Coming Home | HOME IS WHERE WE MEET

ABBREVIATIONS
AH = The Africana Hymnal

BOW = United Methodist Book of Worship

CCLI = Christian Copyright Licensing International, SongSelect

TFWS = The Faith We Sing (2000)

UMH = United Methodist Hymnal

W&S = Worship & Song (2011)

ENTRANCE

Greeting:

Pastor: Welcome, people!
People: Welcome, preacher!
All: Welcome home!
Joy makes its home in us. Amen.

[Sung]: “Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice, give thanks and sing.” (UMH #160, chorus)

Congregational Song:

Cantemos al Señor UMH 149
OR
Again I Say Rejoice AH 4001 OR CCLI #4302823
OR
Rejoice CCLI #4822523

Prayer of Illumination:

Speak to us once more
your Word of truth,
that our lives may be filled with your joy,
this day, and forever. Amen.

WORD AND RESPONSE

Scripture Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 Deacon or Lay Reader

Sermon: Joy Is Our True Home

Congregational Song: Many and Great UMH 148

Lighting the Advent Wreath

Hymn: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” stanza 6, The United Methodist Hymnal, 211

All: “O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thy justice here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight.”

Reader 1: “The LORD has done great things for us, and we are overjoyed. … Let those who plant with tears reap the harvest with joyful shouts.” (Psalm 126:3, 5 CEB)

Reader 2: God of Joy, you enter the wilderness of our world and proclaim that there is a way to reach home again.

Reader 3: God of Joy, you break through clouds of despair and sorrow to bring good news to your people.

Reader 4: God of Joy, you send hope into the world in the form of a tiny baby.

All: We, God’s people, sing songs of joy with the prophet, “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my whole being shall exult in my God” (Isaiah 61:10, NRSV).

Reader: On this third Sunday of Advent, we light this candle, knowing that joy is our true home.

Light three candles. If you have a pink candle, light it for the first time today.

All: “Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.”

Prayers of the People Deacon or Lay Intercessor

Prayers of the People TFWS 2201
Prayers of the People CCLI #3414705
OR
Prayer of the People CCLI #7039048

Thanksgiving (If No Communion)

Inviting Deacon or Pastor

The Lord requires of us a pure offering,
without blemish or spot.
We must be right with God
and our neighbor
to offer ourselves or our gifts to God.

Therefore, let us confess our sins against God,
and reconcile with our neighbors.

Let us pray.

Confessing Deacon or Pastor

We have grieved your Spirit by our sin. (Based on I Thessalonians 5:16-23, NRSV)
We have not been steadfast in prayer.
We have failed to give thanks.
We have quenched the Spirit.

Silence

We have ignored or despised the words of the prophets.
We have not abstained from every form of evil.
Forgive us, O God.
Realign our wills with yours.
And fill us with your joy.

Silence

Pardoning and Peace
Pastor: May the God of peace sanctify you entirely,
and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound
now and to the day of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Your sins are forgiven.

Your sins are forgiven.

All: Glory to God! Amen.

At peace with God, let us now offer the peace of Christ to one another.

People exchange the peace of Christ.
The offering is collected.

Offertory Music

Choir/Ensemble/Congregational Music during Collection
If You Believe and I Believe W&S 3121

Congregational Thanks at Presentation of Gifts BOW 552 (All things come…)
(May be introduced and concluded by singing UMH 588)

OR

Thanksgiving and Communion

Invitation, Confession, Pardon and Peace UMH 7-8

People exchange the peace of Christ.
The offering is collected.

Offertory Music

Choir/Ensemble/Congregational Music during Collection:
If You Believe and I Believe W&S 3121

Great Thanksgiving for Advent BOW 54-55

Congregational Song:
Peace of Our Praying W&S 3022
OR
O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing UMH 57 or W&S 3001

Thanksgiving after Communion

Deacon or Pastor and Congregation
Thank you, God, for filling us with the joy of your presence
in this holy mystery,
flesh and blood in our flesh and blood.
Send us by your Spirit to rejoice evermore,
pray without ceasing,
and always give thanks,
holding fast to what is good;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.