Prelude  O Come, O Come, Emmanuel             Plainchant/Robert Lau

Welcome & Announcements 

Opening Prayer

Gathering  Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying 

Lord, listen to your children praying,

Lord, send your Spirit in this place;

Lord, listen to your children praying,

Send us love, send us pow'r, send us grace.

Call to Worship

Comfort, O comfort my people!

We welcome God’s tender words to us today.

Prepare the way for your God!

We gather for worship to prepare ourselves for Christ’s coming.

Christ is coming! The glory of God will be revealed!

Thanks be to God for this good news!

Opening Hymn #10 On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry

Advent Reading- Lighting of the Wreath

Peace—#31 Hark! the Herald Angels vs. 3

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Sun of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings,

Risen with healing in His wings.

Mild He lays His glory by,

Born that we no more may die.

Born to raise us from the earth,

Born to give us second birth.

Prayer of Confession

Eternal God, John the Baptist prepares the way by calling upon us to repent. We have failed to share as we should. We have failed to honor the poor and the oppressed. We have failed to bear fruit worthy of your salvation. Have mercy upon us, God. Heal and forgive us so we can welcome Christ with pure and genuine hearts. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

Gloria Patri

Children’s Sermon

Children are invited to go to Children’s Worship with our Children’s Worship Leader. Children will return to their parents during the final hymn.

4 Cents a Meal

Prayers of the People & Lord's Prayer

Call to Offering

Offertory Rejoice! Rejoice, Believers       Wayne Kerr

Doxology

Prayer of Dedication

Hymn #12 People, Look East

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11

Anthem O Come, O Come, Immanuel      Natalie Sleeth/Jane Marshall

Scripture Reading: Mark 1:1-8

Sermon: “Go Deeper”

Apostles’ Creed (Traditional)- Page 14 in Blue Hymnal

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

Closing Hymn #8 Lift Up Your Heads

Benediction

Postlude O Savior, Rend the Heavens Wide      Wayne Kerr