- We are a community seeking to have open minds, open hearts, and open arms, building community in a fragmented world.
- We want to welcome everyone who is in the house today and everyone online. We are grateful for all the many ways you can join us for worship on this Lord’s Day.
- Announcements will be on one sheet at the back of the sanctuary.
- Children’s Coloring Sheet
- After Church stay for Hanging of the Greens
- Stay after for our wonderful study with Nancy Humes…
- In worship today…
- Let’s prepare our hearts and minds for worship with our Opening Scripture Reading...
Gathering Music - Trio on “Ash Grove” [Douglas E. Wagner] Jan Green
Opening Scripture - John 8:12
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’
*Response - Weave
Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together, in unity and love.
Weave, weave, weave us together,
weave us together, together in love.
*Call to Worship - Tim Bennett
ONE: We have gathered in this space
ALL: Welcomed like a prodigal child back into our warm, safe home.
ONE: We have gathered in this space
ALL: Embraced like children greeted by Jesus when others turned us away.
ONE: We have gathered in this space.
ALL: Let us worship God as beloved children, heirs to God’s beloved kingdom of peace.
*Opening Hymn - “We Gather Together” #276
We gather together to ask for God’s blessing,
To turn to a wisdom surpassing our own;
The pow’rs that oppress us no cease to distress us.
O’God, be present with us, and make your will known.
Invitation to Generosity - Tim Bennett
Adult’s Moment
Khalil Gibran
“Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts, For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.”
Meant for Parents but I see it apply greatly for the adults in the church. The church, they say, is always but one generation away from disappearing...
Pastoral Prayer Rev. Chad Delaney
Loving God, we come today bringing prayers for your beloved children near and far.
We pray for the children in our congregation and families. We pray that we do the work we promised at their dedications and baptisms. That we love and support them, hold them in our daily prayers and provide for them lessons in both our words and our actions that teach your love for all creation.
May children find joy and rest within this congregation and within your loving embrace wherever their journeys may lead.
We pray for the children in our community. Bless them with enough food to eat each day and a safe place to take their rest each night. Hold them safe when their worlds feel unstable and keep us actively engaged in making this community a place where they can thrive and live in love and peace.
May children find joy and rest in our neighborhoods and in your loving embrace wherever their journeys may lead.
We pray for the children in our nation. We grieve for those who have perished this year from violence, from not having access to clean water, from being held in detention facilities on our nation’s border and for those who were unable to get the medical care they needed to keep their bodies healthy. We give you great thanks for the children who are standing up and advocating for themselves and for others, from standing up against bullies in their classroom to advocating internationally for justice for all children and their future.
May children find joy and rest in our nation and in your loving embrace wherever their journeys may lead.
We pray for the children of this world. We ask you to place a protective hand over every child living in fear of war or genocide, of drought or evacuation. We know their suffering inflicts so much pain upon your heart, and we pray that we can be part of the work of global peace and reconciliation between nations and with your beloved Earth. While we await your Beloved Kin-dom, we are reminded of your mandate to care for these, your beloved children, and put their wellbeing above the conflicts of politics.
May all children find joy and rest in our world and in your loving embrace wherever their journeys may lead.
Today we give our hurts and our concerns, our joys and thanksgivings to you. We are thankful for the children in our midst and pray your blessing upon them. Here now our silent prayers….
In Jesus Name, Amen.
Communion
Meditation Tim Bennett
Communion Hymn - “A Hymn of Joy We Sing” #404
A hymn of joy we sing,
around your table, Lord;
again our grateful tribute bring,
our solemn vows record.
Prayer & Lord’s Prayer - Tim Bennett
Words of Institution - Rev. Chad Delaney
Distribution
Scripture - Isaiah 9:2-3
2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
3 You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
Sermon - “What Brings You Joy?” Rev. Chad Delaney & Youth
Aspen, Leighton, and Everett Baynes. CJ, Josh, and Avery Delaney. Oscar, Julien, and Dean Russo. Brian and Gavin Tipton.
Sermon
What brings you joy? On the cusp of Thanksgiving we hear this wonderful passage of scripture from the book of Isaiah 9:2-3. Filled with powerful images, this passage invites us to think about what might increase our joy? What would shine light in your darkness?
The people of God in Isaiah’s time were no strangers to darkness--0ppressive powers and warring nations. Corruption, injustice, violence, and poverty. The people wondered how they might go on. Of course, God is always working, stirring, urging, calling the creation towards redemption. Always there are glimpses around us of the threads of joy, kindness, peace, and love that give us strength for the journey. That help us to keep on keeping on. As we celebrate Thanksgiving and move into the season of Advent and Christmas...What brings you joy?
On the Table are different items from congregation members giving us a little glimpse of what brings them joy. We invited folks to share an item that for them brought them joy. Of course it's not the thing---in and of itself---but what it brings up inside of them.
There is a:
- Canjo-Relaxing and makes people laugh(Dave)
- Snoopy - reminder of family holiday traditions(Pam)
- Fighter plane-pursuing his dream. Everett
- Picture of Pam Baynes's children
- Linda Hurd- church roof slate painted by daughter Lori
- Sherry Vechery, Butterball, the important bear art work and story
- Rick Painley flowers, nature
- Joy Wyatt water color paints, Anna Maria Island
- Sandi Kossick, stained glass her Dad made
- Laura Parker, car built with Arthur, stuffed bull Zoe gave me to protect me, Evie's picture from Christmas and a pie pan for baking
These are symbols of people. Of experiences. Of dreams. Joy is not found in the STUFF, but how we experience God’s world and each other.
What brings you Joy? Just think for a moment and share with a Neighbor around you what brings you joy?
It may be a simple thing, but to share it out loud. To feel it matters and it is good to name these things that bring us joy everyday. This week and everyday I hope you find something that brings you joy, that shines a little light into your darkness.
Now, we want to give the last word to our Children and Youth about What Brings Them JOY!
- We’ll hear from the Baynes and Delaney youth
- Then we have a video from the Russos and Tiptons.
Closing Prayer:
A prayer from Rev. Ian MacLean
I’ll say...Help us to see Light in the Darkness...fill us with your joy
Living God, we are not altogether convinced that darkness is a thing of the past. Many people in this world of ours feel their world is one of darkness and gloom. Pressures crowd in upon us and get us down.
The causes are varied: bereavement, illness, money, worries about family, trouble at work or not having work, drugs, drink, boredom, doubt, weariness, futility.
Help us to see Light in the Darkness...fill us with your joy
We thank you for the gift of your LOVE. We rejoice that your Son came not to a perfect world, but to a broken world, our world. By your Holy Spirit move us to see your great love at work in the world. We pray that you would come alongside us and all those for whom we pray, that you would show us Jesus, the light of the world, to give us life and health and peace, peace that passes all understanding. To bring light to the darkness, our darkness.
Help us to see Light in the Darkness...fill us with your joy
You don’t wave a magic wand for everything to sorted instantly – you call us to exercise our faith and to respond to your call to preach the gospel and to seek to live it out, to look to you for the strength that we need to share your love and grace. Help us to share the good news in word and action –
Help us to see Light in the Darkness...fill us with your joy
Closing Hymn “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” #2
1 Joyful, joyful, we adore thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
hearts unfold like flowers before thee,
opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,
drive our fear and doubt away;
giver of immortal gladness,
fill us with the light of day.
2 All thy works with joy surround thee,
earth and heaven reflect thy rays,
stars and angels sing around thee,
center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
flowery meadow, flashing sea,
chanting bird and flowing fountain
call us to rejoice in thee.
*Benediction
- This week you will have our Advent Worship and theme in your email. “Close to Home”
- Stay after for Study with Nancy. The conversation has been so interesting that extended class indefinitely…
By the tender mercy of our God
love has broken upon us!
Light is given where once there was darkness
and hope where there was only death.
We go into this season knowing
that God will guide our feet into the way of peace.
~ written by Carol Penner
Postlude - Hymn to Joy [Ludwig van Beethoven, arr. by Edward Broughton] Jan Green