Advent teaching ---- Advent I

(At part of our congregation's celebration of Advent this year, I decided to add a moment of "teaching" at the start of the service. This blog entry is an approximation of what was said, based on my faulty memory and my wife's notes.)

"How many shopping days are left until Christmas?" (Answer from Opa John: "Who cares?")

This year, the season of Advent is as long as it can get since Christmas Day is a Sunday. It is a time of preparation, not of shopping. "Advent" comes from the Latin and means "Entry." The season celebrates the entry of Christ into our world in (at least) three ways - his entry into creation at Bethlehem over 2000 years ago, his entry into our hearts daily, and finally, his return in what we call the Second Coming, whenever and however that will be.

The celebration of Advent can be traced to almost 1500 years ago, when it was a preparatory fast before the festival of the Nativity of our Lord. (That's Christmas in Church-talk.) The fast is still kept in some strict monastic communities and in the Eastern Christian Churches. Across the board, our celebration of Advent includes prayers, readings, and hymns that reflect the longing of the Hebrew people for the long-awaited Messiah. So the themes often take us to the end of all things and to the desire for God's Kingdom, whether by the Hebrew people or by the Church awaiting the return of Jesus. Some of the music is ancient and often in a minor key to reflect this desire for fulfillment. This longing is presented to us in readings, music, and ritual action...

                                                     .... like the lighting of the Advent wreath.

Order for Lighting the Advent Wreath for the First Sunday of Advent

P. God of love, may this wreath and its light remind us that Jesus came to save us from our sin. Bless this wreath and all who gather around it as we prepare our hearts to celebrate Christmas. Come, Lord Jesus, bring hope, faith, and life to our world.

C.  Amen.

P. Dear Jesus, you are the hope in our messy world. This Advent, help us slow down, listen to your voice, and focus on what’s really important. We place our hope in you as we prepare our hearts to celebrate your birth on Christmas.

C.  Amen.

All.  Joyous light of glory of the immortal Father,
   Heavenly, holy, blessed Jesus Christ,
   We have come this day
   And we look to this rising light in a dark season.
   We sing to God, the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.
    You are worthy of being praised with pure voices forever.
    O Son of God, O Giver of Light,
   The universe proclaims your glory. Amen.

(The hymn, "People, Look East", verse 1, follows.)

(The prayer - "Joyous light of glory" - is an edited variation of the ancient Christian prayer, "Phos Hilaron", a Greek prayer from as early as 300 AD. It is still used by many liturgical churches at evening prayer/vespers.)

The Bulletin for the First Sunday of Advent --- 27 November 2016

The First Sunday of Advent November 27, 2016                   Service of Holy Communion

GUIDE TO WORSHIP

Prelude Music		Ringing the Bell
Show us your steadfast love, O Lord		And grant us your salvation.
Announcements
Advent teaching
Lighting the Advent Wreath		(See the facing page.)
Advent Wreath Hymn	*	#248  People, Look East, vs. 1
The Apostolic Greeting	*	Pg. 147  (Setting #4)
Prayer of the Day	*	(Celebrate - Pg. 1)
First Reading		Isaiah 2:1-6  (Celebrate - Pg.1)
Responsorial		Ps. 122  (Spoken)  (Celebrate Pg. 2)
Second Reading		Romans 13:11-14  (Celebrate - Pg.3)
Gospel Acclamation	*	Pg. 151  (Alleluia.)
HOLY GOSPEL	*	Matthew 24:36-44  (Celebrate - Pg.3)
Sermon
Hymn of the Day	*	#436  Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying
The Apostles’ Creed	*	Pg. 105
Prayers of Intercession	*	(Celebrate - Pg. 4)
The Sharing of the Peace	*
Presentation of  the Offering	*	#253  He Came Down
Offering Prayer	*	Pg. 107  {if you wish to follow}
Preface & Holy, Holy, Holy	*	Pg. 153
The Great Thanksgiving	*
The Lord’s Prayer	*	Pg. 154  {prayed together}
Communion Hymns {hymns will be sung as needed}		Pg. 154  Lamb of God #715  Christ, Be Our Light #438  My Lord, What A Morning
Post-Communion Canticle	*	#501  Come With Us, O Blessed Jesus
Prayer & Benediction	*	Pg. 114
Closing Hymn	*	#246  Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding!
Dismissal	*	Pg. 115 (Rsp:“Thanks be to God”)
Postlude

* = congregation stands (as able)

St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

448 Talbot Street West,  Aylmer, Ontario  N5H 1L1

P & F:  519-773-2175     E-mail:  info@stjohnsaylmer.ca

Rev. John Goldsworthy  519 -207-2224

E-mail:  Jgoldsw00@aol.com

Organist:  Karin Barrie

It is a new Church Year and we begin our Advent preparations again.  It is not simply a time to think of the celebration of Christmas.  In a number of ways, that celebration has been steered away from Bethlehem, as it were.  It is also a time to remember what is yet to come: the return of Jesus Christ.

Please note:  The Advent wreath prayers are to be found below. For Advent, we continue to experiment with different sorts of prayer for this part of the service.

Order for Lighting the Advent Wreath

P. God of love, may this wreath and its light remind us that Jesus came to save us from our sin. Bless this wreath and all who gather around it as we prepare our hearts to celebrate Christmas. Come, Lord Jesus, bring hope, faith, and life to our world.

C.  Amen.

P. Dear Jesus, you are the hope in our messy world. This Advent, help us slow down, listen to your voice, and focus on what’s really important. We place our hope in you as we prepare our hearts to celebrate your birth on Christmas.

C.  Amen.

All.  Joyous light of glory of the immortal Father,
   Heavenly, holy, blessed Jesus Christ,
   We have come this day
   And we look to this rising light in a dark season.
   We sing to God, the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.
    You are worthy of being praised with pure voices forever.
    O Son of God, O Giver of Light,
   The universe proclaims your glory. Amen.

(The hymn follows.)

Welcome!

Everyone is invited to stay for fellowship after the service.

We pray today for all the sick in our congregation, especially Colin & Elfriede Hayes, Else Kalmbach and her son, Nancy Mayberry, Hilda Moritz, George & Astrid Simonis and John Weninger.  May God grant all of them His healing grace in Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Offering Envelopes - Everyone has unnumbered envelopes, so please remember to put your name, date and donation amount on the front of each envelope so you get credit for your donations.  If you need more envelopes, there are some in the Fellowship Hall. 

PAR – Pre-Authorized Remittance – Your church needs you!  Signing up for PAR allows you to make donations on a monthly basis even if you’re not in church.  Application forms are available on the table in the Fellowship Hall.  All you have to do is complete the form, attach a VOID cheque and put it in the offering plate or in the church office.

Communion Cards are required to be completed once per year per person.  If you have not completed one yet this year, please ask the usher for one.

Adventsfeier – Sunday, November 27 @ 2:00 p.m.

Please bring a plate of baked goods.  Everyone is welcome.

Bible Study – November 30 – December 21

St. John's and Trinity will hold another Adult Study for four weeks beginning on November 30th and ending December 21st.  The topic will be "The Symbols of Advent" and will be a way to prepare for the celebration of Jesus' birth in the celebration of Christmas.  We'll look at the Church's symbols and practices particular to the season of Advent, such as colours, the Advent Wreath, the Christmas Tree, and the Nativity scene, among others.  As before, the study will begin at 12 noon each day at Trinity and the participants are invited to bring a lunch.  Again, the exact place of each gathering will be announced shortly.

Hats & Mitts & Socks For Kids

Some children go to school without hats, mittens and socks.  Let’s help keep the children warm this winter!  Donations of children’s hats, mittens/gloves, socks (store bought or hand-made) will be accepted during Advent.  There will be a Christmas tree in the Fellowship Hall to decorate with donated hats, mitts and socks.

Aylmer Optimist Toy Drive

Every year, the Aylmer Optimists collect new toys for children, up to age 15, for Christmas.  Let’s help make Christmas special for some area boys and girls.  Unwrapped, new toys can be left under the Christmas tree in the Fellowship Hall during Advent.

Poinsettia Flowers are being made available at the price of $10.00 for a 6-inch pot.  The price covers the flower with a bit left over to be donated to the Church.  The sign-up sheet may be found in the Fellowship Hall or with Beth or Pastor John.  The last day to order is December 11.  They will be available to take home after the Christmas Eve service or on the following Sunday.

LCW Christmas Party – Tuesday, December 6.  ** CHANGE **

All ladies are asked to meet at the church at 4:45 p.m. to go to the New Sarum Diner for supper at 5:00 p.m.  Following supper, the ladies will be returning back to the church for dessert, games, and a gift exchange (please bring a $10 gift for the exchange).  If you only wish to attend for dessert/games/gift exchange, please be at the church for 7:00 p.m.  For more information and/or to make supper reservations, please call Marg Guenther at 519-631-5581

Christmas Eve Service – Saturday, December 24

7:00 p.m. – with Holy Communion

Christmas Day Service – Sunday, December 25

10:30 a.m. – with Holy Communion