Beacon Online Worship Outline 12/06/20 Second Sunday of Advent

(A Sanctified Art)

We hope you join us for worship, either live-streaming on our Youtube Channel or via zoom. Email info@thewordatbeacon.org for zoom info.

Gathering Time (unmuted)

Feel free to say hi and check in with others before the service begins!

Welcome/Announcements

Mid-Week Prayer - this Wednesday at 6pm;

next Wed.12/16 Blue Christmas service;

then a break until January 6

Kids Sunday School - 4:30pm

Christmas Eve service - Thurs. Dec. 24 at 6pm

Amplify the Light – Help out with our annual giving campaign! If you’d like to share a story or image saying what Beacon means to you, email us at info@thewordatbeacon.org

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Facing God (from Psalm 85)

Leader: Lord, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.

All: You forgave the iniquity of your people; you pardoned all their sin.

Leader: Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,

All: For God will speak peace to God’s people, to God’s faithful, to those who turn to the Lord in their hearts.

Leader: Let us worship God.

Lighting the Advent Candles

Light one candle for peace. Because the world is broken and the wait is long, but we refuse to be frozen by fear. Peace comes in fits and starts, a deep breath, a courageous truth, a humble heart. “Prepare the way,” she whispers, “for the Lord comes to make the broken whole.” So we light one candle, because it only takes one: Christ with us.

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Come Thou long-expected Jesus

Born to set Thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us,

Let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation,

Hope of all the saints Thou art;

Dear desire of every nation,

Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,

Born a child and yet a King,

Born to reign in us forever,

Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.

By Thine own eternal Spirit

Rule in all our hearts alone;

By Thine all sufficient merit,

Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Laying Down Our Burdens & Assurance

(Remain muted and read liturgy aloud at home)

All: Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you by what we have done and what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart, mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. Forgive what we have been, help us amend what we are, and direct what we shall be, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways to the glory of your name. Amen.

Leader: The Good News is that Christ has come and Christ will come again.

All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God.

Children's Bible Story

Lectio Conversation (Mark 13:24-37)

(Hold onto these questions while we read our scripture.)

What stands out to you about this text?

How do you imagine you would react hearing this word from John the Baptist?

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,

“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,

who will prepare your way;

the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord,

make his paths straight,’”

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Discussion

What stands out to you about this text?

How do you imagine you would react hearing this word from John the Baptist?

Homily

What Feast of Love

(to the tune of What Child is This)

What feast of love is offered here

What banquet come from heaven?

What food of everlasting life

What gracious gift is given?

This, this is Christ the King,

The bread come down from heaven.

Oh, taste and see and sing

How sweet the manna given

What light of truth is offered here

What covenant from heaven?

What hope of everlasting life,

What wondrous word is given?

This, this is Christ the King,

The sun come down from heaven

Oh, see and hear and sing

The Word of God is given

What wine of love is offered here

What crimson drink from heaven

What stream of everlasting life

What precious blood is given

This, this is Christ the King

The sweetest wine of heaven

Oh taste and see and sing

The son of God is given

Prayers of the People

Now is the time when we share the prayers on our hearts and minds. If you have a private prayer, you can email them to us throughout the week and the pastoral team will pray over them.

If you have a prayer, please unmute your mic to share.

After each prayer, I will lead our response on mute:

Lord in your mercy // hear our prayers

***

Now I will offer a prayer for the greater community and world. We will end by saying the Lord’s Prayer together in whatever language you prefer. Let us pray.

(muted)

Leader: Just as God/Christ taught us to pray...

All: 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever, Amen.

Offering

To give online, click here: https://www.thewordatbeacon.org/donate

To give your prayers, email us at info@thewordatbeacon.org

Establish the Work of our Hands

Music & Lyrics by The Porter’s Gate

(a meditation on Psalm 90)

If You don't build it, we labor in vain,

Without Your Spirit, we stand with no strength.

I know my life is passing away,

But the works of Your hands

Are what will remain.

Let the favor of the Lord rest upon us…

O Lord, establish the work of our hands!

O Lord, establish the work of our hands!

Teach us to number the length of our days,

Pour out Your power, we'll pour out Your praise.

Teach us to run, to finish the race,

For only what's done in love will remain.

Let the favor of the Lord rest upon us…

O Lord, establish the work of our hands!

O Lord, establish the work of our hands!

O Lord, establish the work of our hands!

O Lord, establish the work of our hands!

Al - le - lu - ia, al - le - luia, al - le - luia

Al - le - lu - ia, al - le - luia, al - le - luia

(repeat bridge)

Sending/Blessing (from 2 Peter 3)

(Remain muted and read liturgy aloud at home)

As we close this time together, let us read this word from the apostle Peter:

All: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.

Leader: The steadfast love of God goes with you, the deep and abiding peace of Christ goes with you, and the comfort and guidance of the Holy Spirit goes with you, now and always. Amen.

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Feel free to hang out a little longer and catch up with others! Please also leave us feedback in the chat so we know what's working well and what to tweak for the future.