Advent 3: Joy
On the road to restoration – embrace shalom
ORDER OF SERVICE
Centering chimes 
Lighting of the solidarity lamp
–Symbolic of our Sister Church relationship with El Divino Redentor
Prelude – Joysong by Mark Hayes
Call to worship (adapted from Psalm 126:2-6)
Leader: The Lord has done great things for us, and so we rejoice!
People: Our mouths are filled with laughter, and our tongues with shouts of joy.
Leader: Those who sow in tears will reap shouts of joy.
People: Those who go out weeping will come home with shouts of joy.
All: The Lord has done great things for us—we rejoice!
Black songbook #15 – Upon this path
Lighting the Advent Candles – Shungu family
Welcome & prayer
Virtual Passing the Peace (break-out groups)
Hymn from new hymnal sampler – Come, thou long expected Jesus
Advent Poetry & Art (links to words and visual included)
– Poem: The Means of Production, by Nikki Grimes; read by Courtney Malcolm
– Art: The Windsock Visitation by Br. Michael McGrath
Children’s story
– Song “Let the children come to me”
– The Children’s Fall/Winter offering benefits Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) as it celebrates its centennial year in 2020. All households are invited to set out a basket and gather an offering weekly. Donations may be sent to the FMC office at any time or can be made online (select children’s offering in “To” box)
Scripture – Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 & Luke 1:46b-55 & Psalm 126
Sermon
Purple songbook #13 – Sing we a song of high revolt
Congregational sharing & prayer
Meditative music – Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming arr. by Charles Lindberg
– In the absence of a weekly offering collection, reflect on how you are practicing and receiving generosity. Consider giving to First Mennonite Church by mailing a check, giving through your bank, or giving online.
Work of the church
Sending hymn – O little town of Bethlehem (Hymnal #191)
Worship Leader – Pastor Deb
Sermon & sharing – Pastor Michael
Prelude & Meditation – Jan Kellogg
Hymns – Andrea Welty Peachey
Call to worship – Rea Koehn
Advent Candle Lighting – Shungu family
Advent Poetry & Art Movie – Shawn Rodriguez
Children’s Storyteller – Melissa Shungu
Scripture – Scott Bidner