PRELUDE Luke Arnold
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev. Seth Thomas
ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING The Anderson Family
The world says, “All is lost”
God says, “All is loved.”
The darkness says, “The light is dying.”
The light says, “The fire is catching.”
Fear says, “Cover your eyes and your ears.”
Hope says, “Wait, watch, and listen.”
As we light our first Advent candle,
we pray for holy hope of God.
Come now, O Child of Mary.
Come now, O Prince of Hope.
*CALL TO WORSHIP Lindsay Anderson, Lector
When will God’s promise be fulfilled?
The days are surely coming.
When we will be saved?
The days are surely coming.
How will we know the signs to take place?
How will we know the signs to take place?
The days are surely coming
when a branch from David shall come forth
to execute justice and righteousness in the land.
What shall it be called?
The Lord is our righteousness.
*HYMN OF PRAISE “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” – GTG #88
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Coming Christ,
you may not find us as you hoped.
We’ve looked away from signs
we do not with to see.
We’ve stopped listening to distress
we do not wish to hear.
We are numb to inconvenient truths.
Keep us alert, O God, to the needs of our neighbors.
Revive our hearts laden with compassion fatigue.
Sharpen our minds clouded by worries.
Sober our lives addicted to privilege.
Show us the signs of your coming,
that we may stand before you, the Son of Man,
in whose name we pray.
ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE
*THE PEACE
The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
Psalm 25:1-10NRSV
Luke 21:25-36NRSV
SERMON “Looking for the Fig Tree” Rev. Seth Thomas
*HYMN OF RESPONSE “The Days Are Surely Coming” – GTG #357
WE RESPOND TO GOD’S INVITATION TO DISCIPLESHIP
JOYS & CONCERNS
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
OFFERTORY
*DOXOLOGY “For the Life That You Have Given” – GTG #717
For the life that you have given, for the love in Christ made known, With these fruits of time and labor, with these gifts that are your own; Here we offer, Lord, our praises; heart and mind and strength we bring; Give us grace to love and serve you, Living what we pray and sing.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
SINGING WELCOME AS CHILDREN RETURN TO SANCTUARY
Welcome, children, welcome! Advent time is here.
Welcome, children, welcome! Now to God draw near.
*HYMN OF COMMITMENT “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” – GTG #82
WE GO INTO THE WORLD AS GOD’S AMBASSADORS
*BLESSING & CHARGE
POSTLUDE
GODLY PLAY: Advent I
This lesson, along with the next three lessons, helps the children to anticipate the mystery of Christmas. In the Advent lessons we will move toward Bethlehem and arrive at the birth of Jesus and the lighting of the Christ Candle. This week's lesson focuses on the prophets.
The Godly Play room will open at 10:15am for songs and memory verse time, with the lesson starting at 10:35am. Students will be brought back to the service for the last hymn.
LECTIONARY TEXTS
For anyone wishing to study the lectionary texts, this week,
November 28th, the Lectionary texts are:
Psalm 25:1-10 (worship)
Luke 21:25-36 (preaching)
Jeremiah 33:14-16
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
HOLIDAY JOY
Please help the St. James Youth Group and Interfaith Coalition bring a little Holiday Joy to some children and families in need this year! This year all gifts need to be in the form of a gift card in the amount of $25-$50 to Fred Meyer or Target. To participate you can purchase gift cards and bring them to church, send a check to St. James with "Holiday Joy" in the memo, or contact tracy@saintjamespres.org for more information. Gift Cards need to be at church by 10:30 am Sunday December 5th.
JOIN US FOR A NEW ADVENT SERIES
“Advent calendars come in all shapes and sizes but what they have in common is a daily rhythm of anticipatory reflection. Biola's Center for Christianity, Culture, and the Arts offers a FREE online Advent Project designed to help you pause each day to reflect on the beauty and meaning of the season. Each day of the Advent Project features a Scripture passage, a devotion written by a member of the Biola community, a work of visual art, a poem, and a piece of music. Our prayer is that in the midst of these challenging times, the Advent Project will help ground you in the unsurpassable beauty, mystery, and miracle of the Word made flesh.”
We will meet each Sunday at 9am, beginning December 5th to discuss the devotions via zoom. Click the link below to sign up to receive your daily devotionals. https://ccca.biola.edu/events/2021/nov/28/advent-project-2021/
MISSION AND SOCIAL ACTION
The Mission and Social Action Team is currently collecting items to fill 30 stockings for The Garden View Tiny Homes Village. Please place items in the plastic bin located in the Horizons room. If you prefer to give cash or a check, we will purchase gift cards to add to the stockings. The following is the wish list of items:
Detergent(pods), dryer sheets, command strips, shaving cream, razors, medicine containers, odor eater foot inserts, Bengay/heat ointment, small first aid kits, shower soap, liquid hand soap/sanitizer, heating pads, shower flip flops, reading glasses/cases, headlamps, watches, pens, pocket-sized notepads/calendars, small wallets, small day packs, and clear transparent zippered containers to carry small items.
If you have any questions, please contact Maureen Kosa at mkosa@hotmail.com. Thank you.
PRAYERS, PRAISES, AND UPDATES
If you have a prayer request or update you would like to share, please email office@saintjamespres.org.
AMAZON SMILE If you shop on Amazon, you can now designate cash back to support St. James! AmazonSmile gives 0.5% of purchases back to nonprofit organizations. Choose St. James as your nonprofit here: smile.amazon.com/ch/91-0637872. Then shop at smile.amazon.com any time. You'll get all the same prices and Prime benefits as Amazon and donate to St. James at the same time!
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