Hard Reset

Good Morning and Welcome to Worship! Worship is often the first place that new people come into contact with this growing community of faith. And so, if you are joining us for the first time, I say to you what is said every Sunday: You are welcome here. Here is a place where all are welcome. For such is the love of God for God’s Very Good Creation. ADVENT 3: Ruler of Nations — Phyllis Spencer As our nights grow longer and our days grow short, we look on these earthly signs — light and signs of abundance — and remember God’s promise to our world: ALL: Christ, our Light and our Hope, will come.

Listen to these words from the Revelation to John: “And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: ‘Great and amazing are your deeds,”. — Revelation 15:2-3a

Liturgist — Phyllis Spencer Let us pray …

ALL: O Lord our God, you gave us, your creation, the earth upon which to thrive and share in your gifts of abundance. And yet we have turned to ourselves and held our desires above yours. Place into our hearts a love for others, even as we grow in our understanding of your love for us and all of your creation. May the light that we light today remind us that we are not to place ourselves first as we labor together to build the new earth in your name. Amen.

Adéste fidéles, laeti triumphántes, Come faithful, joyful triumphant, Veníte, veníte in Béthlehem: Come, come to Bethlehem, Natum videte Regem angelórum: Behold the birth of the King of angels Veníte, adorémus, Come, let us worship, Veníte, adorémus Come, let us worship Veníte, adorémus Dóminum! Come, let us worship the Lord!

Holy God, you invite us into life with you and so are here because we want to live into your kin-dom. Receive us now in our frailty, our complacency, our desire.

We pray for your church all over the world. May the life we discover in you bind us to each other and the world you love, for no need is beyond the strength of your call and no child of yours is expendable. Merciful God, give us wisdom and courage beyond our imagining.

We pray for each leader who might be an instrument of peace in a troubled land. By the movement of your reconciling spirit, bless your people with the courage to reach past old wounds and persistent fears. God of resurrection, bring life where hope has died. We pray for friends and strangers in the grip of addiction. Make us able companions for each other, and bless us with hope that bears fruit.

We pray for unsettled economies and those whose needs are overlooked in the choices of the powerful. May we, who know so much privilege, bear our responsibilities with open eyes and open hands.

We pray for all who stand at the thresholds of life: your children who have just been born and your children who are soon to go home.

We give thanks for new faces to love, ideas to ponder, work to do — and we marvel at the sturdy friendships and persistent memories that sustain us when the way in difficult. May each be a reminder of your love and your provision.

We thank you for the gift of song — for notes that speak when words fail, and singers who practice at the end of long days. Give strength to leaders who force the best from us and invite us to breathe together.

Spirit of truth, move now in ancient words and cluttered hearts that we might hear your voice and live, for we long to be glad servants of your hidden, holy reign. We pray in the name of Jesus, the prince of peace. Amen.

John 18.33-37 ³³Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” ³⁴Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” ³⁵Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” ³⁶Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” ³⁷Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

Jesus said that his kingdom is not of this world, and that belonging to his way of life means a constant attentiveness to his voice. How are you individually, and we as a community, embodying the countercultural reign of God? What is a further step that you are being called to take? How might you make more time to listen for God’s voice?

Siblings in Christ, we worship the one who stands at the beginning and at the end of history — the God for whom all time is now. Every day we have a chance to participate in the work God is doing in the world. By bringing our gifts each week, by offering our lives each day, we affirm our trust in a power beyond violence and beyond greed. Let us gladly offer who we are — and what we hold — in service to God. Amen.

Jennifer Scoullar, soprano Dave Albulario, tenor Hannah Yi, pianist

Holy God, the psalmist declares that in your realm, all the poor are satisfied with bread. Plant that promise firmly in our hearts, that we might be agents of your covenant love. Use these gifts, shape our desire, until hunger is no more — for Jesus taught us to seek our neighbor’s daily bread, and we pray by the power of his name. Amen.

Siblings in Christ, there is no greater joy in life, no greater freedom, than to offer our lives in service to love. Let the same mind be in us that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant. Amen.