First Sunday of Advent
December 1, 2024 | 10:00am
Rev. Dr. Dawn Alpaugh, Guest Pastor | Larry J. Carey, Director of Music
Thought for Worship: The word “homesick” originated in 1765 from the German compound, Heimweh, meaning “home pain or woe.” What is your first memory of homesickness? When you feel homesick, what do you long for?
GATHERING
Welcome
Prelude O Come, O Come Emmanuel | arr. Hayes
Call to Worship
Votum
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Amen
Opening Sentences
Can one be homesick for something you’ve never known?
We are homesick for a just world, for peace like rivers, for the end of suffering.
Yes, we are homesick—
for joy that is contagious, for nations that feel like neighbors, and for hospitals that run empty.
We are homesick for the world God promises.
We are homesick, but we are on our way.
God is here. God is still creating.
Let us worship Holy God.
Salutation
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Amen.
Candle Lighting Liturgy
A: We hope for a world where all are fed.
B: We hope for a world with more bridges than walls.
A: We hope for a world with wide open doors.
B: We hope for a world with contagious laughter.
A: We hope for a world where trees grow tall and creeks run clean.
B: We hope for a world where all people feel at home—in their bodies, in the church, in their physical homes.
A: We hope for that world.
B: We long for that world.
A: We are homesick for that world.
B: So today we light the candle of hope, because hope keeps our hearts alive as we wait.
A: May this light be a reminder that the wait is always worth it.
B: We are close to home. May we carry hope with us. Amen.
*Hymn of Praise See Fig Leaves Now Sprouting
Call to Confession
When you’re a kid and you get homesick at a sleepover or a summer camp, you call home and your parents come and get you. Sometimes, that’s what love looks like.
Love bails us out.
In the same way, when we call upon God to confess that we’ve messed up, or forgotten something, or overlooked the truth, God answers with grace. God answers with love. So let us confess today, knowing that nothing could keep God from loving us.
Prayer of Confession
Gracious God, We find ourselves with two options every day— to stay homesick for the world you had in mind, or to allow cynicism to win.
Do we hope against hope, or do we throw in the towel?
Do we insist on a better world, or do we assume it’s impossible?
Forgive us for the days when cynicism wins.
Forgive us for numbing our homesick hurt instead of using it to fuel a better world.
Kindle in us a hope that won’t let go.
Gratefully we pray. Amen.
Words of Forgiveness
Family of faith, even when we throw in the towel, even when we give up on hope, God does not give up on us. We are loved. We are claimed. We are invited closer to God’s home. So hear and trust this good news: There is room for us in God’s house, and nothing can separate us from that love. We are claimed. We are forgiven. We are welcomed home. Thanks be to God! Amen.
The Law of God:
*Gloria Patri | #579
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.
*Commitment to Peace Keeping and Peace Seeking
One: May the peace of Christ be with you!
All: And also with you!
Share a sign of peace with one another. After sharing the peace, let us all sing together:
Together, by grace, we witness and work, remembering Jesus, in whom we grow strong. Together we serve in Spirit and truth, remembering love is the strength of our song.
THE WORD OF GOD
Anthem Hope of the World | Drummond
Prayer for Illumination
God of the stars and God of our hearts— our days will pass, but your words will last. The earth might fade but your words will last. Our memories might blur, but your words will last. The grass will wither, but your words will last. The sky could go dark, and your words would last. So as we listen today, help us to hold onto what will last. Help us hold onto you. Gratefully we pray. Amen.
First Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
*Hymn: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
Second Reading: Luke 21:25-36
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Sermon: “Homesick (Hope)” | Rev. Campbell
Silent Reflection
THE RESPONSE TO GOD
*Affirmation of Faith (Nicene Creed)
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father [and the Son],
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Offering Visit Us Emmanuel | Choplin
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him all creatures here below;
Praise him above ye heavenly hosts;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen!
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
*Communion Hymn Let all Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Prayer of Great Thanksgiving
One: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
One: Holy and right it is and our joyful duty to give thanks to you at all times and in all places, O Lord our Creator, almighty and everlasting God...
With your whole Church on earth and with all the company of heaven we worship and adore your glorious name.
*Sanctus Holy, Holy, Holy Lord #581
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of
your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of
the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!
Remembering the Work of Christ
One: Most righteous God, we remember in this Supper the perfect sacrifice offered once on the cross by our Lord Jesus Christ for the sin of the whole world. Together we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Memorial Acclamation
All: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Invocation of the Spirit
One: So send your Holy Spirit upon us we pray… Even so, come Lord Jesus we pray.
All: Amen
Holy Communion
Words of Institution and Invitation
One: The body of Christ is broken for you.
One: The blood of Christ is shed for you.
Prayer after Communion
Brothers and sisters,
since the Lord has now fed us at his Table,
let us praise God’s holy name with heartfelt thanksgiving!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and do not forget all his benefits—
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion for his children,
so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him,
who did not spare his own Son,
but gave him up for us all,
and will also give us all things with him.
Therefore shall my mouth and heart show forth the praise of the Lord,
from this time forth forevermore. Amen.
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession (ending with the Lord’s Prayer)
God of the weary and waiting,
Scripture tells us that where two or more are gathered, you are there.
So we trust that you are here—listening to these words, drawing us close, stirring hope awake in us. And for that we are grateful. We are so grateful.
Today, Holy God, we feel close to home, close to you when the choir sings,
when the candles are lit,
when we enter this space and someone knows our name.
We feel close to home when our children are curious,
when we find moments of true connection,
when we are brave enough to be who you call us to be.
However, God, even with gratitude for our close-to-home moments, we also recognize that buried deep within us we have homesick hearts.
Holy God, We are homesick for a world we have not seen.
We are homesick for a world where oceans are clean, trees are green,
and animals are not endangered. We are homesick for a life where days feel expansive and Sabbath feels possible.
We are homesick for days where mental health is not stigmatized, time is not a commodity, and self-worth is not a scarcity.
God who never leaves us alone, we are carrying both hope and homesickness all at the same time. Hold these two sides of the same coin tenderly, and fan the flame of both. For we realize, hope is a gift and homesickness is a reminder. For each conviction, we give you thanks.
Now with the confidence of children, we pray together, saying. . .
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory forever. Amen.
SENDING
*Hymn In the Bleak Midwinter
Benediction
Congregational Response
Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates, Behold, the King of glory waits;
The King of kings is drawing near; The Savior of the world is here!
Redeemer, come! I open wide My heart to Thee;
here, Lord, abide. Let me Thy inner presence feel; Thy grace and love in me reveal.
Postlude Ode to Joy | arr. Mains
DEAR FRIENDS
Welcome to worship here at Peapack Reformed Church! If you are visiting with us, welcome! If you are a member, welcome back! Our mission is to be a congregation called by God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and committed to being the very presence of Jesus Christ in the world. This mission is the catalyst for all that we do, and is our aim for who we want to be.
If you are visiting with us via Facebook Live and would like more information about our church, send us a message on Facebook or email office@peapackreformed.org and we will be in touch with you. Even under these odd and anxious circumstances, we would love to be your church home. Our virtual doors are always open wide and our hearts are always ready to welcome new faces into our fellowship.
FOOD PANTRY NEWS
Many thanks for all those who have shared their abundance with neighbors in need.
Our church refrigerators have plenty of space to hold even more!
Please consider making a weekly donation of eggs or milk to the P-G Food Pantry.
Peapack Reformed Church is a congregation called by God, empowered by the Holy Spirit and committed to being the very presence of Jesus Christ in the world.
CALLED • EMPOWERED • COMMITTED