FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
THOSE WHO DREAM…Keep Awake (HOPE)
November 29, 2020
PRELUDE
GATHERING
GREETING & WELCOME
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and Communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
All: And also with you.
OPENING MUSIC--“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” ELW #257, vs, 1, 2, 7
THOSE WHO DREAM…Keep Awake (HOPE)
November 29, 2020
PRELUDE
GATHERING
GREETING & WELCOME
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and Communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
All: And also with you.
OPENING MUSIC--“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” ELW #257, vs, 1, 2, 7
CALL TO WORSHIP
L: The power of dreams lies in waking up. For when we close our eyes,
All: We can see a better world.
L: When we close our eyes,
All: We can dream a better dream.
L: But when we open our eyes,
All: We begin the work of faith.
L: The power of worship is the same. When we enter this time of worship,
All: We can see a better world.
L: When we enter this time of worship,
All: We dream a better dream.
L: But when we leave this time,
All: We begin the work of faith.
L: So we begin. Dream your dream.
All: Find hope here.
L: For soon,
All: We will begin the work of faith.
L: Let it be so.
LIGHTING OF ADVENT CANDLE
A: I dream of the days when we could be part of a crowd.
B: I dream of snow days.
A: I dream of empty beds in jail cells.
B: I dream of a world that will let kids be kids.
A: I dream of full tables instead of empty bellies.
B: I dream of schools with enough money to teach.
A: I dream of parents with enough money to feed their families.
B: I dream to keep awake, because if we don’t dream of better days, then we might forget that this is not what God imagined.
A: So today we light the candle of hope, for hope is the very thing that keeps dreams afloat.
B: May this light be an invitation to keep awake.
A: May this light be our invitation to be Advent people—people who dream. Amen.
Candle is lit as we sing:
“Creator of the Stars of Night,” ELW #245, vs. 1
L: The power of dreams lies in waking up. For when we close our eyes,
All: We can see a better world.
L: When we close our eyes,
All: We can dream a better dream.
L: But when we open our eyes,
All: We begin the work of faith.
L: The power of worship is the same. When we enter this time of worship,
All: We can see a better world.
L: When we enter this time of worship,
All: We dream a better dream.
L: But when we leave this time,
All: We begin the work of faith.
L: So we begin. Dream your dream.
All: Find hope here.
L: For soon,
All: We will begin the work of faith.
L: Let it be so.
LIGHTING OF ADVENT CANDLE
A: I dream of the days when we could be part of a crowd.
B: I dream of snow days.
A: I dream of empty beds in jail cells.
B: I dream of a world that will let kids be kids.
A: I dream of full tables instead of empty bellies.
B: I dream of schools with enough money to teach.
A: I dream of parents with enough money to feed their families.
B: I dream to keep awake, because if we don’t dream of better days, then we might forget that this is not what God imagined.
A: So today we light the candle of hope, for hope is the very thing that keeps dreams afloat.
B: May this light be an invitation to keep awake.
A: May this light be our invitation to be Advent people—people who dream. Amen.
Candle is lit as we sing:
“Creator of the Stars of Night,” ELW #245, vs. 1
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
L: Let us confess our sins to God. Original Dreamer,
All: Over and over again in scripture, we hear your dream for a beautiful world.
We hear your dream for peace and reconciliation.
We hear your dream for harmony and togetherness.
We hear your dream for community and hope.
We hear your dreams, and yet we do not open our eyes.
We continue to live with the curtains drawn, the covers pulled tight, eyes shut to the realities of the world.
Forgive us. Kindle a hope in us that will burn through the darkest nights.
Give us the strength and the will to keep awake in this sleeping world.
With hope we pray, Amen.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
L: O Great Dreamer,
You dreamed up the stars in the sky.
You dreamed up that magic baby smell and the way cream sinks into coffee.
You dreamed up the crunch of fall leaves and jazz music.
You dreamed up wisteria and evergreen and the pure magic that is a six-foot-tall sunflower.
And in the midst of all of that, you dreamed up a dream for your people--
a dream of hope and justice,
a dream for eyes wide open, to both the world’s suffering and the world’s beauty.
So today, as we read scripture, we ask that you would plant that same dream in us.
Pour out your Spirit on our hearts and minds so that we may see what you see,
and dream what you dream.
Gratefully we pray, amen.
WORD
SCRIPTURE
Isaiah 64:1-9
O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence— as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil— to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence! When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him. You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed.
We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity. Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord, and do not remember iniquity forever. Now consider, we are all your people.
Word of God; Word of Life.
Thanks be to God.
Mark 13:24-37
“But in those days, after that suffering,
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
“But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE
HYMN OF THE DAY “All Earth is Hopeful,” ELW #266, vs. 1-2, 4
L: Let us confess our sins to God. Original Dreamer,
All: Over and over again in scripture, we hear your dream for a beautiful world.
We hear your dream for peace and reconciliation.
We hear your dream for harmony and togetherness.
We hear your dream for community and hope.
We hear your dreams, and yet we do not open our eyes.
We continue to live with the curtains drawn, the covers pulled tight, eyes shut to the realities of the world.
Forgive us. Kindle a hope in us that will burn through the darkest nights.
Give us the strength and the will to keep awake in this sleeping world.
With hope we pray, Amen.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
L: O Great Dreamer,
You dreamed up the stars in the sky.
You dreamed up that magic baby smell and the way cream sinks into coffee.
You dreamed up the crunch of fall leaves and jazz music.
You dreamed up wisteria and evergreen and the pure magic that is a six-foot-tall sunflower.
And in the midst of all of that, you dreamed up a dream for your people--
a dream of hope and justice,
a dream for eyes wide open, to both the world’s suffering and the world’s beauty.
So today, as we read scripture, we ask that you would plant that same dream in us.
Pour out your Spirit on our hearts and minds so that we may see what you see,
and dream what you dream.
Gratefully we pray, amen.
WORD
SCRIPTURE
Isaiah 64:1-9
O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence— as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil— to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence! When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him. You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed.
We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity. Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord, and do not remember iniquity forever. Now consider, we are all your people.
Word of God; Word of Life.
Thanks be to God.
Mark 13:24-37
“But in those days, after that suffering,
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
“But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE
HYMN OF THE DAY “All Earth is Hopeful,” ELW #266, vs. 1-2, 4
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
L: Let us confess our faith together:
All: We believe that God has come to us;
That this God gave us breath and purpose and dreamed us into existence;
That we have been blessed to be a blessing to others,
That we have fallen short of God’s dream and struggle to wake up to God’s promise and purpose for us.
We believe that God is coming to us;
That God will not abandon us in our sin;
That God will come in flesh and bone to prepare the way for our restoration and wholeness
That God’s path will show us the extent of God’s love.
We believe that God will come to us;
That God will have the final word, and that Word will be good;
That in the coming, God’s dreams for us will be renewed;
That with God’s help, we are sent out to sow joy in the world,
To dream of what could be,
And to proclaim the good news of what already is.
Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Prayer Wreaths: Blue for our hopes; Purple for our lament; Pink for our intercessions; Gold for our blessings.
God of power and might, tear open the heavens and come quickly to this weary world. Hear our prayers for everyone in need.
Blue--
We pray for the ministry we share in Christ’s name. Open our hearts to your call for justice, peace, and healing. Attune us to the needs of the world as you draw near. We pray for all people who care for others in our community and around the world. Fill them with compassion and the power to respond with justice for those who are oppressed, with welcome for those who are excluded, and with relief for those who suffer. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Purple--
We pray for this planet in need of restoration: for devastated habitats, polluted waters, thawing ice, blazing fires, swelling floods, and long-lasting droughts. Renew the face of the earth and our relationship to it. We pray for people who are in crisis as the seasons change: for those without homes facing severe weather, for those who are unemployed or underemployed, for those who are orphaned or separated from family, and for those in poverty or facing food insecurity. Relieve their burdens, sustain their bodies, and ease their minds. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Pink--
We pray for the people in our families and congregation who live with depression, anxiety, chronic pain, addiction, and other invisible illnesses (especially Diana, Addie, Rod, Victoria, Nancy, Dennis, Jordan, Darla, Arvin, Nicky, Rachel, Bruce, Charlotte, Mary Jo, Cathy, Branden, Bobby, Audrey, Julie, Lee, Meko, Pat, Margaret, Marshall, Bonnie, Jodi, our homebound, and those we name at this time…). Ease their suffering and support them when they struggle. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Gold--
We give thanks for the lives and witness of those who died while waiting for justice, peace, or healing, those whose names we know and those whose names are known only to you. Sustain all who still yearn for the completion of your redeeming work. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Draw near to us, O God, and receive our prayers for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
MEAL
PASSING THE PEACE
L: The peace of Christ be with you always.
All: And also with you.
PRAYER OF OFFERING DEDICATION
L: God of our wildest dreams, you have given us the imagination and inspiration to dream of a world that is so much better than what it is today. With the offerings we make, give us the courage and strength to work toward these dreams, placing our trust in one who began as a dream in a mother’s eye, the Word that spoke in the beginning, the hope of future resurrection and restoration, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
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 trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
PARTAKING OF COMMUNION
POST-COMMUNION BLESSING & PRAYER
L: The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
All: Amen.
L: Holy God, as we open our eyes to the world around us, let our hands continue to set your table for those without bread to eat; let our feet walk alongside those whose journeys seem too long and lonely; and let our hearts go out to all of your children, telling the world of your great love, placed in a manger, murdered on a cross, and sprung from the tomb to reorient the hearts of all.
All: Amen.
BENEDICTION
L: The Creator of the stars bless your Advent waiting,
the long-expected Savior fill you with love,
the unexpected Spirit guide your journey,
☩ now and forever.
All: Amen.
SENDING
ANNOUNCEMENTS & MILESTONES
SENDING MUSIC “He Came Down,” ELW #253
L: Let us confess our faith together:
All: We believe that God has come to us;
That this God gave us breath and purpose and dreamed us into existence;
That we have been blessed to be a blessing to others,
That we have fallen short of God’s dream and struggle to wake up to God’s promise and purpose for us.
We believe that God is coming to us;
That God will not abandon us in our sin;
That God will come in flesh and bone to prepare the way for our restoration and wholeness
That God’s path will show us the extent of God’s love.
We believe that God will come to us;
That God will have the final word, and that Word will be good;
That in the coming, God’s dreams for us will be renewed;
That with God’s help, we are sent out to sow joy in the world,
To dream of what could be,
And to proclaim the good news of what already is.
Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Prayer Wreaths: Blue for our hopes; Purple for our lament; Pink for our intercessions; Gold for our blessings.
God of power and might, tear open the heavens and come quickly to this weary world. Hear our prayers for everyone in need.
Blue--
We pray for the ministry we share in Christ’s name. Open our hearts to your call for justice, peace, and healing. Attune us to the needs of the world as you draw near. We pray for all people who care for others in our community and around the world. Fill them with compassion and the power to respond with justice for those who are oppressed, with welcome for those who are excluded, and with relief for those who suffer. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Purple--
We pray for this planet in need of restoration: for devastated habitats, polluted waters, thawing ice, blazing fires, swelling floods, and long-lasting droughts. Renew the face of the earth and our relationship to it. We pray for people who are in crisis as the seasons change: for those without homes facing severe weather, for those who are unemployed or underemployed, for those who are orphaned or separated from family, and for those in poverty or facing food insecurity. Relieve their burdens, sustain their bodies, and ease their minds. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Pink--
We pray for the people in our families and congregation who live with depression, anxiety, chronic pain, addiction, and other invisible illnesses (especially Diana, Addie, Rod, Victoria, Nancy, Dennis, Jordan, Darla, Arvin, Nicky, Rachel, Bruce, Charlotte, Mary Jo, Cathy, Branden, Bobby, Audrey, Julie, Lee, Meko, Pat, Margaret, Marshall, Bonnie, Jodi, our homebound, and those we name at this time…). Ease their suffering and support them when they struggle. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Gold--
We give thanks for the lives and witness of those who died while waiting for justice, peace, or healing, those whose names we know and those whose names are known only to you. Sustain all who still yearn for the completion of your redeeming work. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Draw near to us, O God, and receive our prayers for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
MEAL
PASSING THE PEACE
L: The peace of Christ be with you always.
All: And also with you.
PRAYER OF OFFERING DEDICATION
L: God of our wildest dreams, you have given us the imagination and inspiration to dream of a world that is so much better than what it is today. With the offerings we make, give us the courage and strength to work toward these dreams, placing our trust in one who began as a dream in a mother’s eye, the Word that spoke in the beginning, the hope of future resurrection and restoration, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
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 trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
PARTAKING OF COMMUNION
POST-COMMUNION BLESSING & PRAYER
L: The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
All: Amen.
L: Holy God, as we open our eyes to the world around us, let our hands continue to set your table for those without bread to eat; let our feet walk alongside those whose journeys seem too long and lonely; and let our hearts go out to all of your children, telling the world of your great love, placed in a manger, murdered on a cross, and sprung from the tomb to reorient the hearts of all.
All: Amen.
BENEDICTION
L: The Creator of the stars bless your Advent waiting,
the long-expected Savior fill you with love,
the unexpected Spirit guide your journey,
☩ now and forever.
All: Amen.
SENDING
ANNOUNCEMENTS & MILESTONES
SENDING MUSIC “He Came Down,” ELW #253
DISMISSAL
L: Go in peace. Prepare the way of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
L: Go in peace. Prepare the way of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
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