2nd Sunday of Advent - Peace 

Today’s service may be viewed on Facebook Live Stream at this link:  https://fb.me/e/49nvSsK9v?mibextid=RQdjqZ , hear it in the church parking lot at 107.1 FM, or join us in person. 

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Dear NACCP family,

I'm looking forward to sharing a time of worship with you on Sunday as we celebrate the second Sunday of Advent, light our candles, reflect on expectant waiting, and share a meal together.  Our Sunday gatherings are a witness to the ongoing belief we have in what Dr. King articulated so well: "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”  Advent is not simply a season of waiting for the birth of a child; it is the active waiting for the birth of new forms of justice.  I look forward to waiting with you as we gather on Sunday.

Peace and love,

Keith

Gathering Music                        Polly Dunford            

Welcome and Announcements                           Barb Barham

My Story Peggy Casey

Opening Hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (verses 1,2,5,6,7)   Hymnal #88

    Words - Latin prose; Music - Plainsong, adapt. by Thomas Helmore

1)  O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,

that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

2)  O come, thou Wisdom from on high, who orderest all things mightily:

to us the path of knowledge show; and teach us in her ways to go.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

5)  O come, thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heavenly home;

make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

6)  O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thine advent here;

disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

7)  O come, Desire of nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind;

bid envy, strife, and discord cease; fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.            

Second Sunday of Advent  (Begin with the first candle relit.)    Patti Pitts

                                                       David Sanders 

Voice 1:  “The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion will feed together, and a little child shall lead them.” (Isaiah 11:6)

Voice 2:  What does peace look like in the new world?

All:  Peace looks like a flowing river where every living thing has what they need to flourish.  Peace looks like a place where those who are weak are not afraid of those who are strong.  Peace looks like good conversations around big tables.

Voice 2:  Advent is the beginning of this new world, a better world,

where we can boldly build a good life together.

Voice 1:  May it be so.

Voice 2:  (Second Advent candle is lit.)  Amen.

Advent Song “When God is a Child”   (verses 1and 2)                   Handout

        Words by Brian Wren; Music by Joan Collier Fogg

Hope is a star that shines in the night, leading us on till the morning is bright.

When God is a child there’s joy in our song. The last shall be first and

the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid.

Peace is a ribbon that circles the earth, giving a promise of safety and worth.

When God is a child there’s joy in our song.  The last shall be first and

the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid.

Scripture Readings for the 2nd Sunday of Advent Isaiah 40:1-11

Sermon   “Living Into a New Reality”         Dr. Keith Ray

Theme: Advent invites us to consider what might be, not just what is.

        Advent is hope-filled, where we are invited to participate in a new creation.

Prayers of the People

Closing Hymn/Offertory     Hymnal #89

      “For You, O Lord, My Soul in Stillness Waits”  (verses 1-4)

Words and Music by Marty Haugen

Refrain:  For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits; truly my hope is in you.

1)  O Lord of Light, our only hope of glory,

your radiance shines in all who look to you;

come, light the hearts of all in dark and shadow.    Refrain

2)  O Spring of Joy, rain down upon our spirits;

our thirsty hearts are yearning for your word;

come, make us whole, be comfort to our hearts.    Refrain

3)  O Root of Life, implant your seed within us,

and in your advent, draw us all to you,

our hope reborn in dying and in rising.        Refrain

4)  O Key of Knowledge, guide us in our pilgrimage;

we ever seek, yet unfulfilled remain;

open to us the pathway of your peace.       Refrain

Benediction       Dr. Keith Ray

Discussion

Shalom       (“May you be well and whole and in communion with all creation.”)

                          Shalom, my friends, Shalom, my friends, Shalom, Shalom.

                            Till we meet again, Till we meet again, Shalom, Shalom.

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Join us for 1st Sunday Potluck meal following worship service.

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Calendar of Service  

December 11 - Keith Ray;  Sanctuary.  Session meets following worship service

December 18 - Christmas Pageant;  Sanctuary

December 24 - Christmas Eve at 7:00 PM — Keith Ray; Sanctuary

December 25 - Keith Ray; Sanctuary

Services will gather in the sanctuary until the weather warms again in Spring.

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Every Christmas, we support the students at New Foundations with new, unwrapped gifts. Please bring your gifts to church by December 4.

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Come to Country Christmas Open Houses at Boxwood Manor and Rocky Retreat on Sunday, December 4 from 1-4:30.  Enjoy tours, live music, pop-up craft markets and opportunities to meet your neighbors.  For more information, contact Polly at Rocky Retreat - 612-670-7946 or innkeeper@rockyretreatsc.com - or Annette at Boxwood Manor - 864-934-7280 or boxwoodmanor@gmail.com .

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Bible Study Update  — We will be taking a break from our weekly Bible Study for the next few weeks.  We will begin meeting again on 2 January.  I hope you enjoy your Mondays in December AND that you will be back with us on Monday 2 January!

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Thor Raines is the new Event Coordinator at The Children’s Museum of the Upstate.  On Saturday, December 10 from 9-5, “World Wonderland” will be presented with all sorts of cultural activities on display from many countries around the world.  If you are interested in volunteering, contact Thor at jonathanthorraines@gmail.com.

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On Saturday 17 December, at 10:00 AM, NACCPers will engage in our regular Litter Collection along Liberty Highway.  Our congregation partners with the Adopt-A-Highway program of Anderson County to keep our stretch of Liberty Highway clean.  If you are willing to help us, we would be happy to have you!  We provide vests, gloves and grabbers - all you need to do is show up!  If you can let me know (e-mail at cynthiakwarner@mac.com or text to 678-697-8249) in advance that would be great.  If you want to show up at the last minute, I will be glad to see you!

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Remember in prayer: The Marsden family; Tawny Booth (friend of Vicki Conrad-Wright); Sharon Fowler; Jason Harding; Friends and Family of Doug Vaughan; Bruce Kalley and family; Tim and Michael Little-Bell and family; Linda McFall; Mike Johnston; Taylor Bishop (Whitney’s niece); Steve Hallowell; Pat Weddle; Glenn Burns; Jackie Moore; Whitney Bishop; Latha and Cheryl Semones; Immigrant families; Victims of all violence, oppression, and injustice; People of Ukraine; Families of Victims of mass shootings in Colorado Springs, CO, and Chesapeake, VA.