Home Worship for

the First Sunday in Advent

November 28, 2021

Our Home Worship service is much like our in-person service. As you work your way through Home Worship, we hope it is meaningful for you.

Staying home is a form of loving your neighbor. You may be staying home for your own health but in reality you then become less of a carrier to others that you might come in contact with. If you are not comfortable attending socially distanced activities, please stay home and stay in touch! We hope you will feel close to God who is near even if we are far apart. May God Bless you and Keep you.

Organ Prelude: Great is Thy Faithfulness

Canticle of Zechariah #208

Hail to the Lord's Anointed, great David's greater Son.
Leader: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who has come to set the chosen people free.
ALL: The Lord has raised up for us a mighty Savior from the house of David.
Leader: Through the holy prophets, God promised of old to save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us;
ALL: To show mercy to our forebears and to remember the holy covenant.
Leader: This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:
ALL: To set us free from the hands of our enemies, free to worship without fear,

holy and righteous in the Lord's sight, all the days of our life.
Hail to the Lord's Anointed, great David's greater Son.

Leader: And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way,
ALL: To give God's people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.
Leader: In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
ALL: To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Hail to the Lord's Anointed, great David's greater Son.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel Hymn #211

1. O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

2. O come, thou Wisdom from on high, and order all things far and nigh; to us the path of knowledge show and cause us in her ways to go.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

3. O come, O come, great Lord of might, who to thy tribes on Sinai's height in ancient times once gave the law in cloud and majesty and awe.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

4. O come, thou Root of Jesse's tree, an ensign of thy people be; before thee rulers silent fall; all peoples on thy mercy call.

Rejoice! Rejoice Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

5. O come, thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heavenly home. The captives from their prison free, and conquer death's deep misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

6. O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thy justice here; disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death's dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

7. O come, Desire of nations bind all peoples in one heart and mind. From dust thou brought us forth to life; deliver us from earthly strife.

Rejoice! Rejoice Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Lighting the Advent Candle - Hope

L: Today we light the candle of hope

P: It is hope that lights our way to the future

L: We long to walk as the people of the light;

P: We want to follow Jesus

L: God sent his son to give light to the world

P: The light of the world is Jesus

L: In him there is no darkness at all

P: The night and the day are both alike

L: The lamb is the light of the city of God

All: Shine in our hearts Lord, Jesus

Advent Prayers of the People

Advent is a time we remember Christmas's past, gatherings of family, church and friends. We also look forward with expectation and hope to new ideas, new opportunities, new growth or a chance to start afresh. Each year there are different circumstances in our lives so we may celebrate a little differently, but we still celebrate Christmas.

This year we continue to send Christmas cards to friends, call our extended family a bit more often, perhaps visit our close family. We may decide to spend a 'quiet, old-fashioned' Christmas at home or to mingle out a bit more, perhaps enjoying tree lightings, holiday decorations and warm cocoa with close friends. How beautiful!

Advent is a time of preparation. And so, take some time right now.... and make your Christmas List. Instead of listing gifts you want, try listing the names of those you will contact by card or phone. Add to your list those ministries and missions to whom you will give an extra Christmas gift.

Add one more thing to your list. Choose to place one or more shining, lit candle(s) (battery or electric) in your street facing windows each night during advent - as a sign of HOPE. What are you hopeful for this Christmas?

Lord, we turn to you this season and pray that you would birth joy and healing, blessing and hope in us. Let something wonderful begin in us — something surprising and holy.

Scripture Lesson from Daniel 7:9-28 NIV

9 “As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened. 11 “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. 12 (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)

13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,[a] coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him.His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

15 “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. 16 I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this. “So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. 18 But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’

19 “Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws—the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten hornson its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully. 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.

23 “He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. 24 The ten hornsare ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. 25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.

26 “‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. 27 Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worshipand obey him.’

28 “This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.”

Sermon: Wishes and Hopes

Scripture: Isaiah 40: 9-11 (CEB)

9 Go up on a high mountain, messenger Zion! Raise your voice and shout, messenger Jerusalem! Raise it; don’t be afraid; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” 10 Here is the Lord God, coming with strength, with a triumphant arm, bringing his reward with him and his payment before him. 11 Like a shepherd, God will tend the flock; he will gather lambs in his arms and lift them onto his lap. He will gently guide the nursing ewes.

Let the World Sing ~ Oceanview Worship

Closing Blessing

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.