Order of Worship December 6, 2020

UJCC Sunday House Worship Service

December 6, 2020 * 2nd Sunday of Advent

Blessings to you at the beginning of this holy season!

Prelude "My Grown-Up Christmas List" Irene Ikeda

In this season of Advent, you are invited to find 5 candles of any shape, size, or color in your home. Each Sunday, we will mark the journey through Advent by lighting them in our respective homes. During the week, display them in a prominent place. May they bless your home and remind you that it is a sanctuary, a sacred and holy place.

Lighting of the Advent Candles

Reader One: Our lists are long, even in this strange mess where we live these days. And we want to do it right, we want to be safe, but we want to be able to enjoy the season. We’ve got work to do to put right what has gone wrong, to heal what is broken, to mend the relationships, and to prepare for the company that will come.

Reader Two: So, we light these candles as a sign of our faith that the God we worship is not far from us and that we can clear the way for that God to come and dwell with us. We light these candles in faith that company is coming. [light two candles.]

Reader Three: The prophet Isaiah reminded us that there is work to be done. “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” When God comes in, then healing is to be found, but we need to make the way; we need to open the door into our lives.

Amen. (dw)

Opening Prayer (in unison)

Loving God,

be to us as a bulldozer of the spirit.

Clear your road in us;

clear a path through the detritus of possessions and obsessions.

Thrust aside our divided aims and devious games.

Topple the ramparts of pride and the doubts that deride.

Make a highway on which Christ may come

and take possession of the whole territory of our being.

To the glory of your name we pray.

Amen! (bp)

Song of Centering “Good King Wenceslas” Becky Messer

We Humbly Adore and Receive

Children’s Time Rev. Sungrae Kim

* Watch this first: My Favorite Things from The Sound of Music

* sermon manuscript adapted from: https://sermons4kids.com/gift-of-love.html

Scripture Reading in Japanese Isaiah 40:1-11 Miwa and Nanami Jones

Sermon “Bohemian Rhapsody” Rev. Akiko Miyake-Stoner

Song of Reflection "Mary Did You Know?"

You are invited to continue your spiritual practice of giving to the church. Please either mail your offering to the church (136 N. Villa Ave., Clovis, CA 93612) or try our online giving option (LINK HERE). Thank you!

Doxology Youth Band

Joys and Concerns & Time of Prayer

You are invited to share your joys and concerns with one another using our usual format:

Person lifting the prayer: “O God of Mercy;” everyone’s response: “This is our prayer.”

After you share your joys and concerns, go around the circle and offer prayer, praying freely or using this format:

“God, I thank you for…” and “God, I ask for…”

You are invited to close together with The Lord’s Prayer.

Holy Communion

Holy Communion will also be celebrated during our Fellowship and Prayer Zoom meeting at 11:30 today. Please prepare the elements for your household. Any kind of bread or juice (even water) will be appropriate.

* Please join in our Zoom Fellowship & Prayer meeting at 11:30 am

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 892 8141 6160

Or call: +1 669 900 6833

* Zoon Sunday School at 1pm (Click HERE)

* If you or your kids would like to contribute to our virtual worship by music, painting, photos, recipes, or anything, please contact Rev. Rae: sungrae@ujcclife.com

Go Now in Peace Becky Messe

Worship Resources: (dw) Derek Weber adapted https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/articles/advent-candle-lighting-liturgy-2020; (bp) Bruce Prewer, “Prayer of Invocation (inspired by Isaiah 40:3-5, Mark 1:2-3, Luke 3:4-6)” www.bruceprewer.com

Isaiah 40:1-11

40Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. 2Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.

3A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” 6A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. 7The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. 8The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever.

9Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” 10See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.