Be Not Afraid

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 Week 7: Be Not Afraid — Phyllis Spencer As our nights grow longer and our days grow short, we look on these earthly signs — light and green branches — and remember God’s promise to our world: Christ, our Light and our Hope, will come.

Candle Reader — Hannah Yi Listen to the words of the prophet, Isaiah: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.” – Isaiah 7:14-15

Candle Lighter — Joey Bensie

Candle Prayer — Rev. Johan Dodge Let us pray: Eternal God of power and love, who woes and nudges us in surprising ways — show us the face of Immanuel in our time. Bring us from fear to awe, we pray; in the name of Jesus who showed us the way. Amen.

Holy One, who astonishes us with surprising gifts, we pray for your church and for your people of every language and belief, that your wisdom will show us our common life, and that all people may rejoice in what you create.

Giver of the stars and planets, creator of rivers and oceans, and creatures large and small, we pray for wisdom as we live on and with your earth. Evoke in us awe for your goodness in these familiar surroundings: our hills and valleys, forests and beaches, that the powers you have placed here to move through soil and air will remind us always of your bounty and your love.

Power above all powers, we pray for the leaders of governments in every nation, that they may have wisdom to choose what serves the common good.

We pray for those we all too easily forget: those of your children who are poor or unhoused or in prison; those who are sick, or lonely, or frightened; all who hunger for faith and hope. Help us to care for them, that they may be strengthened by joy in your restoration.

Holy One, in whose community we thrive, we pray for those with whom we share our daily lives: our families, friends, and neighbors, those with whom we work and play, those whose names we do not know who provide for us, that we may all be renewed in courage and nurtured in hope.

Sustainer of your people, we give you thanks for the members of the body of Christ resurrected who throughout the ages have brought us to this place today.

That we who live in this time and this place may see the work of God’s kindom further carried out through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit who calls us to celebrate the birth of Jesus — Immanuel — God with us. Amen.

As your Holy Spirit spoke to Mary, speak to us now through your Word that by hearing we too may receive the courage to be your light in the darkness before us. Amen.

¹⁸ Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. ²⁰ But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” ²² All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ²³ “Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” ²⁴ When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife ²⁵ but had no marital relations with her until she had given birth to a son, and he named him Jesus.

The way of the world is often not the way of God. The culture of the day when Jesus was born suggested that Joseph should have divorced Mary. The angel that appeared to Joseph encourages him to defy the tradition of the day. For many of us, traditions are comforting and deviating from tradition is scary. How do we move on from traditions that have locked us into unhelpful ways of going through life?

Cameron Hellems, pianist Leah Hellems, violinist

All that we have is gift from God. For the sake of the joy that is ours when our bonds grow deep, let us give generously for the well-being of the world.

Holy God, you bless us with many gifts, your retrieve us from despair and fear, you visit us with surprising proclamations, and you intend for us good things. We thank you for your steadfast love, and your gifts of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Use our gifts to bring comfort and justice to those in need, reforming the ways of our world for the sake of new life. Amen.

Now, let the face of God shine upon you to bless and encourage you as you bring light to the darkness. Amen.