Advent 3

Sunday, December 17, 2023
10:30 AM 11:30 AM 10:30 11:30

Union Presbyterian Church 200 E Main St Endicott, NY, 13760 United States (map)

Google Calendar ICS

On this third Sunday in Advent, once again we welcome the Rev. Dr. Greg Garis to our pulpit.

Join us for worship in our beautiful sanctuary, or right here online. Worship videos are available here or on Youtube following the service. You are invited!

Advent 3

“Restore Us, O God, Joy”

Matthew 1:18-24; Psalm 126

Union Presbyterian Church

December 17, 2023

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

Liturgist: Doug Moore Preacher: Rev. Dr. Greg Garis

Welcome

Announcements Doug Moore

Prelude Barbara Gannon, flute

“He Shall Feed His Flock,” George Frideric Handel

(Public Domain)

* Lighting of the Advent Candle Call to Worship (responsive) Doug Moore

The advent of Christ brings the joy of God’s presence in our midst!
We sing praises to God for the salvation Christ brings to us!
Because of Christ, the weak are strengthened, the fearful are encouraged, and the unrighteous are redeemed!
Joy and gladness are ours, because God has come to us in Christ to walk with us in the paths of righteousness!

As we continue our preparations for Christmas, may our celebrations renew our faith and fill us with joy and thanks.

Let us worship God.

* Hymn #59 W & R

“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”

(Public Domain)

Joyful, joyful, we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love;

Hearts unfold like flowers before thee, opening to the sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the dark of doubt away;

Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!

All thy works with joy surround thee, earth and heaven reflect thy rays,

Stars and angels sing around thee, center of unbroken praise.

Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,

Chanting bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in thee.

Thou are giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blest,

Wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!

Thou our Father, Christ our Brother—all who live in love are thine;

Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals, join the happy chorus which the morning stars began;

Love divine is reigning o’er us, joining all within its span.

Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife;

Joyful music leads us sunward in the triumph song of life.

* Call to New Life Doug Moore

* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

Merciful Savior, we have the best of intentions, wanting to create memorable celebrations of your incarnation. We confess, though, that we get off track. We are dazzled by shiny lights and beautifully decorated trees, yet fail to be your light to a hurting world. We run from one holiday event to the next, yet fail to stop and be a Good Samaritan to those who need food and shelter. We sing Christmas carols at every opportunity yet fail to share the Good News of your love to those for whom the holidays bring depression, grief, loneliness and despair. Forgive us, we pray. Restore to us a joy in the sacred, in the simple, and in being in your presence as redeemed children of God. (please continue in silent confession) We pray in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

* Words of Assurance

In Jesus Christ, the Lord has done great things for us!

Even if we have gone out in tears,

God brings us home shouting for joy

Thanks be to God: we are forgiven. Amen.

* Sharing of the Peace

The third Advent candle reminds us of joy.

Joy is in our hearts because God has forgiven us and we are at peace.

May the peace of God be with you. 

And also with you.

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

Scripture Matthew 1:18-24

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and they shall name him Emmanuel,”

which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife.

Time for Young Disciples Rev. Dr. Greg Garis

Music: “All Earth is Hopeful,” Alberto Taulé

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE,

Scripture Psalm 126

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,

we were like those who dream.

Then our mouth was filled with laughter,

and our tongue with shouts of joy;

then it was said among the nations,

“The Lord has done great things for them.”

The Lord has done great things for us,

and we rejoiced.

Restore our fortunes, O Lord,

like the watercourses in the Negeb.

May those who sow in tears

reap with shouts of joy.

Those who go out weeping,

bearing the seed for sowing,

shall come home with shouts of joy,

carrying their sheaves.

Response  Holy Wisdom, Holy Word: 

Thanks be to God! 

Sermon “Restore Us, O God, Joy” Rev. Dr. Greg Garis

* Statement of Faith (by Dave Hopwood, engageworship.org)

We believe in God the Father, creator of heaven and earth.

The one who is full of patience,

who is not afraid of silence,

who does not need to fill each moment with activity and noise.

The one who is beyond bluster and flurry,

and who does not jostle for attention.

We believe in God the Son, Savior of creation,

who slipped into Bethlehem one night, mostly unnoticed,

who lived thirty years without headlines or hurry,

who frequently took time alone with his patient Father,

who waited for the right time to become the suffering servant,

who stood quietly before the noise of his accusers,

whose silence overpowered their words,

who died, then rose again on a quiet Sunday morning.

We believe in God the Holy Spirit,

who strengthens, empowers, renews and refreshes,

sometimes arriving with obvious power,

sometimes with the quiet breath of a whisper.

We believe in one God

who patiently waits for us,

and who longs for us to do the same.

Anthem Choir

“Prepare the Way, O Zion,” Sheldon Curry

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE,

Prepare the way, O Zion,

Your Christ is drawing near!

Let every hill and valley

A level way appear.

Greet One who comes in glory,

Foretold in sacred story.

Oh, blest is Christ that came

In God’s most holy name.

He brings God’s rule, O Zion;

He comes from heaven above.

His rule is peace and freedom,

And justice, truth, and love.

Lift high your praise resounding,

For grace and joy abounding.

Oh, blest is Christ that came

In God’s most holy name.

Fling wide your gates, O Zion;

Your Savior’s rule embrace.

Glad tidings of salvation

Proclaim in every place.

All lands will bow before Him,

Their voices will adore Him.

Oh, blest is Christ that came

In God’s most holy name.

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   # 469 W & R (verse 3)

“Lord of All Hopefulness,” Jan Struther

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE,

Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,

Your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace.

Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,

Your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.

Call for Offering

* Doxology # 156 W & R

“On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry”

(Public Domain)

To you, O Christ, all praises be,

Whose advent sets your people free;

Whom with the Father we adore

And Holy Spirit evermore!

* Prayer of Dedication

* Hymn  #179 W & R

“Joy to the World”

(Public Domain)

Joy to the world! the Lord is come;

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare him room,

And heaven and nature sing,

And heaven, and heaven and nature sing.

Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns;

Let all their songs employ;

While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,

Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make his blessings flow

Far as the curse is found,

Far as, far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glories of his righteousness,

And wonders of his love,

And wonders, wonders of his love.

* Benediction

Postlude  Barbara Gannon, flute

“O Come, All Ye Faithful,” Marty Parks, Ed Hogan

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE,

Where an * is indicated, please rise in body and/or in spirit.

“W & R” ~ the red Worship and Rejoice hymnal.

“PH” ~ the blue Presbyterian Hymnal