Christ’s Reformed Church – United Church of Christ

~ growing people of faith who live in Jesus, love one another and bear abundant fruit ~

December 3, 2023
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE

LIGHTING OF THE PEACE CANDLE

Advent is the time of waiting and anticipation as we prepare to welcome Jesus anew.
Like a family prepares a home for the arrival of a baby,
we prepare our hearts for the arrival of God’s own beloved child.

John the Baptizer appeared in the wilderness proclaiming,

“One who is more powerful than I is coming after me;
I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.
I have baptized you with water, but that One will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
John prepared the way in the wilderness.
We prepare the way in our hearts.

On this first Sunday of Advent we light the candle named peace.

May this light shine to remind us that God is the hope
that can never be extinguished. Amen

SPECIAL MUSIC Midnight Noel Charlotte Trout

Arranged by Mark Hayes

CALL TO WORSHIP
A voice cries out declaring God’s presence.
Comfort, O Comfort my people, says God.
We come preparing the way of the Lord.
Together, we actively wait for God’s peace.

A voice cries out declaring God’s equity.

Valleys shall be lifted and Hills be made low.
We come to make straight in the desert a highway.
Together, we’re pressing toward God’s peace.

A voice cries out declaring steadfastness.

Grass withers, flowers fade, but God’s word stands forever.
We lift up our voices with strength and good tidings.
Together, we carry out God’s peace.

INVOCATION
Let us pray:
Spirit of God, who dwells within our hearts,
Wean it from that which aims to separate us from you.
In this moment of collective worship
Take the dimness of our souls away.
Let us seek you. Let us find you.
Teach us to feel that you are always nigh
As we lift up our voices with strength to worship you.
Amen.

*HYMN OF PRAISE Now Bless the God of Israel (See Attachment)

WORDS OF CONFESSION
For the political instability in Haiti—
May a peace come soon for those who have been suffering and surviving for centuries.
God, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

For the civil conflict in Libya—

May a peace bring reconciliation and restoration.
God, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

For those fighting for liberation (you may name some here)
Who have endured years of occupation,
Who have demanded that colonialism cease,
And reparations rise up from the ashes—
May the powers and principalities realize the errors of their ways.
God, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

For the violence right here in our backyards

Fueled by decades of educational and economic neglect,
Racism, classism, and ableism,
Powered by political dysfunction,
Aided by the worship of guns—
May peace come quickly through us, by us, and for us.

For Ukraine and Nashville, For Palestine and D.C., For Sudan and Chicago
And so many more—
God, in your mercy, hear our prayers.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
We come to you, Creator, not asking for an empty or entitled peace;
We come to you asking that you call us to the carpet.
Remind us to dig deeper to the wells of truth.
Help us see beneath the surface level arguments and beyond viral news clips.
Embolden us to be the revolutionaries you have called us to be
So that all injustice might be eradicated
And peace that surpasses understanding may reign.
Amen.

PRAYER RESPONSE Sanctuary (See Below or Attachment)

Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary, Pure and holy tried and true
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living Sanctuary for You

OLDER TESTAMENT Isaiah 40:1-11

1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that

her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from
the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for
the LORD[a]; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.[b] 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every
mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the
glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has
spoken.” 6 A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All people are like grass, and all their
faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. 7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of
the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the
word of our God endures forever.” 9 You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You
who bring good news to Jerusalem,[c] lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to
the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” 10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and he rules with
a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. 11 He tends his flock
like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently
leads those that have young.

GOSPEL LESSON Mark 1:1-8

1 The beginning of the good news[a] of Jesus Christ.[b] 2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,[c] “See, I am

sending my messenger ahead of you,[d] who will prepare your way, 3 the voice of one crying out in the
wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight,’ ” 4 so John the baptizer appeared[e] in
the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And the whole Judean
region and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him and were baptized by him in the River
Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his
waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is
coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you
with[f] water, but he will baptize you with[g] the Holy Spirit.”

The word of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God

THE VOICES OF ADVENT - ELIZABETH

 SERMON Rev. Mary Jane Norville

*HYMN OF RESPONSE We Hail You God’s Anointed (See Attachment)

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Psalm 85

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father in heaven, may your name always be kept holy. May your kingdom come and what you want
be done, here on earth as it is in heaven. Give us the food we need for each day. Forgive us for our sins,
just as we have forgiven those who sinned against us. And do not cause us to be tempted, but save us
from the Evil One. The kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours forever. Amen.
Tree of Life Version (TLV)

OFFERING

*Doxology
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. Amen.

*Prayer of Dedication for Offering

We dedicate these gifts that have been shared for the fortification of the beloved community. Let these
gifts usher peace into this world and signal to the people that God is with us. Amen.

*HYMN OF SENDING O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (See Attachment)

*BENEDICTION
Send us forth to become to peace we wish to see in this world
And as we go,
May Steadfast love and faithfulness meet
May Righteousness and peace embrace
May Faithfulness spring up from the ground
And May righteousness look down from the sky.
Amen.

*BENEDICTION SONG Go Tell It On The Mountain (See Attachment)

POSTLUDE

*Please stand in body or in spirit.

The altar flowers are placed to the Glory of God and

in loving honor of Martin & Kathy Fisher
given by Martin Fish for their 53rd Wedding Anniversary
 Please lift the people below in your prayers.

Lisa Price Clare (Friend of Plume Family)

Paul & Becky Corderman
Geraldine Cromer
Family of Bob Demuth
Darrin & Cara Eichelberger
Alan Gladhill
Jennifer Hamilton (Neighbor of Sandy Duffy)
Web & Betsy Harbaugh
Larry Hoeck
Mary Jane Keller (Friend of Geraldine Cromer)
Dave Kolenc (Betty Spessard's Cousin)
Kristi Lawson (Daughter of Martin & Kathy Fisher)
Robert Miller
Teresa Miller (Friend of Sandy Duffy)
Family of Jack Mills (Gertie Mill’s husband)
Ginger Nichols
Gary Price (Friend of Plume Family)
Vicki Reid (Sister of Sandy Duffy)
Jose Mata Shipp (Nephew of Jackie Plume)
Doris Stanley
 Welcome to our Guests: We gather to praise “the
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
(John 1:29). Because of Jesus, you can be at peace in
the assurance of God’s forgiveness and love.
Welcome to worship!! If you have come as a visitor,
we hope that you’ll leave as a friend who’s been
blessed by worshiping in this house of God. We look
forward to seeing you again.
December 6 11 AM Lectionary
December 9 Free Soup and Sandwich Event for community from 11 AM to 2 PM
December 10 Second Sunday of Advent
December 10 Sunday School –Adults
December 13 11 AM Lectionary
December 14 6:30 PM Consistory Meeting
December 17 Third Sunday of Advent w/Hearts in Harmony
December 17 Sunday School – High School Youth
December 18 7 PM ATS Meeting
December 20 11 AM Lectionary
December 24 Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 24 7 PM Christmas Eve Service w/Communion
December 25 Christmas Day – Office Closed
December 26 Office Closed
December 26 Historic Houses of Worship Tour from 3 PM to 7 PM
December 27 11 AM Lectionary
December 31 First Sunday after Christmas – Christmas Carol Sing
Liturgist: John Kessler
Altar Preparation: Art Crampton
Flower Deliverers Donna Stockslager
Ushers: Larry Sprankle, Art Burgan, Dave Bedard, John Kessler,
Carol Ann Rossman
Financials for October 2023 YTD Jan-October 2023
Samaritan Acct Balance $574.88
Offerings $8,365.38* Offerings $107,656.43*
ATS Repayment $0 ATS Repayment $0
Endowment Interest $10,000.00 Endowment Interest $120,000.00
Expenses $23,917.71* Expenses $233,448.31*
Net Profit/Loss $5,552.33 Net Profit/Loss $5,791.88
*Elevator check from insurance company has been removed from these numbers.
Christ's Reformed Church Church Staff
Phone No: 301-733-4144 Margaret Bussard – Custodian
Fax No. 301-733-4145 Thomas Greenawalt - Technology Support
Church General email: Charlotte Trout - Consistory President
[email protected] Rev. Mary Jane Norville - Minister
Website: www.crcucc.org Cheryl Wilson - AA/Organist
Morning Worship 9:30 am Charlotte Trout – ATS Board President
YouTube: CRC Christ’s Reformed Church