"Arrival" Advent Preview: Do messengers from the heavens come with a weapon or a gift? Evil or good? Our skills of interpretation are often off because humanity is so broken and afraid. But in "Arrival," these messengers bring an invitation to consider a Word made flesh that will bring great things and peace if humanity is willing to receive it. Amy Adams (Louise Banks) receives this timeless gift with fear and awe first, and mercy is given. If she believes and acts on the gift, she also will receive a child that will be part of the key for the salvation of humanity. But it will come with a bittersweet cost … + Top 4 Advent + Christmas Films | 2 of 4: "Arrival" |
Sermon Scriptures | Luke 1:48-50
Call to Worship | Psalm 145:13
Your Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom;
Your rule is for all generations.
The Lord is faithful in all His words and
gracious in all His actions.
O Come All Ye Faithful
John Francis Wade, 1751 A.D.
O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold Him born the King of angels:
O come let us adore Him ... (3x)
Christ the Lord!
God of God, light of light,
Lo, He abhors not the Virgin's womb;
Very God, begotten, not created:
O come let us adore Him ... (3x)
Christ the Lord!
Sing choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing all ye citizens of Heaven above!
Glory to God, glory in the highest:
O come let us adore Him ... (3x)
Christ the Lord!
Glory! Let There Be Peace
Matt Maher, 2016 A.D.
One star burns in the darkness,
Shines with the promise, Emmanuel.
One child born in the stillness,
Living within us, Emmanuel.
We're singing "Glory, glory,
Let there be peace, let there be peace!"
Singing "Glory, glory, let there be peace,
Let it is start in me."
One voice speaks for the voiceless,
Hope for the hopeless, Emmanuel.
One love brings us together,
Now and forever, Emmanuel. (Chorus + Bridge 2x)
Do not be afraid,
His love is strong enough to save us!
Nothing stands in the way,
His love is strong enough to lead us!
Never Be Shaken (Psalm 62:1-2)
Rodney Clawson, 2004 A.D.
My soul finds rest in God alone,
My soul finds rest in God alone,
My soul finds rest in God alone,
My salvation comes from Him!
He alone is my rock and my salvation!
He is my fortress, I will never be shaken!
He alone is my rock and my salvation!
He is my fortress, I will never be shaken!
Never be shaken! No, no, no, no!
You Are Good
I. Houghton & New Breed, 2001 A.D.
Lord, You are good
And Your mercy endureth forever!
Lord, You are good
And Your mercy endureth forever!
People from every nation and tongue
From generation to generation ...
We worship You!
Hallelujah, Hallelujah!
We worship You for who You are.
We worship You!
Hallelujah, Hallelujah!
We worship You for who You are.
You are Good!
You are good all the time!
All the time, You are good!
Your Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom;
Your rule is for all generations.
The Lord is faithful in all His words and
gracious in all His actions.
O Come All Ye Faithful
John Francis Wade, 1751 A.D.
O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold Him born the King of angels:
O come let us adore Him ... (3x)
Christ the Lord!
God of God, light of light,
Lo, He abhors not the Virgin's womb;
Very God, begotten, not created:
O come let us adore Him ... (3x)
Christ the Lord!
Sing choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing all ye citizens of Heaven above!
Glory to God, glory in the highest:
O come let us adore Him ... (3x)
Christ the Lord!
Glory! Let There Be Peace
Matt Maher, 2016 A.D.
One star burns in the darkness,
Shines with the promise, Emmanuel.
One child born in the stillness,
Living within us, Emmanuel.
We're singing "Glory, glory,
Let there be peace, let there be peace!"
Singing "Glory, glory, let there be peace,
Let it is start in me."
One voice speaks for the voiceless,
Hope for the hopeless, Emmanuel.
One love brings us together,
Now and forever, Emmanuel. (Chorus + Bridge 2x)
Do not be afraid,
His love is strong enough to save us!
Nothing stands in the way,
His love is strong enough to lead us!
Never Be Shaken (Psalm 62:1-2)
Rodney Clawson, 2004 A.D.
My soul finds rest in God alone,
My soul finds rest in God alone,
My soul finds rest in God alone,
My salvation comes from Him!
He alone is my rock and my salvation!
He is my fortress, I will never be shaken!
He alone is my rock and my salvation!
He is my fortress, I will never be shaken!
Never be shaken! No, no, no, no!
You Are Good
I. Houghton & New Breed, 2001 A.D.
Lord, You are good
And Your mercy endureth forever!
Lord, You are good
And Your mercy endureth forever!
People from every nation and tongue
From generation to generation ...
We worship You!
Hallelujah, Hallelujah!
We worship You for who You are.
We worship You!
Hallelujah, Hallelujah!
We worship You for who You are.
You are Good!
You are good all the time!
All the time, You are good!
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
Charles Wesley, 1744 A.D.
Come Thou long expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free.
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art.
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Come to earth to taste our sadness,
He whose glories knew no end.
By His life He brings us gladness,
Our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend.
Leaving riches without number,
Born within a cattle stall.
This the everlasting wonder:
Christ was born Lord of all.
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King.
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious Kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal spirit,
Rule in all our hearts alone.
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Till from heaven You came running
There was mercy in Your eyes.
To fulfil the law and prophets
To a virgin came the Word
From a throne of endless glory
To a cradle in the dirt.
Praise the Father, Praise the Son,
Praise the Spirit, three-in-one!
God of glory, Majesty,
Praise forever to the King of kings!
To reveal the Kingdom coming
And to reconcile the lost;
To redeem the whole creation,
You did not despise the cross.
For even in Your suffering,
You saw to the other side.
Knowing this was our salvation,
Jesus, for our sake You died. (Chorus)
And the morning that You rose,
All of heaven held its breath
Till that stone was moved for good,
For the Lamb had conquered death.
And the dead rose from their tombs,
And the angels stood in awe,
For the souls of all who’d come
To the Father are restored!
And the Church of Christ was born,
Then the Spirit lit the flame!
Now this Gospel Truth of old
Shall not kneel shall not faint.
By His blood and in His Name,
In His freedom I am free
For the love of Jesus Christ
Who has resurrected me! (Chorus)
Prayers of Confession and Assurance
One: Jesus, today, we join in singing Your words
to the next generation. We confess we need You to ...
Congregational Prayers: "Lord, hear our prayer."
One: And now we pray together, Jesus, as You taught us to pray ...
All: Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive
those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil for Thine is the
Kingdom and the power and the glory
now and forever. Amen.
Pass the Peace | In the Story of God, Jesus declared, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you" (John 14:26) during humanity's darkest, most tragic weekend of His death. And then after Jesus was crucified and resurrected, defeating evil and death, He said, "Peace be with you ... Receive the Holy Spirit" (John 20:21-22). Somehow, with Jesus, peace is possible even in our darkest moments. During this time, we desire to share with each other peace that passes understanding, empowered by the Spirit of Christ.
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive
those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil for Thine is the
Kingdom and the power and the glory
now and forever. Amen.
Pass the Peace | In the Story of God, Jesus declared, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you" (John 14:26) during humanity's darkest, most tragic weekend of His death. And then after Jesus was crucified and resurrected, defeating evil and death, He said, "Peace be with you ... Receive the Holy Spirit" (John 20:21-22). Somehow, with Jesus, peace is possible even in our darkest moments. During this time, we desire to share with each other peace that passes understanding, empowered by the Spirit of Christ.
The peace of the Lord by always with you.
And also with you.
Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Prayer Asking for Jesus' Help
Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. I want to see. Please reveal to me who You are. Give me ears to hear You, and understanding for the Good News You are saying to me today. Amen.
Prayer for Communion with Jesus and Each Other
Jesus, by Your Spirit, fill us with Yourself, the true Bread and Vine. We turn to You now to unite us, strengthen us, and empower us to be Your Kingdom family of servants and witnesses together until You return and make all things new. Amen.Prayer Asking for Jesus' Help
Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. I want to see. Please reveal to me who You are. Give me ears to hear You, and understanding for the Good News You are saying to me today. Amen.
Prayer for Communion with Jesus and Each Other
'19 Advent Prayer | We Magnify You, Jesus!
Jesus, our Immanuel, God with us, reveal You are here now. Disrupt our way of life without You. If in the darkness of Mary's womb, the holy child grew, You can grow in us. If in the darkness of the world's pain, Your blessed light came and overcame, You can overcome the darkness in us and spark Your light and love to spread through us. In our own doubting of You, and of ourselves, cause us to be born again to a living hope that begins to grow like a lump in the throat: the holy hope that You came and still come to us, that You will be born again in our midst.
When people in the 1980s in Guatemala began to sing Mary's Magnificat song, the government outlawed this first Advent hymn. It was deemed too dangerous and revolutionary because children, women, and men began to believe that freedom and change were indeed possible, and that following the way of Jesus would interrupt the flow of civilization as they knew it. Lord Jesus, our Savior, open our mouths and our hearts to sing with them the words of Your mother, Mary, 'My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked with grace and favor on us, His humble servants! ... The Mighty One has done great things for us and holy is His name! ... '
Holy Spirit of God, make us believe the Magnificat's words are true, that You look on us and intend to bring the same dynamic change in us and through us. Make us good like You and beautifully dangerous, embodying the words, works, and way of Jesus that transform lives in Worcester and beyond. We pray all these things in humble, hungry, holy, and hopeful confidence because we are praying in King Jesus' almighty name. Amen.
+ Prayer adapted from "A Divine Disruption" by Christiana Rice & "Come and See" by Frederich Buechner
Our World Belongs to God Q&A 23 | 2008 A.D.
Q. Why do we magnify the Lord and rejoice
with Mary that Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is born?
Q. Why do we magnify the Lord and rejoice
with Mary that Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is born?
A. Remembering the promise
to reconcile the world to Himself,
God joined our humanity in Jesus Christ—
the eternal Word made flesh.
He is the long-awaited Messiah,
one with us and one with God,
fully human and fully divine,
conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
Benediction Based on The Magnificat
Go with our Lord Jesus Christ and and be blessed.
Magnify Him and rejoice that He is Immanuel, God with us.
Hallelujah! We are not alone! God's mercy and favor on
us is displayed in the birth of Jesus. God is revealing
peace on earth in all of us who are willing to be born again
in Christ. Be full, be lifted up. As you have freely received,
freely give for the glory of God, for the love of others, and
for the life of the world.
Next sermon audio + liturgy notes post: Magnificat: Blessed to Carry the One Who Brings Justice w/ Katie Watts
A Micro City Group (CG) is a growing group that begins with 3+ people – children, women, and men included – who are befriending, serving, and loving a community together in Jesus' name in Worcester. Micro CGs start small enough that people can know you and value you, but seek to grow large enough (10-30 people) to make an impact in communities throughout Worcester. Each CG gets together throughout a month (i.e. dinners, times of prayer or learning from the Story of God in the Bible, acts of service, parties, etc.) to see Worcester become a city of neighbors and friends that showcase Jesus' love and compassion to all. Those who are cautious or curious to hear and see what it means to follow Jesus are just as welcome as those who believe Jesus is Lord and God and seek to follow Him in every area of life.
Current Micro City Groups: Lincoln Village | W.R.A.P. | Recovery | YMCA | Route One | Westside
To connect with one of the City Groups above, please contact info@emmauscitychurch.com
Current Micro City Groups: Lincoln Village | W.R.A.P. | Recovery | YMCA | Route One | Westside
To connect with one of the City Groups above, please contact info@emmauscitychurch.com
Christ is all,
Rev. Mike "Sully" Sullivan
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