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    Nov 29, 2020

    Do Not Be Afraid: Israel

    Do Not Be Afraid: Israel

    Passage: Isaiah 35:1-10

    Speaker: Rev. Jennifer Eschliman, Pastor

    Category: Hope

    I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope. (Psalm 130 v. 5)
    First Sunday in Advent
    November 29, 2020 10 am
     
    Click to watch the service as you follow along
     
    Prelude O Little Town of Bethlehem (with Once in Royal David’s City)
    ~Mary McDonald
                                                                 
    Welcome                                                                                                                                                                
                             
    Call to Worship (from Psalm 130)
    Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.
    Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.
     
    I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope;
    my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning.
     
    O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with Him is great power to redeem.
    It is He who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
     
    Come, people of God, let us wait for the Lord - Emmanuel, the God who has promised to be with us. Let us worship with eager expectation!
     
    Opening Hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel UMH #211 (vv. 1-3, 7)
     
     
    Verse 1
    O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel
    That mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear
    Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
     
    Verse 2
    O come, thou Wisdom from on high, and order all things far and nigh
    To us the path of knowledge show and cause us in her ways to go
    Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
     
    Verse 3
    O come, O come, great Lord of might, who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height
    In ancient times once gave the law in cloud and majesty and awe.
    Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
                 
    Verse 7
    O come, Desire of Nations bind all peoples in one heart and mind
    From dust thou brought us forth to life; deliver us from earthly strife
    Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel                                                            
     
    A Message for Young Disciples: The Advent Wreath 
     
    Lighting the Advent Wreath                                                                                                                          
     
    Proclamation and Response
     
    Old Testament Reading Isaiah 35:1-10
     
    1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus 2 it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God.
     
    3 Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees. 4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God.
     He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.”
     
    5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6 then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; 7 the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. 8 A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it,     but it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.
    9 No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. 10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
     
    Leader: This is the Word of God.
          All: Thanks be to God!                                                                                                                                
                                                     
    Message Do Not Be Afraid: Israel
    Pastor Jen Eschliman
     
    Prayers of the People
    Joys & Concerns
    The Lord’s Prayer                         
           
    Offering Ourselves and Our Gifts to God           
     
    Closing Song  Everlasting God                                  
      Brenton Brown | Ken Riley
     
    Verse
    Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
    We will wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord
    Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
    We will wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord
     
    Pre-Chorus
    Our God You reign forever; Our Hope, our strong Deliverer
         
    Chorus
    You are the everlasting God, the everlasting God
    You do not faint You won't grow weary
    You're the defender of the weak, You comfort those in need You lift us up on wings like eagles
     
    Sending Forth
     
    Announcements 
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    Alternative Christmas
                 
    Benediction                                                                                                                                                          
     
    Postlude Veni, Emmanuel
    ~Richard Ellsasser                                                                                        
     
    The scripture reading is from the Holy Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.
     
     Song Credits:
    O Come, O Come, Emmanuel UMH #211 (vv. 1-3, 7)
    9th cent. Latin; Trans. stanzas 1, 3, 51b, 6cd, 7ab The Hymnal, 1940|Trans. sts. 4, 5cd, 6ab, 7cd © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House; Sts. 1, 3. 5ab, 6cd,
    7ab © 1940, 1943, renewed 1981 The Church Pension Fund|Used by permission. CCLI License # 1011499
     
     Everlasting God                                  
      Brenton Brown | Ken Riley
    © 2005 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Used by permission. CCLI License # 1011499