"When the Lord returned the captives of Zion we were like those who dream" Psalm 126:1
Worship with us Sundays 10:00 am.
For those unable to come in person,
we stream online on YouTube
Sunday, November 30
First Sunday of Advent
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Opening of Worship // Call to worship the Lord
[Leader:] The Lord be with you!
[ALL:] And also with you!
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[LEADER:] I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” (Psalm 122:1)
[ALL:] Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, that we may learn God’s ways and walk in God’s paths. (Isaiah 2:3)
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[LEADER:] Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem. (Psalm 122:2)
[ALL:] Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord! (Isaiah 2:5)
[LEADER:] You know what time it is (Romans 13:11)
[ALL:] Now is the time to wake from sleep
The First Testament // The Law & the Prophets
Isaiah 2:1-5 (NLT)
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This is a vision that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:
In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house will be the highest of all— the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship.
People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.”
For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem. The Lord will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes.
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They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore.
A Psalm // Sacred Songs
Psalm 122 (NLT)
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” And now here we are, standing inside your gates, O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is a well-built city; its seamless walls cannot be breached. All the tribes of Israel—the Lord’s people— make their pilgrimage here. They come to give thanks to the name of the Lord, as the law requires of Israel. Here stand the thrones where judgment is given, the thrones of the dynasty of David. Pray for peace in Jerusalem.
May all who love this city prosper. O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls and prosperity in your palaces.
For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “May you have peace.”
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem.
Collect for Sunday // First Sunday of Advent
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
"The Holy Trinity", Ulyana Tomkevych
Prayer for Tithes and Offerings
Because God first loved us, we are made to love one another. For the sake of the life of the world, offer yourselves, your time, and your possessions as signs of love.
Generosity & Giving
The tithes and donations you make to DreamHouse Church make a difference to our church, our community, the people of Newport News, and world missions.
There are various ways you can donate. We pass a collection plate during services and electronic giving is available for 24/7 donations. “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops” (Proverbs 3:9).
Theodore the Studite (759-826) // Prayers from the Cloud of Witnesses
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O Lord, who gave your apostles peace, shed down on us your holy calm.
Gather together with your hand all those who are scattered, and bring them like sheep into the fold of your holy church, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Strengthen and confirm me, O Lord, by your cross, on the rock of faith, that my mind be not shaken by the attacks of the enemy. For you alone are holy.
You know, O Lord, how many and great are my sins.
You know how often I sin, from day to day, from hour to hour, in the things I do, and the things I leave undone.
No more, O Lord, no more, O Lord my God, will I provoke you.
No more shall my desire be for anything but you, for you alone are truly loveable.
And if again I offend in anything, I humbly ask your mercy to grant me strength to live in a manner more pleasing to you.
AMEN.
The Second Testament // The Epistles
Romans 13:11-14 (NLT)
​​​This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out.
Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see.
Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.
The Second Testament // The Gospel
Matthew 24:36-44 (NLT)
“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.
“When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.“
Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.
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So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into.
You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected."
"Drink all of it, for it is My Blood", Ulyana Tomkevych;
Medium: egg tempera, Material: gessoed wood, 2021, LINK
The Lord's Supper // Communion
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth.
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Holy are you and blessed is Jesus Christ your Son, for he is Immanuel, God with us.
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Fulfilling the expectations of the prophets he healed the blind and the lame, cleansed the lepers, opened the ears of the deaf, raised the dead, and brought good news to the poor. Through his life, death, and resurrection you manifest your new covenant with humankind, and through the church of your disciples you give the testimony to the power of your salvation for the world.
​For on the night he was betrayed Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke the bread, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take, eat. This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
When the supper was over, he took the cup and gave thanks, saying, "Drink this, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in remembrance of me.”
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Therefore in remembrance of all God's mighty acts, we give ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a living sacrifice in union with Christ's offering for the world as we declare:
Christ has died,
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again.
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Send your Holy Spirit upon us, gathered here out of love for you,
and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Let the bread we break be a true fellowship in the body of Christ.
Let the cup we share be a true participation in the new covenant in his blood.
By your Spirit empower us to be Christ for the world, serving in his name until the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
Through your son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy church,
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all glory and honor is yours, almight God, our Heavenly Father, now and forever. Amen.
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The body of Christ, given for you.
Thanks be to God.
The blood of Christ, shed for you.
Thanks be to God.
Doxology and Benediction // The Sending & the Blessing
As you leave this place this day,
may God’s love sustain you,
and may you love those who surround you.
May God’s Spirit empower you,
and may you empower all those you meet.
May God’s joy fill your hearts,
and may this joy overflow
to the ends of the earth for God’s glory, now and forever. Amen