Geneva Methodist Church Worship

196

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

1.	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.

2.	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.

WORDS: Charles Wesley, 1744
MUSIC: Rowland H. Prichard, 1830
Theme: Christ's Gracious Life: Promised Coming; Christian Year: Advent; Freedom and Liberation; Hope; Jesus Christ; Opening Hymns

806

Psalm 85

L: Lord, you showed favor to your land;
   you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
R: You forgave the iniquity of your people; you pardoned
   all their sin.
L: You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger.
R: Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away
   your indignation toward us!
L: Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your
   anger to all generations?
   Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice
   in you?
R: Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your
   salvation.
L: Let me hear what God will speak, for the Lord will speak
   peace to his people, to his faithful,
   to those who turn to the Lord in their hearts.
R: Surely salvation is at hand, for those who fear the Lord,
   that glory may dwell in our land.
L: Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and
   peace will kiss each other.
R: Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and
   righteousness will look down from the sky.
L: The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its
   increase.
R: Righteousness will go before the Lord, and make God’s
   footsteps a way

MUSIC: Jane Marshall
Scripture: Psalm 85 Isaiah 40:5
Theme: Christian Year: Advent; Psalter

881

Affirmations of Faith: The Apostles' Creed, Traditional Version

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;*
the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

230

O Little Town of Bethlehem

1.	O little town of Bethlehem, 
	how still we see thee lie; 
	above thy deep and dreamless sleep 
	the silent stars go by. 
	Yet in thy dark streets shineth 
	the everlasting light; 
	the hopes and fears of all the years 
	are met in thee tonight.

2.	For Christ is born of Mary, 
	and gathered all above, 
	while mortals sleep, the angels keep 
	their watch of wondering love. 
	O morning stars together, 
	proclaim the holy birth, 
	and praises sing to God the King, 
	and peace to all on earth!

3.	How silently, how silently, 
	the wondrous gift is given; 
	so God imparts to human hearts 
	the blessings of his heaven. 
	No ear may hear his coming, 
	but in this world of sin, 
	where meek souls will receive him, still 
	the dear Christ enters in.

4.	O holy Child of Bethlehem, 
	descend to us, we pray; 
	cast out our sin, and enter in, 
	be born in us today. 
	We hear the Christmas angels 
	the great glad tidings tell; 
	O come to us, abide with us, 
	our Lord Emmanuel!

WORDS: Phillips Brooks, ca. 1868
MUSIC: Lewis H. Redner, 1868
Theme: Christ's Gracious Life: Birth and Baptism; Christ's Gracious Life: Birth and Baptism; Christian Year: Christmas; Christian Year: Christmas; Christian Year: Epiphany; Christian Year: Epiphany; Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ: Presence; Light; Service Music: Prayer Responses

95

Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; 
praise Him, all creatures here below; 
praise Him above, ye heavenly host; 
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.

WORDS: Thomas Ken, 1674
Theme: Adoration and Praise; Gratitude; Service Music: Doxology; The Glory of the Triune God: Praise and Thanksgiving

12

A Service of Word and Table II

INVITATION

Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him,
who earnestly repent of their sin
and seek to live in peace with one another.
Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another.

CONFESSION AND PARDON

Merciful God,
we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have failed to be an obedient church.
We have not done your will,
we have broken your law,
we have rebelled against your love,
we have not loved our neighbors,
and we have not heard the cry of the needy.
Forgive us, we pray.
Free us for joyful obedience,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hear the good news:
Christ died for us while we were yet sinners;
that proves God's love toward us.
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!

In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
Glory to God. Amen.

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, 
Always and everywhere to give thanks to you,
Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 

And so,
with your people on earth
and all the company of heaven
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

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.

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. 
By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection
You gave birth to your church,
Delivered us from slavery to sin and death,
And make with us a new covenant 
By water and the Spirit.

On the night in which he gave himself up for  us
He took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread,
 gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."

When the supper was over, he took the cup, 
Gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Drink from this, all of you;
this is my blood of the new covenant,
poured out for your and 
for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it,
in remembrance of me."

And so,
in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a holy and living sacrifice,
in union with Christ's offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,
and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,
that we may be for the world the body of Christ,
redeemed by his blood.

By your Spirit make us one with Christ,
one with each other,
 and one in ministry to all the world,
until Christ comes in final victory,
and we feast at his heavenly banquet. 

Through your Son Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church,
all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father,
now and forever. 

Amen.

And now, with the confidence of children of God,
let us pray:

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 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
 forever. Amen

BREAKING THE BREAD

OFFERING THE BREAD AND CUP

The body of Christ, given for you. Amen.
The blood of Christ, given for you. Amen.

224

Good Christian Friends, Rejoice

1 Good Christian friends, rejoice
  with heart and soul and voice;
  give ye heed to what we say:
  News, news!
  Jesus Christ is born today!
  Ox and ass before him bow,
  and he is in the manger now.
  Christ is born today,
  Christ is born today!

2 Good Christian friends, rejoice,
  with heart and soul and voice;
  now ye hear of endless bliss:
  News, news!
  Jesus Christ was born for this!
  He hath opened heaven's door,
  and ye are blest forevermore.
  Christ was born for this,
  Christ was born for this!

3 Good Christian friends, rejoice,
  with heart and soul and voice;
  now ye need not fear the grave:
  News, news!
  Jesus Christ was born to save!
  Calls you one and calls you all
  to gain his everlasting hall.
  Christ was born to save,
  Christ was born to save!

WORDS: John Mason Neale, 1855
MUSIC: Gary Alan Smith, 1988
Theme: Christ's Gracious Life: Birth and Baptism; Christ's Gracious Life: Birth and Baptism; Christian Year: Christmas; Christian Year: Christmas; Christian Year: Epiphany; Christian Year: Epiphany; Jesus Christ; Joy; Salvation