Season of Advent 2014Nov 30, Dec 7, 14, 21

FULL MUSIC version

Worship at 10:30am

www.riverofhopehutchinson.org

Music to Prepare Us for Worship

Gathering Songs/Hymns – located in the back of this bulletin

Lighting of the Advent Wreath

Welcome, Worship Orientation 101, Connection Card

No Longer Strangers PrayerGod of the stranger, you sent your only son to be born into a world as a stranger. Help us to see the very one we follow in the most unlikely people and places. Open our hearts. Prepare us for your mystery. Amen.

Meet Someone NewWe practice being Christians by extending our hand in friendship to people we may not know very well or at all. If we can’t do it here, in worship, where else can we do it? Go ahead, make the first move. “Hi, my name is _____________. You’re new to me.”

Reprise of gathering song to gather everyone back together.

Greetings of grace through God, Jesus Christ, & the Holy SpiritThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the community of the Holy Spirit is with you all.And also with you.

Confession and ForgivenessAs we sing our confession to God, you are invited to answer the question found on the door placed in full view in our worship space. Use the marker to answer the question – “When has a door been shut on you by the church?” or “When has a door been shut on you?” Use the big, messy, permanent markers to pray.

About the Messy Mass by Nate Crary from Nate Crary:“I wrote this musical liturgy from a very personal place, as it provided me a medium to acknowledge, process, embrace, and respond to my context at the time of writing it. Most of the music came to me (as cliché as that sounds) while waiting for the daily drama of my 7th grade Palestinian guitar students to simmer down on Tuesday afternoons. We’re talking lots of down time alone in an echoey classroom. I like to blend old with the new, as I think the active participation in worshiping God connects us to everyone who is worshiping now and everyone who has worshipped in the past, remaining relevant to our current contexts while responding to the past as liturgy transcends place and time. My influences include Eustace the Dragon, Chris Koza, Nate Houge, Holly Hansen, Marty Haugen, Jay Beech, and Brian DeRemer.”

2

3

4

Fear not sisters and brothers. God, who is full of grace and abounding in steadfast love,meets us in our sin and transforms us for God’s glory and the healing of God’s world.In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, your sins are forgiven. Be now at peace.

And we say, thanks be to God. Thanks be to God! Amen!

5

6

Scripture Reading

Sermon

7

8

9

OfferingAll that we have and all that we are comes from God. Let us give back to God in a spirit of generosity. There will be enough.Please put your offering of gratitude to God in the plate as it passes by.

Setting the Table As the kids help set the table, they circle around the table and lead the congregation in the table prayer written by Martin Luther:Let’s pray: Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest. And let these gifts to us be blest. Amen.

The Great Thanksgiving

The Lord is with you.And also with you.Lift up your hearts.We lift them to the Lord.Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.It is right to give God thanks and praise.

Words to bless the mealO God of resurrection and new life:Pour out your Holy Spirit on us and on these gifts of bread and wine.Bless this feast.Grace our table with your presence. Amen.

The Lord’s PrayerYou are invited to join hands with those around you in prayer. If you are not the hand-holding type, then simply fold your hands in front of you or hang onto this bulletin as you pray.

Our Father in heaven hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.Give us today our daily bread.Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

Invitation to The Meal

10

You are welcome to this meal. If you hunger and thirst for grace and mercy that comes through Jesus Christ, then Christ has set this table just for you. Bring all that you are and all that you have to the table. You will be fed. You will be forgiven. There will be enough.

11

Blessing After the MealMay the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in God’s

12

peace. Amen.

Why does our church exist? What is our purpose? We go out to transform lives through Jesus Christ.

Advent SendingAmong the poor,among the proud,among the persecuted,among the privileged,Christ is coming,Christ is coming to make all things new.

In the private house,in the marketplace,in the wedding feast,in the judgment hall,Christ is coming,Christ is coming to make all things new.

With a gentle touch,with an angry word,with a clear conscience,with burning love,Christ is coming,Christ is coming to make all things new.

That the kingdom might come,that the world might believe,that the powerful might stumble,that the humble might be raised,Christ is coming,Christ is coming to make all things new.

Within us,without us,among us,before us,in this place,in every place,for this time,for all time,Christ is coming,Christ is coming to make all things new.

13

Blessed to GO…We go with God’s blessing into a world that is often chaotic and not peaceful or welcoming of God. We go into the chaos to bless others in God’s name. Please place your hand on shoulders next to yours.

May God bless us with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that we may live deep within our hearts.

May God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that we may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that we may reach out our hands to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done. Amen. -a Benedictine Blessing

Sending SongGo in peace – serve the Lord!

Thanks be to God

14