December 16, 2018

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December 16, 2018

As you enter please take a candle from the table in the center aisle and light it from one of the larger candles in the cancel and place it upright in the sand. This symbol reminds us that, even when the night is very dark, whether in our own life or in the life of humanity, Christ’s love is a fire that never goes out. After the Word is spoken there will be periods of silence when we are invited to reflect on a word or phrase that touches our heart. It is a time of prayerful communication with God, for when we are silent in God’s presence and open to the Holy Spirit we are praying. Welcome Song: Come and Fill Come and fill our hearts with your peace. You alone, O Lord, are holy. Come and fill our hearts with your peace. Alleluia! First Reading: 14

Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! 15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more. 16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak. 17 The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing 18 as on a day of festival. I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it. 19 I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I will save the lame

Zephaniah 3:14-20

and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. 20 At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the Lord. Silence Song: Wait for the Lord (with cantor solo) Wait for the Lord, whose day is near. Wait for the Lord: be strong, take heart! Second Reading: (read responsively) 2

Isaiah 12:2-6

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the LORD GOD is my strength and my might, and has become my salvation. 3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the LORD, call on God’s name; make known the deeds of the LORD among the nations; proclaim that this name is exalted. 5 Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth. 6 Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Silence Song: Lord Jesus Christ (with cantor solo) Lord Jesus, your light shines within us. Let not my doubts nor darkness speak to me. Lord Jesus Christ, your lights shines within us. Let my heart always welcome your love.

Gospel:

Luke 3:7-18

7

John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” 11In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” 12Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” 14Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.” 15As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 18So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. Silence Meditation Song: O Lord, Hear My Prayer O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my prayer, When I call answer me. O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my prayer, Come and listen to me. As we await the coming of Christ, we pray in hope for the church, the world, and all of creation. A brief silence. For choirs, hymn writers, musicians, and off-key singing, we give you thanks, Holy One. Fill us with your song of joy. Open us to proclaim your glory in our singing, speaking, and silence. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For the hurting places in creation; for seas and lands ravaged by natural disasters; for communities and creatures displaced by floods and droughts. Grant peace through your presence and joy in your healing. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. For peace to ring out in our hearts and in our homes; for mercy and forgiveness to reign in every community; for war to cease and hunger to end. Give us this joy now, Holy One. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. For those who are oppressed; for soldiers and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and their families; for neighbors who have no access to medical care; for those who are ill and those who mourn (especially those on our prayer list*). Fill them with your peace. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. For foster families opening their homes; for grandparents raising grandchildren; for single parents struggling to make ends meet; for expectant parents who now grieve. Give strength and comfort, Holy One. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. In thanksgiving for preachers and teachers who have guided us on the way. Bring us with them to rejoice eternally in you. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Confident that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, we bring to you these prayers and those unspoken, in the name of Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. *Richard, Eric, Krysta & Ross, Ricky, Margaret, Pat, Danny, Charlene, Marcelle, Susan, Anthony, Alice, Arlene, Jackie, Ray, Katelyn, Kenneth, Sean, Ellen, Diane, Gunhild, Katherine, Tobi, Jack, Michelle, Jessica, Jimi, Bill, Daniel, Joseph, Robin, Lois, Susie, Evelyn & Niko & their family, Kimberly, Jon, Kenneth, Carol, Rolando, Lois, Charles, Michael, Angel, Christopher, Marie, Ron, Roger, Joe, Vanessa, Matt & his family, Diane, Jennifer, Steve, Pastor Fred, Dorothy, Annette, Nancy, Martha, Pat, Judi, Teddy, William, Kee Wai, Maryellen, Ellie, Karen, and Richard Words of Institution The Lord’s Prayer (sung in unison) Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the pow’r, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen

Communion All are welcome to the Lord’s Table. Pastor Olsen will give verbal instructions regarding the distribution. Song: Eat this Bread Eat this bread, drink this cup, come to me and never be hungry. Eat this bread, drink this cup, trust in me and you will not thirst. Prayer: Holy One, we give you thanks that in this bread and cup we have feasted again on your endless love. Let that love overflow more and more in our lives, that we may be messengers to prepare your way, harvesters of justice and righteousness, and bearers of your eternal Word, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Song: In the Lord In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful, In the Lord I will rejoice! Look to God, do not be afraid; Lift up your voices, the Lord is near. Lift up your voices, the Lord is near. You are invited to approach the cross to pray during the singing of “Jesus Remember Me.” Jesus remember me, When you come into your Kingdom. Jesus remember me, When you come into your Kingdom. Source: Prayer for Each Day—Taize GIA Publications, Inc., Chicago, IL, 1998

Please feel free to remain in prayer or meditation and as you finish, to join us for refreshments in the narthex. A free-will offering basket is located in the back of the sanctuary. Funds will be used to support our Taize Ministry.

Candles, Votives & Music Materials were donated in memory of Vincent Cronin & Hugo Spadaro.

Meditative Singing Singing is one of the most essential parts of worship. Short songs repeated again and again give our singing a meditative quality. Using just a few words they express a basic reality of faith. In our meditative singing we are listening to God and waiting on Him. These songs also sustain personal prayer. They can continue in the silence of our hearts when we are at work or resting. They allow us to keep praying even when we are unaware of it. Icons Icons contribute to the beauty of worship. They are like windows open on the realities of the Kingdom of God, making them present in our prayer on earth. Although icons are images, they are not simply illustrations or decorations. They are symbols of the incarnation, a presence which offers to the eyes the spiritual message that the word addresses to the ears. Silence Our times of silence become a time of waiting on the Lord. Sometimes when we try to communicate with God in words, we come up short. At those times the Holy Spirit prays for us as we focus on God’s Presence. In our silence we hope and trust in God. Prayer around the Cross Prayer around the cross is a way of expressing an invisible Communion not only with the crucified Jesus but with all who suffer: all the victims of abandonment, abuse, discrimination or torture, and all those condemned to silence. In the center of the church the cross is laid flat. While the meditative singing continues, those who wish to do so may come up to the cross to pray. They can make a gesture, such as placing a hand or forehead on the cross, as a sign they are entrusting to Jesus all that burdens them individually, as well as the difficulties of others known personally, or those unknown: the oppressed, the ill, the poor, the persecuted. This prayer reminds us, not only is Jesus risen from the dead, but He accompanies every human being in his/her suffering, even when we don’t recognize His Presence.

Have you been wondering what Taize means? Yes, it is a certain type of worship, but its name comes from a village in eastern France. Since 1940 Taize has been the home of an ecumenical community of brothers whose prayer three times a day forms the center of their lives. Today Taize is a place where visitors of all ages and backgrounds come on pilgrimages and to participate in prayer and reflection. Their unique style of music and worship bridges denominational and cultural barriers. Brother Roger Schutz first came to Taize in 1940. He dreamed of starting a community" on account of Christ and the Gospel." Since it was during the war, his house became a place of welcome to refugees, especially to Jews fleeing Nazi occupation. Other brothers joined him, committed to a life of celibacy and to life together. Initially the community was made of brothers from various Protestant denominations, but today it includes many Catholics also. There are 100 brothers of Taize representing every denomination and race and culture. The brothers live on every continent and among the poor and downtrodden. Since the fall of communism thousands of young people have come to Taize from Eastern Europe. Between Christmas and New Years, the community holds a "Pilgrimage of Trust" in a European capital. In a recent meeting 100,000 young people were in attendance. Taize's mission from the very beginning has been to strive for reconciliation among Christians split apart into different denominations. However, the community does not view reconciliation among Christians as an end in itself; it concerns the reconciliation of all of humanity, since it makes the church a place of communion for all.