November 27, 2022
1st Sunday of Advent / Hope
Stay Alert

CALL TO WORSHIP
One:	I was glad when they said to me, 
"Let us go to the house of the Giver of hope!"
All:	We come today with eager expectation.
	Our feet are standing within God’s gates.
One:	Come, let us go up to the mountain
that the Giver may teach us the way of peace. 
All:	We come today with holy expectation.
	Our hands are lifted with grateful praise.
One:	We gather at the edge of the throne of justice.
All:	Come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!

-	Inspired by Psalm 122, Isaiah 2:15

INVOCATION
God of the faith that the bleak past taught us,
God of the hope that the present has brought us,
We call on you in this hour of worship. 
We know that you need no invocation for you are already and always with us—
Emmanuel, even before the child was born.
We open our hearts to receive your gifts, 
For you are the Giver of hope, the Giver of peace, 
The Giver of joy, the Giver love.
Make your presence known as we make ourselves available to you. 
Amen.

PRAYER FOR TRANSFORMATION AND NEW LIFE
Leader: 
We gather together in this season of Advent
anticipating hope, praying for peace, attempting to cultivate joy and share love 
amidst commotion, grief, despair and uncertainty.

Moment of silence

All: 
In a world full of hopelessness, 
We have sometimes forgotten that you are our hope, dear God.
Consumed by the chaos of the world, 
We lean into helplessness instead of your loving embrace.
We cling to the stony roads and the bitter rods
Felt in days when unborn hope had died;
We’ve forgotten that you promised us hope for a future.
So, stimulate our memory, dear God.
Remind us of that hope you assured us of.
Be with us as we cling to it in the midnight hours of waiting.

WORDS OF GRACE
Leader: 
Let us know that God gives us unmerited hope for a future, peace like a river, joy everlasting, and love. No misstep can separate us from the gifts of God. Amen. 

INVITATION TO GENEROSITY
Leader: As recipients of the generosity of God, let us share our generosity with each other and the community.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION AND THANKSGIVING
One:		For the wondrous ways this offering will bless this community
One or All:	We dedicate these gifts.
One: 		For the ways it’ll help us live out God’s mission
One or All:	We dedicate these gifts.
One:		Let these gifts strengthen our call to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly.

BENEDICTION
Go forth with the gift of hope
Guiding you toward the path of peace.
Go forth with the gift of joy
Guide you toward the path of love.
Go forth with anticipation,
Trusting that God will bless and keep you,
God’s face will shine upon you,
And God’s grace will never leave you.
Amen

MUSIC SUGGESTIONS FOR WORSHIP SERVICE:
Lift Every Voice and Sing (Verse 2, especially)		New Century Hymnal #593
Watcher, Tell Us of the Night					New Century Hymnal #103
Ekolu Mea Nui							New Century Hymnal #496
Let Us Hope when Hope Seems Hopeless			New Century Hymnal #461
Rev. Mia M. McClain is the Senior Pastor of Riverside Baptist Church in Washington D.C. She is an ordained UCC minister.