DisciplesNet Worship #444: Advent 4 (Grogan 12.23.2018)
to watch this worship service on YouTube, click here.
We Christians celebrate the coming of Jesus once every year, but Jesus also comes to be in our hearts. For that reason, we can celebrate Jesus coming every day of our lives. Pastor Amy speaks from Ephesians 1:15-23 about seeing Christ in us every day, giving us new insights and wisdom.
Our observance of Advent continues in the service. Advent is a time of remembering Jesus' coming to us. We observe Advent each year to remind us that, although Jesus has already come, what will fully come in God's time has not yet arrived. We still must wait and anticipate the fullness of God's rule and realm.
This year, our Advent theme uses the hymn "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel".
Each Sunday and Advent and on Christmas Day, we will have one verse from that hymn as the theme for the day.
The theme for today is taken from the sixth verse:
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high
and order all things, far and nigh
To us the path of knowledge show
and cause us in her ways to go
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
The theme is "Jesus is the giver of wisdom". Jesus brings us knowledge of what is good and right and helps us to follow it.
Our worship today is 25 minutes long and includes a time of prayer, scripture, a number of favorite hymns, preaching as well as communion. You may choose to participate, or simply meditate as we tell of Jesus' invitation to "do this in remembrance of me." If you would like to share with us at the table that goes beyond earthly boundaries of time, place, and structure, we ask that you prepare a piece of bread of some type and a drink such as grape juice, wine, or water. As we pray, our prayers extend to where you are. If you are unable to eat or drink, you may want to use a symbolic gesture or mental symbol as you come together at this table of remembrance with us.
(Scroll down for an Order of Worship)
We hope that as you join us for worship you will feel a blessing from being part. Please tell friends, family, and others you know about our online church that is here with doors that are always open, walls as wide as the world, and always room at the table.
ORDER OF WORSHIP:
1. Opening background music:
--- "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" - instrumental
-- Brian Wallen & Dean Phelps on guitar
2. "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" verse 6
--- from "Ten More Miles" with the guitar and vocal talents
--- of Dean Phelps, Brian Wallen, and Molly Wallen
3. Pastor's Prayer: Pastor Bob
4. "Open the Eyes of My Heart" - Dean Phelps
5. Message: “Advent Every Day" Pastor Amy
--- scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23
6. "Spirit of the Living God" - Twana Harris
7. Communion: Pastor Russ
8. "Here, at Thy Table, Lord" - Southport Christian Church
9. Sending Out
10. Credits
--- background music: - "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel verse 6"
-- Brian Wallen & Dean Phelps on guitar
We are grateful for the permission of the artists to use "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" from the "Ten More Miles" Christmas album (c) 2018 theWallensMusic.
If you would like to chat with one of our pastors, including talking more about belief in God, becoming a Christian or following Christ, or living as a disciple of Christ, please email us at pastor@disciplesnet.org, or contact us using the contact information on our website, disciplesnet.org, or our Facebook page, DisciplesNet Church.
INVITATION TO GIVING:
DisciplesNet Church is a not-for-profit church that exists to cross barriers and boundaries to share the Good News of God's redeeming love. We rely on the gifts of our online viewers as we continue to grow and extend our nets around the world.
We also extend the invitation for you to be part of the DisciplesNet ministry by giving a one-time gift, or ongoing, including a tithe. Even the smallest of gifts, like the mustard seed, has a way of growing in amazing ways to share God's word and the love of Jesus Christ. We have a giving page on our website, disciplesnet.org, and email address: giving@disciplesnet.org
God bless you, and thank you for joining us!