ORDER OF WORSHIP
December 10, 2023 10:30 AM
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
If you have individual prayer requests, please write them on prayer cards in the pews and bring them up or give them to an usher during the prelude.
**Kindly stand if you are able
PRELUDE Organ Prelude Mary Lee Farris, Organ
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE The Hennessey Family
CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 85)
Leader: LORD, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
PEOPLE: You forgave the iniquity of your people; you pardoned all their sin.
LEADER: Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his
people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
PEOPLE: Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will
kiss each other.
Leader: Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down
from the sky.
PEOPLE: Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps.
INVOCATION
Lord of righteousness and justice, in whose sight a thousand years are as one day, we come today to offer our worship and our desire to better know the truth of forgiveness and the path of redemption. Help us along the way to better understand your true power and love. In the name of our Savior, Amen.
**OPENING HYMN “I Wonder as I Wander” Red #165
CALL TO CONFESSION
Our tongues can speak against our sisters and brothers. Our actions can disobey the
commandments. Suspicion and envy betray us to our thoughts. Bring us together as we seek to understand the true righteousness of our Lord’s love.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
O God of forgiveness, help us to open our eyes to the truth of your reconciling presence. Show us the pathways to Peace with our sisters and brothers, especially to those who pray to a different God. Show us how to use and not abuse your mercy as we meet the challenges of today’s world. In Christ, hear our prayer. Amen.
(a moment for silent personal confession)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
All the earth shall know that God’s judgment is tempered by Christ’s presence on our behalf. In this we know his pardon. Amen.
**GLORIA PATRI Red #805
**PASSING OF THE PEACE
**HYMN OF PRAISE “Fairest Lord Jesus” Red # 115
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Almighty God, in you are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Open our eyes that we may see the wonders of your Word; and give us grace that we may clearly understand and freely choose the way of your wisdom; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 40: 1-11 Theresa Cotanche
EPISTLE READING 2 Peter 3: 8-15a
GOSPEL READING Mark 1: 1-8
SERMON MESSAGE Voice from the Wilderness John Redman, CRE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
O God of Isaiah and John the Baptist, through all such faithful ones you proclaim the unfolding of future joy and renewed life. Strengthen our hearts to believe your advent truth that one day we will walk in the holy way of Christ, where sorrow and sighing will be no more and the journey of God’s people will be joy. We will continue to pray for our country and the world for true Peace on Earth. We pray for unity, not only in our country, but especially among your people, the Body of Christ, the Church. Have mercy on us and lend your healing touch to those we name here:
And Lord we pray for those in our own hearts whose names you already know, for their
own healing and comfort, in your name and that of our redeemer Jesus Christ, who
taught to pray, saying:
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
OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS
We give freely from the bounty we have been given by our Gracious God. May what we
offer in these moments help to become the very blessing and hope that others need.
This we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
OFFERTORY “On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry”
**DOXOLOGY Traditional Red #809
PRAYER OF THANKS
Lord God, we thank you for these gifts. As we follow in faith, may we find ways to honor
you by giving of our treasure, our time and our talents to glorify you and our Lord Jesus
Christ. Amen.
**CLOSING HYMN “God Be with You” Red #839
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE: “Savior of the Nations, Come” Mary Lee Farris, Piano
Blessings!
John Redman, CRE
Mobile: (914) 474-0722
Union Church
44 Balmville Rd, Newburgh NY 12550
https://www.newburghpresby.org/
Phone: (845) 562-0954 Fax: (845) 562-0955
