Hanging of the Greens
Sunday​​​​​​​​
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We Gather as the
Body of Christ
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PRELUDE Mindi Hu
WELCOME Pastor Sungmin
ANNOUNCEMENTS Paule Ralph
OUR PRAYERS Pastor Sungmin
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GOSPEL Luke 21: 25-36 NRSVUE
Paule Ralph
CHILDREN’S TIME with Pastor Sungmin
LORD’S PRAYER Pastor Sungmin
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We Attend to the Word
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LIGHTING THE FIRST ADVENT CANDLE
Sandy Oliver & Leta Hyers
Light the Advent Candle
The Faith We Sing Hymnal #2090 vs.1
ADVENT REFLECTION Pastor Sungmin
HOLY COMMUNION
HANGING OF THE GREENS
INTRODUCTION
Leader 1: Pastor Sungmin
In the days to come the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains and shall be raised above the hill; all the nations shall stream to it. Many people shall come and say:
All: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that God may teach us God’s ways and that we may walk in God’s paths.
— Isaiah 2: 2–3 alt.
One among the congregation says:
“With what shall we come to God’s house?”
Leader 1:
Bring branches of cedar and holly, bring evergreens and pine, hang wreaths and garlands.
All: Make the church fragrant with the
smell of living things and our holy play.
In acts of hanging greens and listening to the words of prophets and seers let us make our hearts and this space a place of inward and outward preparation for the One who comes to give us second birth.
OPENING PRAYER Unison Paule Ralph
Good Lord, by your mercy guide our outward actions in such ways that our inward being is formed in faith, hope, and love.
May the decorations we offer engage our senses during the days of Advent and enliven our praise and worship, in the name of the child of Bethlehem, our risen and coming savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
HYMN Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
UMC Hymnal #96
Hanging Wreaths on the Church Doors
Leader: Linda LoPizzo
L: People of God, we stand at the doorway to the Christian year on this first Sunday of Advent. Let us mark this worship space as well as our hearts and minds, as portals for Christ to enter.
All: Come, Lord Jesus! Come, Lord Jesus!
Responsory:
Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the Ruler of glory may come in.
Who is the Ruler of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle!
Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors!
That the Ruler of glory may come in.
Who is this Ruler of glory?
The Lord of hosts, the Lord is the Ruler of glory!
— Psalm 24: 7-10
Hanging Garlands/Wreaths
Leader: Linda LoPizzo
How shall we make this place a reminder of our need of repentance, faithfulness, and integrity that comes from God our maker and redeemer?
All: Let us hang garlands *and wreaths* as Hosea speaks the word of God: Those hanging garlands and wreaths do so during the reading.
Reader:
A reading from Hosea, Chapter 14:
I will heal [my people's] disloyalty; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them.
O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; your faithfulness comes from me. Those who are wise understand these things; those who are discerning know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.
— Hosea 14: 4, 8-9
Hymn People, Look East
UMC Hymnal #202
(Those hanging garlands and wreaths do so during singing)
Lighting the Christmas Tree
Leader: Alli Ray
Leader: God, the Holy One of Israel, is a God of comfort and compassion. With the Christmas tree we remember God's everlasting promises to the poor and needy. Isaiah spoke of God's making of the wilderness a place of blessing where water and plants, even pine trees, would manifest God's loving action to save and provide.
All: Light the tree, dear friends, as we hear God's word.
Reader:
A reading from the prophet Isaiah, chapter 41:
When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the LORD will answer them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive; I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together, so that all may see and know, all may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it. — Isaiah 41: 17-20
The word of the Lord.
(The Light of the Christmas Tree is on)
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OFFERTORY
Angels We Have Heard on High
UMC Hymnal #238, Choir
Prayer of Gratitude (Unison)
You have enriched us in every way, O God, through our faith in Christ Jesus. You have granted us grace and blessed us with every spiritual gift. In gratitude for your many blessings, we offer our tithes and offerings this day. Enrich and bless these gifts, that they may go into the world and help build your kingdom. Amen.
Hanging Chrismon’s or Other Symbols of Christ and Faith
Leader: Jean Kelly
Leader: Here in this place, we prepare for the coming of the Lord. Here we will remember his Advent, his birth in Bethlehem, weak and helpless as an infant. And here we rekindle our prayer, "Come, Lord Jesus" as we await his coming as the bright and morning star.
All: Hang symbols and signs of Christ — ruler, prophet, priest. Hang stars, crosses, triangles, the "alpha" and the "omega" to remind us of his identity, his story, and of the holy Trinity.
Reader:
A reading from the book of Revelation, chapter 22:
"See, I am coming soon ... I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. "Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. "It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star. "The Spirit and the bride say, "Come. "And let everyone who hears say, "Come. "And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift. — Revelation 22: 12-14, 17
The word of the Lord.
(Here people hang Chrismon’s, starting with a star, as the congregations sings)
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We Are Sent in Ministry
to the World
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HYMNS: Blessed Be the God of Israel
UMC Hymnal #209
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Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates
UMC Hymnal #213
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DISMISSAL with BLESSING
Pastor Sungmin
POSTLUDE Mindi Hu
*Worship Liturgy is taken from the
Abingdon Worship Annual 2024.​