The Presbyterian Church, 142 N. 4th St., Coshocton, OH 43812
Second Sunday of Advent
Pastor Karen Crawford
Alice Hoover, Organist
Kirsten McPeck, Kiera McPeck, Lydia Black, Liturgists
Prelude: Savior, of the Nations Come….. Andreas Vetter
Greeting/Announcements with Pastor Karen
Hymn: Prepare the Way of the Lord…..Michael Burkhardt; Ron Barkett and Alice Hoover
Lighting the Advent Wreath: Kirsten McPeck, Kiera McPeck, Lydia Black
Light one candle for peace.
Hymn: Prepare the Way of the Lord…..Michael Burkhardt; Ron Barkett and Alice Hoover
Opening Sentences and Gathering Prayer: Liturgist
A voice cries out in the wilderness,
“Prepare the way of the Lord!”
Let us line the road with beauty
and pave it with acts of justice.
For the Holy One is coming our way,
the giver of life and the source of living water.
Hymn: 87 Comfort, Comfort Now My People….. Johannes Olearius
“Comfort, comfort now my people; tell of peace!” So says our God.
“Comfort those who sit in darkness mourning under sorrow’s load.
To my people now proclaim that my pardon waits for them!
Tell them that their sins I cover, and their warfare now is over.”
For the herald’s voice is crying in the desert far and near,
calling us to true repentance, since the reign of God is here.
O, that warning cry obey! Now prepare for God away
Let the valleys rise in meeting and the hills bow down in greeting.
Straight shall be what long was crooked, and the rougher places plain.
Let your hearts be true and humble, as befits God’s holy reign.
For the glory of the Lord now on earth is shed abroad,
and all flesh shall see the token that God’s word is never broken.
Call to Confession/Prayer of Confession/Assurance of Pardon
“Prepare the way of the Lord,” your prophet says to us. Forgive us when we have failed to prepare your way. Forgive us when we have stood in your way, instead: when we let the challenging words of your prophets roll off of lives, rather than let them spark change; when we walk around a neighbor in need, rather than encounter a chance for compassion. Forgive us, O Lord, and grant us assurance that the glory of your coming does not depend upon the righteousness of your followers. Forgive us, O Lord, and free us to try again. Amen.
Meet Our Church Family: Jeff, Janice and Lukas Sycks
Meet Our Church Family: The Haines
We have been enjoying the start of the Christmas season. We were able to spend Thanksgiving together.We have begun enjoying our Christmas traditions, and introducing our grandson to our traditions, finding and cutting our Christmas trees, and spending the evening at the Columbus Zoo for the Wildlights. — Liz Haines
Lift Up Your Heads… arr. by Olaf Christiansen, sung by Coshocton Community Choir at the Christmas Festival Concert in 2005, used with permission 12/20
Time with Children and Youth
Prayer for Illumination and Readings: Isaiah 40:1–11; 2 Peter 3:8-15a.
Holy wisdom, holy word. Thanks be to God!
Come to the Water….John Foley, S.J., sung by Coshocton Community Choir at the Christmas Festival Concert in 2005, used with permission 12/20
Reading: Mark 1:1-8.
Heaven and earth will pass away but the word of the Lord stands forever.
Thanks be to God.
Message: Light One Candle for Peace
Hymn: 106 Prepare the Way, O Zion………. Frans Mikael Franzen
Prepare the way, O Zion, your Christ is drawing near!
Let every bill and valley a level way appear.
Greet One who comes in glory, foretold in sacred story.
O blest is Christ who 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.
O blest is Christ who came in God’s most holy name.
Fling wide your gates, O Zion; your Savior’s rule embrace,
And tidings of salvation proclaim in every place.
All lands will bow rejoicing, their adoration voicing.
O blest is Christ who came in God’s most holy name.
Invitation to the Table and the Offering
Offertory: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus…………. setting, Wayne Leupold
Doxology
Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.…
Lord’s Prayer (Debts and Debtors)
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.
Communion of the People
Communion Song: Let all Mortal Flesh Keep Silence…. arr., Ralph Vaughan Williams
Prayer after Communion
Charge and Blessing
Postlude: A Trumpeting (An Advent Postlude)…….Edward Broughton
Sharing God's Love and Grace 