PEACEWeek of December 10

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Words of Assurance: In a world marred by brokenness and turmoil, we have been promised peace. 

Chaos and terror do not reign supreme, for far below the violence and war, below the hate, confusion, and pain of our world, flows a steady undercurrent, a refreshing stream, a boundless well of steadfast peace readily available to us. 

May we rejoice in the faithfulness of our Father for this promise of peace through our Savior Jesus. 

May we wait in expectant hope for the day when the peace of our Lord is restored in full once again.

Responsive Reading Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV): People: 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 

Leader: 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 

Leader: 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

People: 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel (J. Neale)O come, O come Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear

Rejoice, rejoice EmmanuelShall come to thee O Israel

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

Benediction (from 2 Thess 3:16 & 1 Thess 5:23-24):May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. 

May he sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it. 

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AdventThe Promise

Take Courage (Bethel)Slow down take time Breathe in he said He’d reveal what’s to come The thoughts in his mind Always higher than mine And he’ll reveal all to come

Take courage my heart, stay steadfast my soulHe’s in the waiting, he’s in the waitingHold onto your hope, as your triumph unfoldsHe’s never failing, he’s never failing

Sing praise my soul Find strength in joy Let his words lead you on Do not forget His great faithfulness He’ll finish all he’s begun

You who hold the stars Who call them each by name Will surely keep your promise to me That I will rise in your victory

Candle Light Reading #1 (Isaiah 61:1-3 ESV):The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion - to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified

Candle Lighting Reading #2 (A series of weekly readings from Isaiah) - from The Worship Sourcebook, p.439-440, #27

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; the one who follows me will not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

We light these candles as a sign of the coming light of Christ.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness - on them light has shined. (Isaiah 9.2, NRSV)

I will lead the blind by a road they do not know,

by the paths they have not known I will guide them.

I will turn the darkness before them into light,

the rough places into level ground.

These are the things I will do and I will not forsake them. (Isaiah 42.16, NRSV)

Come, Lord Jesus, our Promise and our Salvation.

Let us walk in the light of the Lord.

God With Us (All Sons & Daughters)Oh you’ve come to bring peace, to be love To be nearer to us Oh you’ve come to bring life, to be light To shine brighter in us Oh Emmanuel, God with us

Our deliverer, you are SaviorIn your presence we find our strengthOver everything our redemptionGod with us, you are God with us

Oh you’ve come to be hope, to this world for your honor and name Oh you’ve come to take sin, to bear shame and to conquer the grave Oh Emmanuel, God with us

You are here, you are holy We are standing in your glory

Prayer of Confession:Our holy and faithful Father, 

in Christ your promise of peace was manifested.

The hope of redemption and rest was made accessible.

Yet we are a people of war, grasping for control and driven by fear.

We are a people who favor judgement and strife over grace and unity.

We act out in hatred and violence, and then turn to you angry about the pain that surrounds us.

We confess our inability to alleviate the turmoil within our own hearts as well as in the world.

Only your peace has the power to change.

Remind us, Gracious Savior, of the infinite access we have to peace because of your sacrifice.

Forgive us, Holy Spirt, for losing sight of your constant presence.

Forgive us, Almighty God, for allowing the chaos of the world to blind us from your power.

Transform us, Holy Father, into people of your peace. Even so: Come Lord Jesus. Amen.

It Is Well (Bethel)The grand earth has quaked before Moved by the sound of his voice Seas that are shaken and stirred Can be calmed and broken for my regard

Through it all, through it all My eyes are on you Through it all, through it all, it is well Through it all, through it all My eyes are on You It is well with me

Far be it from me to not believe Even when my eyes can’t see And this mountain that’s in front of me Will be thrown into the midst of the sea

So let go my soul and trust in him The waves and wind still know his name

It is well with my soul It is well with my soul It is well with my soul It is well with my soul

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