This is where notes live – there are useful tips on several of the slides – please read them. This Call to Worship liturgy is written to be compatible with the traditional Advent* wreath+candles. If you are not familiar with this tradition, you can read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advent_wreath or other internet sources. Slides 1: Instructions – not for use in worship Slide 2: For use while people are coming in Slides 3-4: Call to worship (with reading in notes) Slide 5: Story Option 1. Placeholder for ‘Story’ Video (delete if not using video) Slide 6: Story Option 2: Story slide (with reading in notes) – delete if using video instead Slide 7: Call to worship completion (candle lighting) You can use this liturgy without the candle if you prefer – just remove the word ‘candle’ from the header of the last slide. Notes in italics are just for your information. Words NOT in italics are for reading out by the worship leader. *The tradition involves pink or purple candle lit every Sunday of advent, with a white Christ candle lit on Christmas day. The candles traditionally have Joy, Hope, Peace and Love as their themes. The candles are commonly arranged within a wreath of green leaves and flowers.

You might want to have this slide up when people are coming into church

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 The Call to Worship - the following words are meant to be read aloud when this slide is on the screen. They can be read by the worship leader, or the lines shared out to be read by several people in turn (they are numbered so you can keep track) TO BE READ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. “Prince of peace” they called him, this child who once lay quiet in the arms of his mother, reverently visited by foreigners from the East as a king plotted his murder. During this third week of Advent, we reflect on peace that couldn’t be further from the zen tranquility of popular advertising. Instead, the peace of Christ in Jesus has muscle, boldly dismantling the familiar stereotypes that feed conflict. Outsiders from the East bring gifts at birth; the hated Samaritan is a model neighbour; the hands of the Gentile are clean enough to hold and break bread with; women are worthy of conversation. This is the peacemaking of Jesus and we enter into its circle, looking beyond the familiar stories told about our neighbours of different race and religion to find the common humanity that unites us. This is peace.

Leader: Our God, the peace we long for at this time of year is a simple peace – a release from canned carols and the chaos of malls. Together: In this season of Advent, gift to us your grounded stillness, and from this place, the peace that comes not only from the absence of conflict but the presence of justice. Send us to those we sometimes avoid; walk with us toward those we sometimes fear; help us extend the hand of friendship toward those with whom we have not spoken in years. Grant us your life changing, reconciling peace. Amen Call to worship 2: Read & response by congregation. If you have chosen NOT to use the ‘Story of …’ part of the liturgy, then you can move straight to the last slide which is to be read while someone lights the advent Candles.

A Story of Peace – The Peacemakers of South Sudan Play video here The Story of Peace If you have already downloaded the video, please play the video. To download the video, please go to http://www.unitingworld.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Advent-PEACE-for-South-Sudan-960-x-540.mp4 If you have internet connection at your church to play the video without having to download, please go to http://www.unitingworld.org.au/advent/ If you are using the video, then you can delete the next slide. If you don’t have the ability to play sound, you can delete this slide and use the next slide to share the Story of Peace.

A Story of Peace – The Peacemakers of South Sudan The Story 1 Use this slide if you don’t have the ability to play the video of the Story of Peace. The worship leader can read the words below while this slide is shown. If you are using the video, then you can delete this slide. If you are using this slide, then you can delete the previous slide with the video Leader: South Sudan, the world’s newest nation, has struggled for peace since its birth. Tribes who fought shoulder to shoulder for independence now fight each other for power. God’s Church in South Sudan is at the forefront of the peace movement, advocating for peace with political leaders, and also working in the grass roots of the community, healing trauma, teaching reconciliation and forgiveness, building bridges between warring groups. Christian leaders who fled in the war have returned to rebuild the church so that vital work in the community can be restarted. The provide practical care for people who have lost homes and livelihoods, train teachers and rebuild schools so children have hope for the future, support health workers and midwives to save lives. There is much work to be done, and the church is striving to train new leadership to replace all who died or fled in the war.

Prayer of Peace Prince of Peace, we rejoice in your gospel of reconciliation and justice. We celebrate the courage of your people in South Sudan. We ask your blessing on all those who care for traumatised people, bringing healing and hope to hurting people. Lord, bless and prosper the work of the peacemakers. Help them as they strive to build strong communities, teach forgiveness, traini teachers and midwives, support women and girls earn livelihoods and hold their politicians to account. Inspire us Lord, to be compassionate to the victims of war and violence. Give us courage to put aside fear and strive for peace. The Story -2 This prayer is a response to the Story of Hope and can be done in 3 ways. The worship leader reads the whole prayer and the congregation says Amen As a call and response between the worship leader and the congregation as per the bold The congregation says the whole prayer together

A Candle of PEACE We celebrate God’s work in the world. Peace is among us In the birth of a child In the life of our Saviour In the presence of God’s people through relationships made new We celebrate and give thanks Amen Call to Worship 3: These words are meant to be read while the Advent candle* is lit. 1. They can be read entirely by the worship leader or the person lighting the candle 2. Or they can be done as a call & response with the congregation as per the bold lines. This liturgy is written to be used with the traditional Advent wreath+candles. If you are not familiar with this tradition, you can read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advent_wreath or other internet sources. The tradition involves pink or purple candle is lit every Sunday of advent, with a white Christ candle lit on Christmas . The candles traditionally have Joy, Hope, Peace and Love as their themes. You can use this liturgy without the candle if you prefer – just remove the word ‘candle’ from the header of this slide, and add it to the call to worship liturgy.