Gathering Our Spirit to God's Spirit

We’ve got a table covered with many candles, a few of them very tall. This is our Advent Wreath this year. No actual wreath necessarily. The Eye Chart emphasizes the words “I see.”

• “Sheep Go to Heaven” by Cake plays
• A Journeyer steps up to light the lamp and another rings the bell
• David (E) and Leslie (L) make announcements

Worshiping with Our Children

• A Journeyer leads our children in talking about how Advent means that Christmas is coming, and that God sent Jesus to help us see the world the way God sees the world: full of love and hope for things to be as God wants them to be.

Welcome and Breathe

• David welcomes, has us breathe…
• “Trade As One” video shows
• David reminds us to visit Trade As One website for holiday shopping

Hope

• A Journeyer reads Advent Welcome

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent is the season in which we look for, and prepare ourselves for, the presence of God with us. In the middle of our holiday season, with Christmas carols and stores full of wreaths and gold and silvery bells, and decorations, and gifts that want us to buy them, where is God? Where are our souls? And how can we find what truly matters most? It’s hard to see anything other than the busyness right in front of us.

We light the candle of Hope. Hope that God is here, that God is in the middle of work, and school, and shopping, and bills, and errands, and end-of-year quotas. Hope that there is something that will help us see – see other people, see God’s presence, see salvation.

Let’s pray. Dear God, we ask You to come to us this Advent season. Speak to us. Call to us. Show us Your vision for the world. Wake us up. Jar us out of our patterns of numbness and preoccupation. Reach out to us, and help us to reach back. Amen.

• David explains worship unit
• David reads list of “Paradigm Stabilizers”

Things To Do To Keep Everything As It Is

1. Keep busy.
2. Keep moving. When you travel, find familiar restaurants. Only go places that feel safe.
3. Find the most efficient route to work or school. Use that same route every day.
4. Only spend time with people who think like you. Avoid cross-cultural, interracial, trans-class encounters.
5. Make smart financial decisions. Consider market forces as perfectly natural.
6. Don’t do anything foolish; avoid awkward situations; avoid danger. Get various alarm systems.
7. Avoid people who behave strangely.
8. Watch TV, movies; use your computer every day; migrate to four-cornered screens of any kind.
9. Decide what your beliefs are and stick to them.
10. Like the average North American, spend 90 percent of your time indoors.

• “Busting Cycles” video plays
• Another Journeyer reads a passage from Isaiah 8 and 9

I’m waiting for God. But God is in hiding. Yet, I wait, and I hope. I stand my ground. There are warning signs – but I hope. And here’s the message I've received: the darkness is about to lift, for us in trouble. We’ve been in darkness, but now we can see a bright light. We lived in deep shadows – but there's light! Sunbursts! Brilliant rays from the sky!

We've put up with the abuse of oppressors and the cruelty of tyrants; they whipped us, and beat us, and cursed us. But that’s over. All of a sudden. The invading troops whose clothes are soaked with the blood of their victims? We’re piling their boots and clothes in a pile, and burning the reminders. It’s a fire that will burn for days.

A child has been born, sent to us. It’s a gift, a son, born to help us! He’ll take over the running of the world. He’ll be called The Great Counsel-Giver, the Strong God, the Eternal Parent, the Prince of Wholeness. There will be no limits to the healing he will bring.

Giving -- To Help God Do God's Work in This World

• Renee leads an offertory prayer
• Renee sings "Nobody's Crying" by Patty Griffin as the ushers pass the baskets and then take them to the foot of the cross (or maybe the wreath)

Telling The Story and Our Story

• A Journeyer reads a passage from Luke 5

The religious teachers asked Jesus, "The disciples of Rabbi John the Baptizer are well-known for going for days without food, and saying lots of intense prayers. Also, the Set-Apart religious teachers do the same. But you seem to spend most of your time at parties, eating and drinking. Why?"

Jesus said, "When you're celebrating at a wedding feast, you don't skimp on the cake and wine. You feast – you don’t worry. The bride and groom are here – it’s time to celebrate! The Kingdom of God I keep telling you about? It’s here. Don’t toss cold water onto a beautiful bonfire. It’s time! Celebrate! Pay attention!

Nobody cuts up a fine silk scarf to patch old work clothes; you want fabrics that match. The right match now? It’s all new, all beautiful. And you don't put wine in old, cracked bottles; you get strong, clean bottles for your fresh vintage wine. No one who has ever tasted fine aged wine prefers a wine that isn’t ready yet. This wine is ready."

• “The Office” video plays
• Rick talks
• Rick explains exercises assignment, has help passing exercises out
• Renee leads us in singing “Morning Has Broken”

Go Out to Serve with Mercy and Grace

• David leads a responsive prayer

Every Day: A Journey Responsive Prayer

Reader: You see us, You know us, You love us… and You are all around.

Journey: Every day.

Reader: You see the world You created. You see hope where we see hopelessness and fear.

Journey: Every day.

Reader: We want to see what You see, God. Help us open our eyes..

Journey: Every day.

Reader: You send us Yourself. You send us hope. You send us the Christ. You are here, in every moment, at work, with us.

Journey: Every day.

Reader: You teach us to see the world You love. Are You here? Are You with us? Are You within us? We believe… We believe… We want to believe…

Journey: Every day. Every day. Amen.

• David dismisses
• “Sheep Go to Heaven” plays again as folks depart