Advent 2007: Holy Margins - Birthing the Holy

ADVENT: "is always a sub-version, always a version,
a rendering of reality that lives under the dominant version."
~ W. Brueggemann [adapted]

"This is the irrational season when love blooms bright and wild.
Had Mary been filled with reason, there'd have been no room for the Child."
~ Madeline L'Engle

WE GATHER IN LOVE!

Prelude

Greeting in Word

In this holy time
GOD WAITS FOR US!
In the margins
WE COME FOR LOVE

*Greeting in Song For All the Children David Lohman

Chorus only:

O may our hearts and minds be opened
Fling the church doors open wide.
May there be room enough for everyone inside.
For in God there is a welcome, in God we all belong.
May that welcome be our song.

Sharing Our Lives in Community (i.e. announcements)

Introit (optional) To a Maid Whose Name was Mary words, Gracia Grindal (Annunciation)

*Call To Advent Worship:

From the margins
THE HOLY IS BORN
At the margins
THE HOLY IS BORN
On the margins
THE HOLY IS BORN
In the margins
MAY THE HOLY BE BORN IN US

*Advent Carol: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Inviting the Presence

God of Advent Love
Across the infinity of space and time a common heart beats in every breast….
and so we tell the story of how
LOVE CAME AGAIN TO LIGHT OUR WAY
For there was a time of waiting in the darkness
AND ALL CREATION GROANED IN SADNESS LONGING FOR LOVE TO RETURN.
And kings and nations and empires rose and faded in the shadow
AND ALL CREATION GROANED IN SADNESS LONGING FOR LOVE TO RETURN.
Finally, there came a time when Love spoke again.
A Word from eternity--a Word spoken to a woman who belonged to a people not known by the world.
Spoken to a woman who belonged to a family not known by her people - to a woman named Mary.
AND ALL CREATION WAITED IN HUSHED SILENCE FOR MARY'S ANSWER.
And Mary said yes to sharing the love
AND TODAY WE PRAY FOR THE COURAGE TO SAY YES

Sharing the Love

The LOVE of Christ be with you
AND ALSO WITH YOU!

*Singing Our Response: Longfellow's Carol J. Baptiste Calkin

Once in despair, I bowed my head.
There is no peace on earth, I said,
For hate is strong and mocks the song
of Peace on Earth, good-will to all.

Then peeled the bells, more loud and deep,
"God is not dead, God does not sleep.
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
with Peace on Earth, good-will to all.

WE LISTEN IN LOVE!

Reading from the Prophets: Isaiah 52: 7-10

In the margins Salvation comes

Choir (optional)

Reading from the Gospel Luke 1: 46-55

In the margins justice is born

Song of LOVE: (optional) Tell Out My Soul Timothy Dudley- Smith (Woodlands)

Reflecting On The Word:

We Respond In LOVE!

*Singing our Love: (optional) Love Came Down Christina Rossetti

Offering Our Gifts

OPEN OUR EARS that we may hear the cries of your people.
OPEN OUR EYES that we may see the needs of your creation.
OPEN OUR HEARTS that we may bring LOVE to the despairing.
OPEN OUR HANDS that we may respond to God's generosity.

Offering is received

*Advent Doxology: In The Bleak Mid Winter verses 1 & 4

Giving Thanks:

Maker of Stars, Transformer of Life, Giver of JUSTICE , here is the advent of our generosity:
      THE GENEROSITY OF GIFTS PRESENTED;
      THE GENEROSITY OF FAITH SHARED;
      THE GENEROSITY OF LOVE DECLARED. AMEN

*Carol: Hail to God's Own Anointed (Crüger)

* Blessing in Word: