An Open and Affirming Beloved Faith Community

Second Sunday of Advent

Peace

Welcoming and Inclusive Theologically Progressive

An Emphasis on Stewardship

~ William Temple

The Gathering MusicThe Call to Worship and Welcome

The Spirit of the still speaking God be with you!

And also with you.

The Music for Guitar Francisco de Asís Tárrega

The Lighting of the Altar CandlesThe Opening of the Lectern BibleThe Gathering

Every valley shall be lifted up and every mountain and hill made low.

The glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all people shall see it together.

kiss.

Let us worship the Righteous One, the Peacemaker for whom we patiently await!

John Demas, guitar

Prepare the way of the Lord! Make straight a highway for our God!

We await “a new heaven and a new earth,” where righteousness and peace will

The Prologue

The Lord's Day

Second Sunday of Advent

Ten O'clock in the Morning

Peace

The Worship of God

THE SERVICE OF PREPARATION

Each of the four Gospel narratives were written during a time of great social and societal unrest,

political turmoil and upheaval, a very unsettled period in the history of the Roman Empire. Fueled by

a very paranoid Caesar, non-Roman citizens received the brunt of persecutorial terror and torture,

subjected to the worst brutality, an insidious evil, a wretched wickedness representing the most

horrific atrocities the human mind could imagine and enact. The earliest Gospel, Mark, was written in

about 65CE, while John was written around the year 100CE. The second fall of Jerusalem tookplace in 70CE, right smack dab in the middle of a period during which these stories describing theperson and work of Jesus were being written. There was no more peace on earth then than thereis now! More than 2000 years later, humanity continues its warring ways despite longing andstruggling to achieve a very illusive Peace. So, what to do in the interim? Gotta, gotta be aPeacemaker! Every time, all the time! Now's the time!

Worship is the submission of all our nature to God. It is the quickening of the conscience by God's holiness; the

nourishment of the mind with God's truth; the purifying of the imagination by God's beauty; the opening of the

heart to God's love; the surrender of the will to God's purpose — and all of this gathered up in adoration.

Lagima

An Emphasis on Stewardship

The Choral Introit Taize Community

The Collect

Amen.

t The Processional Hymn TO GOD BE THE GLORYJohn Spoke as a Prophet

Prepare the Way of the LordChancel Choir

Prepare the way of the Lord. Prepare the way of the

Lord, and all people will see the salvation of our God. Alleluia!

THE SERVICE OF PRAISE

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God of steadfast love and Peace, we have gathered in this sacred space and time toworship the One whose glory has been revealed to all people, whose voice has been heardthroughout the land; You are our God, the righteous One whose faithfulness has broughtthe way of salvation and forgiveness to us all; as we herald the good tidings of Emmanuelin our midst this day, speak once again to our hearts that we might prepare the way ofPeace in all the earth; all this we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reignswith You and the holy and still speaking Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

t The Litany of Praise

who turn their hearts to God.

t The Gloria GREATOREX

God is patient with us, not wanting any to perish. Yet, it is so easy to turn away fromholiness and godliness. So often, we have chosen to fit into society rather than giveleadership for a new day. In the silence and stillness of these moments, let us confessbefore the Holy.

The Holy One has restored everyone who has been exiled in sin, forgiving our iniquityand pardoning our sin.

THE SERVICE OF CONFESSION

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The Call to Confession1

and pardoning our sin.

Surely salvation is at hand for those who fear God, that God’s glory may dwell among us.

kissing one another.

righteousness looks down from the sky.

Praise the Lord!

We have heard the voice of the Holy, a word of peace to the faithful, to thosewho turn their hearts to God.

Surely steadfast love and faithfulness will meet, righteousness and peacekissing one another.

The Holy One gives what is good, faithfulness springing up from the ground whilerighteousness looks down from the sky.

Righteousness goes before our God, making a path for the steps of the Holy.Praise the Lord!

The Silent ConfessionThe Corporate Confession2

The Kyrie arr. David N. Johnson

The Assurance of Pardon3

The Lighting of the Candle of Peace Larry and Jo Prater

The Hymn for Advent SIMPLY PERFECT

God of glory, we confess we are frequently unable to recognize you in our midst,failing to listen for Your voice. It is tempting to live as if we have no need to accountfor the life we have been given. It is easier to focus more on our own survival thanon our mission in the world. We come to You today with sincere repentance for ourneglect. Help us prepare the way for Christ’s entry into our everyday environment.Pardon and change us, we pray.

Beloved faith community, hear the good news of God's Advent Peace. God speaks tenderlyto us and assures us that our debt has been paid, our sins forgiven, our paths madestraight. God’s glory is waiting to burst into the midst of all who accept the good news.Surely our salvation is at hand. Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, whilerighteousness looks down from the sky.

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Thanks be to God!

THE ADVENT WREATH: THE LIGHTING OF THE CANDLE OF PEACE

Peace Is a Candle

The Litany of Peace

The Litany for the Green4

The Hymn STUTTGART

THE CHRISMON TREE

How shall we prepare this house for the coming of God's royal Son?

With branches of cedar, the tree of royalty.How shall we prepare this house for the coming of the eternal Christ?

resurrection.How shall we prepare our hearts for the coming of the Christ?

By hearing again the words of the prophets, who foretold the saving work ofGod.

For in Jesus all flesh has experienced the perfect embodiment of God, a human reflectionof the Divine. of the Divine.

Glory to God in the highest for sending a mentor who has called us all friends,teaching us how to live and love in the world, and in dying, teaching us how

Evergreen and Ever-Fragrant

God.

It's bright flame shining forth upon all people the light of God’s forgivenessand salvation.

We light the candle of Peace.

Good tidings of steadfast love and faithfulness are heralded in our midst.

With garlands of pine and fir, whose leaves are ever living, ever green.How shall we prepare this house for the coming of Jesus?

With wreaths of holly and ivy, telling of His life, His passion, His death, andresurrection.

and salvation.

All the earth cries out for peace in the land, preparing the way of the Lord in all the earth.We patiently await the coming of the righteous One, our maker of Peace.We patiently await the coming of the righteous One, our maker of Peace.

teaching us how to live and love in the world, and in dying, teaching ushow to be fully human! Thanks be to God!

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The Anthem Henry Bancroft

The Witness from the Hebrew Scriptures ISAIAH 40:1-11

There's a Voice in the Wilderness Crying

Chancel Choir

There's a voice in the wilderness crying, a call from the ways untrod: prepare in the desert a highway,

a highway for our God! The valleys shall be exalted, the lofty hills brought low; make straight all the

crooked places where the Lord our God may go! O, Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up

to the heights and sing! Proclaim to a desolate people the coming of their King. Like the

flowers of the field they perish, like grass our works decay, the power and pomp of

nations shall pass like a dream away; but the word of our God endureth, the arm

of the Lord is strong; He stands in the midst of nations, and He will right the

wrong. He shall feed His flock like a shepherd, the lambs He'll gently hold;

to pastures of peace He'll lead them, and bring them safe to His fold.

Listen to what the Spirit of the still speaking God is saying. Thanks be to God!

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THE SERVICE OF THE WORD

Comfort, O comfort My people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her thatshe has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s handdouble for all her sins. A voice cries out: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, makestraight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountainand hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Thenthe glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of theLord has spoken." A voice says, "Cry out!" And I said, "What shall I cry?" All people are grass,their constancy is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breathof the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but theword of our God will stand for ever. Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings;lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say tothe cities of Judah, "Here is your God!" See, the Lord God comes with might, and God's arm rulesfor God; God's reward is with God, and God's recompense before God. God will feed God's flocklike a shepherd; God will gather the lambs in God's arms, and carry them in God's bosom, andgently lead the mother sheep.

The Response, PSALM 85 FOREST GREEN

The Witness from the Epistles II PETER 3:8-15a

t The Sequence Hymn VENITE ADORAMUS

Listen to what the Spirit of the still speaking God is saying. Thanks be to God!

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When John the Baptist Preached

The Lord Has Looked upon the Chosen Land

But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and athousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some think ofslowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But theday of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, andthe elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will bedisclosed. Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of people ought you tobe in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day ofGod, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will meltwith fire? But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, whererighteousness is at home. Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to befound by God at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him.

t The Witness from the Gospels MARK 1:1-8

The Sermon Timothy W. Shirley

There will be a break between verses one and two for the reading of the Gospel. The reading of the

Gospel is read in the midst of the beloved faith community, reminding the congregation that the gospel

is for all people, and that our call is to carry out its witness in the world. At this high point in the

liturgy, the Gospel is not worshipped, but rather is reverenced with respect as it proclaims the ministry

and mission of Jesus, represented in words attributed to Jesus.

The Gospel for today. Thanks be to God!

As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, "See, I am sending My messenger ahead of You, who willprepare Your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord,make His paths straight,’" John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism ofrepentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all thepeople of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan,confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around hiswaist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I iscoming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. I havebaptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

Heeding the Words of a Wild Man!

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t The Hymn of Commitment CAROL

t The PeaceThe peace of Christ always be with you.

And also with you.

The Concerns of the Church Jo Prater, Moderator

The Pastoral PrayerThe Receiving of Our GiftsThe Offertory Anonymous

John Demas, guitar

It Came upon the Midnight Clear

THE SERVICE OF COMMITMENT

Romanza

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t The Advent Doxology THE FIRST NOWELL

t The Presentation of Our Gifts

t The Processional Hymn AR HYD Y NOS

Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow

THE SERVICE OF DISCIPLESHIP

View the Present Through the Promise

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t The Benediction

The Closing of the Lectern Bible

The Extinguishing of the Altar Candles

The Music for Organ arr. Ryan Hebert

t Those who are able are invited to stand.

Worship Notes:The theme for today's worship service is Peace.* Scripture readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) unless otherwise noted.1-3 Reprinted by permission United Church Press from Led by Love: Worship Resources for Year B, by Lavon Bayler.

Copyright 1996 by the Pilgrim Press.

The congregation processes into the world to share the love of Christ and the "extravagant welcome" of SouthShore United Church of Christ with all persons everywhere.

Phone: (813) 634-1304 Fax: (813) 633-9033

Dr. Shirley Email: timwshirley@gmail.com Mrs. Prater Email: southshoreucc@aol.com

Church Email: uccscc1@gmail.com Church Website: www.uccsuncitycenter.org.

Church College Email: communitychurchcollege@gmail.com.

Church College Website: www.4lifelearning.org

December 10, 2017

The Worship of God concludes with The Music for Organ. We invite you to be seated and reflect on today’s service, preparing to process into the world, sharing the love of Jesus and the "extravagant welcome" of SouthShore United Church of Christ with everyone you meet.

The color for the season of Advent is Blue. Symbolizing royalty, this color has a long tradition in the

history of the Church. Reflecting the seasonal images of hope and anticipation, and relating to

Mary, the mother of our Lord, Blue is once more being used by many churches. Others

continue to use Purple, but because of its strongly penitential themes, themes that

are more characteristic of Lent, the use of Blue is most appropriate for

conveying the celebratory nature of the Advent season.

Rev. Dr. Timothy W. Shirley, Senior Minister Dr. Ryan Hebert, Organist Mrs. Jo Prater, Moderator

Dr. Jo-Anne Winslow, Administrative Secretary

1501 La Jolla Avenue ~ Sun City Center, Florida 33573-5329

4Edited; source unknown.

Improvisation on O Come, O Come Emmanuel