Advent Longing for Light Healing Service 2011

7/30/2019 Advent Longing for Light Healing Service 2011

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Office of Theology and Worship Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) tls [1]

Adven t Lon gin g fo r t h e L igh t o f H ea l in g

ENTER IN S ILENT CONTEMPLATION

GATHERING

Lit urg ist 1: These are days of heavy clouds stifling sunlight,the world burdened by gray gloom

All: O p e n o u r e y e s , L o r d ,

t o t h e c o m i n g o f yo u r l ig h t

t h a t l i ft s d a r k n e s s f r o m o u r l iv es .Lit urg ist 2: Chill seeps deep into bones.

Hearts grow rigid with frost-hardness.Souls wrap up against the lonely cold.

All: Op e n o u r s o u ls , Lo r d ,t o t h e w a r m t h o f yo u r c om i n g.

M e lt t h e h a r d n e s s

t h a t k e e p s u s f r o m yo u

a n d f r o m e a ch o t h e r Lit urg ist 1: With branches bared, trees sway against steel skies.

Stems crumple under weight of frost.Old leaves decay under slippery foot.Nature depleted by winters descentlies dormant, resting, awaiting rebirth.

All: O p e n o u r w o r l d , L or d ,F ro zen b y in ju s t i ce .

Clo th e i t w ith y o u r r e n ewin g lo ve .1

Lit urg ist 2: Gathering in this place where heaven and earth whisper

greeting;In this house where the Monarch of Heaven comes to meet us;In the soft darkness of this place, we wait like exiles of old forredemption, kindling lights of hope with prayers for Christs coming. 2

H YM N O Come, O Come Emmanuel 12th cent. hymn, Veni Emmanuel, Arr. ChipDouis, Nancy Young

O co m e , O c om e , E m m a n u e l,

An d r a n s o m c a p t iv e I s r a e l ,

T h a t m o u r n s i n l o n e l y e x il e h e r e

U n t i l t h e S o n o f Go d a p p e a r .

Refra in: Rejo ice! Re jo ice!E m m a n u e l s h a l l c o m e t o t h e e , O I sr a e l.

1 Adapted from a Celtic Prayer for Advent, accessed at

http://www.wellsprings.org.uk/liturgies/cpadvent.htm2 Adapted from a Celtic Prayer for Advent, accessed at

http://www.wellsprings.org.uk/liturgies/cpadvent.htm
http://www.wellsprings.org.uk/liturgies/cpadvent.htmhttp://www.wellsprings.org.uk/liturgies/cpadvent.htmhttp://www.wellsprings.org.uk/liturgies/cpadvent.htmhttp://www.wellsprings.org.uk/liturgies/cpadvent.htm


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O co m e , T h o u W i s d o m f r o m o n h ig h ,

W h o o r d e r e s t a ll t h i n g s m i g h t i ly;

T o u s t h e p a t h o f k n o w l e d ge s h o w ,

An d t e a c h u s i n h e r w a y s t o g o .

Refra in

O co m e , Th o u D a y-s p r i n g , co m e a n d c h e e rO u r s p i r i ts b y T h i n e a d v e n t h e r e ;

D is p e r s e t h e g lo o m y c lo u d s o f n i g h t ,

An d d e a t h s d a r k s h a d o w s p u t t o fl ig h t .

Refra in

O co m e , Th o u Key o f Dav id , co m e ,

An d o p e n w i d e o u r h e a v en l y h o m e ;

M a k e s a f e t h e w a y t h a t l e a d s o n h i gh ,

An d c lo s e t h e p a t h t o m i se r y .

Refra in

O c o m e , D e s i r e o f n a t i o n s , b i n dI n o n e t h e h e a r t s o f h u -m a n k i n d ;

B id T h o u o u r s a d d i vi si o n s c e a s e ,

An d b e Th y s e lf o u r Kin g o f Peace .

Refra in

CALL TO P RAYER Lit urg ist 2

The proof that we are not forgotten in the pain of exile is this: Into the darknessof a winters night, God comes. To a people pushed around by oppressive empire,God comes. To a sojourning family on the run, God comes. As Job said, Godreveals mysteries from the darkness, and brings the deep darkness into light.3Trusting in the God-who-comes-to-us, let our prayers rise like incense in the

descending darkness, as we cry out to God for light and lightness of soul. Let usconfess the longings of our lives by lighting candles with prayers for the worldshealing.

As candles are being lit a ll aroun d t he room , the choir w ill sin g:

#12 Taize: Wait for the Lord#37 Taize Within our Darkest Night#25 Taize: When the Night Becomes Dark

S ILENCE

P RAYER OF I NTERCESSION AND CONFESSION Lit urg ist 1

O Lord, we long for your coming into our world.W e l o n g fo r y o u r j u s t ic e .

W e l o n g fo r y o u r p e a c e .

Creator, Redeemer, your people turn to you, for you alone have the power to heal.Mend the torn fabric of your church. {lift pra yers for the church aloud or insilence},

3Job 12:22.


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Singing: Cr e a t o r o f t h e s t a r s o f n i g h t ,

Yo u r p eo p le s ev e r l a s t in g l igh t ,

O Ch r i s t , Red eem er o f u s a l l ,

W e p r a y Yo u , h e a r u s w h e n w e c a l l.

Peacemaker, Painbearer, restore the shalom of the earth burdened by thepollution of our sin, and guide all nations in the way of your wholeness. [specificrequest s for creations healing an d petition s for places of political oppression

and un rest around the w orld m ay be m entioned aloud or in silence]

Cr e a t o r o f t h e s t a r s o f n i g h t ,




Weaver of Compassion, restore those whose bodies, spirits, minds, and lives arebroken by sickness, circumstance, or grief . . . . [people m ay be nam ed aloud or

in silence before God. Please lift up those w ho have requested our pra yers onthe prayer board]

Singing vs. 1 of Hy m n 4 Creator of the Stars of Night





Healing God, we reach out to touch the hem of your grace, daring to pray forourselves, for our own lives are broken, too. {In the silence, lift w hat s broken inyour life t o God in a p rayer for h ealing, rest oration , and resurr ect ion . . . }





A m e n .

Hear us, Redeemer Creator, for we ask all these things through and for the gloryof our Lord Jesus Christ, broken that we that we might know life in all its

wholeness.A m e n .

SCRIPTURE Lit urg ist 2 Isaiah 60:2-5Darkness shall cover the earth,

And thick darkness the peoples;But the Lord will arise upon you,

And Gods glory will be seen upon you.Peoples shall come to your light,

And rulers to the brightness of your rising.Lift up your eyes round about and see;They all gather together, they come to you;


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You who were in exile, abandonedWill be welcomed home.You will see, and be radiant,Your heart will thrill and rejoice!

ASSURANCE Psalm 139:11-12, Isaiah 60:1

Lit urgist 1: Hear the good news of the psalmists proclamation:Lit urgist 2: If I say, Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,

And the light around me will be night,Lit urgist 1: Even the darkness is not dark to God,

And the night is as bright as the day.Lit urgist 2: The God who promised never to leave us or forsake us

HAS come to us in Jesus ChristLit urgist 1: who binds up the brokenhearted.Lit urgist 2: heals all our infirmities,Lit urgist 1: and relieves our burden of sin.Lit urg ist 2: So arise, shine; for your light has come,Lit urgist 1: And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

T h a n k s b e t o Go d !

P EACE

Lit ur gist 2: Peace be with you.An d a l s o w it h y o u .

CHORAL R ESPONSE Joyous Light of Glory 3rd century hymn, RogerPetrich

HEARING

P RAYER F OR ILLUMINATION Lit urg ist 1

Your love, O Lord, is a fire. Send your Holy Spirit to blow over the embers of yourlove set in the firebox of human words, song, and holy scripture so that your lovemay burn burn brightly in our hearts, fill our lives with the warmth of your life,and give light to all. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

P ROCESSIONAL H YM N Let All Mortal Flesh (vs. 1)4th century Liturgy of St. James, trans Gerard Moultrie; Picardy, arr. Nancy Young

Le t a l l m o r ta l fl e s h k eep s i l en ce ,

a n d w i th f e a r a n d t r e m b li n g s t a n d ;

p o n d e r n o t h i n g e a r t h ly-m i n d e d ,

fo r w i t h b l e ss in g i n h i s h a n d ,

Ch r i st o u r G od t o e a r t h d e s c e n d e t h ,

o u r f u l l h o m a g e t o d e m a n d .

SCRIPTURE R EADING Revelation 22:1-5

SERMON

H YM N Let All Mortal Flesh (vs. 2)Kin g o f k in g s , ye t b o r n o f Mary ,

a s o f o ld o n e a r t h h e s t o o d ,


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L or d o f lo r d s , i n h u m a n ve s tu r e ,

i n t h e b o d y a n d t h e b l oo d ;

h e wi l l g ive to a l l the fa i th fu l

h i s o wn s e l f f o r h eav en ly fo o d .

COMMUNING

All w ho follow Christ are w elcom e at t his, t he Lords Tab le, r egard less of

denom inational affiliation. W e will comm une by int inction, dipping the bread into the

cup. If youd like pray er for healing, youre invited to stop by on the w ay t o or from the

table to pray w ith one of the elders of the church.

INVITATION

GREAT P RAYER OF THANKSGIVING

The Lord be with you.An d a l s o w i th yo u .

Lift up your hearts.

W e l ift t h e m t o t h e L o r d .Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.I t is r i g h t t o g iv e o u r t h a n k s a n d p r a i s e .

You speak chaos into orderWith stars dancing praise.Your hands shape humans from earthand clothe us with mercy

when we run nakedfrom your commands.From slaverys dark prison

you spring us with light.Pillar of fire by night,dense cloud by day,remind us of Presenceeven in wilderness.

When we make humanity sovereignand find ourselves in exile,

you lead us out with the promiseof your Day coming

when all people will rejoiceand forever sing to the gloryof your holy name.

(singing v s. 2 of Let All Morta l Flesh in lieu ofSanctus)R a n k o n r a n k t h e h o s t o f h e a v e n

s p r e a d s i t s va n g u a r d o n t h e w a y ,a s th e L ig h t o f li gh t d e s cen d e th

fr o m t h e r e a l m s o f e n d le s s d a y,

t h a t t h e p o w e r s o f h e l l m a y va n i s h

a s t h e d a r k n e s s cl ea r s a w a y .

In the fullness of timeyou came among us,


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a little child leadingin The Way, the Truth, the Life.In fulfillment of your promises,

you laid the bread of lifein a feeding troughin the city of bread.

In Jesus, born of Mary,you filled the hungry with good thingsand sent the rich, chastised, empty away.

As a slaughtered lambyou were splayed down upon a cross,then raised up upon your throneOf resurrection triumph over death.

You lead all who follow youWith faiths song throughout the ages:

Ch r i s t h a s d i e d

Ch r i s t i s r i s en .

Ch r i s t w i ll co m e ag a in .

Come, now, Holy SpiritOf the living Christ,

Word of Word,Very God of very God.Shape us into your peoplethat as we partakeof these gifts of bread and wine ,

we may become one with the body of Christ,broken and poured outfor the salvation of all peoples.

Accept this offering of thanksgivingthat we give with not only our lipsbut with our livesthat we might live alwaysin Christ, through Christ, with Christ,in the unity of the Holy Spirit.

All glory and honor are yours, almighty God,now and forevermore.A m e n .

TH E LOR DS P RAYER

W ORDS OF INSTITUTION

(singing v s. 4 of Let All Mor tal Flesh)At h i s f e e t th e s ix -win g ed s e r ap h ,

c h e r u b i m , w i t h s l e e p le s s e y e,

v e il t h e i r f a ce s to th e p r e s e n ce ,

a s w i th cea s e le s s v o ice th ey c ry :

Allelu ia , Allelu ia ,

Al le lu ia , Lo rd Mo s t H igh !


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COMMUNION OF T HE P EOPLE

Those who w ish to have pr ayer for healing of any condition are encouraged to

pra y w ith one of the eld ers near t he font before or after com ing t o the ta ble.

P RAYER AFTER COMMUNIONYou have torn open the heavens to come among us, O Lord, in Jesus the Christ.May we take the light you give into the all the world. All this we ask to the gloryof your name we pray, even as we sing with the angelic proclamation of goodnews. A m e n .

H YM N 31 Hark the Herald Angels SingCharles Wesley, Mendelssohn, Felix Mendelssohn,

Arr. William Cummings

SENDING

Lit urg ist 1: The night is far spent, the day is at hand,Let us therefore cast off the works of darknessand put on the armor of light. (Rom. 3:12)

Lit urg ist 2: You are the light of the world. (Matt. 5:14)

G o d h a s c a ll ed u s t o b e l ig h t t o t h e w o r ld ,

to f il l o u r h ea r t s wi th th e l ig h t o f Ch r i s t ,

T h a t i t m a y sh i n e t h r o u g h a l l c r e a t i o n .

Presider: As you go out into the world,may Gods light go with you,May it shine through you,until every dark corner of the world

Is filled with the light of Christ,the Light of incarnation and of Gods presence.

Th e l ig h t o f li fe s en d u p o n u s ;

T h e jo y o f p e a c e s e n d u p o n u s ;

T h e g la d n e s s o f g o o d w i ll s e n d u p o n u s .

Preacher: May the glory of the Lord shine round about you,the light of Christs presence glow within you.

And the fire of Holy Spirit lead you forth in comfort and joy.

A m e n .

P OSTLUDE Joy to the World Isaac Watts, Antioch, G.F.

Handel, Arr. Lowell Mason

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Advent Longing for Light Healing Service 2011