Worship Service – November 29, 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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November 29, 2020  ⁂  10:30 am

First Sunday of Advent

Liturgists
The People of Peace Church
Holly Bowen-Bailey, Lay Leader
Doug Bowen-Bailey, ASL Interpreter
Jim Pospisil, Music Director
Nathan Holst, Faith Formation Minister 
Rev. Kathryn Nelson 

Prelude

Announcements and Ringing of the Peace Bells 

God is Revealed as We Gather

Lighting of our Advent Wreath—the Candle of Hope

Song     “Awake, Awake and Greet the New Morn”  (#107, 1 vs)

Opening Prayer
Gracious God, we awaken on this new day of Advent in the spirit of waiting. May the angels that heralded the birth of our Savior fill our hearts, minds, and spirits with the hope of their message: the message that you come to us to lead us out of despair, to lead us out of fear, to lead us out of worry and into your healing presence filled with HOPE.

*Opening Hymn   “O How Shall I Receive You”   (#102)

Responsive Prayer of Confession from Worship Ways 

This has been a year to lament— grief and loss, crisis when social structures have failed the common good, complicity when age-old prejudices found new and cruel expression.
Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
This has been a year to wake up; to read the  “signs of the times”—to wake up to painful truths and give them voice, to ponder the changes needed for a just world for all.
Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
This has been a year to call God into our midst—encourage us in the face of brutal realities, empower us to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with you.
Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Assurance of Pardon

Story for All Ages

God is Revealed in the Word

God’s Word in the Hebrew Scriptures:   Isaiah 64:1–9

Special Music       “Waiting for My Real Life to Begin” sung by Paul Winchester

God’s Word in the Gospel:   Mark 13:24–37

Sermon “Where Are You, God?”

Hymn     “All Earth is Waiting”      (#121)

We Respond to God’s Presence

Sharing Our Prayer Concerns, Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer, the Lord’s Prayer and Choral Amen

Sharing our Offerings

Offertory Melanie Sever, flute

*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 Song   “God Be With You”    (#81)

*Benediction

*Postlude