Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus: Advent Longing for Jesus' Second Coming
This service of Lessons and Carols from 2015 eagerly anticipates Christ's second coming with Christ-centered hope.
"Just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him." Hebrews 9:27–28
In a world of busyness and isolation, what a gift it is to have a season of the year devoted to helping us discover together what it means to eagerly wait for Jesus. May God’s Spirit be at work among us as we listen, sing, and pray, forming us to be people of eager expectation and Christ-centered hope.
Prelude:
"Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying," John Ferguson, Paul Manz, Johann Walther, Wayne Wold, and Max Reger
Choral Introit:
"Keep Your Lamps," traditional spiritual
Processional Hymn: "Once in Royal David's City"
Lift Up Your Hearts 87
descant by James O'Donnell
Stanza 1: All, harmony
Stanza 2: Men, unison
Stanza 3: Women, harmony
Stanza 4: All, harmony
Stanza 5: All, unison
Greeting and Bidding Prayer from Revelation 1:4-5:
Pastor:
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come,
and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness,
the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
All:
To him who loves us
and freed us from our sins by his blood,
and made us to be a kingdom,
priests serving his God and Father,
to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Pastor:
Beloved in Christ, in this season of Advent, we prepare ourselves so that we may be shown its true meaning. We have gathered to hear, in readings from the holy scriptures, how the prophets of Israel and the apostles of Jesus foretold that God would visit and redeem his waiting people. We rejoice, in carols and hymns, that the good purpose of God is being mightily fulfilled. We encourage each other in Christian hope, so needed in a world filled with sorrow and despair.
We unite our hearts to pray for the world which God so loves, for those who have not heard the good news of God, or who do not believe it; for those who walk in darkness and the shadow of death; and for the Church in this place and everywhere, that it may be freed from all evil and fear, and may in pure joy lift up the light of the love of God. These prayers we humbly offer as we meditate on the readings from holy scripture, and also now, in the words that our Lord Jesus Christ taught us.
All:
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.
Forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory forever. Amen
I. Longing for Christ in a World of Despair
Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-9; Acts 3:19-20
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
"Lost in the Night," arr. Kyle S. Haugen
"In the Depth of Winter's Darkness," arr. Diane McAninch
II. Hope for Christ's Coming in a World of Despair
Scripture: Isaiah 2:2-4
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
"Vencerá el amor / Love Shall Overcome," Carlos Colón
"View the Present through the Promise," arr. Roy Hopp
Lift Up Your Hearts 470
Stanza 1: Choir
Stanza 2: Choir
Stanza 3: All, unison
III. The Joy of the Lord on the Day of the Lord
Scripture: Isaiah 35
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
"Dios es nuestro amparo / God Will Be Our Refuge" (Psalm 46), arr. Alfredo Coleman
"When the King Shall Come Again," arr. John Ferguson
IV. Loving and Fearing God on the Day of the Lord
Scripture: Matthew 24:3-8, 29-31, 36, 42-44
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
"My Lord, What a Morning," arr. Michael Neaum
"When the Trumpet Sounds," arr. André Thomas
"Jesus Christ Is the Way"
Lift Up Your Hearts 471
Stanza 1: Choir
Stanza 2: All, repeating refrain as directed
V. Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying
Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
"Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying"
1. "Zion Hears the Watchmen Singing," Johann Sebastian Bach, BWV 140, mvt. 4
2. "Sleepers, Wake," Felix Mendelssohn, from "St. Paul"
3. "Up! Awake," arr. Philip Ledger
4. "Lamb of God, the Heavens Adore You," Philipp Nicolai, PsH 613, stanza 3
VI. Waiting with Obedience and Hope
Scripture: Romans 13:11-12; Titus 2:11-14; James 5:7-9; 1 John 3:2-3
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
"I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light," arr. Paul Manz
Lift Up Your Hearts 730
Stanza 1: Choir
Stanza 2: Choir
Stanza 3: All, unison
"Keep Your Lamps," arr. André Thomas
VII. Day of Judgment, Day of Wonders
Scripture: Revelation 1:7-8; Revelation 22:16-21
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
"How Great Thou Art," arr. Dan Forrest
"Lo! He Comes, with Clouds Descending," arr. John Rutter
Lift Up Your Hearts 479
Stanza 1: All, unison
Stanza 2: All, harmony
Stanza 3: All, unison
Prayer for the World:
Pastor:
God of grace and glory,
in this world so filled with despair, we cling to your promise:
surely Christ is coming soon.
As we wait for this glorious appearing,
we pray for the world that you so love:
we long for your Holy Spirit to bring healing, justice,
and peace that surpasses understanding
to every place of suffering and hopelessness,
including those we name now in our hearts. . . . [silence]
As this Advent season continues to unfold,
challenge and strengthen us to be people of eager expectation
and ministers of your peace.
Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
"Even So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come," Paul O. Manz
Charge and Blessing from 2 Peter 3 and 1 Thessalonians 5:
Pastor:
But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.
Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
All:
To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Pastor:
May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
All:
Alleluia! Amen.
Recessional: "Rejoice, the Lord Is King"
Lift Up Your Hearts 224
Stanza 1: All, harmony
Stanza 2: All, unison
Stanza 3: All, harmony
Stanza 4: All, harmony
Postlude: "Finale from the First Symphony," Louis Vierne