our ever - present help and hope. We come to worship you with joyful hope. Amen.
Opening Hymn
Come thou long expected Jesus UMH 196
Prayer of Confession
Holy God, we confess that we are busy with many preparations. We are busy with parties, with feasts, with giving. We are busy cleaning house and wrapping presents. We are busy with the stuff of the holiday. And we confess that our busyness may be misplaced, that we spend more time preparing for things than preparing for You. Draw us back to the center, which is You. Remind us that our hearts and souls have work to do, too. Enable us to let go of that which does not matter, and to see what does matter. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Words of Assurance
Leader: In a world filled with darkness, in the light of the candle of Hope, remember that Christ is our eternal light.
People: Christ is our Hope. In Him, we find forgiveness, restoration, and the promise of new life. Thanks be to God!
Passing of the Peace
First Reading:
Psalm 121: 1-8
Second Reading:
Daniel 6:6-27
Sermon:
Despair for Hope by Pastor Kevin Rutledge
Hymn of Response
Refiners Fire
Tithes and Offerings
Offertory Response
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow UMH 95
Offertory Prayer
God of generosity, our strength and hope come from you. As we offer our gifts, may we present our discouragement and despair, hoping for care and protection. May these offerings be used to build hope in our communities where despair previously resided. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer and Lord's Prayer
The Great Thanksgiving
Communion
Announcements
Closing Hymn
Trading My Sorrows
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
Special Insert
Advent Wreath Lighting Reading:
At times it seems like despair is all around us – and sometimes within us. Advent is a season that acknowledges that the world is not as God intends. And yet, God is doing a new thing. God asks us to hope, because we are never alone. God is with us. God gives us to one another.
Light the hope candle.
Hear these words of hope from Psalm 121:
I lift up my eyes to the hills — from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Let’s lift our eyes in hope, because God is our help and salvation.
ALL: Together, we wait. Together, we hope. Thanks be to God!
This Week's Reading Plan
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Reading: |
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Monday
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Daniel’s Visions of Judgment: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
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Tuesday
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Daniel's Prayer for the People: Daniel 9:1-6
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Wednesday
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God Protects Paul: 2 Timothy 4:16-18
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Thursday
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Protection from Enemies: Psalm 7:1-5
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Friday
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Joel's Lament: Joel 1:1-12
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Saturday
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A Call to Repentance and Prayer: Joel 1:13-14; 2:1-2, 15-16
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Sunday
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Joel’s Prophecy of Hope: Joel 2:12-13, 28-29
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