1. Second Sunday of Advent

2. Welcome and Announcements
Cambridge Chimes
Welcome and Announcements
Greeting Each Other
Ringing of the Bell

3. Lighting of the candles
Prelude
“Excerpts from ‘The Nutcracker Suite’”
~Tchaikovsky
Lighting of the candles

4. P: Sometimes it is too much for our hearts, minds, and souls to bear.
*CALL TO WORSHIP
L: Friends, we live in a busy world, leading hectic lives, with frantic people around us.
P: Sometimes it is too much for our hearts, minds, and souls to bear.

5. L: The Christmas season sometimes feels no different.
P: As a matter of fact, sometimes it feels worse!
L: What would make the season better, calmer, richer?

6. P: We need peace; we need someone to help us, to calm us, to center us.
L: Let us remember today that Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.”

7. P: We desire the peace of Jesus, which passes all understanding.
L: May Christ’s Peace cover, compose, and calm us this hour.

8. P: Come, Peace of Christ; fill us deeply as we stand here, awaiting your presence.

10. LIGHTING OF THE PEACE CANDLE
L: Last week we lit the candle of Hope.
P: That Hope strengthens our hearts and carries us ahead.

11. L: As we walk toward Christmas and meeting our Savior, P: We long for what God has promised God’s people: L: By God’s tender mercy, P: The dawn from on high will break upon us!

12. L: That dawn is Jesus, God Incarnate, God in our midst
L: That dawn is Jesus, God Incarnate, God in our midst. P: With deep love for us, God guides us into the way of Peace. L: We light the candle of Peace to remind us of our world’s great need.

13. P: We are indeed a people of Peace
P: We are indeed a people of Peace. Let us receive and carry God’s Peace.

15. HYMN #13 “Prepare the Way” v.1
Prepare the way, O Zion, Your Christ is drawing near! Let every hill and valley a level way appear.

16. HYMN #13 “Prepare the Way” v.1
Great One who comes in glory, foretold in sacred story, O blest is Christ that comes in God’s most holy name.

17. HYMN #13 “Prepare the Way” v.2
Christ brings God’s rule, O Zion, He comes from heaven above. His rule is peace and freedom, and justice, truth, and love.

18. HYMN #13 “Prepare the Way” v.2
Lift high your praise resounding, for grace and joy abounding. O blest is Christ that comes in God’s most holy name.

19. HYMN #13 “Prepare the Way” v.3
Fling wide your gates, O Zion, Your Savior’s rule embrace. And tidings of salvation proclaim in every place.

20. HYMN #13 “Prepare the Way” v.3
All lands will bow rejoicing, their adoration voicing. O blest is Christ that comes in God’s most holy name.

21. *PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)
Lord, hear us this day as we open our hearts and our spirits to you. The times in which we live can feel confusing and fearful. We are in a season that should bring hope and peace,

22. yet we crowd it with obligations and stresses
yet we crowd it with obligations and stresses. As we get overwhelmed with busyness, we shut the door to your healing love and compassion. We find ourselves being on edge, fretful,

23. wondering if we have done enough, given enough
wondering if we have done enough, given enough. You answer our fears with your voice: “Peace, be still”. Slow us down. Help us to hear you.

24. Encourage us to take time to listen rather than shout; to stop and rest rather than run. Forgive us when we walk in the darkness. Help us see your light.

25. (Silence is observed for individual reflection and prayer)

26. * ASSURANCE OF PARDON
L: Jesus said, “I bring you peace, not the kind of peace the world offers you. Be at peace. Know God’s love is given to you.”
P: Thanks be to God. Amen.

27. PROCLAIMING THE WORD
SCRIPTURE READING:
Luke 1:68-79

28. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, and he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we would be saved from our enemies

29. and from the hand of all who hate us
and from the hand of all who hate us. Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without

30. fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days
fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.

31. By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

32. SCRIPTURE READING:
Luke 3:1-6

33. In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high-priesthood of Annas and

34. Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah.

35. ‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the

36. salvation of God”.’
L: This is the word of the Lord.
P: Thanks be to God!

37. “PUZZLE PRESENTS”
Sunday School Pageant

38. Narrator: Those who have walked in great darkness have seen a great light. Those who lived in a land of darkness – on them light has shined.
Congregation: Hallelujah!

39. Narrator: Look, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son
Narrator: Look, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son. And they shall call Him Emmanuel, God with us. Congregation: Hallelujah!

40. Narrator: See, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people. To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is the Messiah, the Lord Congregation: Hallelujah!

41. PRESENCE to Jesus is the best PRESENT
Giving your
PRESENCE to Jesus is the best PRESENT
you can give!

42. Welcome Christmas
(Solo):
Fah who foraze, dah who doraze! Welcome Christmas, come this way! Fah who foraze, dah who doraze! Welcome Christmas, Christmas Day.

43. (Narrators):
Welcome, welcome, fah who ramus! Welcome, welcome, dah who damus! Welcome Christmas while we stand, Heart to heart and Hand in Hand!

44. (Congregation & Youth):
Fah who foraze, dah who doraze! Welcome Christmas, bring your cheer! Fah who foraze, dah who doraze! Welcome all from far and near.

45. You’re the one I want to be with, You’re the reason that I came.
You will find me near you always, I’ll be whispering your name.
Love, Jesus

46. HYMN #3 “Comfort, Comfort You My People” v.1
Comfort, comfort you my people, Tell of peace, thus says our God; Comfort those who sit in darkness Bowed beneath oppression’s load.

47. HYMN #3 “Comfort, Comfort You My People” v.1
Speak you to Jerusalem Of the pace that waits for them; Tell them that their sins I cover, And their warfare now is over.

48. HYMN #3 “Comfort, Comfort You My People” v.2
For the herald’s voice is calling In the desert far and near, Bidding us to make repentance Since the kingdom now is here.

49. HYMN #3 “Comfort, Comfort You My People” v.2
O that warning cry obey! Now prepare for God a way; Let the valleys rise in meeting And the hills bow down in greeting.

50. HYMN #3 “Comfort, Comfort You My People” v.3
Make you straight what long was crooked, Make the rougher places plain; Let your hearts be true and humble, As befits God’s holy reign.

51. HYMN #3 “Comfort, Comfort You My People” v.3
For the glory of the Lord Now o’er earth is shed abroad; And all flesh shall see the token That God’s word is never broken.

52. OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD
Offertory Invitation
Offertory
“What Child is This?”
~Beltnke

53. Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
*DOXOLOGY #542, v.4
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

54. *PRAYER OF DEDICATION
God of calm and content, we offer our humble gifts and the service of our lives in the hope that they will be pleasing to you. We pray that, with your blessing,

55. they will produce a harvest of peace, healing, and love
they will produce a harvest of peace, healing, and love. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

56. JOYS AND CONCERNS
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
PASTORAL PRAYER

57. The Lord’s Prayer (unison)
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come; thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

58. 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.

59. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

60. BEARING AND FOLLOWING THE WORD INTO THE WORLD

61. HYMN #44 “O Little Town of Bethlehem” v.1
O little town of Bethlehem how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.

62. HYMN #44 “O Little Town of Bethlehem” v.1
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light; The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

63. HYMN #44 “O Little Town of Bethlehem” v.2
For Christ is born of Mary; and gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.

64. HYMN #44 “O Little Town of Bethlehem” v.2
O morning stars, together proclaim the Holy birth! And praises sing to God the King, and peace to all on earth.

65. HYMN #44 “O Little Town of Bethlehem” v.3
How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heaven.

66. HYMN #44 “O Little Town of Bethlehem” v.3
No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.

67. HYMN #44 “O Little Town of Bethlehem” v.4
O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today.

68. HYMN #44 “O Little Town of Bethlehem” v.4
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel!

69. BENEDICTION

70. Postlude “Fah Who Foraze (Welcome Christmas)”