Advent 2: Love
On the road to repentance – expect grace
ORDER OF SERVICE
Centering chimes 
Lighting of the solidarity lamp
–Symbolic of our Sister Church relationship with El Divino Redentor
Prelude – Hark! the herald angels sing
Call to worship (adapted from Isaiah 40:3-5)
Leader: Speak softly and tenderly to Jerusalem
People: “Be comforted”, says your God.
Leader: Make it very clear that she has served her sentence,
People: Be comforted, oh my people
Leader: Her sin is taken care of—forgiven!
All: “Comfort, oh comfort my people”, says our God!
Black songbook #15 – Upon this path
Lighting the Advent Candles – Pena-Martin family
Welcome & prayer
Virtual Passing the Peace (break-out groups)
Hymnal #176 – Comfort, comfort, O my people
Advent Poetry & Art (links to words and visual included)
– Poem: Let Evening Come by Jane Kenyon, read by Shawn Rodriguez
– Art: Peaceable Kingdom by John August Swanson
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 40:1-11 & Mark 1:1-8
Sermon
Hymn from new sampler – Poor of the earth
Baptism of Lincoln Morris
Communion
– Gather bread/cracker and juice at home for the virtual celebration
Congregational sharing & prayer
Meditative music – Cancion de Adviento (Advent Song)
– 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 – Love came down at Christmas (Hymnal #208)
Worship Leader – Pastor Deb
Sermon & sharing – Pastor Michael
Prelude – Andrea Welty Peachey
Meditation music – Ivette Herryman-Rodriguez
Hymns – Rafael Luquis
Call to worship – Ally Welty Peachey
Advent Candle Lighting – Pam Pena-Martin family
Advent Poetry & Art – Shawn Rodriguez
Children’s Storyteller – Courtney Malcolm
Scripture – Amber Anderson