Beacon Online Worship Outline 12/13/20 Third 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

This Wed.12/16 Blue Christmas service; Midweek Prayer break until January

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 126)

Leader: When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.

All: Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy.

Leader: Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”

All: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.

Leader: Let us worship God.

Lighting the Advent Candles

Because the world is broken and the wait is long, but our joy cannot be contained. Like a song learned by heart long ago, Joy interrupts our sighing with laughter, our sorrow with gratitude. “My soul magnifies the Lord,” Mary sings, “and my Spirit rejoices in God my savior.” So we light one candle, because it only takes one: Christ with us.”

Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates

Lift up your heads ye mighty gates

Behold the king of glory waits

The king of kings is drawing near

The saviour of the world is here

Fling wide the portals of your heart

Make it a temple set apart

From earthly use for heavn’s employ

Adorned with prayer and love and joy

Redeemer come I open wide

My heart to thee, here Lord abide

Let me thy inner presence feel

Thy grace and love in me reveal

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 (Luke 1:46-55)

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

What stands out to you about this text?

And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.

Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for the Mighty One has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

His mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,

and lifted up the lowly;

he has filled the hungry with good things,

and sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

according to the promise he made to our ancestors,

to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Discussion

What stands out to you about this text?

How would you react to hearing this word?

Homily

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.

Communion

Invitation:

Amidst great uncertainty and fear, Jesus gathered his friends together for a meal that would become for countless saints of the faith a way to experience and remember his eternal grace and love.

Jesus said, come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

[You are invited to use whatever elements you have on hand – any beverage, any food]

Leader: The Lord be with you.

All: And also with you.

Leader: Lift up your hearts.

All: We lift them up to the Lord.

Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All: It is right to give God thanks and praise.

Prayer

Institution

[The bread of life, the cup of salvation.]

As We Gather

As we gather at your table,

as we listen to your word,

help us know, O God, your presence;

let our hearts and minds be stirred

Nourish us with sacred story

until we claim it as our own;

teach us through this holy banquet

how to make love’s victory known

Turn our worship into witness,

in the sacrament of life;

send us forth to love and serve you,

bringing peace where there is strife.

Give us, Christ, your great compassion

to forgive as you forgave;

may we still behold your image

in the world you died to save.

Gracious Spirit, help us summon

other guests to share the feast,

where triumphant Love will welcome

those who had been last and least.

There no more will envy blind us

nor will pride our peace destroy,

as we join with saints and angels

to repeat the sounding joy.

Offering

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

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

Canticle of the Turning

My soul cries out with a joyful shout

that the God of my heart is great,

And my spirit sings of the wondrous things

that you bring to the ones who wait.

You fixed your sight on your servant's plight,

and my weakness you did not spurn,

So from east to west shall my name be blest.

Could the world be about to turn?

Chorus:

My heart shall sing of the day you bring.

Let the fires of your justice burn.

Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,

and the world is about to turn!

Though I am small, my God, my all,

you work great things in me,

And your mercy will last from the depths of the past

to the end of the age to be.

Your very name puts the proud to shame,

and to those who would for you yearn,

You will show your might, put the strong to flight,

for the world is about to turn.

Chorus

From the halls of power to the fortress tower,

not a stone will be left on stone.

Let the king beware for your justice tears

ev'ry tyrant from his throne.

The hungry poor shall weep no more,

for the food they can never earn;

There are tables spread, ev'ry mouth be fed,

for the world is about to turn.

Chorus

Though the nations rage from age to age,

we remember who holds us fast:

God's mercy must deliver us

from the conqueror's crushing grasp.

This saving word that our forebears heard

is the promise which holds us bound,

'Til the spear and rod can be crushed by God,

who is turning the world around.

Chorus

Sending/Blessing (from 1 Thess. 5)

(Remain muted and read liturgy aloud at home)

As we close this time together, let us read this word from the apostle Paul to the Thessalonians:

All: Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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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