St. Paul’s United Church30 Main Street South, Brampton, ON L6W 2C4

St. Paul’s - "A caring, Christian community,sharing the love of Jesus through our words and actions."

Worship Theme: "Seeking Joy"(*Please stand as you are able*)

“As we begin today, we acknowledge the history, spirituality, culture, and stewardship of the land of the Indigenous people of this region,

most recently the Mississaugas of the New Credit who are Anishinaabe Ojibwe people. We seek to live in respect, peace, and right relations

with them as we live, work, and worship upon their traditional territory.

We are also mindful of broken covenants and the need to strive to make right with all our relations.”

The Approach of the People of God

Music as we gather

Welcome and Announcements

Lighting of the Christ Candle

Music: Brass Choir – Veni Emmanuel (1)

Call to Worship:

Hymn:* “Christ Be Our Light” (2)

Refrain: Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts,Shine through the darkness.Christ, be our light!Shine in your church gathered today.

1 Longing for light, we wait in darkness.Longing for truth, we turn to you.Make us your own, your holy people,light for the world to see. R

2 Longing for peace, our world is troubled.Longing for hope, many despair.Your word alone has power to save us.Make us your living voice. R

3 Longing for food, many are hungry.Longing for water, many still thirst.Make us your bread, broken for others,shared until all are fed. R

4 Longing for shelter, many are homeless.Longing for warmth, many are cold.Make us your building, sheltering others,walls made of living stone. R

5 Many the gifts, many the people,Many the hearts that yearn to belong.Let us be servants to one another,making your kingdom come. R

Opening Prayer:

Advent Candle Lighting

Hymn*: VU #6 1“A Candle is Burning” (3)

3 A candle is burning, a candle of joy,a candle to welcome brave Mary’s new boy.Our hearts fill with wonder, and eyes light and glowas joy brightens winter like sunshine on snow.

Lighting of the 3rd Advent Candle of JoyOne: The third candle of Advent is the Candle of Joy. It reminds us of the joy that Mary felt when the angel Gabriel told her that a special child would be born to her – a child who would save and deliver his people.

All With joyful expectancy, we await the birth of Jesus.One Joy is the oil in our lives that stops us from grinding ourselves

to pieces and burning up with friction. Like the pine boughs of ancient forests, it is the healing and soothing balm that brings peace, health and laughter.

All With laughter ringing in our hearts, we await the birth of Jesus.

One God wants us all to have joy. The angel who announced to the shepherds that Jesus had been born told them, “Do not be afraid. I am bringing you good news of a great joy for all people, for to you is born this day in the City of David, a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”

All With eager hearts, we await the birth of Jesus, the bringer of Joy.

One We light this candle to remember that Christ brings the promise of a new life – a life in which the blind receive sight, the lame walk and the prisoners are set free. We light it to remember that God is the bringer of true and everlasting joy. And with a song of profound joy in our hearts, we light this candle to remind us that our Creator brings Joy to all who look towards the light.

All The Candle of Joy is lit; an unquenchable song stirs in our soul and darkness is diminished.

Hymn*: VU #55 “In the Bleak Mid Winter” (4)

1 In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,in the bleak midwinter, long ago.

2 Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign;in the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficedthe Lord God almighty, Jesus Christ.

3 Enough for him, whom cherubim worship night and day,a breast full of milk, and a manger full of hay.Enough for him, whom angels fall down before,the ox and ass and camel which adore.

4 What can I give him, poor as I am?If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;if I were a wise man, I would do my part;yet what I can I give him - give my heart.

Listen to the Word of God

Scripture Lesson 1: Select verses from Isaiah 9 – We are told of a Prophecy

Anthem: “The Wexford Carol” (5)

Scripture Lesson 2: Select verses from Isaiah 40 – God’s people are comforted

Anthem: “Comfort Ye My People” (6)

Scripture Lesson 3: Isaiah 11:1-9 – The Peace that Christ will bring made known

Hymn: VU#20 “On Jordan’s Bank” (7)

1 On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cryannounces that the Lamb is nigh;awake and hearken, for he bringsglad tidings of the King of kings!

2 Then cleansed be every breast from sin;make straight the way for God within;and let each heart prepare a home where such a mighty guest may come.

3 In you, we find abundant life,our refuge in the midst of strife;without your grace we waste away,like flowers that wither and decay.

4 Stretch forth your hand, our health restore,and help us rise and fall no more;O let your face upon us shine,and fill the world with love divine.

5 All praise to you, eternal Son,whose advent has our freedom won;and praise to God whom we adore, with Holy Spirit evermore.

Scripture Lesson 4: Luke 1:26 - The Angel Gabriel salutes the Virgin Mary

Anthem: Night of Silence (8)

Scripture Lesson 5: Luke 2:1-8 - The birth of Jesus

Hymn: VU#62 “Once in Royal David’s City” (9)

Verse 1&2

1 Once in royal David’s Citystood a lowly cattleshedwhere a mother laid her babyin a manger for his bed.Mary was that mother mildJesus Christ her little child.

2 He came down to earth from heavenWho, with God, is over all,and his shelter was a stable,and his cradle was a stall.there among the poor and lowly,lived on earth our Saviour holy.

Scripture Lesson 6: Luke 2:8-16 - The Shepherds go to the Manger

Anthem: Gaudete (10)

Scripture Lesson 7: Matthew 2:1-11 – The Wise Men are led by the star to Jesus

Responding to God’s Word

The Offering

Offertory Music: “Fum Fum Fum” (11)

Hymn: “We Three Kings” (12)

Refrain: O star of wonder, star of night,Star with royal beauty bright,westward leading, still proceeding,guide us to thy perfect light.

1 We three kings of Orient are;bearing gifts we traverse afar,field and fountain, moor and mountain,following yonder star. R

2 Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain,gold I bring to crown Him again,King forever, ceasing never,over us all to reign. R

3 Frankincense to offer have I;incense owns a Deity nigh;prayer and praising, voices raising,worshiping God on high. R

4 Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume,breathes a life of gathering gloom;sorr’wing, sighing, bleeding, dying,sealed in the stone cold tomb. R

5 Glorious now behold Him arise;King and God and sacrifice;Alleluia, Alleluia,sounds through the earth and skies. R

Scripture Lesson 8: John 1:1-14 – John unfolds the great mystery of the incarnation

*SEE INSERT*

Hymn:* VU# 60 “O Come All Ye Faithful” (13)

Refrain: O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

1 O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem:come and behold him, born the King of angels; R

2 God of God, light of light,lo, he abhors not the virgin=s womb;very God, begotten, not created: R

3 Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;glory to God in the highest: R

4 See how the shepherds summoned to his cradle,leaving their flocks, draw nigh with lowly fear;we too will thither bend our joyful footsteps; R

5 Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;Jesus, to thee be glory given;word of the Father, now in flesh appearing: R

Blessing and Sending Forth

One: Mother God, we call to you out of winter.All: The light is coming! The sun will be reborn!One: Father God, we call to you out of stillness.All: The light is coming. The sun will be reborn!One: Creator God, we call to you with a desperate hope.All: The light is coming. The sun will be reborn!One: O Holy One, we greet your sun with gladness; with how

much more joy shall we greet your Child. We stand before you as your people of hope!

All: Alleluia! Amen.

Music as we go back to the world: “People Look East” (14)

Cover photo – “Stars” by Ozzam Ajihil. Used with permission, Creative Commons.

***

(1) arr. S. Tucker(2) B. Farrell(3) © 1986 Sandra Dean. Music: James R. Murray 1887(4) Words: Christina Georgina Rosetti ca. 1872. Music: Gustav Theodor Holst 1906(5) arr. Karen Berg(6) Beall(7) Words: Latin, Charles Coffin 1763; trans. John Chandler 1837, alt. Music: Musikalisches Handbuch, Hamburg 1690; arr. W.H. Havergal 1864; desc. Hal Hopson 1979(8) D. Kantor(9) Words: Cecil Frances Alexander 1848, alt. Music: Henry John Gauntlett 1849; harm. Arthur Henry Mann; desc. David Willcocks 1970. Harmony © 1957 Novello & Co. Limited. Descant © Oxford University Press 1970.(10) arr. Chris DaSilva(11) arr. S. Tucker(12) John H. Hopkins Jr. 1857(13) Words: English trans. Frederick Oakeley 1844, et al; French trans. Claude Rozier 1950. Music: attrib. John Francis Wade ca. 1743(14) arr. S. Tucker

PARTICIPANTS IN THIS MORNING’S SERVICE

Minister The Rev. Richard C. ChoeDirector of Music Iain MorrisonChair of Council David HymersChurch Officer Jack DrewAdvent Candle Lighting Molly and Nimrod RamnarineCo-ordinating Greeter Cathy RobertsonGreeters Beverly & Mohabir Ramnarine, Molly &

Nimrod Ramnarine, Joan & Willard Rintoul, Doug & Margo Rogers, Elizabeth Ward

Readers Andrea Kewin, Lynda Liscio, Rev. Wilma Cade, Jaden Snedker, Doug Bryden, Scott Taylor, David Maynard, Rev. Richard Choe

Brass Players Deborah Silverthorne, Matthew Morrison, Denise Taylor, Evan Morrison, Ryan Fletcher