21 | 22
December 2024
Traditional Services
WESLEY METHODIST CHURCH
TRADITIONAL SERVICES
Wesley Sanctuary 7.30am | 9.30am (Live-streamed) | 11.30am | 5.00pm
22 December 2024 | 4th Sunday in Advent
ADVENT – A Season of Expectant Waiting and Reflective Preparation
Advent (from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival”) is the four-week season of preparation for the coming of Jesus at Christmas. Advent also begins the church’s new liturgical year. A good celebration requires proper preparation for us to fully enjoy it. During December, however, we mostly confuse helpful readiness for the hustle of Christmas shopping, parties, and preparations. The Advent season, more reflective in nature, can feel out of sync with all this noise and busyness.
John the Baptist is the anti-Santa needed for our day. Trade the jolly laugh for an in-your-face intensity, the twinkle in the eye for a wildness about to interrupt your life, commanding our attention but always redirecting it towards Jesus. “Prepare the way for the Lord” is the Advent call to get ready for the coming Messiah.
But how do you prepare for a surprise? More than just remembering Christ’s first arrival, Advent hopes for Christ’s second coming. Advent is a season of expectant waiting, tapping into the sense we have that all is not well, the longing for the world to be made right again. It is a season for restless hearts and people weary of a broken world who want, with all our being, to know there’s more than this.
Advent cultivates in us a discerning eye, helping us to spot the sin that clutters our lives and notice all the ways we need to be saved. By helping us to hope intensely for restoration, to feel our own need to be saved, Advent prepares us for genuine Christmas joy and faith in the One who saves us from our sin, Jesus.
From Seeking God’s Face: Praying with the Bible through the Year, p23.
Dates of Advent
Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve.
Candle-Lighting
During the four Sundays in Advent, we progressively light the Advent wreath to symbolize our journey through Advent as we await in anticipation for the Lord’s coming.
| First Sunday | : Hope |
| Second Sunday | : Peace |
| Third Sunday | : Love |
| Fourth Sunday | : Joy |
Colour for Advent
Purple is the primary colour of Advent symbolizing royalty. Purple is also the colour for Lent symbolizing penitence, pointing to an important connection between Jesus’ birth and death.
I. WE GATHER AND PREPARE
We gather in the Lord’s name weekly to be renewed in our hearts and minds. Our worship of God is a response to his revelation as he reveals his truth to us through Scripture, sermon, prayers and songs.
MEDITATION VERSES
We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love be with us, LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.
Psalm 33:20–22
PRELUDE
We Will Keep Our Eyes Fixed on Jesus Choir
GREETING
| L: | May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. |
| P: | And also with you. |
CANDLE-LIGHTING
This morning/evening we light four Advent candles.
When the darkness of life feels overwhelming, the first candle ignites our hope in God’s unfailing truth.
When the chaos of life seems all-consuming, the light of the second candle reveals the Prince of Peace.
When humanity responds with senseless acts and hurtful words, the light of the third candle radiates God’s command to love as we have been loved.
As we light the fourth candle, we celebrate the joy that can dry every tear.
CALL TO WORSHIP *
| L: | Let us glorify the Lord and rejoice in God our Saviour, for he has been mindful of our humble states. |
| P: | The Mighty One has done great things for us, holy is his name! |
| L: | His mercy extends to those who fear him. He performs mighty deeds with his arm; and scatters those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. |
| P: | Hence we do not need to fret when people carry out their evil schemes. We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and shield. |
| All: | God, you remembered us in our low estate for your mercy and steadfast love endures forever. We wait upon you in faith and expectancy! |
OPENING HYMN *
Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty GatesUMH 213
CONFESSION
All: God of mercy and love,
you have come to set us free,
free from our fears and sins.
Yet, we confess that we live as though
the light had never defeated darkness.
We are often anxious and insecure.
We do not trust each other, and we harbor violence,
expressed through our thoughts, words, and actions.
We have not always opened our eyes to the needs of others.
Look upon us with mercy and grace.
Reign in our hearts and in all the world;
may we walk in step with your Spirit,
who encourages and convicts us. Amen.
PRAYER HYMN
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel UMH 211, St. 6 & 7
SILENT PRAYER
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
The LORD'S PRAYER (spoken)
Musical Interlude
II. SERMON
| Title | Joy in Expectant Waiting |
| Text | Luke 1:39–55 |
| Speaker | Rev Benjamin Lau |
| Song of Response* | Joy to the World UMH 246 |
III. WE RESPOND IN SHARING AND GIVING
We respond to God’s Word through the sharing of peace, participating in and praying for the programs and initiatives of the church, as we seek to grow in our discipleship journey, offering time, money, and gifts where help is needed as God’s stewards.
SHARING OF GOD’S PEACE
Shalom to You UMH 666
FAMILY NEWS
OFFERTORY PRAYER
TITHES AND GIFTS TO GOD
Once in Royal David’s City (UMH 250)Congregation
DOXOLOGY *
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow
Tune: VENI EMMANUEL
IV. SENDING FORTH
Having been renewed in our hearts and minds, we are to go forth into the world as Christ’s ambassadors in the ministry of reconciliation.
CLOSING HYMN *
All Earth is WaitingUMH 210
BENEDICTION *
POSTLUDE
Prayer Ministry at the Altar
If you need someone to pray with you, please proceed to the inner rails of the
altar area. If you wish to pray alone, please use the outer rails.
* Congregation may stand.
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