Shares the Worship of God December 6, 2020 The Second Sunday of

The fuss and feverishness, anxiety, intensity, intolerance, instability, pessimism and wobble, and every kind of hurry and worry—these, even on the highest levels, are signs of the self-made and self- acting soul, the spiritual newcomer. The saints have never been like that. They share the quiet and noble qualities of the great family to which they belong. — Evelyn Underhill The musicians are Alexis Lum, Jamie Buxton, Melissa Collom, Brooke Collins, Pavel Sulyandziga, Ivan Rivera, Russell Johns, Nathan Rodriguez, and The Tone Chime .

Introit O Come, O Come, Emmanuel arr. Karen Buckwalter

Lighting the Candle of Peace Kunbi Sowunmi Leader: We light this candle as a symbol of peace. May the light sent from God shine in the darkness to show us the way to grace. All: May we experience the peace that came with the first .

Bold: spoken or sung as a community of Praise Lift Up Your Heads (stanzas one and four) Invocation and Lord’s Prayer Tracy Lantz 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. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Reading from the Psalter :1-2, 8-13 Brett Younger Leader: God, you were favorable to your land. You restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people. You pardoned all their sin. All: Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for God will speak peace to God’s people, to God’s faithful, to those who turn to God in their hearts. Leader: Surely God’s salvation is at hand for those who fear God, that God’s glory may dwell in our land. All: Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet. Righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Leader: Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky. All: The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. Leader: Righteousness will go before God, and will make a path for God’s steps.

Music of the O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings (Messiah) George Frederic Handel O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up into the high mountain. O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength. Lift it up, be not afraid. Say unto the cities of Judah, behold your God. Arise, shine, for thy light has come. And the glory of the lord is risen upon thee.

Gospel Reading Mark 1:1-8 Julia Rassmann The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Congregational Call to Confession O Little Town of Bethlehem O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light; The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

Confession of Sin Leader: In the midst of the noise of the world, we hear the sound of peace. All: The peace of Christ calls us to something special. Let the confession of our sins be our new beginning. In this moment, we go to God in prayer, confessing our sins so that we may take hold of the forgiveness God gives.

Prayer of Confession Assurance of Forgiveness Sisters and brothers, your sins are forgiven. Live in peace.

Gloria Angels We Have Heard on High Angels we have heard on high sweetly singing o’er the plains, and the mountains in reply echo back their joyous strains. , Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Passing of the Peace

Music of Peace Comfort Ye My People (Messiah) George Frederic Handel Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned. (Isaiah 40:1-3)

Life of the Church

Children’s

Advent Hymn Tomorrow Christ is Coming Tomorrow Christ is coming, as yesterday he came; a child is born this moment, we do not know its name. The world is full of darkness, again there is no room; the symbols of existence are stable, cross and tomb. Reading 2 Peter 3:8-15 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 the promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But 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. Since 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, waiting 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? But, in accordance with God’s 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.

Prayers for Peace Christian, Baha’i, Shinte, Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish

Call to Prayer Come Unto Him (Messiah) George Frederic Handel Come unto him, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and he will give you rest. Take his yoke upon you, and learn of him, for he is meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Prayers of the People

Invitation to Offering The gift of God’s peace invites us to make a grateful response. We invite you to give online by clicking below or going to PlymouthChurch.org/GIVE Set up your online gift here >>

Offertory And the Glory of the Lord (Messiah) George Frederic Handel And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.

Doxology Regent Square Praise, O God, our loving Maker, And to Christ, our Friend, your Son, And to God, the Holy Spirit. Praise to God, the three in one. , Alleluia. May our praise forever run.

Offertory Prayer Music of Hope Every Valley Shall Be Exalted (Messiah) George Frederic Handel The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness; prepare ye the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill made low, the crooked straight, and the rough places plain. (Isaiah 40)

Reading from the Prophets Isaiah 40:1-11 Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak 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. A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every 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. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it: surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever. Get 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!” See, the Lord God comes with might, and God’s arm rules, the reward is with God, the recompense before God, God will feed the flock like a shepherd, will gather the lambs, and carry them in God’s arms, and gently lead the mother sheep.

Music of Nurture He Shall Feed His Flock (Messiah) George Frederic Handel He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, and he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.

Communion Sermon Peace like the First Christmas Hymn of Solitude Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (stanzas one and two) The Lord’s Supper

Invitation to God’s Table Leader: Jesus teaches us to speak of peace as the coming of God’s Kingdom. We believe that God is at work in the world turning hopeless situations into good. We believe that love will triumph in the end, and that oppression cannot last forever. All: One day “all tears will be wiped away” and “the lamb will lie down with the lion.” Leader: We come to this table because this is our faith. All: This is our peace.

Sharing of the Bread All: Holy are you, God, and holy is your child Jesus Christ. Leader: Who, on the night in which he gave himself up for us, took bread, gave thanks, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: All: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Sharing of the Cup Leader: And when the supper was over, Jesus took the cup, gave thanks, gave it to his disciples and said: All: “Drink from this, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Prayer of Thanksgiving Hymn of Response It Came upon the Midnight Clear (stanzas one and five)

Postlude Wake, Awake for Night Is Flying J. S. Bach

May God support all the day long, till the shades lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in God’s mercy may we find a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last. — John Henry Newman *** Stay connected to Plymouth Church by subscribing to our eNews. You can join Plymouth’s campaigns for racial justice and community access, discover resources for children, youth and family, and find ways to give by visiting plymouthchurch.org.