Worship Guide - First Sunday of Advent, Year B

Worship with One Click

You can choose to watch all of this Sunday's worship service in a series of linked videos, one after the other, by clicking this link. Just press the button that says "PLAY ALL" and sit back and relax. You can also just click on the graphic to the left.​ Otherwise, proceed as normal through the sections.

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I have learned to prize holy ignorance more highly than religious certainty, and to seek companions who have arrived at the same place… Like campers who have bonded over cook fires far from home, we remain grateful for the provisions that we have brought with us from those cupboards, but we also find them more delicious when we share them with one another under the stars.
~ Barbara Brown Taylor
Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith
 
Here we find ourselves. Again. Another Advent, under the stars, considering anew the hope and promise we seek, asking again, asking still, of new birth, new possibility, even as our eyes have been opened, our ears better tuned to the story around us and our place in it.

Surely, the moment is different. How could we have imagined where we would be even a year ago? Yet, these themes, these questions, these tests, these promises are still relevant. Perhaps more so. Even as we sequester ourselves, the idea of sharing these things with companions under these stars in these circumstances are no less powerful or real, but all the more cherished. “Oh that you would tear open the heavens and come down,” Isaiah prays. And so do we.
 
What is being born in you this season? In us? What do you now perceive?

​Enter into worship. Enter into hope.

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Connections with Andrea

If you have prayers you would like to share, please do so here. These will be shared by email to our St Andrew prayer list so that we pray for what you hold by name. This information is not shared online in a searchable form.

Prelude

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Gathering Song

God of power unexpected,
we want you to tear open the heavens and come down;
to make mountains quake, waters boil, and stars to fall
until all nations tremble at your presence!
But you will not perform according to our wants and whims.
Instead you come like a small, thin flame.
Instead you are born among us as an infant.
Instead you show us how love is made perfect in weakness.
So we will stay alert,
dancing with hope like this candle.
Or at least we will try.
Because we are your people
and there is no other God besides you.
Amen.

 Hymn of Praise and Wonder

Reflection, Confession, Assurance

S​end a text to a couple of people. Make a call. Who comes to mind for you? Wish them well. More than that, wish them the peace that comes with justice. Then click below.

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The Word

Healing, sovereign God,
Overmatch our resistant ears
with your transforming speech.
Penetrate our jadedness and fatigue.
Touch our yearnings by your words.
Through your out-loudness, draw us closer to you.
We are ready to listen.
Amen.

Isaiah 64:1-9 † Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 † 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 † Mark 13:24-37

Psalm Response

Meditation

A text version of the sermon can be found here.

Quinceañera Blessing

Below you will find a shorter and a longer version of the blessing for Jasmin Montano. The longer version includes Spanish translation for most of the elements.

Shorter version

Full-length version

Song of Response

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The Eucharist

If you haven’t already, set the elements—some bread, some juice or wine—in the room or space where you worship in these days with our faith community. What images and items evoke for you the hope you feel in this Advent season? Give them prominent space at your table, which is Christ’s table today.

​If a joy or a concern has come to mind, please share it with the assembly here so you do not carry it alone. These will be shared by email to our St Andrew prayer list so that we pray for what you hold by name. This information is emailed to a curated group, not shared or posted online in a searchable form.

As we respond to God's grace and new life, consider those ways you can express gratitude, thanksgiving and blessing. And remember that we continue to keep our financial commitments to our mission partners and staff. Thank you for remembering to send in your financial pledges and offerings.

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Sending Song

Charge and Blessing