VIDEO OF FULL SERVICE: https://vimeo.com/showcase/7960701/video/1040104289

ELIJAH KELLOGG CHURCH WORSHIP

12/15/2024

Third Sunday of Advent

The Sunday in Advent on Which We Commemorate Love

Music Sunday, the Sunday on Which We Celebrate the Ministry of Music Offered by Our Talented Musicians

THOUGHTS FOR MEDITATION — “Words make you think a thought. Music makes you feel a feeling. But a song makes you feel a thought.” — Harold Arlen, composer of Somewhere Over the Rainbow

“Music… can name the un-namable and communicate the unknowable.” — Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990), composer, conductor.

“Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise.” — Martin Luther

Welcome and Announcements

Passing of the Peace…

• Call to Worship —

CANTICLE
O God of Love, show us Your way,
Let love be now our guide, we pray.
Let joy and hope and peace abide,
O God of love be at our side.

ONE: Through the prophets, God promised a Messiah. We are in awe of the birth of Jesus, the incarnation, the Word of God made flesh, God’s message of the in-breaking of the fullness of the will of God into our world. Jesus came to us as a weak and vulnerable baby, the one called Emmanuel. The name Emmanuel means “God is with us.” And surely, the love of God visits us in the presence of Jesus, the Messiah.

ALL: The first Advent candle reminded us to have hope for a better world. The second reminded us that God’s dreams for peace can become real in our world. The third candle reminds us when we show forth the love of God to each person we meet the possibilities of hope and peace become tangible, real.

Prayer of Invocation

• HYMN — Sing All Creation INSERT

A Time for All Ages —

Lord’s Prayer (debts and debtors)
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

OFFERTORY INVITATION

*OFFERING RESPONSE (DOXOLOGY)
Old One-hundredth

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

Prayers of the People —

SILENCE

• HYMN — My Heart Sings Out with Joyful Praise INSERT

INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTURE

A READING FROM THE TANAKH IN THE SECTION KNOWN AS THE WRITINGS IN THE WORK KNOWN AS THE PSALMS — PSALM 96:1-4 [ILV]

[1] O sing to Yahweh, God, a new song;
sing to Yahweh, God, all the earth.
[2] Sing to Yahweh, God, bless God’s name;
Proclaim the salvation of God from day to day.
[3] Declare the glory of God among the nations,
the marvels of the works of God every people.
[4] For Yahweh, God, is great and worthy of praise;
Yahweh, God, is to be revered above all gods.

ANTHEM — O Sing Unto the Lord
Text from Psalm 96:1-4
Music by James C. Ward and Heather Sorenson

INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTURE

A READING FROM THE TANAKH IN THE SECTION KNOWN AS THE PROPHETS— Ezekiel 34:20-22a, 25, 31 [ILV]

[20] Therefore, thus says the Sovereign, Yahweh to you: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep [21] for you shove aside the weak with flank and shoulder; you butt all the weak animals with your horns until they are scattered far and wide, scattered in every direction.  [22] I will save my flock and they shall be ravaged no longer.

[25] I will make a covenant of peace with my sheep and banish wild animals from the land, so my people can live in the wild, in open pastures, and sleep safely, securely, in the forests.

[31] You, my people, are my sheep, the flock that I tend, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, says the Sovereign Yahweh.

• ANTHEM — Shepherd Me, O God
  Words and Music by Marty Haugen
  Arranged by Mark Haynes
  Kate Gray, Violin

INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTURE

A READING FROM THE TANAKH IN THE SECTION KNOWN AS THE PROPHETS— Isaiah 11:1-2

[1] A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse;
From the root of Jessie a branch will blossom.
[2] The spirit of Yahweh will rest on you—
a spirit of wisdom and understanding,
a spirit of counsel and strength,
a spirit of knowledge
and the reverence for Yahweh.

SPECIAL MUSIC — In Dulci Jubilo/While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night
Elizabeth Cromwell, Piano – Kate Gray, Violin

INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTURE

A READING FROM THE GOSPEL — Luke 1:39-45 [ILV]

[39] Within a few days after the Angel Gabriel visited, Mary set out and hurried, went with haste, into the hill country to a town of Judah.  [40] There she entered the house of Zechariah and Elizabeth and was greeted by Elizabeth.  [41] As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary return the greeting the child she was carrying leaped in her womb.  And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  [42] With a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!  [43] And why has this happened to me?  Why am I so favored that the mother of the Messiah should come to me?  [44] For the moment I heard the sound of your greeting reach my ears, the child in my womb leaped for joy.  [45] And blessed is she who believed what our God said to her, what was spoken to her would be fulfilled, would be accomplished.”

• SPECIAL MUSIC — Angels Assembled in Ordered Row
  Music by George Frederic Handel
  Arranged by Walter Ehret
  Betsey Nehf, soprano – Hub Goodrich, baritone

INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTURE

A READING FROM THE GOSPELS — Luke 2:8-14 (ILV)

[8] Now, there were shepherds in that region, living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  [9] An angel of God suddenly stood before them and the glory of God shone around them— and they were terrified.
[10] But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for you have nothing to fear; I have come to bring you good news, news of great joy for all people: [11] to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah.  [12] This will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”  [13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
[14] “Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace
among those with
whom God is pleased,
with those who keep the covenant!”

ANTHEM — One Angel Sings
Music by Tom Rasely, Lyrics by Joseph Connolly
Kate Gray, Violin

One Angel sings both silent and plain:
“A child is born— Emmanuel now!”
And suddenly shouts from heaven are heard
as the many heav’ly hosts cry out the refrain:
“Glory to God, the peace of God reigns.
Glory to God the Alpha, Omega.
Glory to God Whose presence is here.
The peace of God reigns,”
The angels proclaim!

One angel sings and freedom abounds.
A child is born, God with us now.
The peace of God Whose presence resounds,
and we respond to God with songs of praise.
“Glory to God, the peace of God reigns.
Glory to God, the Alpha, Omega.
Glory to God Whose presence is here.
The peace of God reigns,”
The angels proclaim!

One angel sings both silent and clear,
that God lives among us now in the world.
And suddenly shouts from Heaven are heard,
as the many heav’ly hosts cry out the refrain:
Glory to God, the peace of God reigns,
Glory to God, Alpha, Omega
Glory to God, Whose presence is here.
The peace of God reigns,”
The angels proclaim!
The angels proclaim!

• HYMN — When in Our Music God Is Glorified INSERT, v. 1, 2, 3

A READING FROM THE TALMUD AND A BENEDICTION

• HYMN — When in Our Music God Is Glorified INSERT, v. 4

Postlude — In Dulci Jubilo/While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night
Elizabeth Cromwell, Piano – Kate Gray, Violin