10
December 2023
Second
Sunday of Advent (Peace)
Mark
1:1-8
Advent
of Peace
Additional
Scriptures
Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalms
85:1-2, 8-13; 2 Peter 3:8-15a; Doctrine and Covenants 162:7a
Advent Worship Setting
Create an arrangement of five candles as
the focus. This can be in a wreath, mixed with greenery, or other decorations
as space allows. Traditional colors for the candles are three purple, one pink
(Joy), and one white (Christ); or choose your own colors. Each Sunday the
previous candles are lit before the service starts, and one additional candle
is lit during the lighting of the Advent Candle. The Christ candle is lit on
Christmas Day. For a hybrid service, encourage those watching from home to
create their own Advent setting.
The Focus Moment involves a narrator,
the angel, Gabriel, Mary, and Joseph. This will take a bit of preparation, as
Gabriel and Mary will be pantomiming what the narrator is reading. A large,
gift-wrapped box, with the lid wrapped separately, will be used.
Outreach International has a free
resource for Advent that could be used in place of the Focus Moment at Outreach-International.org/how-to-help/resources/advent-stable.
Prelude
Carols of the Season
“Comfort, Comfort
Now My People” CCS 407
“I Heard the Bells
on Christmas Day” CCS 415
Welcome
Call to Worship
Isaiah
40:1-5
Lighting the Advent Candle of Peace
Light the Hope
candle from last week before the service starts.
Responsive Reading
In the
spectacular and glorious colors of a brilliant sunrise, in the cheerful
laughter or memory of a table full of friends or family, in a moment of
intuition that turns on the light of discernment and leads us toward wisdom, we
find the peace that passes all understanding. But there are things we need to
think about, ideas we need to comprehend. May we be attuned to hear the stories
of those who stumble and struggle to find peace.
Peace is what the
prophets foretold. Peace is what is sacrificed when profit takes precedence.
In this second
week of Advent, as the waiting and expectation heighten, our desire for peace
deepens. Like the wise called to journey in those early dawning days, may we
seek, endeavor, and search for peace. Like the prophets old and new, may we cry
out for its coming.
All: We light
a candle for peace. May it light the way.
Light a second candle.
Song of Peaceful Invitation
CCS 75
“Kum Ba Yah”
Piano and guitar accompaniment can be found free online.
Stanza
1: Kum Ba Yah
Stanza
2: Come by Here
Stanza
3: (We) Sing of Peace
Invocation
Congregation’s Sung Response
Sing
“Come by Here” one more time.
Spiritual Practice: Breath Prayer
Today we will
practice a breath prayer. I will guide you through every step, pausing to let
you develop your prayer.
Place your feet
flat on the floor. Sit as straight as is comfortable.
Pause after each
instruction.
·
Place a hand on your abdomen.
Feel your stomach move away from the spine as you inhale and feel it move
toward the spine with the exhale.
·
With the next inhale, breathe
peace into the body. With the next exhale, breathe stress out of the body.
·
Focus on your feet and ankles.
With the next inhale, breathe peace into this area. With the exhale breathe out
stress from this area.
·
Next come the calves and shins.
Breathe peace into these areas. With the exhale breathe out stress from these
areas.
·
Inhale peace into the knees and
thighs. Exhale the stress.
·
Spend a few breaths focusing on
the lower body, inhaling peace from the waist down. Exhale stress from the lower
body.
·
Focus on the lower back and
stomach: Inhale peace, exhale stress.
·
Spend three breaths inhaling
peace and exhaling stress from every part of the body from the chest down.
·
Now focus on your chest, middle
back, and upper back. See the peace and air traveling into the lungs and
spreading all throughout this area. See the stress leave as you exhale.
·
Notice your fingers, hands, and
wrists. Inhale peace. Exhale stress.
·
Notice your forearms and
elbows. Inhale peace. Exhale stress.
·
Spend three breaths inhaling
peace and exhaling stress from everywhere below the neck.
·
Notice your neck—all the way
around. Inhale peace. Exhale stress.
·
Notice the area around the
ears, and the back and top of your head. Inhale peace. Exhale stress.
·
Now focus on your face. Inhale
peace. Exhale the stress.
·
Inhale peace. Let it spread
throughout your body.
·
Exhale stress from every part
of you. Spend three breaths focusing on your body.
·
One last time, inhale peace.
Exhale stress.
Amen.
Move directly
into the Prayer for Peace.
Prayer for Peace
Light
the Peace Candle.
Prayer
God of
reconciliation and grace,
you promise us a world where all is new,
where love is born when hope is gone,
where broken relationships are restored to wholeness.
May we live as people who know your story of love,
and may we have the vision to imagine what could be possible if we dared to
live this story.
God of abundant
life,
may we be witnesses of love, hope, and peace,
and co-creators of the upside-down kin-dom for this world.
Amen.
Hymn of Peace
“Peace
Child” CCS 402
OR
“O God of Love, Grant Us Your Peace” CCS 316
OR
“Peace Salaam Shalom” CCS 310
Encourage participants to sing in
languages other than their own.
Focus Moment: “What Is on God’s Christmas List?”
Cast: Narrator,
Gabriel, and Mary
Preparation: On
the worship center is a large gift-wrapped box (wrap the lid separately)
Gabriel is on
the rostrum. While the narrator reads the text below, Mary enters. She and
Gabriel pantomime the reading together.
Narrator: This story began when I was sent to tell Mary she had been
selected to be the mother of a special baby. I said, “Mary, you’ve been chosen
to give birth to God’s Son.” She was really surprised and wondered what was
going on. “Me? I’m so young! I’ve never been a mother before!” But I reassured
her she shouldn’t be afraid—that everything would be OK. I told her she was to
name the baby boy, “Jesus.” Mary replied, “I will do as God pleases, for I am
God’s servant. God can use me in this special way. This will be my gift to God.”
Gabriel and Mary freeze while the narrator discusses this portion of
the Christmas story.
·
Why do you think God sent
Gabriel to Mary?
·
Put yourselves in Mary’s place.
What do you think she is feeling?
·
Mary accepts and agrees to what
Gabriel has spoken. What do you think gave her the courage?
Then Gabriel and Mary resume their pantomime while the narrator
reads the final paragraph.
—Herald House Scripture-Based Focus Moments, adapted
HeraldHouse.org/search?q=scripture+based+focus+moments
Hymn of Waiting
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” CCS 394
OR “God Almighty, We Are Waiting” CCS 397
Morning Message
Based
on Mark 1:1-8
OR
Video
A “Witness the
Word” sermon, based on Mark 1:1-8, by Emily Penrose McLaughlin, is available at
Youtube.com/watch?v=iVSIEP5FAKs and Heraldhouse.org/collections/ digital-media-witness-the-word/products/witness-the-word-following-christs-footsteps-mp4-video-download.
Disciples’ Generous Response
Scripture: Doctrine
and Covenants 162: 7a-b
Statement
We
are called to share our bounty so that others might know the joy of God’s
kingdom. We look outside the walls of this building, the walls of our homes,
the walls of our screens, the walls we build to protect us from things we are
afraid of. The needs of people in our own neighborhoods, our own cities, and
around the world are great. People yearn to feel God’s peace. How will you make
a difference this Advent season?
During the Disciples’ Generous Response, we focus on aligning our
heart with God’s heart. Our offerings are more than meeting budgets or funding
mission. Through our offerings we can join in making God’s work visible in the
world.
As we share our mission tithes either by placing money in the plates
or through eTithing, use this time to thank God for the many gifts received in
life. Our hearts grow aligned with God’s when we gratefully receive and
faithfully respond by living Christ’s mission.
Blessing and Receiving of Local and Worldwide Mission Tithes
Closing Hymn
“Blessed
Be the God of Israel” CCS 396
OR
“Canticle of the Turning” CCS 404
OR
“O Little Town of Bethlehem” CCS 434
Response
Postlude
