Just a reminder that we’re collecting board games and card games for the children of Queen Louise Home. Bring your favorite games, wrapped and ready to go, and we’ll make a special Christmas delivery. You can bring it with you to worship on Sunday or arrange a time to meet with Pastor Peter by December 23rd.

Also, if you buy the game through Amazon, a portion of your purchase will be donated back to Lutheran Social Services of the Virgin Islands. Just use this link: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/67-0250807.

The 4th Sunday of Advent is all about love; God’s love for the world and our love for one another. Once again, our doors will be open, but we recommend that you worship with us online this week as the COVID cases continue to rise. You’ll find the words for worship below or you can download and print a copy from here.

Prelude               Sunshine Christmas Carol Medley

Call to Worship – Luke 1:46-55

And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
   and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour 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 for ever.

’Song – Forever  #578

Prayer of Confession

Most high and holy God, we confess to the pride within us. We confess the allure of the power of the throne over the power of the cross. We confess that the hungry surround us. Do not scatter us or bring us down or send us away empty. We humble ourselves so that we might find your favor. Remember your mercy, according to the promise you made to the world through Jesus Christ. Bless us with your Holy Spirit so that the life that is in us would fade away even as the life of Christ grows within us.  Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

Anthem – Breath of Heaven

Words of Assurance

For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; 

and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.

And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

Song – Joy to the World #92

Scripture – Luke 1:26-45

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour 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 for ever, 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.

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’

Sermon – “Advent Love”

Song – Angels, From the Realms of Glory #81

Prayers w/ 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.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.

Offertory –

Benediction

Sending Song – Jesus, Jesus, Oh, What a Wonderful Child  #99

The third Sunday of Advent is all about joy and the reasons we have to celebrate. We’re seeing a steep rise in cases on the island so, while our doors will be open, we invite you to worship with us online this week. The words for worship are below, but you can download and print a copy here.

Prelude               O Little Town of Bethlehem

Call to Worship – Psalm 30

Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones,
   and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger is but for a moment;
   his favour is for a lifetime.
Weeping may linger for the night,
   but joy comes with the morning.
As for me, I said in my prosperity,
   ‘I shall never be moved.’
By your favour, O Lord,
   you had established me as a strong mountain;
you hid your face;
   I was dismayed.
To you, O Lord, I cried,
   and to the Lord I made supplication:
‘What profit is there in my death,
   if I go down to the Pit?
Will the dust praise you?
   Will it tell of your faithfulness?
Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me!
   O Lord, be my helper!’
You have turned my mourning into dancing;
   you have taken off my sackcloth
   and clothed me with joy,
so that my soul may praise you and not be silent.
   O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you for ever.

Song – How Great Is Our God  #574

Prayer of Confession

Most high and holy God, we recognize that there are oppressed and broken-hearted people around us. We acknowledge that there are captive and imprisoned people near us. We confess that we’re not sure what to do about their suffering. We admit that sometimes, even when we do know, we don’t want to. Forgive us. We seek your Holy Spirit so that you might create in us open hearts and open hands; ready to give and willing to forgive in return for all that you’ve done for us. Let us find joy in the release of those whose suffering we see and whose cries we hear. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

Song – Comfort, Comfort, Now My People  #59

Words of Assurance

The angel said to them,

‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 

This will be a sign for you:

you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ 

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

Anthem – Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow

Scripture – Isaiah 61:1-11

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
   because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
   to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
   and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour,
   and the day of vengeance of our God;
   to comfort all who mourn;
to provide for those who mourn in Zion—
   to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
   the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
   the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.
They shall build up the ancient ruins,
   they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
   the devastations of many generations.
Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks,
   foreigners shall till your land and dress your vines;
but you shall be called priests of the Lord,
   you shall be named ministers of our God;
you shall enjoy the wealth of the nations,
   and in their riches you shall glory.
Because their shame was double,
   and dishonour was proclaimed as their lot,
therefore they shall possess a double portion;
   everlasting joy shall be theirs.
For I the Lord love justice,
   I hate robbery and wrongdoing;
I will faithfully give them their recompense,
   and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
Their descendants shall be known among the nations,
   and their offspring among the peoples;
all who see them shall acknowledge
   that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed.
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
   my whole being shall exult in my God;
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
   he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
   and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
   and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
   to spring up before all the nations.

Sermon – “Advent Joy”

Song – O Come, O Come Emmanuel  #61

Prayers w/ 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.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.

Offertory – Mary, Did You Know?

Benediction

Sending Song – Jesus, Jesus, Oh, What a Wonderful Child  #99

This Christmas season St. Croix Reformed Church will be collecting board games for the children at Queen Louise Home on St. Croix. Maybe you have a gently used game that you could wrap and donate. Or, you can give TWICE by ordering a board game through the Amazon Smile program. Just use this link: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/67-0250807. Not only will the kids have a new game to enjoy but a portion of your purchase will be donated back to Lutheran Social Services of the Virgin Islands.

You are welcome to drop of your wrapped game at St. Croix Reformed Church between now and December 23rd. Join us for worship on Sunday morning at 9:30am or email Pastor Peter at stxreformed@gmail.com to arrange a time. Thank you for your support. Merry Christmas!

The second Sunday of Advent is all about peace. Something that we could all use a little more of these days. And, because it’s the first Sunday of the month, we’ll also be celebrating communion. You’re invited to join us on Facebook Live or in person (with a mask). The words that we’ll be using for worship are below, but you can also download and print a copy here.

Prelude               The Father’s Rose

Call to Worship – Joel 2

Then the Lord became jealous for his land,
   and had pity on his people.
In response to his people the Lord said:
I am sending you
   grain, wine, and oil,
   and you will be satisfied;
and I will no more make you
   a mockery among the nations.

I will remove the northern army far from you,
   and drive it into a parched and desolate land,
its front into the eastern sea,
   and its rear into the western sea;
its stench and foul smell will rise up.
   Surely he has done great things!

Do not fear, O soil;
   be glad and rejoice,
   for the Lord has done great things!
Do not fear, you animals of the field,
   for the pastures of the wilderness are green;
the tree bears its fruit,
   the fig tree and vine give their full yield.

O children of Zion, be glad
   and rejoice in the Lord your God;
for he has given the early rain for your vindication,
   he has poured down for you abundant rain,
   the early and the later rain, as before.
The threshing-floors shall be full of grain,
   the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.

Song – Song of the Prophets  #53 vv. 1, 7, 18

Prayer of Confession

Most high and holy God, it’s not often that we try to make do with less in a world that encourages us to strive for more. It’s not often that we seek a fast in a world that wants so much to be full. It’s not often that we recognize you in our emptiness when the world only knows you in abundance. But Jesus reminds us that it is in letting go, in losing, and in being last that we find you. We confess our unease with this truth and the ways that we resist it. We ask for your Holy Spirit so that we might grow in the confidence that your grace is sufficient for us. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

Song – Imagine  #72

Words of Assurance

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 

Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

Anthem – Evermore

Scripture – Joel 2:12-14, 28-29

Yet even now, says the Lord,
   return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
   rend your hearts and not your clothing.
Return to the Lord, your God,
   for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,
   and relents from punishing.
Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
   and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain-offering and a drink-offering
   for the Lord, your God?

Then afterwards
   I will pour out my spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
   your old men shall dream dreams,
   and your young men shall see visions.
Even on the male and female slaves,
   in those days, I will pour out my spirit.

Sermon – “Advent Peace”

Song – Come, Thou Almighty King  #492

Celebration of the Lord’s Supper

Prayers w/ 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.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.

Offertory – Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming  #79

Benediction

Sending Song – Jesus, Jesus, Oh, What a Wonderful Child  #99

This week we join our brothers and sisters around the world as we anticipate the coming of Jesus Christ and the fulfillment of our hope. You can join us in person on Sunday morning or on Facebook Live at 9:30am. The words we’ll be using in worship are below, but you can also download and print a copy here.

Prelude               Emmanuel Comes

Call to Worship – Isaiah 65:17-25

For I am about to create new heavens
   and a new earth;
the former things shall not be remembered
   or come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice for ever
   in what I am creating;
for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy,
   and its people as a delight.
I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
   and delight in my people;
no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it,
   or the cry of distress.
No more shall there be in it
   an infant that lives but a few days,
   or an old person who does not live out a lifetime;
for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth,
   and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.
They shall build houses and inhabit them;
   they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
They shall not build and another inhabit;
   they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
   and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
They shall not labour in vain,
   or bear children for calamity;
for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord—
   and their descendants as well.
Before they call I will answer,
   while they are yet speaking I will hear.
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
   the lion shall eat straw like the ox;
   but the serpent—its food shall be dust!
They shall not hurt or destroy
   on all my holy mountain,

says the Lord.

Song – Here I Am to Worship  #567

Prayer of Confession

Most High and holy God, we there are moments in our lives when we feel like strangers in this world. Moments of anxiety. Moments of loneliness. Moments when we feel unsafe and insecure. There are moments when this world doesn’t feel like a home. We confess our grief, sadness, and pain to you. We confess that ways that we cause grief, sadness, and pain in others. We know that this is not what you want for us or from us. And, we know that our hope is in Christ. Bless us with your Holy Spirit so that we can wait for our hope to be fulfilled, not passively but in an active, mutual love for one another. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

Anthem – Imagine (see #72)

Words of Assurance

If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.

He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake.

Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God.

Song – Song of the Prophets  #53 (vv. 1, 5, 18)

Scripture – Daniel 6:14-27

When the king heard the charge, he was very much distressed. He was determined to save Daniel, and until the sun went down he made every effort to rescue him. Then the conspirators came to the king and said to him, ‘Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no interdict or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.’

Then the king gave the command, and Daniel was brought and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, ‘May your God, whom you faithfully serve, deliver you!’ A stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, so that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no food was brought to him, and sleep fled from him.

Then, at break of day, the king got up and hurried to the den of lions. When he came near the den where Daniel was, he cried out anxiously to Daniel, ‘O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you faithfully serve been able to deliver you from the lions?’ Daniel then said to the king, ‘O king, live for ever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong.’ Then the king was exceedingly glad and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. The king gave a command, and those who had accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. Before they reached the bottom of the den the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.

Then King Darius wrote to all peoples and nations of every language throughout the whole world: ‘May you have abundant prosperity! I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people should tremble and fear before the God of Daniel:

For he is the living God,

   enduring for ever.

His kingdom shall never be destroyed,

   and his dominion has no end.

He delivers and rescues,

   he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth;

for he has saved Daniel

   from the power of the lions.’

Sermon – “Advent Hope”

Song – Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus  #56

Prayers w/ 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.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.

Offertory – O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Benediction

Sending Song – Jesus, Jesus, Oh, What a Wonderful Child  #99