Treehouse Living Room Worship
“What now”
Welcome to worship. God welcomes you here, as does this community. In tonight’s worship, you will be invited to offer a song, poem, essay, reflection, photograph, story, or letter (no more than one minute) around the theme of “What Now” Be brave! This community is enriched by your sharing.
Welcome & Call to Worship
Are we ready?
This question is a very personal one.
Christ comes again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
Are we ready?
Revive us, O Lord, God of heaven’s countless hosts,
Let your face shine, that we may be saved.
Are we ready?
Ready for the coming of Christ Jesus
with the mercy which is judgment
and the judgment which is mercy?
Are we ready?
Revive us, O Lord, God of heaven’s countless hosts,
Let your face shine, that we may be saved.
Opening song – O Come O Come Emanuel
- O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
- O come, O Wisdom from on high,
embracing all things far and nigh:
in strength and beauty come and stay;
teach us your will and guide our way.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
- O come, O come, O Lord of might,
as to your tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient times you gave the law
in cloud, and majesty, and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
- O come, O Branch of Jesse, free
your own from Satan’s tyranny;
from depths of hell your people save,
and give them vict’ry o’er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
- O come, O Key of David, come,
and open wide our heav’nly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
- O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray that we may be vigilant
to see the coming of our Lord among us
(pause)
Our saving God,
long ago you sent your Son Jesus among us,
but we have been little aware of his presence
and we hide him even from others.
Wake us up, make us recognize him,
that he may be the light of our lives
and that eagerly we may lead people to him.
May he build up among us and with us
a world and a kingdom of peace and love
where we serve you in one another,
as we move forward in hope
to your home of endless joy and rest.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reading: Mark 13:24-37
24 “In those days, after the suffering of that time, the sun will become dark, and the moon won’t give its light. 25 The stars will fall from the sky, and the planets and other heavenly bodies will be shaken. 26 Then they will see the Human One coming in the clouds with great power and splendor. 27 Then he will send the angels and gather together his chosen people from the four corners of the earth, from the end of the earth to the end of heaven. 28 “Learn this parable from the fig tree. After its branch becomes tender and it sprouts new leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 In the same way, when you see these things happening, you know that he’s near, at the door. 30 I assure you that this generation won’t pass away until all these things happen. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will certainly not pass away. 32 “But nobody knows when that day or hour will come, not the angels in heaven and not the Son. Only the Father knows. 33 Watch out! Stay alert! You don’t know when the time is coming. 34 It is as if someone took a trip, left the household behind, and put the servants in charge, giving each one a job to do, and told the doorkeeper to stay alert. 35 Therefore, stay alert! You don’t know when the head of the household will come, whether in the evening or at midnight, or when the rooster crows in the early morning or at daybreak. 36 Don’t let him show up when you weren’t expecting and find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to all: Stay alert!”
Time of Sharing
The lesson tells us to stay alert and watch for signs of what is to come, as the semester comes to an end, and you await finals, what else is happening? How are you taking care of yourself, and others around you? What is happening? What Now?
Song – Have Thine Own Way, Lord
Have thine own way, Lord, have thine own way.
Thou art the potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after thy will,
while I am waiting, yielded and still.
Have thine own way, Lord, have thine own way.
Search me and try me, Master, today.
Purer than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
as in thy presence humbly I bow.
Have thine own way, Lord, have thine own way.
Wounded and weary, help me, I pray.
Power, all power surely is thine.
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.
Have thine own way, Lord, have thine own way.
Hold o’er my being absolute sway.
Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me.
Communion
Prayers
Closing Song – Soon and Very Soon
Soon and very soon
we are goin’ to see the King,
soon and very soon
we are goin’ to see the King,
soon and very soon
we are goin’ to see the King,
Hallelujah, hallelujah, we’re goin’ to see the King!
No more cryin’ there,
we are goin’ to see the King,
no more cryin’ there,
we are goin’ to see the King,
no more cryin’ there,
we are goin’ to see the King,
Hallelujah, hallelujah, we’re goin’ to see the King!
No more dyin’ there,
we are goin’ to see the King,
no more dyin’ there,
we are goin’ to see the King,
no more dyin’ there,
we are goin’ to see the King,
Hallelujah, hallelujah, we’re goin’ to see the King!
Soon and very soon
we are goin’ to see the King,
soon and very soon
we are goin’ to see the King,
soon and very soon
we are goin’ to see the King,
Hallelujah, hallelujah, we’re goin’ to see the King!
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.
Blessing
Advent is our season of waiting
for the coming of Jesus, our Lord.
But long ago he came already.
So, what are we waiting for, then?
For his real coming to you, to me, to our world.
Where is his kingdom among us?
How can people see whether he is here?
Can they see him in us, in our communities?
This is what we are waiting for,
or rather, what the Lord is waiting for.
The Lord is waiting for our active preparing
of his love and justice among people.
But he will do it with us.
Let the Lord come and activate us,
with the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Let us go with one another
the way of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
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