Worship Notes for Sunday, December 1, 2013

This Sunday begins the season of Advent which is the start of the liturgical year. Advent (which means “coming”) is the season of the church year comprised of the four Sunday’s before Christmas. The color associated with this period is purple because it is both reflective of kingship and mourning. Advent is set aside for reflection and repentance as an opportunity to prepare one’s heart for the coming of Christ—both His first and second coming. As we read and sing Scripture and hymns of expectation, longing, and prophecy, we have the assurance that all of these hopes were fulfilled in the incarnation of Christ even as we anticipate the second coming of the Savior.We begin with words of waiting and hope from Psalm 33 and lead into the Hymn of Expectation—O Come, O Come Emmanuel. There is a beautiful longing in this hymn for prophecy to be fulfilled and for all to be made right. We continue in singing Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus. The Old Testament Reading is from Isaiah 40—Comfort my people; prepare the way of the Lord. The Prayer of Confession reminds us that “our iniquities have made a separation between us and our God” and that even though we “hope for light…we get darkness.” In God’s goodness and in the fullness of time, He sent His Son to reconcile us to God and remove the separation such that we can hope for and receive light.

Our Communion Hymns include the wonderfully rich Of the Father’s Love Begotten. We conclude the Service by singing Hark! A Thrilling Voice is Sounding—our anticipation and hope for the coming Christ.

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