A Celtic Caim:
Keep shadows without and light within let the light shine that we may be renewed.
Keep fear without and justice within; comfort, comfort all people.
Keep chaos without and life within; may those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.
Keep despair without and hope within; may we turn and having turned rejoice.
Come, O Advent God, and reveal your promise in us now.
     (Seasons of the Spirit , Advent - Christmas- Epiphany 2008 - 2009 page 29 modified )

Call to Worship:
From the east and from the west, from the north and from the south, and joined online we have gathered, called by Holy Mystery, by the God who loves us. Every high mountain and the everlasting hills are to be made low and the valleys are to be filled; so that all God's people may walk in safety. Let us worship God as those who seek to build and dwell in peace. May we worship and offer our prayers and our praise. Come let us join our voices and our hearts as together we worship.
     (Seasons of the Spirit SeasonsFUSION , Advent - Christmas- Epiphany 2015 -2016 page 64 modified)

Opening Hymn: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” # 1 VU (Vs. 1 - 3)
1. O come, O come, Emanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lowly exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

2. O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who orders all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.
Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

3. O come, O come, great God of might,
who to your tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times once gave the law
in cloud, and majesty, and awe.
Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Advent Candle Lighting:
In the early hours of every morning, the inky blue of the sky slowly begins to purple, heralding that the night is passing and morning comes. Today we light the second Advent candle. As the flame begins to burn, we are reminded of the gentle wind that each dawn brings, pushing us ever closer to the kingdom's - the kin-dom's vision.
We light the second Advent Candle
We pray:
As we wait through the time of Advent for the coming celebration of Jesus's birth, may we be drawn together May we be open to recognize your presence all around us, even when all seems shadowed and overwhelming. Amen.
     ( written by James Ravenscroft Gathering, Advent - Christmas- Epiphany 2018- 2019 page 70 modified )

Hymn: “Hope Is a Star” # 7 VU (Verse 1 only)
1. Hope is a star that shines in the night,
leading us on till the morning is bright.
Refrain:
When God is a child there's joy in our song.
The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid.

2. Peace is a ribbon that circles the earth,
giving a promise of safety and worth.
Refrain:

Opening Prayer
Holy Presence, source of peace, there is much for us to do this Advent season. We are called to prepare the way of peace. There is a new thing that is meant to be done in and through us. Like the refiner's fire that purifies the old so that the new may shine through, may we be refined and renewed in our purpose as builders and bringers of peace. May what we share as we worship kindle a fire within us and give us the courage and insight we need to seek justice not just for some but for all, to build a world of inclusion and acceptance, where everyone has space and place, a shalom community of grace, a community of unconditional love, a community of compassion. Amen.

Words of Assurance:
God's grace is in that still, small voice that calls to our hearts at all times and in all places. Open your hearts and listen for this voice of love and be renewed in hope.
     (Seasons of the Spirit , Advent - Christmas- Epiphany 2021-2022 page 43 modified )

Halle, Halle, Halle: Sing Twice  # 958 VU {Please Stand}
HALLE, HALLE, HALLELUYAH, HALLE, HALLE, HALLELUYAH
HALLE, HALLE, HALLELUYAH, HALLELUYAH, HALLELUYAH.

A Reading from the book of the prophet Malachi: 3: 1 - 4
The Coming Messenger
See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight-indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.

Time with the Young and the Young at Heart:

Responsive Reading from the Gospel of Luke: 1: 68 -79 # 900 VU
Refrain: God shall fulfil the promise and bring the people peace.

Blessed be the God of Israel,
who has come to the people and set them free,
who has raised up for us a mighty saviour,
born of the house of the servant David.
Through the holy prophets of old God promised to save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us,
to show the mercy promised to our ancestors,
to remember the holy covenant, the oath God swore to our ancestors Abraham and Sarah,
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to serve God without fear, holy and righteous in God's presence, all the days of our life.    Refrain:
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way,
to give the people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who sit in darkness, in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.   Refrain:

A Reading from the Gospel of Luke: 3: 1 - 6
The Proclamation of John the Baptist
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'”

Message: “A Voice Calling In the Desert. Repent! Repent!”

Gifts of the People:

Invitation to the Offering
It is the season of Advent, the season of gifts and giving. As followers of the Prince of Peace we are called to be those who work for peace and keep the peace. May we this day know the gift of peace and may the offering we make be part of building the peaceable kin-dom, kingdom of which Christ speaks. The offering will now be brought forward.

Doxology: “For the Gift of Creation”  (Tune # 538 VU)
For the gift of creation, the gift of your love,
and the gift of the Spirit by which we live,
we thank you and give you the fruit of our hands.
May your grace be proclaimed by the gifts that we give.

Prayer
God of abundance, sustain in us a willing spirit to serve your purpose in the world. Inspire us to share peace where there is turmoil, to bring healing to places of hurt, to shine your love into the overlooked corners of our world. Remind us of the joy of reaching out to you even as you draw near to us. Bless all that we offer this day. Amen.
     (written by Gil Le Fevre Gathering, Advent - Christmas- Epiphany 2021- 2022 page 34 modified )

Hymn: “We Are One” # 402 VU (Vs. 1 - 3)
1. We are one as we come, as we come, joyful to be here.
in praise on our lips there's a sense that God is near.
We are one as we sing, as we seek, we are found;
and we come needful of God's grace as we meet, together in this place.

2. We are one as we share, as we share brokenness and fear,
in the touch of a hand there's a sense that God is here.
We are one as we care, as we heal, we are healed;
and we share warmth in God's embrace as we pray together in this place.

3. We are one as we feast, as we feast, peace becomes the sign;
in the bread and the wine there's a sense of love divine.
We are one as we come, as we feed, we are fed;
and we feel God's refreshing grace as we meet at table in this place.

A Celebration of The Lord's Supper:

Invitation:
In the name of the One who said, "I am the bread of life," I invite you to come and eat. In the name of the One who said, "I am the true vine," I invite you to come and drink. In the name of the One who said," Love one another, as I have loved you," I invite you to the table of Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us.
     Celebrate God's Presence page 270 adapted Used with Permission

The Prayer of Great Thanksgiving:
Glory to God in the highest!
And on earth, peace to all.
Lift up your hearts,
We lift them up to God.
Blessed are you, gracious God, Creator of light, Giver of all life, Source of love. Your song of wisdom rang out before the world began: your ancient love still touches us and stirs within us. Even when we turn away from you, you keep faith with us. You send your messengers to prepare a way through the wilderness of our living to guide us in the path of wholeness, to call us to repent. In Mary, woman of your promise, you showed us courage and faith: in the fullness of time, you sent us your greatest gift, Jesus, herald of hope, maker of peace. So it is that we join in the Advent prayer of your people. O Come, O come, Emmanuel. As we watch and wait for your coming, we proclaim your goodness.

Holy, holy, holy, vulnerable God.
Maker of earth and heaven.
Blessed, too, is the one who comes
Into our world to bring new life.
Hosanna in the highest.

Mighty and tender God, in Jesus of Nazareth we recognize the fullness of your grace: light, life, and love, revealed in words that confront and comfort us, in teachings that challenge and change us, in compassion that heals and frees us. And now we gather at this table to remember and to be filled with such longing for your realm, that we may rise together to turn our worship into witness and to follow in your way.
We remember that when Jesus ate with his friends, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it, he broke it and gave it to them, saying: Take, eat. This is my body, given for you. Each time you do this, remember me. Then, he took a cup, and after giving thanks, passed it to his friends, saying:
Drink. This cup that is poured out for you is the promise of God, made in my blood. Whenever you drink it, remember me. At this time, we also remember all with whom you would have us share your feast. We pray for all who are in sorrow or in pain . . .all who are ill or alone . . .all who live with fear oppression, or hunger . . .for all whom the world counts as last and least . . . .We pray for the church and its varied ministries . . .for nations as they strive for peace and justice . . . for all our families and friends . . . .Loving God, we rejoice in the gift of your grace, remembering Christ's life and death, proclaiming his resurrection, waiting in hope for his coming again. Grant that, in praise and thanksgiving, we may so offer ourselves to you that our lives may proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again in you and me.

Send, O God, your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts, that all who share in this loaf and cup may be the body of Christ: light, life, and love in the world. In this hope and as your people, we praise you. Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory is yours, God most holy, now and forever. And now we pray as Jesus taught, saying or softly singing … Our Father…    Amen

Prayer following Communion:
Gracious God, Holy Mystery may your gift of love transform and enliven us that we may live lives of thanksgiving. May your presence among us provoke such longing for your realm, that we will never be satisfied until the whole earth knows your justice, your peace, and your love. In Jesus' name we ask. Amen.
     Celebrate God's Presence page 303 adapted Used with Permission

Closing Hymn: “Let There Be Light” # 679 VU (Vs. 1, 2, 3 & 6)
1. Let there be light, let there be understanding,
let all the nations gather, let them be face to face;

2. open our lips, open our minds to ponder,
open the door of concord opening into grace;

3. perish the sword, perish the angry judgement,
perish the bombs and hunger, perish the fight for gain;

6. let there be light, open our hearts to wonder,
perish the way of terror, hallow the world God made.

Commissioning - Benediction:
May the Spirit of hope lead you to prepare the way of the Lord; May the God of comfort embrace you, as the valleys are lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; may the Child of Promise leap within you and bring you joy, as together we journey through this Advent time.
     Celebrate God's Presence page 109 adapted Used with Permission

Hymn: “'Go Now in Peace'” # 964 VU (Sung three times)
Go now in peace, go now in peace.
May the love of God surround you everywhere, everywhere you may go.

Choral Amen: # 967 VU

Lectionary for Next Sunday - Third Sunday of Advent:
        December 12, 2021:
         Zephaniah 3:14-20;  Philippians 4:4-7;
         Luke 3:7-18;  Canticle 9.

October 17, 2021