1st Sunday of Advent

Advent simply means “coming”. It is the season in which we remember and wait for the coming of Christ Jesus our Lord. We remember when he came to earth, born in Bethlehem, all those years ago. And, we wait with anticipation and readiness for Christ to come again. Join us in this 4 week journey as we wait and watch for Jesus!

Songs of the Season – “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly-minded,
for with blessing in his hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,
as of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture,
in the body and the blood;
he will give to all the faithful
his own self for heav’nly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven
spreads its vanguard on the way,
as the Light of light decendeth,
from the realms of endless day,
that the pow’rs of hell may vanish
as the darkness clears away.

At his feet the six-winged seraph,
cherubim, with sleepless eye,
veil their faces to the presence,
as with ceaseless voice they cry:
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia, Lord Most High!

Is there a phrase, line or verse that stands out to you? Why do you suppose this is?

What does this song call you towards that you have been forgetting?

Please add your reflection in the comments section to encourage others.

Message – Advent 1

Responding in Prayer

Instructions for Prayer

Silence – Centering Prayer
1. Take a comfortable position and posture. Close your eyes if it helps you. Take a few deep breaths in and out.
2. Begin by simply repeating the words of Habakkuk 2:20: “The Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth keep silent before Him.”
3. Now, simply keep silence – both outwardly and inwardly. Allow yourself to be still with God. If busy thoughts start to pop into your mind (they always do), gently brush them to the side for the time being.
4. Continue to breath deeply and keep silence for 2 to 3 minutes. If you find you’ve been drawn off into the noise of thought or if distractions arise, return to the words from Habakkuk 2:20 and to silence.

Listening – An Examen
1. After the time of centering, take some time to listen to God. Quietly replay the last few days of life in your mind as though you fast-forwarding through the footage of your own life.
2. Slow down “the tape” and pay closer attention to any moments that feel especially significant to you. Ask God, what he wants you to notice about these moments and listen for an answer.
3. If no particular moments stick out, are there any themes that seem prevalent? Emotions that linger a long time? Ask God what he wants you to notice here.
4. Listen with an ear for any invitation God seems to be giving you in your life right now. Give yourself another 5 minutes or so for this time of prayer.
5. End with a few more moments of silence and repeating those words from Habakkuk 2:20.

Offerings of Thanks

While we watch and wait for Christ’s return we recognize that Christ has made us partners in his work. Like in the parable of talents (Matthew 25:14-30) we are to put the gifts the master has bestowed us with to work for Kingdom good and growth.

We are grateful for the ways you have been faithful and partnered with our churches in this trying season. It makes a difference. Thanks be to God.

Benediction – 1 John 2:28 (The Message)

And now, children, stay with Christ. Live deeply in Christ. Then we’ll be ready for him when he appears, ready to receive him with open arms, with no cause for red-faced guilt or lame excuses when he arrives.

Reminder: ZOOM Worship for FCC and HCCC

Contact Faith Covenant for more information.
Contact Holy Community for more information.

Below is the reflective, self-paced, Spirit-guided portion of our Sunday worship. It typically includes a message and prayer response or formation practice. Our churches have also begun meeting separately on Zoom for the visible, shared community, Spirit-guided portion of our Sunday worship.

We invite you to make both a part of your worship in this season!

Message – Christ the King (Psalm 100/John 10)

Guided Prayer – John 10

1. Grab a pen or pencil and some paper.
2. Close your eyes. Picture a pasture with a good shepherd and his flock. Really set the scene; use your imagination. Is it very green? Is it hilly, or mostly flat? Can you see or hear water? What does the air smell like? What temperature is it? What does the ground feel like under your feet? Give yourself some time to linger on the scene. Carefully watch the shepherd as he carefully watches his sheep. If you’re feeling artsy, draw or sketch out the scene.
3. After you’ve lingered on the scene for a few minutes, consider a few questions, and write down any thoughts that emerge:
   • What does the voice of the Good Shepherd sound like in this scene? Is it clear? Is it faint or distant? Is it nearby to you?
   • What’s the tone of the Good Shepherd’s voice? Is it comforting? Peaceful? Is it stern? Muddled? Indistinguishable? Unrecognizable?
   • Jesus talks about a thief who comes to try and steal away the shepherd’s sheep. Do you notice the thief skulking around on the landscape? What’s that character up to? How are they seeking to draw sheep away or bring harm to the flock?  
   • Are the sheep all in one spot? Have some wandered off?
   • What about you…? Where are you in this scenario? 
   • The Good shepherd wants to provide and tend and protect and care for you too. The Good Shepherd wants you to find fresh living water, and green pastures, and abundant life…. What would that look like? How do you imagine it?
   • What is the voice of the Good Shepherd saying to you…? Is there a specific invitation in his voice? A command? An encouragement?
4. After jotting down some thoughts and reflections on the scene you’ve imagined, go to prayer. Talk to Jesus, the Good Shepherd, about what you’ve pictured.
5. Listen some more. Is there anything more Jesus wants to say to you?
6. If you would like, you can close your time with this prayer:

Faithful Shepherd,
You are not a hired hand who runs away at the sight of danger;
Your faithfulness was tested
and proven on the wood of the Cross.
Accept the gift of our gratitude
for Your marvelous care.
Help us to hear and follow Your voice.

Watchful Shepherd,
who protects the flock
and searches tirelessly
for those who wander from the fold,
retrieve the lost and bring them home.
Tend and heal their wounds.

Good Shepherd,
who lays down His Life for His sheep,
refresh and strengthen Your people
at the spring of Living Water that never ends.

Amen.

Benediction – Hebrews 13:20-21 (NIV)

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Receive this song as your sung benediction. Take a few moments to thank God for meeting with you this day!

We are incredibly thankful for your support! We appreciate your faithfulness in the tithes, offerings and each and every gift. We seek to steward them well in this challenging season. Thanks be to God for his provision in every season!

Reminder: ZOOM Worship for FCC and HCCC

In addition to the worship content that will continue to be posted here each Sunday (video sermons, music, prayer and scripture reflections), both Faith Covenant Church and Holy Community are now adding a live component to their online worship services via ZOOM (10:00am for FCC, and 10:30am for HCCC). We hope adding these gatherings to our online worship increases the sense that our worship really is something we share in together, even while physically apart!

Contact Faith Covenant for more information.
Contact Holy Community for more information.

Scripture Reading – Malachi 1:11

My name is honored by people of other nations from morning till night. All around the world they offer sweet incense and pure offerings in honor of my name. For my name is great among the nations,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

All around the world, across all countries, people are joining a great movement of worship and prayer as the sun rises across the earth on this Sunday morning. Even in a global pandemic! You are joining them – the Church – as you sing and pray and present offerings of praise today.

Song of Worship – “Here I Am to Worship”

Light of the world
You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes, let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

King of all days
Oh so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly You came to the earth You created
All for love’s sake became poor

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

Well, I’ll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
I’ll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

Quiet and Prayer

Give yourself two minutes for some quiet and prayer as you ready to hear the sermon. Close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths, in and out. When you are ready, make this prayer your own:

God our Father,
Lord Jesus Christ,
Holy Spirit:
You are the One God.
The God who created me,
the God who has always loved me,
the God who has placed a holy calling on my life.
Make me deeply attentive to Your Words – especially those words that are uniquely for me right here and now.
Open my ears. Ready my heart. Transform my will in any way that it is misaligned with Your will for me.
Amen.

Sermon – Malachi

Questions for Reflection

Consider how attentive you have been to God’s love, praiseworthiness, faithfulness, holiness, his Word, and His goodness in the past days and weeks. How have you become “spiritually careless” amid all the worries and concerns of life?

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Listen. What is the invitation God is giving you today? If you are with others, consider sharing that invitation out loud.

Take a moment to pray for yourself and for others who come to mind. Ask for a new or refreshed awareness of God’s love in your/their life.

Song of Worship – “Faithful and True”

How can I serve anyone but You?
How can I serve anyone but You?
How can I serve anyone but You?
How can I serve anyone but You?

You are faithful, You are true
You are mercy, You shine through
The darkness cannot hide You
It cannot hide You,
Oh my God

How can I serve anyone but You?
How can I serve anyone but You?
How can I serve anyone but You?
How can I serve anyone but You?

You are faithful You are true
You are mercy, You shine through
The darkness cannot hide You
It cannot hide You,
Oh my God

You are faithful You are true
You are mercy, You shine through
The darkness cannot hide You
It cannot hide You,
Oh my God

Offering

Malachi 3:10-12 says:

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.  “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

Like in the situation specific to Malachi, our acts of giving and generosity speak to our willingness to trust God with our own provision. If God can be trusted to bless us and take care of us, then we can be freed up to give: to the shared ministry of our church, and to the needs of others around us.

May your gifts today be given trusting God, and may they increase your trust in God as you see Him faithful to provide for and bless you.

Benediction

Update on Online Worship

In addition to the worship content that will continue to be posted here each Sunday (video sermons, music, prayer and scripture reflections), both Faith Covenant Church and Holy Community are now adding a live component to their online worship services via ZOOM (10:00am for FCC, and 10:30am for HCCC). We hope adding these gatherings to our online worship increases the sense that our worship really is something we share in together, even while physically apart!

Contact Faith Covenant for more information.
Contact Holy Community for more information.

Songs of Worship – “Strength Will Rise” and “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less”

Strength Will Rise
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer

You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won’t grow weary
You’re the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer

You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won’t grow weary
You’re the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

My Hope is Built on Nothing Less
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name

On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

When darkness veils his lovely face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil

On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

His oath, his covenant, his blood
Supports me in the ‘whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my hope and stay

On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh may I then in Him be found
Dressed in his righteousness alone
Faultless to stand before the throne

On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

Offering

Part of our worship includes the giving of tithes and offerings. Click the buttons below for more info on how to give to your church, and use this prayer as you give:

Lord, let our congregation be a witness to you:
             immersed in scripture,
             constant in prayer,
             joyful in worship,
             generous in giving.
             A loving, supportive community
             reaching out to those in need.
             Accept these gifts we offer, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kid’s Story

Did you do the actions…? Do you think you’ll be able to remember that verse by the end of this time of worship? What about by the end of the day?

The story of Jesus and Bartimaeus that Julia read is found in Mark 10:46-52. Grab a Bible and check it out for yourself!

After Bartimaeus had called out to Jesus for mercy, Jesus asks Bartimaeus the question: “What do you want me to do for you?”

Imagine that Jesus asked you that question. What do you want Jesus to do for YOU? What are you hoping for?

Sermon – Zechariah 9:12

Questions for Reflection

Take two minutes to reflect on the sermon, ponder the questions below, and respond to God in prayer. If it’s helpful for you, play the following instrumental music (“In Christ Alone”) as you pray.

• What do you fear?
• What is the “fortress” to which you retreat when you are scared, worried, or disoriented?
• What does it look like to live as a “prisoner of hope”?
  

Scripture Reading – Hebrews 6:18-20a

Read the following Scripture aloud.

God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. 

Song of Worship – “In Christ Alone”

Feel like singing some of that hope? Join in on declaring that it is in Christ alone that our hope is found!

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My comforter, my all in all
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The love of God was glorified
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the pow’r of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand
No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand
‘Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand

Benediction