The Welcome Table Liturgy

This is the Day

This is the day, this is the day
That the Lord has made, that the Lord has made
Let us rejoice, let us rejoice
And be glad in it, and be glad in it.
This is the day that the Lord has made,
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord has made.

Welcome Table

I'm gonna sit at the welcome table

I'm gonna sit at the welcome table, one of these days

I'm gonna sit at the welcome table

I'm gonna sit at the welcome table, one of these days

I'm gonna feast on milk and honey...

All God's children gonna sit together...

Moravian Table Prayer
Come Lord Jesus, our Guest to be
And bless these gifts bestowed by Thee.
Bless Thy dear ones everywhere
And keep them in Thy loving care.

[DINNER]

God Sightings
Where have you seen God this week?
What has brought you life, hope, peace, joy, love?

Jesse Tree Reflection


Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
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.

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.

Prayers of the People

Questions from the Advent Stories 
1 - “How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.” (Zechariah)
2 - “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” (Mary)
3 - “And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?” (Elizabeth)
4 - “What then will this child become?” (all the people, asking about John)
5 - “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?” (the magi)

Reading from Scripture
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

- Luke 2:15-20


Advent Reflections


O Little Town of Bethlehem
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

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

O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel


Benediction
"In the Advent season, when the year has fled, unasked, away and there is nothing left to do but wait, God, shelter us. Be our surrounding darkness; be the fertile soil out of which hope springs in due time. In uncertain times, help us to greet the dawn and labor on, love on, in faith awaiting your purpose hid in you waiting to be born in due time. Amen." 

- United Methodist Book of Worship, 253