Worship Service – December 27, 2020

The Building is Closed and the Church is Open

While we have restricted access to the building, Peace Church is very much open to ministry—working to respond to our own congregation, as well as the needs of our neighbors and community.  Please consider giving either to Peace Church general fund or the Gabriel Fund – which is used to meet the needs in the community.

We recognize that in this time, people’s financial situations may have changed. We ask you to prayerfully consider what you can give.  If you use electronic giving, we thank you for your constancy of support.  If you would like to give through our online form, we would be grateful. For all the contributions from our members and friends—whether financial, time, or prayer—we ask God’s blessings on those gifts that Peace Church may be healing balm in this time when we are living in our own Gilead.

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December 27, 2020  ⁂  10:30 am

Liturgists

The People of Peace Church
Monica Liddle, Lay Reader
Jim Pospisil, Music Director
Rev. Kathryn Nelson

Prelude 

Greeting One Another 

Announcements and Ringing of the Peace Bells

God is Revealed as We Gather

Responsive Call to Worship    

When Jesus is born to Mary and Joseph, God is there.
When they present Jesus at the temple, God is there.
When Simeon holds Jesus in his arms, God is there.
When Anna recognizes Jesus as the answer to prayer, God is there.
This very morning, God is here.
In the future we cannot see, God is there. Let us worship God!

*Opening Hymn   “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”   (#160)

Call to Silent Prayers of Confession 

Simeon and Anna were steeped in revered tradition, and yet spent their lives praying to recognize the action of God pointing to a future they could not imagine. Far from being held back by tradition, for them it was a constant stretch toward faithfulness: Where is God at work? What are the signs? What needs to be let go, entrusted to a new way, new people, new and unexpected shapes?

Ways of being Church are changing quickly in these Covid-19 days, and “getting back to normal” may mean
a “new” normal. So, in this moment, what are we clinging to? What do we need to relinquish so that we can recognize the call of God in this moment?

Silent Prayers 

Assurance of Pardon

Story for All Ages

God is Revealed in the Word

God’s Word in the Gospel:  Luke 2:22–40

Special Music    Hannah Liddle

Sermon     “Long Awaited Gift”

Hymn    “Born in the Night, Mary’s Child”    (#152)

We Respond to God’s Presence

Sharing Our Prayer Concerns, Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer
by Rev. Tom Liddle, the Lord’s Prayer (with debts) and
Choral Amen

Sharing our Offerings

Offertory      “Coventry Carol”    sung by Gudrun Witrak

*The Thanksgiving

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise God all creatures here below
Praise God for all that love has done
Creator, Christ and Spirit, One.  

*Prayer of Dedication

Closing Carol    “Go Tell It On the Mountain”   (#154)

Benediction

Postlude