Estes Park United Methodist Church
November 29, 2020
First Sunday of Advent
Order of Worship
Prelude – Hope
Greeting/Welcome
It’s a New Day at EPUMC!
Lighting of the Candle of Hope
Call to Worship
Leader: The advent of Christ brings the joy of God’s presence in our midst!
People: We sing praises to God for the salvation Christ brings to us!
Leader: Because of Christ, the weak are strengthened, the fearful are encouraged, and the unrighteous are redeemed!
People: Joy and gladness are ours, because God has come to us in Christ to walk with us in the paths of righteousness!
All: As we begin our journey to Bethlehem, may our celebrations renew our faith and fill us with joy and thanks.
Opening Prayer (Unison)
Lord Jesus Christ, we await your coming. We wait filled with hope, knowing your light will shine in the darkness. We wait anticipating your peace, believing that one day it will fill our world. We wait embracing your love, may we reach out to share it with our neighbors. We wait with joy, in expectation of your birth. Lord, we wait. Come soon and fill us with your life. Amen
Opening Hymn – People Look East
Prayer of Confession
Leader: Friends, we are in the presence of the transcendent and holy God. Let us humbly confess our neediness and ask for grace and mercy. Let us pray:
People: We confess to you, O God, that we have fallen asleep. We often go through the motions and live our daily lives without much thought outside of ourselves. Forgive us for our shortsightedness. Forgive us for not being awake to the wonders and signs that you are doing something new in our world and in our lives. Help us to seek you in the face of others. Call us into your ways of love and justice, so that we might be fully awake, watching and waiting for your return in our world and in our lives in a new way. Amen.
Silent Prayer
Assurance of Pardon
Leader: O Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray. Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today. As we wait for Christmas, we know that Christ has already come into our world and lives, has already been born in us. We are renewed and restored. Go and share the good news of God’s love and restoration. Amen.
People: Thanks be to God! Amen!
Offering
Prayer of Blessing
Pastoral Prayer
Scripture Lesson – Mark 13:24-37
Sermon – Keep Awake!
Closing Hymn – There’s Something About That Name
Benediction
Postlude – My Soul Cries Out
Service Participants:
Pastor: Rev. Ann Steiner Lantz
Liturgist: Cay Lacey
Director of Music: Jim Flanigan
Pianist: Nancy Gunter
Videographer: Jim Ecklund