December 19, 2021: Fourth Sunday of Advent

Gathering

Land Acknowledgment & Welcome
Announcements

Advent Candle Lighting

  • Hymn: Between Darkness and Light #808

Between darkness and light I will always walk,
And wherever I will go,
I will open a window of light,
And will plant the seeds of love.
I will open a window of light,
And will plant the seeds of love.

  • Scripture Reading: Genesis 1:1-5 (NRSV): In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, 2 the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
  • Response: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness shall not overcome it!

Gathering Hymn: Savior of the Nations, Come! #214


Sharing Joys and Concerns
Congregational Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer (Voices Together #989 B, using “sins” instead of “trespasses.”)

Listening

Hymn: In the Beginning #270


Scripture: John 1:1-18 (NRSV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

Morning Message
Silent Reflection

Responding

Sharing
Prayer
Offering Invitation (please see our giving page)
Sending Hymn: Joyous Light of Heavenly Glory #504


Blessing

*Hymns used under OneLicense #A-714488

Zoom Volunteers: Worship Leader: Katie Hobson; Advent Candles: Hobson/Schwabauer family; Music: Roger Sims and Thomas Heilke; Preacher: Joanna Harader

*Hymn numbers refer to Voices Together hymnal.

*Announcements