Covenant Presbyterian Church
Third Sunday of Advent
December 11, 2022 – 10am
Covenant is an accepting, welcoming community sharing the glory of God’s love with all.
PRELUDE “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” arr. by Shackley “Fum, Fum, Fum” arr. Valarie Stephenson
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Candle
CANDLE LIGHTING LITURGY
*HYMN #110 “Love Has Come” (verses 1-3) Ribbon
1 Love has come: a light in the darkness!
Love shines forth in the Bethlehem skies.
See, all heaven has come to proclaim it;
hear how their song of joy arises:
Love! Love! Born unto you, a Savior!
Love! Love! Glory to God on high.
2 Love is born! Come, share in the wonder.
Love is God now asleep in the hay.
See the glow in the eyes of his mother;
what is the name her heart is saying?
Love! Love! Love is the name she whispers.
Love! Love! Jesus, Emmanuel.
3 Love has come and never will leave us!
Love is life everlasting and free.
Love is Jesus within and among us.
Love is the peace our hearts are seeking.
Love! Love! Love is the gift of Christmas.
Love! Love! Praise to you, God on high!
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of mercy,
a million times a day we have the opportunity to be gracious,
to assume the best in others,
to give the benefit of the doubt.
A million times a day we could choose the better way,
but so often we don’t.
Fear and greed kick in.
Assumptions and insecurities take the wheel.
Comparison and critique lead the charge.
Forgive us for forgetting that we are descendants of Joseph.
Forgive us for forgetting that grace and mercy are in our blood.
Forgive us for forgetting that all belong to you.
Give us the courage to love even bigger than before,
and the wisdom to choose a better way.
Amen.
WORDS OF FORGIVENESS
HYMN #581 “Glory Be to the Father” Ribbon
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen, amen.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
The peace of the Lord, be with you all. And also with you.
HYMN #188 “Jesus Loves Me”
TALK WITH CHILDREN
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Cross
THE FIRST READING Isaiah 35:1-10 (CEB)
This is the promise of God to our ancestors and to us. Thanks be to God.
SPECIAL MUSIC “Mary, Did You Know” arr. Anna Laura Page
THE GOSPEL READING Matthew 1:18-25 (CEB)
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
PRAYER OF THE DAY †
God with us,
borne by Mary’s flesh
beyond all convention:
give us the faith of Joseph
to see the Spirit’s work
where the world sees only shame;
to listen to the promise
and waken to the cry
of life renewed and love reborn;
through Jesus Christ, the one who is to come.
Amen.
SERMON “We Can Choose a Better Way”
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father who art in heaven… (Hymnal p. 35. We say “debts & debtors.”)
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
OFFERTORY “Nothin' But Glory” arr. by Heather Sorenson
You can give online to Covenant by scanning this QR code.
*DOXOLOGY #606 Ribbon
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise God, all creatures here below;
praise God above, ye heavenly host;
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*Prayer of Dedication Cross
*HYMN 129 “O Little Town of Bethlehem” (verses 1-4) Ribbon
1 O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.
2 For Christ is born of Mary
and, gathered all above,
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together
proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the king,
and peace to all on earth.
3 How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him, still
the dear Christ enters in.
4 O holy child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin and enter in;
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us; abide with us,
our Lord Emmanuel!
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Reprise of “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
Unless otherwise noted, prayers by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org
† From Prayers for an Inclusive Church by Steven Shakespeare. New York: Church Publishing, 2009
Assisting in Worship Today:
Lind Pratt–Liturgist
Whitney Dodds–Vocalist
Nan Davidson-Campanile Bell Choir
Advent Candle Lighters—The Patterson & Hayes families, and Asher Esala
Cherie Brooks – Director of Music & Technology
Katie Wynkoop–Organist/Pianist & Assistant Director of Music
Erin Wise – Director of Children’s & Youth Ministries
Brian Biller – Media Production Specialist
Rev. Joel A. Esala–Pastor
The Courageous Choice
by Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity
Inspired by Matthew 1:18-25
Silk painting with digital drawing and collage
