December 7, 2003

Be alert!
God is on the move!

Focus: Prepare the way of the Lord!
Purify your hearts in preparation for the King.

God is on the move raising up
a mighty Savior who will bring
righteousness and peace.

December 7, 2003
Week 2 of Advent

Gathering in Christ's name

Scripture proclamation
Call to Worship

Leader :Prepare the way of the Lord!
People:The One whom we seek will suddenly come;
the One in whom we delight indeed is coming.
Leader: But who can endure the day of God's coming?
People: We look for the One who will purify us like gold and silver.
All:Come, Lord of life, cleanse us and prepare our hearts
for your renewing work today.

Hymns Hark! The herald angels sing HWB 201
O come, O come, Immanuel HWB 172

Children's story Drama presented by youth
Hymn O come, all ye faithful HWB 212
Prayer of confession

Refiner God,
we confess that we are unholy and unwhole.
Distracted by deadlines and too many things to do,
we forget to look for your presence and your movement in our lives.
Though we long for peace, we can't find peace anywhere -
in our own lives or in the world.
Be patient with us.
Cleanse us and forgive our sins.
Let your tender mercy shine upon us,
and guide our feet into the way of peace. AMEN

Proclaiming God's Word

Scripture Malachi 3:1-4; Luke 1:68-79; Phil 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-6
Sermon Beyond Imagination
Hymn Angels we have heard on high HWB 197

Responding to God's call

Joys and concerns
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord's Prayer
Offering
Announcements
Hymn What child is this HWB 215
Benediction

Leader: Now go forth in the paths of peace.
ALL: For we know that God's good work among us
is moving to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.

Today

Worship Leader - Youth
Music - Youth
Sermon - Roy Hange
Nursery - Maren Tyedmers Hange

Announcements

Congratulations to Megan and David Mouberry on the birth of Winter Marie Mouberry on November 28.

Come and join us for our Christmas Program on Saturday, December 13, at 5 pm at the church. This is followed by caroling in the neighborhood. Bring some cookies and invite a friend.

You are invited to join the Hange family for cookies and carols around the tree on December 21 at 4 pm. Just bring yourselves. Cookies and drinks provided.

First Baptist Church on Park Street will present A Time for Christmas - A dramatic Musical on December 13 & 14 at 3:30 pm and 7:00 pm. Free Tickets are available beginning December 1.

The Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice is organizing a small series of public actions of pro-peace witness this coming Thursday, Dec 11 under the ever timely theme: "Peace on Earth". 4-5:00 pm. Pro-Peace presence outside the Federal Building, McIntyre Rd and East Main St. 5:15-6:00 pm. Candlelight vigil for peace at Central Square, downtown mall.

Prayers and Praises

VMBM: A six-member YES team began a term of service in Albania this past week, so they are busy learning the language and culture. They will be working for eight months with Dan and Mary Hess and the missionary team in the villages surrounding Lushnje.

Mennonite Mission Network: Gilberto Flores, Mennonite Mission Network director of Leadership Development, is leading a workshop, "Self Study Discipline," for the Instituto Bíblico Anabautista leadership training team of Gulf States Conference this weekend. Pray that the impact on participants will carry on after the conference.

Pray for the local services for people in need: Love Inc., Shelter for Help in Emergency, Foodbank and the Salvation Army.