Bulletin for December 7, 2014: Advent 2B

Advent 2B

 December 7, 2014

10:30 am Holy Communion Service

Grace Evangelical Lutheran

Today’s Worship Participants: 

Pastor: Rev. Megan Rohrer

Music Director: Dorothy Clazie

Assisting Minister: Laurel

Reader: Sally Ann

Welcome to worship at Grace!

Welcome to long-time Lutherans, Christians from every tradition, and people new to faith. Welcome to all who have no church home, want to follow Christ, have doubts, or do not believe. Welcome to new visitors and old friends. Welcome to people of every age and size, color and culture, every sexual orientation and gender identity, socio-economic status, marital status, ability and challenge. Welcome to believers and questioners, and to questioning believers. This is a place where you are welcome to celebrate and sorrow, rejoice and recover.  This is a place where lives are made new.

Special Welcome to Newcomers

Welcome to our small community of faith.  While we are small in numbers, we have big hearts and a desire to grow.  In order to help you follow along, we have included all the materials you need for worship in this bulletin.

Please join us for worship any Sunday at 10am that you are able.  If you cannot join us in person, you can also join us online via live stream or by watching the archives of our worship and Bible Study that Doesn’t Suck anytime during the week at our website (www.gracesf.com), or on our mobile phone app, Bible Study that Doesn’t Suck, is available on Google Play and ITunes. 

If you have any questions about the service or about Grace, you can fill out the form in pew to let our pastor know you’d like to chat.  Or you can contact Pastor Megan Rohrer at pastor@gracesf.com.

Prelude:    

Greeting:   Candles a lit and water is poured into the baptismal font. 

The Grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.                                      C   And also with you.

Opening Hymn: from Pastor Megan’s Bob Dylan Mass

G Em C G
G Am C D
G Em C G
G Am D
D D7 G D
G C D G

Come gather 'round people wherever you roam
And admit all the trials and troubles you’ve sown
we gather together, but still feel alone
our hearts and our minds are ragin’
we were all dust, till God put breath in our bones
so our lives, they are a chang - in'

Come prophets and skeptics and all who dream dreams
the last will be first and the bound shall be free
through bread, wine and water, what’s promised shall be
We all equally need savin’
Christ died on the cross for you and for me
so our lives, they are a-changin'

Come listen to the Gospel please heed the call
It’s promise is truth and pardon for all
We must take that message outside of these walls
To counter all the hatin’
Let’s sing so loud, they hear us in the hall
Because our lives, they are a-changin'

Welcome

Prayer of the Day:

God of love, guide us on the path towards wholeness and help us to experience your presence in the world.  Come soon to bring peace and an end to all suffer.  Amen.

First Reading: Isaiah:40:1-11

40Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. ²Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.

³A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. ⁴Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. ⁵Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” ⁶A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. ⁷The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. ⁸The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever.

⁹Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” ¹⁰See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. ¹¹He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.

 L   Word of hope, word of life.                       Thanks be to God

Psalm  85 (read responsively)

¹Lord, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
²You forgave the iniquity of your people; you pardoned all their sin.
³You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger.

⁴Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us.
⁵Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations?  ⁶Will you not revive us again, so that your people may rejoice in you?          
⁷Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.
⁸Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts. ⁹Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.           
¹⁰Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
¹¹Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky. ¹²The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.
¹³Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps.

Second Reading:  2 Peter 3:8-15

⁸But 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.

⁹The 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. ¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.

¹¹Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, ¹²waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? ¹³But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. ¹⁴Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; ¹⁵and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,

L   Word of hope, word of life.                        Thanks be to God

Special Music: From Pastor Megan’s Bob Dylan Mass  

G D
F C
Cm G
A7 D7 (the last time G)

When the rain is blowing in your face
And the whole world is on your case
All you need is a little grace
To help you feel God’s love.

For all the hungry, and the black and blue
All who live on sidewalks and avenues
When it feels like there is nothing we can do
May you feel God’s love.

When death and illness turns life to gray
and there’s nothing left to do but pray
We’ll come together and always say
May you feel God’s love

C G
When you think no there’s no love left for me
B7 C G
Or you can only think of life’s regret
C G
The winds of change are blowing wild and free.
A7 D7
There’s even more forgiveness for you yet

When the rain is blowing in your face
And the whole world is on your case
All you need is a little grace
To help you feel God’s love.

Gospel Acclamation:  Verse 3

 

Gospel Reading:  Mark 1:1-9 (Pastor Megan’s Translation)

1 Once upon a time, in a story that brings better news than political empty promises, there was a man named Jesus, who was also God's son.  Don't blink, this story is going to be good!

2 But first, here are some clues about how to hear this story, that you should recognize from Isaiah (but I bet you won't).  Anyone who is anyone (meaning old and ancient people), believes that Isaiah was called by God to tell us something important.  So, listen up.  If you don't believe me, pay attention anyway. 

The Book of Isaiah says: Look! A guy who speaks for God is coming to make it easier for you to follow the path God has carved out for you.   3 Hear the voice of one screaming in the wild places where God is nearest: ‘prepare the way of God (the ruler of those who ruler over you).  Bang, make his paths deep ruts in the ground.’

4 Poof, John was in the wild places where God is nearest, baptizing people in a way that caused them to have a complete metamorphosis (like when a caterpillar turns into a butterfly) and be pardoned for all their social, religious and political disruption, disorder and awkwardness.

5 All of Judea and Jerusalem were fans of John and wanted to be near him.  They were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their social, religious and political disruption, disorder and awkwardness.

6 John was clothed in camel hair, with a leather girdle around his loins (while it was probably just a belt, it’s fun to imagine him as a cross between a homeless man and a superhero) and was eating locusts and wild honey. 

7 John preached the divine truth: "The man that follows me is more boisterous and powerful than I am. I am not competent to stoop down and loosen his shoe, let alone unloose the bits of guilt and shame that clings to the hearts and minds of humans.  I baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

9 Poof, Jesus appeared at that exact time (give or take a decade). 

The gospel of the God most high.                         Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon: Silence for reflection follows the sermon.  The assembly stands to proclaim the word of God in song.

Hymn of the Day: from Godspell

Prayers of Intercession

A    During this season of Advent, we pray that the Holy Spirit will bring us patience, compassion and eyes to see God alive and at work in the world around us.  A brief silence.

Creating God, help us repair broken relationships, to clean up our messes and debts and to ask for help when we need it. Particularly, help us work to forgive others and get along with our family, neighbors and friends during the holiday season.  God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Parent God, bless all who are parents, the family and staff of the Grace Infant Care Center and all who have created families.  Particularly during this season, be with those who are working on their fertility, caring for developing embryos and who are getting ready to become parents.  Help us become better at loving and receiving love from others.  God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God, guide our civic leaders and enable them to be good stewards of public trust, resources and properties.  Be with our bishops Elizabeth and Mark, our pastor Megan and all the staff and leaders of our congregation.  God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We give thanks for all who work in healing and caring professions.  Support doctors, nurses, partners, parents and friends who love and support others.  Provide healing and hope for those whose minds, bodies or spirits are in need of care.  Help us to live as fully as we can as we await the day all pain and suffering will end.   God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For whom and what else do the people of Grace pray?

(Please offer - silently or aloud- petitions to God.  End spoken petitions with “God in your mercy.”)

P Our prayers rise like incense and are held by a loving God who yearns for us to be our best.  May we sleep well, worry less, and live convinced that God is on our side.    Amen.

Peace

The presiding minister and the assembly greet each other in the peace of the risen Christ.

P   The peace of Christ be with you always.                C   And also with you.

The people may greet one another with the sign of Christ’s peace, and may say, “Peace be with you” or similar words.    Then, the assembly is seated.

Offering

An offering is gathered for the mission of the church, including the care of those in need. 

Offertory: 

Offering Prayer:

After the offering is gathered, the assembly stands.

A    Let us pray.   God, bless all that we have to offer.  May our financial support match the generosity of our lives.  Help us to be good stewards of our financial and emotional investments.  Amen.

Communion:

P  It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise . . . we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

P   On the night in which he was betrayed, our God most high Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.

The Lord’s Prayer

C  Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen

Blessing

Announcements

Closing Hymn: From Pastor Megan’s Beatles Mass

May God’s face shine upon you. And clear a path before your feet
praying for tomorrow, Go in peace
Blessed and forgiven, Children of God you’ll always be
claim your wholeness, Go in peace

Go in peace, go in peace, go in peace, go in peace
in service, love and wisdom Go in peace

And when the bay is foggy. And suffering is all we see
May joy replace our sorrows, Go in peace
May we be light in darkness. For the whole world’s in need.
Help us bring justice, Go in peace

Go in peace, go in peace, go in peace, go in peace
in service, love and wisdom Go in peace

Dismissal

A:  Go in peace and serve our God.        C: Thanks be to God.

Please join us for coffee and refreshments downstairs in the Fellowship Hall.

To get to the Fellowship Hall, exit to the right of the communion railing at the front of the church.

Announcements

You can find more information and find archived sermons and worship live streams at our website: www.gracesf.com  or on our blog: www.sfgrace.blogspot.com

·         December 4 – 18  - Holden Evening Prayer, 6:30pm: Each Thursday night in Advent.

·        December 11-13 – West Coast LGBTQ Conference for Christian College Students

·        December 13 – Grace Under Fire Awards Dinner, 6-10pm: A fundraiser for Grace.

·        December 24 – Christmas Eve Service of Carols, 9:30pm

Scripture in this service is adapted from The Inclusive Bible: The First Egalitarian Translation, by Priests for Equality.  2009, Sheed & Ward. Kindle Edition. The traditional Lutheran liturgy is from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2014 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #28429. Hymns used with permission for worship and podcast under OneLicense.net  #A-723548.