Third Sunday of Advent: Princes and People of Peace
Organ Prelude “Introit” from Advent Suite (Pietro Yon)
Advent Welcome
Choral Introit “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates” (Williams)
Call to Worship
*Gathering Hymn #22 Angels, from the Realms of Glory
*Prayer of Invocation and Hope
One Voice: Psalm 126 includes these words: “When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion we were like those who dream… God has done great things for us, and we rejoice… Restore our fortunes, God, and may those who sow in tears, reap with Joy.” Let us pray to the God of restoration and joy:
All: Come now O God of joy and peace, and gather us in worship together. Let us receive your story, inspired by your Spirit, as we prepare for Jesus’ birth. Bless our children, help our community, and bring peace to all lives: to our own, to those who face danger, and all who work to celebrate the promises of old, and prepare the way of the Lord, even today. Amen.
*Assurance of Peace
*The Response in Praise (tune Veni Emmanuel — O Come, O Come, Emmanuel)
O Come Desire of Nations, bind All peoples in one heart and mind;
Bid envy, strife, and quarrels cease; fill the whole world with Heaven’s peace. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!
Emmanuel’s Star: The story of God-with-us, begins…
Hymns and Carols telling the story, all seated:
#41 O Come All Ye Faithful, st. 1
#23 Angels we have heard on High, st. 1 & 2
#66 We Three Kings, st. 1
#60 Silent Night, st. 1
#40 Joy to the World, st. 1
The Blessing of the Story
*The Response in Praise #40 Joy to the World st. 2 & 4
(Children depart to special activities as we sing)
The Epistle Reading 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24
A Life of Peace Ann Hulsing
The Hebrew Bible Isaiah 64: 1-4, 8-11
The Pageant Refrain Kenneth Baily
The Pastoral Prayer and Lord’s Prayer
(Our father and mother… trespasses)
Call to OfferingChoral Offering “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” (Longfellow/Huff)
*Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Christ the word in flesh born low,
Praise Holy Spirit evermore,
One God, Triune, whom we adore. Amen.
*Prayer of Dedication
*Hymn of Advent #12 People Look East
*Blessing and Benediction
*Choral Amen
Postlude “Angels We Have Heard on High” (arr. Lani Smith)
* Those who are able please stand
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Christmas Eve Worship: NHCC celebrates Christmas with 4:30 PM and 7:30 PM worship on Sunday, December 24. There is no morning service on Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day.
NHCC is an Open and Affirming, Still Speaking congregation where all are welcome regardless of the divisions or separations that some in society would impose: whoever you are, you are welcome in God’s house. “In Christ we are a new creation,” so we are blessed to be together in Christ’s name.
Thanks to worship leaders Ken Baily, Wendy Donnell, Jan Zimmerman, Yevgenia Semeina,
Joy Huber, Carol Jensen, and Misha Hill.