Advent Café

Tonight: Once More, From the Heart

The Old Testament: Launch and Trajectory O.T.

Preparation: Matthew Genealogy Joseph The Wise Men

Preparation in Luke Marys song Once more, from the heart Not a new song –But a very new situation

Impossible birth stories Tonight: Mary, Hannah But also: –Sarah –Rebekah –Rachel –Elizabeth

…to be fulfilled in Christ

Mary: last in a lineage of grace

Read Luke 1:46-55

Read 1 Samuel 2:1-10

Hannah: 1 Samuel 1-2

A quick comparison Marys prayer –vss –vs 49 –vs 51 –vs 53 –vss Hannahs prayer – vss 1-2 –vs 2 –vss 3-4 –vs 5 –Vss 9-10

The role of Scripture in Marys life

Let the Word dwell in you richly

Kathryn Koob

A Christmas message

Become people of the Word

… because God is at work

You and I are called, too

Its a matter of heart, faith

O.T.

…and its for us.

Advent Café

Special Music By Marsha Wells

Lighting of the Candles of Hope, Peace and Joy Leader: Light and peace, in Jesus Christ our Lord. All: Thanks be to God.

Lighting of the Candles

Response All: Joy is like a light shining in a dark place. As we look at this candle we celebrate the joy we find in Jesus, our Lord.

The Advent Litany Pastor: Arise, shine, for your light has come, People: And the glory of the Lord rises upon you. Pastor: Nations will come to your light, People: And kings to the brightness of your dawn.

The Advent Litany Pastor: Then you will look and be radiant, People: Your heart will throb and swell with joy. Pastor: That which was from the beginning, People: Which we have heard, Which we have seen with our eyes,

The Advent Litany Pastor: Which we have looked at and our hands have touched – People: This we proclaim concerning the Word of life. Pastor: This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: People: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.

The Advent Litany Pastor: The light shines in the darkness, People: And the darkness has not overcome it. Pastor: The true light that gives light to everyone People: Was coming into the world.

The Advent Litany Pastor: Arise, shine, for your light has come, People: And the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

Confession of Sin Lord God, Creator of all things, we thank You for the gift You have given to us in Your Son, Jesus Christ. We thank You for the miracle of His birth, the hope with which we live, and the promise that He will return again to claim us as His own.

Confession of Sin We thank You for entering our world, taking upon Yourself our humanity, and dying the death we deserve. We confess before You our sin and unfaithfulness - our wrongful decisions, poor judgments, and improper conduct.

Confession of Sin We ask for Your mercy and grace, to wash us clean and make us right with You. All this we pray in the name of the Bethlehem Child, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Your Little Ones (LBW 52) 1. Your little ones, dear Lord, are we, And come your lowly bed to see; Enlighten every soul and mind, That we the way to you… may… find.

Your Little Ones (LBW 52) 2. With songs we hasten you to greet, And kiss the ground before your feet. Oh, blessed hour, oh, sweetest night, That gave you birth, our souls… de…light.

Your Little Ones (LBW 52) 3. Oh, draw us wholly to you, Lord, And to us all your grace accord; True faith and love to us impart, That we may hold you in…our…heart.

Your Little Ones (LBW 52) 4. Until at last we too proclaim, With all your saints, your glorious name; In paradise our songs renew, And praise you as the an…gels…do.

Advent Café