What would it take for God to make a home for all? John the Baptist has some spicy hot takes on our responsibilities toward one another as human beings… and it’s all good news.

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Online Bulletin

Advent 3: A Home For All: Joy

Union Presbyterian Church

December 12, 2021

Sharing the Light of Christ, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Liturgist: Doug Moore Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Prelude “Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming,” Mark Hayes Chris Bartlette, piano

Used by permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847

Welcome Rev. Pat Raube

Handbell Introit “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” (Public Domain)

Call to Worship Doug Moore

A voice calls out in the wilderness.

It sings of a home for all.

It speaks of justice and peace.

We could choose to ignore it.

We could drown out that song.

We could choose not to listen.

Instead, we come into this space.

We let the world grow quiet.

We listen.

A voice calls out in the wilderness.

Do you hear it?

We hear it. In listening, we worship.

Let us draw near to God.

Hymn #156 W & R “On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry” (Public Domain)

On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry

Announces that the Lord is nigh:

Awake and listen for he brings

Glad tidings of the King of kings.

Let every heart be cleansed from sin,

Make straight the way for God within,

And so prepare to be the home

Where such a mighty guest may come.

For you are our salvation, Lord,

Our refuge and our great reward;

Without your grace we waste away

Like flowers that wither and decay.

To heal the sick, stretch out your hand,

And make the fallen sinner stand;

Shine out, and let your light restore

Earth’s own true loveliness once more.

To you, O Christ, all praises be,

Whose advent sets your people free;

Whom with the Father we adore

And Holy Spirit evermore!

Lighting of the Third Advent Candle

Joy is seeing people you love after months apart.

Joy is hearing, “Come on over, it has been too long!”

Joy is the stretches and giggles of a newborn child.

Joy is making it home when the journey is long.

Joy is your dog sliding to meet you at the door.

Joy is the energy of a new season.

Joy is feeling found when you thought you were lost.

So today we light the candle of joy,

because the welcome God has for us is nothing short of joyful.

Rest in that good news. Let it wash over you.

Family of faith, we are close to home. Amen.

Call to New Life

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

Expansive God, we know that the church is your house, and your house has room for everyone. Yet, too often, instead of setting the table for our neighbors, we block the door. Instead of welcoming all, we judge others by our own standards. Instead of sharing our second coat, we hide it in the attic, holding on to fear instead of letting go with love. Remind us that your home is a home for all, that truth requires hard work, that truth requires uncomfortable justice. Help us to be bold enough to see it and brave

enough to live it. With hope we pray, amen.

Assurance of God’s Love

Family of faith, God sent prophets like John the Baptist to us because this work is not

easy. Helping create a world where all might have a home, and all might be loved, and all might know peace, is an audacious goal. Fortunately for us, when we mess up—when we lose our way or forget our call—we are met with grace. God could not love us any more or any less than God already does.

So rest in this good news:

We are at home with God—forgiven, claimed, and loved.

The door is always open for us.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Sharing of the Peace

May the peace of God be with you.

And also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of God’s peace.

Scripture Zephaniah 3:14-20

Sing aloud, O daughter Zion;
    shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
    O daughter Jerusalem!
The Lord has taken away the judgments against you,
    he has turned away your enemies.
The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
    you shall fear disaster no more.
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Do not fear, O Zion;
    do not let your hands grow weak.
The Lord, your God, is in your midst,
    a warrior who gives victory;
he will rejoice over you with gladness,
    he will renew you in his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing

    as on a day of festival.

I will remove disaster from you,
    so that you will not bear reproach for it.
I will deal with all your oppressors
    at that time.
And I will save the lame
    and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
    and renown in all the earth.
At that time I will bring you home,
    at the time when I gather you;
for I will make you renowned and praised
    among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
    before your eyes, says the Lord.

Children’s Message Rev. Pat Raube

“Prepare the Way of the Lord,” Jacques Berthier, Taizé

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.   

Scripture Luke 3:1-18

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
    make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled,
    and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
    and the rough ways made smooth;
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”

As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:

Thanks be to God!

Meditation Rev. Pat Raube

Anthem

Prayers of the People

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.

Prayer Response  #173 W & R

“Sing Out My Soul – Magnificat,” Jacques Berthier, Taizé

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.   

Sing out, my soul. Sing out, my soul.

Sing out and glorify the Lord who sets us free.

Sing out, my soul. Sing out, my soul.

Sing out and glorify the Lord God!

Call for Offering   

Doxology    “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”

Tune: Public Domain

Text: Brian Wren 

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.   

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise God, all creatures high and low.

Praise God, in Jesus fully known:

Creator, Word, and Spirit one.

Prayer of Dedication   

Hymn  #191 W & R “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” (Public Domain)

1 It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold;
"Peace on the earth, good will to all,
From heaven's all gracious King":
The world in solemn stillness lay,
To hear the angels sing.

2 Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.

3 And ye, beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow,
Look now! for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
O rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing.

4 For lo, the days are hastening on,
By prophet bards foretold,
When with the ever circling years
Comes round the age of gold;
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.

Benediction  

As you leave this service, your service begins:

Comfort the homesick.

Open your doors to others.

Seek sanctuary.

Be brave enough to go home by another way.

And remember that here in God’s house, all are welcomed—so come back soon.

In the name of our Foundation—God, Spirit, and Son—go in peace.

Postlude  “Now the Green Blade Rises,” John Carter Chris Bartlette, piano

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.   

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Advent 3: A Home For All