Jesus says to you and to me:
“I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,
But will have the light of life.”
Let us fix our eyes upon the true Light as we gather and worship today.

Come, let us be about our preparations for a new advent of love among us.
The wastelands of life around us cannot shut out the promise of life-giving water.
Hatred and warfare, injustice and suffering, are not the last word, for they are not of God.
We hear again the promise of peace, coming in the one who lived Shalom among all people.
We see again the light God promises in the midst of our darkness.
We are feeling again the joy that comes through partnership in the gospel.
May our worship recall us to what is centered in life; to the One who gives us breath and purpose in life.
We come to embrace the new advent, to be renewed in peace, faith, joy, and love.

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
On those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”
The Light that is the Word of God, God incarnate
Let us worship as we wait for the newborn king!

In the midst of frenzied shopping and end-of-year weariness,
we gather together here
to read again the ancient stories,
and light a candle in the darkness, to celebrate a visitation.
Gathered here we declare our intention to live as if the greatest gift in the world were about to be placed into our hands
and as if the Giver has understood our deepest needs, our most heartfelt prayers.

Friends, pray for one another
for you are all partners in the Gospel Mission.
Let us be convinced that the one
who began this good work of the Gospel in us
will complete that work when our Lord Jesus returns in Glory.

Friends, we are pressing on towards the goal, for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Jesus Christ. For he has called us his own and have made us his own. As we wait, let us continue to work towards being complete and mature in our Lord Jesus, so that we may arrive and share in Christ's resurrection.

Rejoice in the Lord always; I say again rejoice.
Let your gentleness be known to everyone.
The Lord is near.
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Let us be in the same mind as our Lord,
who though he was in the form of God
did not see equality with God as something to be exploited but emptied himself taking on flesh,
being born as a human
he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; God’s mercies never come to an end.
They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness, O God.
The Lord is good to those who wait for him, To the souls that seek God.
It is good that we should wait for the coming of the Lord.
Let us worship God!"

Hear our prayers O God,
Listen to the words of our mouths.
Surely God is our help
The Lord is the one who sustains us.
We will praise your name, O Lord, for it is good.

Clap your hands, all you peoples;
shout to God with loud songs of joy.
For the LORD, the Most High, is just,
a great king over all the earth.
God has gone up with a shout,
the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.

Your steadfast love, Lord, never ceases,
Your mercies never come to an end;
They are new every morning; so let us proclaim:
Great is Your faithfulness. Great is Your love. Great is Your mercy.
Let us worship God!

Jesus said, “And you will receive power,
When the Holy Spirit Comes on you.
And you will be my witnesses.
In Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Holy Spirit, on this Pentecost Sunday, we claim your power.

“Lord, you have been our dwelling place for all generations. From everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”
But in comparison, the days of our life on this earth are but a moment.
“So teach us to count our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Meet us here this morning, remind us of “Your loving kindness, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.”
Let us praise God for every minute."

"Come, let us enter into God’s presence. Lord, we are here, waiting. Let us hear Your voice; for we are poor and needy in spirit. Be gracious to us, gladden the souls of Your servants, for to You we long for – to You, we lift our souls.

Teach us Your ways, Lord, that we may walk in Your truth. Give us an undivided heart to worship Your name. For great is Your steadfast love toward us."

"Our hearts are steadfast, O God. We will sing and make melody!
Awake, all people! Awake, O harp and lyre! We awake the dawn!
We will give thanks to you, O Lord, among your people; We will sing praises to you among the nations.
For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds."

"Your steadfast love, O Lord,
Extends to the heavens,
Your faithfulness to the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
Your judgments are like the great deep;
You save all of creation, O Lord. So please help us to depend fully upon you."

The tomb is empty & darkness has lost!
We dance in the light of His resurrection!
No more do we have to fear!
No more does worry reign!
He is victorious & so are we!
Because of His victory, we are free!

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise Thy name, in earth, and sky, and sea
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
Let us worship God!

Christ has risen.
He is risen indeed!
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?
Almighty God, through Christ, you give us everlasting life. By the power of your Holy Spirit, please show us today a glimpse of that new life as we reflect upon your glory.