Welcome! Whether you are in the sanctuary or watching online, we are glad YOU are with us!

Here is what we are doing today:

WELCOME
*OPENING QUESTION
PRELUDE: "Come, Thou Almighty King" Felice de Giardini (1716-1796) Arr. Donna J. Krieger
*CALL TO WORSHIP/LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE
*HYMN: “What Child Is This?” #219 verses 1-3
CHILDREN'S TALK
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
SCRIPTURE READING: Zephaniah 3.14-20, Luke 3.1-18
MESSAGE: “A Home for All”
*SONG: "Shine, Jesus, Shine"
*CREED: The Apostles’ Creed #882
PRAYER AND THE LORD'S PRAYER
COMMUNION
SONG: “How Great Is Our God"
CHURCH NEWS
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE: "Angels We Have Heard On High" French Carol Arr. Dennis Alexander

*Please stand if possible

OPENING QUESTION/DISCUSSION: What is an accomplishment you are proud of? What is something you are pretty good at? What is something you want to get better at?

*CALL TO WORSHIP
A voice calls out in the wilderness.It sings of a home for all, a home of justice and peace, a home bursting with joy. We could choose to ignore it.
Instead, we come into this sacred space. We let the world grow quiet and we hear:
Joy in the giggles and stretches of a newborn child.
Joy in a tail-wagging dog sliding to meet you at the door.
Joy in unabashed laughter freely shared at tables of hospitality and warmth.
Joy in making it home after a long journey, discovering that you are found when you thought you were lost.
Today we light the candle of joy, because the welcome God has for us is nothing short of good news of great...seriously great joy!
Family of faith, we are close to home. Let us worship God together!

*HYMN: “What Child Is This?” #219 verses 1-3

What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (all together)
ALL: Expansive God, We know that the church is your house, and your house has room for everyone. Yet, too often, instead of setting the table for our neighbors, we block the door. Instead of welcoming all, we judge others by our own standards. Instead of sharing our second coat, we hide it in the attic, holding on to fear instead of letting go with love. Remind us that your home is a home for all, that truth requires hard work, that truth requires uncomfortable justice. Help us to be bold enough to see it and brave enough to live it. With hope we pray, Amen.
WORDS OF FORGIVENESS
Family of faith, God sent prophets like John the Baptist to us because this work is not easy. Helping create a world where all might have a home, and all might be loved, and all might know peace, is an audacious goal. Fortunately for us, when we mess up—when we lose our way or forget our call—we are met with grace. God could not love us any more or any less than God already does.
So rest in this good news:
We are at home with God—forgiven, claimed, and loved. The door is always open for us. Thanks be to God. Amen.

This is the Word of God for the people of God!
Thanks be to God!

MESSAGE: "A Home for All"

*SONG: “Shine, Jesus, Shine"

Lord, the light of your love is shining
In the midst of the darkness, shining
Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us
Set us free by the truth you now bring us
Shine on me, shine on me

Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be light

As we gaze on your kingly brightness
So our faces display your likeness
Ever changing from glory to glory
Mirrored here may our lives tell your story
Shine on me, shine on me

Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be
Send forth your light

*CREED: The Apostles’ Creed #882

I believe in God the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived
by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died,
and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy **catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body
and the life everlasting. Amen.

**universal

PRAYER
If you have prayer concerns, you can enter them in the comments in online worship, you can direct message the church through Facebook, you can email them (stjamestucson@gmail.com) or you can text them to (520) 222-8690.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is In heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

HOLY COMMUNION

We are going to experience our liturgy in song today. The Great Thanksgiving is the traditional communion liturgy and it rehearses God's goodness and salvation through the ages. We'll do that today in song!

The Lord be with you./And also with you.
Lift up your hearts./We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give our thanks and praise to God!

SONG: “How Great Is Our God"

The splendor of a King, clothed in majesty
Let all the Earth rejoice
All the Earth rejoice
He wraps himself in light
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God

Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
The Godhead Three in One
Father Spirit Son
The Lion and the Lamb
The Lion and the Lamb

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God

Name above all names
Worthy of our praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God

You're the name above all names
You are worthy of our praise
And my heart will sing

How great is our God
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God
The whole world sings, the whole world sings
How great is our God
How great is our God
How great, how great is our God

The bread we break is the Bread of Life. The cup we share is the Cup of Promise. These are the gifts of God for the people of God!
Thanks be to God!

DOXOLOGY

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise God all creatures here below!
Praise God above ye heavenly host!
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
Amen.