Come Down Home

Coming Home | COME DOWN HOME

Order of Worship

ENTRANCE

Greeting:

Leader: “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” (Psalm 122:1, NRSV)
People: Welcome, preacher! Welcome, people! Welcome home!
Let us worship joyfully in God’s house. Amen.

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)

Congregational Song:

“Welcome” W&S 3152

OR

“Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble” CCLI #1097028
“Beautiful One” CCLI #3915912

Prayer for Illumination:

Tear open the heavens, O God.
Open our hearts.
Let your Word fall on our ears,
and lead us home.

Amen.

WORD AND RESPONSE

Scripture Lesson: Isaiah 64:1-9 Deacon or Lay Reader

Sermon: Come Down Home

Lighting the Advent Wreath

Hymn: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” stanza 1, The United Methodist Hymnal, 211

All [sung]: “O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.”

Reader 1: God of justice and peace, healing and comfort, we see all that is wrong and wonder where you are.

Reader 2: We are a broken people, unable to work together for our common good. We cannot see or hear each other even within our own families and communities.

Reader 3: We are a suffering world, our nations are filled with conflict and violence. The fragile earth cries out with longing for redemption.

All: We, God’s people, long for God’s presence, saying with the prophet: “If only you would tear open the heavens and come down!” (Isaiah 64:1, CEB)

Reader: On this first Sunday of Advent, we light this candle to remind us of our longing that God will come into the world, bringing justice and peace, comfort and healing.

Light a candle.

All [sung]: “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 Isaiah 64:6, 8-9 (NRSV)

We have all become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth.
We all fade like a leaf,
and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Silence

Yet, O LORD, you are our Father;
we are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the work of your hand.

Do not be exceedingly angry, O LORD,
and do not remember iniquity forever.

Silence

Pardoning and Peace Pastor

As far as the East is from the West,
so far does our God remove our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12)
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.

In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.

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:

“He Came Down” TFWS 2085
“How Lovely, Lord, How Lovely” TFWS 2042

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:

“He Came Down” TFWS 2085
“How Lovely, Lord, How Lovely” TFWS 2042

Great Thanksgiving for Advent BOW 54-55

Congregational Song

“As a Fire Is Meant for Burning” TFWS 2237
OR
“Shout to the Lord” TFWS 2074
OR
“Good, Good Father”* CCLI #7036612

*See Music Notes for an important word about text

Thanksgiving after Communion

Deacon or Pastor and Congregation
Thank you, God, for coming down home among us
in this holy mystery,
flesh and blood in our flesh and blood.
Send us by your Spirit to hear the cries of others
who long for your coming
and join them in your work that makes all things new;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

SENDING

Go in peace, love, and power
in the name of the our God
who tears open the heavens.
Amen.

All [sung]: “Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.” (UMH 211)