December 20, 2020
Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on December 20th (in the order they are needed).
Look to the Hills
I lift my eyes to the hills
to remind myself this isn’t all there is
I lift my eyes to the hills
and wait for help to appear
my help is from the lord
who breaks past walls and fortress doors
my shade in sun and shield from sword
yes, my help is from the lord
so I look to the hills
and I know the score:
the mountains fall
and shadows, they soar
and every rough line
is impeccably placed
as valleys rise
forgetting their place
I look to the hills
and I know what i’m for
and know my help is going before
going before
Call to Worship
we have gathered to worship
the Eternal One
the one who has scattered the proud,
brought down the mighty,
and lifted up the lowly;
to enter the story of God
and find our own stories reimagined
that the Spirit of God might write love on our hearts
until it spreads from our hearts to our minds
and from our minds to our hands and feet
that it might pervade our ordinary lives
Amen
O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
o love that will not let me go
i rest my weary soul in thee
i give you back the life i owe
that in thine ocean depths its flow
may richer fuller be
o light that follows all my ways
i yield my flickering torch to thee
my heart restores its borrowed ray
that in thy sunshine’s blaze it day
may brighter fairer be
o joy that seeks me through the pain
i cannot close my heart to thee
i’ll trace the rainbow through the rain
and feel the promise is not in vain
that morn shall tearless be
o love, don’t let go of me
o light, hold my flickering
o joy, don’t lose sight of me
o love, don’t let go of me
o cross that’s lifting up my head
i dare not ask to fly from thee
though i lay in dust, life’s glory dead
from the ground there blossoms red
life that shall endless be
endlessly
endless be
endlessly
Old Testament Reading
Today’s Old Testament reading is Psalm 89:1-4; 19-26:
I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever;
with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.
I declare that your steadfast love is established forever;
your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.
You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to my servant David:
‘I will establish your descendants forever,
and build your throne for all generations.’”
Then you spoke in a vision to your faithful one, and said:
“I have set the crown on one who is mighty,
I have exalted one chosen from the people.
I have found my servant David;
with my holy oil I have anointed him;
my hand shall always remain with him;
my arm also shall strengthen him.
The enemy shall not outwit him,
the wicked shall not humble him.
I will crush his foes before him
and strike down those who hate him.
My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him;
and in my name his horn shall be exalted.
I will set his hand on the sea
and his right hand on the rivers.
He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father,
my God, and the Rock of my salvation!’
New Testament Reading
Today’s New Testament reading, and Lilly’s sermon text is Luke 1:30-38; 46-55:
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
Giving
UBC relies on the generosity of the community. If you are a in place that you are able to give of your time, talent, and resources to UBC we would be grateful. If you want to make a financial contribution, the easiest way to do so is through our church center app.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
o come, o come, emmanuel
and ranson captive israel
who mourns in lonely exile here
until the son of god appears
rejoice, rejoice
Emmanuel
shall come to thee
o israel
o come thou dayspring
come and cheer
our spirits by thine advent here
disperse the gloomy clouds of night
and death’s dark shadow put to flight
rejoice, rejoice
Emmanuel
shall come to thee
o israel
o come desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all human kind
bid thou our sad divisions cease
and be thyself our king of peace
rejoice, rejoice
Emmanuel
shall come to thee
o israel
Doxology
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
Benediction
As we approach this week
May we love God
Embrace Beauty
and Live Life to the fullest
Amen