FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
8:30am and 11:00am
GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME
Prelude
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Cecilia McDowall (b. 1951)
Welcome
Lighting of the First Advent Candle – Candle of Hope
Reader One: This is the first Sunday of Advent, when we read again of how God’s people were waiting for the coming of the Messiah. Advent is the season of preparation to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Reader Two: This time of waiting is also a time for us to work for peace among the nations and peace with each other. It is a time for us to change our priorities as we walk in the light of Christ.
Reader One: We celebrate Christ’s coming by making an Advent wreath and lighting the first candle to remind us of the hope and the light that Jesus brings to the world.
(The first candle is lit.)
Reader Two: Please join me in our Unison Prayer…
Dear God, you spoke to prophets and the people prayed and waited for a Messiah to come. You spoke to Mary and Joseph, and they responded and waited for their child to be born. Speak to each of us now, that we may feel your presence and know your will in our Advent waiting this year. Amen.
*Opening Hymn
93 Lift Up Your Heads (Truro)
*Corporate Confession (Unison)
Holy One,
In this Advent season, keep us attentive to fragile things:
the expectant hopes of children,
the places of peace in the world,
the dreams in our own hearts.
For they are like tender shoots rising from the ground,
and with your help, we commit again
to keep them alive.
Amen.
*Assurance of God’s Love
*Response Gloria
*Passing of the Peace
Anthem
Now The Heavens Start to Whisper (8:30am)
arr. Nicholas Palmer
Jesus Christ the Apple Tree (11:00am)
Elizabeth Poston (1905-1987)
Gospel of John 1:1-9
(New Testament Pew Bible Page 79)
Have Yourself a Teleological Christmas
Rev. Ian Cummins
Musical Reflection
On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry (8:30am)
C.S. Lang (1891-1971)
E’en So Lord Quickly Come (11:00am)
Paul Manz (1919-2009)
RESPONDING TO GOD’S GRACE
Making a financial gift makes Montview’s programs and ministries possible, including this worship service. You are invited to give generously at www.montview.org/giving or by texting a dollar amount to 720-452-6449. Offering plates are stationed at the exit for cash and checks.
Prayer of Dedication (Unison)
God, you have so greatly loved us, long sought us, and mercifully re deemed us. Give us grace that in everything, we may yield ourselves, our wills and our works. A continual thank offering to you. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
88 O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Veni Emmanuel) verses 1, 6 and 7
1 O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.
6 O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death’s dark shadows put to flight. [Refrain]
7 O come, Desire of nations, bind
all peoples in one heart and mind;
bid envy, strife, and discord cease;
fill the whole world with heaven’s peace. [Refrain]
SENDING IN GOD’S LOVE
Toccata on “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”
Andrew Carter (b. 1939)
TODAY AT MONTVIEW
Worship Service
Location: Sanctuary
Location: Outdoor Playground
Location: Room 204A
Sunday School For Children (masks requested)
Preschool-5th Grade
Location: Outdoor Playground
10:30am
Donut Social – YAM (6th-12th)
Location: Labyrinth
11:00am
Worship Service
Location: Sanctuary
Childcare – Ages 3-10
Location: Outdoor Playground
Childcare – Ages Birth-3
Location: Room 204A
12:00pm
Jubilate Singers (6th-12th)
Location: Sanctuary
Women’s Holy Connections: Making Space for Advent
December 1 | 7:00pm (In the Sanctuary)
As a way of opening space to encounter God and the birthing of Christ in our
lives, join us for an evening of readings, prayers, conversation and music. We
will be drawing from scripture and the writings of women, both ancient and
contemporary. Please come and bring a friend! This evening is open to all
women and those who identify as women.
Together: A Christmas Concert
Sunday, December 5 | 4:00pm (In the Sanctuary)
Join us – in-person and online – for Montview’s first concert back, the return of our beloved annual Christmas Concert. Our Westminster Choir, Children’s and Youth Choirs will present music by Galbraith, Mendelssohn, Holst, Forrest, Wilberg and Copland, all accompanied by the professional Orchestra of Montview. In-person seating is already at maximum capacity. Please watch the livestream performance at www.montview.org/worship.
Guest Preacher: The Rev. Ian Cummins
Liturgist: The Rev. Clover Reuter Beal
Conductor/Piano: Adam Waite
Organ: Barbara Hulac
Soloist: Chin Tan (8:30am)
Reader: Kate Williams (8:30am)
Reader: (11:00am)
Sound: Cate Thieme
Video: John Goerner
Chorus (11:00am): Westminster Choir
ABOUT THIS SERVICE
We are requiring masks in the sanctuary to protect our more vulnerable congregants.
Co-Pastors: The Rev. Clover Reuter Beal and The Rev. Ian Cummins
Minister of Music: Adam Waite
Minister of Children and Families: Sandy Prouty
Minister of Youth and Families: Amanda Osenga
Executive Director of Operations and Finance: Jason Hays
Director of Facilities: Bob Cloud
Director of Finance: Dan Gasser
Associate Minister of Music and Organist: Barbara Hulac
Administrative Assistant: Beth Ellsworth
Membership Coordinator: Cindy Austin
Communications Coordinator: Christine Hofstad
Mission Life Coordinator: Jennifer Seward
Minister of Visitation: Peter Hulac
Sextons: Tony Johnson, Charles Johnson, Stewart Schoenthal
Assistant Minister of Music for Children: Becki Taylor
Sunday Morning Manager: Doug Easton
PARISH NEWS
Prayer Tree
Pastor John Bell and the Wellshire Presbyterian Church Community, Jim Burbank, Jan Fitzpatrick, Amy Hecht, Mike Protextor, Paul Simons (brother-in-law of Marthanne Simons)
STATEMENT OF MISSION
We believe that the love of God surrounds us. Our call is to nurture this love in ourselves and each other. Through prayer, worship, education, outreach and mission, we seek to foster spiritual fulfillment, community, tolerance, peace, non-violence and social justice. We dedicate ourselves and our church to follow the Spirit of Christ by word and deed.
We are happy that you are worshiping with us today and invite you to learn more about Montview. Please fill out one of the Welcome Guest Cards that are distributed in the pews and place it on a plate near the exits when finished. Feel free to contact our office at 303-355-1651 or email cindy@montview.org with questions. Please come again.
Find out about all of the events taking place at Montview with our This Week @ Montview email by clicking here.
Are you signed up to receive our weekly emails? If not, contact Christine Hofstad, Communications Coordinator, at christine@montview.org.
303.355.1651 | www.montview.org