Order of Worship, Grafton Community Church, 12-03-23
Bill Watson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Grafton Community Church Worship
Time: Meeting – 9:45 a.m. December 03, 2023
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**In the sanctuary, masks and a safe social distance are optional. We recommend care and consideration, especially when singing or responding in prayer!!!
Order of Worship, Grafton Community Church, 12-03-23 1st Sunday of Advent with
Holy Communion
Prelude (Ken Olsson, Music Minister)
O Little Town of Bethlehem (Marianne Kim)
Let Is Break Bread Together (Anthony Giamanco)
Air in D (J. S. Bach)
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (Jonathan W. Lee)
O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Lloyd Larson)
Welcome and Announcements (Linda Robertson, Council Chair)
No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!
*Please observe a moment of silence; so we may each offer our prayers and praise to Creator, Christ & Holy Spirit.
*Hymn #119 “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
1 O come, O come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
2 O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death's dark shadows put to flight. [Refrain]
3 O come, thou Wisdom from on high, and order all things, far and nigh;
to us the path of knowledge of show, and cause us in her ways to go. [Refrain]
4 O come, Desire of nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind;
bid envy, strife and quarrels cease; fill the whole world with heaven's peace. [Refrain]
* Advent Call to Worship
One: God of Hope, we seek you.
Many: During this holy season of Advent, help us to see you in all whom we encounter.
One: God of Hope, we seek you.
Many: We seek you in the crude manger, a child born to save the world. May your hope be a
comfort to all who long for justice.
One: God of Hope, we seek you.
Many: May your hope fill our hearts and grace our lips so we might reflect your hope for all the world.
* Unison Prayer
God of Hope be with us in our Advent journey to the stable and beyond, be with us in our meeting and in our travelling together, be with us in our worship and our praying together, be with us in our Advent journey to the stable and beyond, O God of our Hope. Amen.
* Response Hymn #142 “People Look East” (verse 1)
(Candle lighters come forward during this hymn)
People look east, the time is near
of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
trim the hearth and set the table.
People look east and sing today:
Love the guest is on the way.
Reader: Come, let us worship. Worship is not special words, even sacred words. Worship is awareness. Worship is listening and learning. When we know who we are and why we exist worship penetrates to the depths. Worship isn’t pretending. It’s not parading superiority. Worship is like the flower bending to a gentle breeze. Worship is putting muscle to our caring. Worship is the realization that serving God is costly and demanding. This is a day when we embrace the hope of prophesy; so, Advent worship is coming to God’s inner chamber and daring to claim what has always been meant for us.
(First purple candle is lighted)
Reader: This first of the four candles of the Advent season helps to illuminate, for us, God’s inner chamber and the hope contained there. Peer inside for yourself during this season and find the hope that is revealed for you there.
Response: Hymn 128 “One Candle Is Lit” (verse 1)
(Candle lighters return to their seats during this hymn)
Come surely Lord Jesus as dawn follows night,
our hearts long to greet you, as roses the light.
Salvation draw near us, our vision engage.
One candle is lit for the hope of the age
Scripture:
Psalm 80: 1-3, 17-19
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up Your might, and come to save us!
Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one whom you made strong for yourself.
Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name.
Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
Matthew 24: 36-44
And Jesus said: "But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark,
and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.
Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left.
Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.
*Hymn #125 “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”
1 Come, O long-expected Jesus, born to set your people free.
From our fears and sins release us; Christ, in whom our rest shall be.
You, our strength and consolation, come salvation to impart;
dear desire of every nation, joy of many a longing heart.
2 Born your people to deliver, born a child, and yet a king,
born to reign in us forever, born your gracious realm to bring.
By your own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone;
by your all-sufficient merit raise us to your glorious throne.
All lyrics © 1995 Chalice Press
Used by Permission. CCLI License #21383697
Reflection: “Dark into Light!” Pastor Bill Watson
Synopsis: Today, on this first Sunday of Advent, we begin in darkness and doubt, while we move toward the shining Star of Bethlehem. It’s a story for the ages, when you hear it in it’s entirety, which you will today. It’s the gift of this Advent season!
*Hymn #425 “Let Us Break Bread Together”
1 Let us break bread together on our knees; (on our knees)
let us break bread together on our knees. (on our knees)
[Refrain:]
When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me. (on me)
2 Let us drink wine together on our knees; (on our knees)
let us drink wine together on our knees. (on our knees) [Refrain]
3 Let us praise God together on our knees; (on our knees)
let us praise God together on our knees. (on our knees) [Refrain]
Holy Communion
(Ken Olsson Music Minister)
Fairest Lord Jesus (Becki Slagle Mayo)
Offerings of the People
You can present your offering for the work of Grafton Community Church, using the “Donate Now” button on our Facebook page at The Grafton Church, or on our web site www.graftoncommunitychurch.org (The button may actually say “Shop Now,” but it has the same function. You will not run afoul of Martin Luther’s edicts on indulgences.)
Offertory: (Ken Olsson, Music Minister)
Peaceful Piano #9 (Mark Hayes)
Response: Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise God all creatures here below – Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise God above the source of gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts.
Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit – Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Offertory Prayer of Dedication
The Benediction & The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen.
Postlude: (Ken Olsson, Music Minister)
Festive Postlude on “Hyfrydol” (Mary McDonald)
Please greet your neighbors on Zoom or in the sanctuary, as the postlude ends. Unmute your mikes, share greetings and the peace of this virtual space.
Grafton Prayer List:
Our Planet Earth *Those with PTSD & their families *Those enduring times of stress * *Beloved pets of Grafton *Mary Karam, & the Humes family *Arlene & Ron Carey *Gaelle McLoud *Ellis Miller *Stan & Pat Mack
*Phil Rowley & the Rowley family * *Carol Bason *Phil Atwood *Bob Haseltine & the Haseltine families *Arthur Park *Bill Brown *Galen Pinkham * *Cecile & Tiffany Smith *Jane Howard (Mary Howard Feder’s mother) *Kate Gravelle *Matt Brown *Michael Brown (Matt Brown’s brother) *Pastor Harold Noyes *Michelle Dufort *Andrea Turner
*Don Polensky (Roberta & Franklin Geist’s son-in-law *Sylven Lang *Doug Wright *Jane Metcalf (Sherry Brown’s Aunt) *Cathy Hallock
Those Who Have Lost Loved Ones
*Irene Rice & family *Family & friends of Arol Ward *Family & friends of Jonathan Miller *Family and friends of Joe Valente *Family & friends of Mary Clare Ahern (Maryanne Donald’s mother) *Family & friends of Eric Lambert *Family & friends of Allison Forney (Mary Ann & Bill Kearns’ daughter) *Family & friends of Jerry Smith *Family & friends of Len Gravelle *Family & friends of Evan McCulloch Lovell *Family & friends of Henry Rounds *Family & friends of Stuart Archambault *Family & friends of Tom Rutkowski *Family & friends of Chuck Woodman *Family & friends of Dennis Hunt *Family & friends of Jim Chickering *Family & friends of Ray Durand *Family & friends of Gloria Gold (Donna Alexander’s mother) *Family & friends of Rev. Allen Humes *Family and friends of Richard Geist (Franklin Geist’s- brother) *Family & Friends of Marion Tenney *Family and friends of Patricia Hastings (Nelson Cooley’s sister.)
Extended Care:
*Denize Schemm, Vermont Veterans’ Home, Cardinal Point, 325 North St., Bennington, VT 05201
*Dottie Royal, Bromley Manor, 2595 Depot St., Manchester, VT 05255
*Mitzi Kennedy, Valley Cares, Mail: C/O Lisa Harris PO Box 264, S. Newfane VT 05351
*Luann Ward, Gill Odd Fellows Home, 18 Gill Terrace, Ludlow VT 05149
*Rev. Catherine Cadieux, Sterling House, 33 Atkinson Street, Bellows Falls VT 05101
Grafton Community Church, 55 Main Street, PO Box 158, Grafton, VT, 05146, United States
(802) 843-2346 Graftonchurch@gmail.com
Our Website: www.graftoncommunitychurch.org
On Facebook: The Grafton Church
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