Ranchos Presbyterian Church
With regret, in-person worship on Sunday mornings is suspended. Pandemic dynamics far beyond our control will determine a resumption date. We shall continue to send out by email and post our weekly service with the hope that it will provide spiritual solace. Although we must worship this way now, it is not how our God intended. My fervent belief is that authentic worship is best done in-person, face to face, surrounded by beloved family and friends. Therefore, I know for sure that this, too, shall pass, that the day will come when we can safely be back together before our huge picture of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. And, like the Good Shepherd He is, even in this dark hour Jesus continues to care for us, guide us and love us. My prayer is that we all remain healthy.
With Love,
Rev. Richard D. Gould , Pastor
First Sunday of Advent
November 29, 2020
Rev. Richard Gould
Meditation Before Worship
"Some things must be believed to be seen."
Madeleine L'Engle
Hymn Sing
Greetings and Announcements
Opening Prayer
Eternal God,
through long generations you prepared a way
for your Son,
and by your Spirit
you still shine light to illuminate our paths.
Renew us in faith and hope
that we may welcome Christ to rule our thoughts
and claim our love,
as King of Kings, Lord of Lords,
to whom be glory always. Amen
Lighting the First Advent Candle
Hope in God’s Presence
Speak: “Keep awake – for you do not know when the master of the house will come,
in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn,
or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly.
And what I say to you I say to all: keep awake.” (Mark13:35-37)
Light the First Advent Candle of Hope
Reflect: It is tempting to hear Mark’s call to “keep awake” as a warning or threat.
What if we hear these words as hopeful, as an invitation to set aside Christmas lists,
maybe decline a few party invitations, and to focus instead on keeping our hearts awake?
Do: Take some time this week to look for God’s presence.
God is never absent, but of often we simply do not take the time to notice that presence.
Look not just with your eyes, but with your heart, you spirit,
for we believers are especially aware of this Advent Time when we focus more attention upon Jesus coming.
Prayer:
God of the present moment, we hear your invitation to keep awake.
When hope feels as fleeting as a bird, remind us that you are ever-present.
We pray that hope lingers and makes a home in our lives this Advent.
Amen.
(This short service is adapted from the current issue of Upper Room, November-December Issue 2020.
My thanks for their fine daily devotional magazine, always available in our beautiful sanctuary.)
Blessing the Children
Call to Worship
During this Advent season, we wait.
For our faithful Lord is coming soon.
During this season of waiting, we listen.
For God speaks the Word of Good News to us.
During the waiting and listening, we watch.
For the faithful Spirit who always moves among us.
May we worship our God together!
Hymn
“All People That on Earth Do Dwell"
Confession and Pardon
Sin saps our life; we become faded, brittle;
this world’s winds threaten to carry us away like dry leaves.
Yet, God still loves us, renews us, if only we confess!
Open your heart to the one who restores us, saying…
We are often distracted, weary, in our discipleship.
We stay busy, but often chasing that which does not ultimately matter.
Make us better stewards of our own lives.
Help us to sense your always-near presence.
Awaken us to your glory and power.
Be gracious to us, and forgive us, in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Assurance of Pardon
The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting.
May the God of mercy who forgives our sins, strengthen you in goodness,
and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life.
In the name of Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven.
Gloria Patri
Gloria demos al Padre, Al Hijo y al Santo Espíritu;
Como eran al principio, Son hoy habrán de ser Eternamente.
Amén
Old Testament Reading
Isaiah 64:1-9
The word of our God.
Thanks be to God.
Epistle Reading
I Corinthians 1:3-9
The word of our God.
Thanks be to God.
Gospel Reading
Matthew 13:24-37
The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon
“Are You ready?”
Rev. Richard Gould
Hymn
“Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
Passing the Peace
Prayers of the People
(Response: God in your mercy…. hear our prayers)
Offering Our Gifts to God
Offertory
Doxology
A Dios el Padre celestial, Al Hijo nuestro Redentor,
Y al eternal Consolador, Unidos todos alabad. Amén
Prayer of Dedication
Hymn
“Ven, Jesús Muy Esperado”
Charge
My Nebraska grandfather was by profession, a dentist, but his heart was always ‘in the soil.”
Except for his college days, he always chose to live on a farm or in a small rural town of a few thousand people.
He actually spent more time farming and ranching than filling teeth.
One of his favorite expressions was, “The hurrier I go the behinder I get.”
Growing up I thought that expression was among his many “invented” rural Nebraska expressions
(some quite colorful) of his own invention.
Then I read Lewis Carrol’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland where I discovered that the March Hare said it first,
but the hare meant the same thing my grandfather did --
that if you hurry, you tend to miss – even forget – very important details.
By now we all know this Advent Season we are being forced to slow down, to take more time.
Perhaps we can use some of it to notice more Advent details, to “keep more awake” to the coming of our Lord around us.
Benediction
May the God of Peace, who sent us our Lord, bless you and keep you, that you might do God’s will and live well.
Amen.
“Sagrado Es el Amor”
Sagrado es el amor Que nos ha unido aquí;
A los que creemos del Señor, La voz que llama a sí.
Amén
With regret, in-person worship on Sunday mornings is suspended. Pandemic dynamics far beyond our control will determine a resumption date. We shall continue to send out by email and post our weekly service with the hope that it will provide spiritual solace. Although we must worship this way now, it is not how our God intended. My fervent belief is that authentic worship is best done in-person, face to face, surrounded by beloved family and friends. Therefore, I know for sure that this, too, shall pass, that the day will come when we can safely be back together before our huge picture of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. And, like the Good Shepherd He is, even in this dark hour Jesus continues to care for us, guide us and love us. My prayer is that we all remain healthy.
With Love,
Rev. Richard D. Gould , Pastor
First Sunday of Advent
November 29, 2020
Rev. Richard Gould
Meditation Before Worship
"Some things must be believed to be seen."
Madeleine L'Engle
Hymn Sing
Greetings and Announcements
Opening Prayer
Eternal God,
through long generations you prepared a way
for your Son,
and by your Spirit
you still shine light to illuminate our paths.
Renew us in faith and hope
that we may welcome Christ to rule our thoughts
and claim our love,
as King of Kings, Lord of Lords,
to whom be glory always. Amen
Lighting the First Advent Candle
Hope in God’s Presence
Speak: “Keep awake – for you do not know when the master of the house will come,
in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn,
or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly.
And what I say to you I say to all: keep awake.” (Mark13:35-37)
Light the First Advent Candle of Hope
Reflect: It is tempting to hear Mark’s call to “keep awake” as a warning or threat.
What if we hear these words as hopeful, as an invitation to set aside Christmas lists,
maybe decline a few party invitations, and to focus instead on keeping our hearts awake?
Do: Take some time this week to look for God’s presence.
God is never absent, but of often we simply do not take the time to notice that presence.
Look not just with your eyes, but with your heart, you spirit,
for we believers are especially aware of this Advent Time when we focus more attention upon Jesus coming.
Prayer:
God of the present moment, we hear your invitation to keep awake.
When hope feels as fleeting as a bird, remind us that you are ever-present.
We pray that hope lingers and makes a home in our lives this Advent.
Amen.
(This short service is adapted from the current issue of Upper Room, November-December Issue 2020.
My thanks for their fine daily devotional magazine, always available in our beautiful sanctuary.)
Blessing the Children
Call to Worship
During this Advent season, we wait.
For our faithful Lord is coming soon.
During this season of waiting, we listen.
For God speaks the Word of Good News to us.
During the waiting and listening, we watch.
For the faithful Spirit who always moves among us.
May we worship our God together!
Hymn
“All People That on Earth Do Dwell"
Confession and Pardon
Sin saps our life; we become faded, brittle;
this world’s winds threaten to carry us away like dry leaves.
Yet, God still loves us, renews us, if only we confess!
Open your heart to the one who restores us, saying…
We are often distracted, weary, in our discipleship.
We stay busy, but often chasing that which does not ultimately matter.
Make us better stewards of our own lives.
Help us to sense your always-near presence.
Awaken us to your glory and power.
Be gracious to us, and forgive us, in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Assurance of Pardon
The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting.
May the God of mercy who forgives our sins, strengthen you in goodness,
and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life.
In the name of Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven.
Gloria Patri
Gloria demos al Padre, Al Hijo y al Santo Espíritu;
Como eran al principio, Son hoy habrán de ser Eternamente.
Amén
Old Testament Reading
Isaiah 64:1-9
The word of our God.
Thanks be to God.
Epistle Reading
I Corinthians 1:3-9
The word of our God.
Thanks be to God.
Gospel Reading
Matthew 13:24-37
The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon
“Are You ready?”
Rev. Richard Gould
Hymn
“Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
Passing the Peace
Prayers of the People
(Response: God in your mercy…. hear our prayers)
Offering Our Gifts to God
Offertory
Doxology
A Dios el Padre celestial, Al Hijo nuestro Redentor,
Y al eternal Consolador, Unidos todos alabad. Amén
Prayer of Dedication
Hymn
“Ven, Jesús Muy Esperado”
Charge
My Nebraska grandfather was by profession, a dentist, but his heart was always ‘in the soil.”
Except for his college days, he always chose to live on a farm or in a small rural town of a few thousand people.
He actually spent more time farming and ranching than filling teeth.
One of his favorite expressions was, “The hurrier I go the behinder I get.”
Growing up I thought that expression was among his many “invented” rural Nebraska expressions
(some quite colorful) of his own invention.
Then I read Lewis Carrol’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland where I discovered that the March Hare said it first,
but the hare meant the same thing my grandfather did --
that if you hurry, you tend to miss – even forget – very important details.
By now we all know this Advent Season we are being forced to slow down, to take more time.
Perhaps we can use some of it to notice more Advent details, to “keep more awake” to the coming of our Lord around us.
Benediction
May the God of Peace, who sent us our Lord, bless you and keep you, that you might do God’s will and live well.
Amen.
“Sagrado Es el Amor”
Sagrado es el amor Que nos ha unido aquí;
A los que creemos del Señor, La voz que llama a sí.
Amén