Advent is a season of preparation, of expectation, of anticipation as we remember those who waited for the birth of Christ and we in turn watch and wait for the fulfilment of Christ’s presence as the harmony for all creation. It is a season marked by long dark nights, by reflective hymns and by scriptures that direct us to active waiting, a time when we anticipate and reflect on how Christ can be born into our lives and hearts again this year. An Advent wreath marks the passing of the four weeks in Advent. The candles are lit, one additional one per week, for four weeks. On Christmas Eve, a fifth candle is lit to represent Christ, the light of the world.
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Holden Evening Prayer Worship: December 2nd & 9th at 7:00pm
This service will be online like our Sunday Worship services are.
We will spend time singing God’s praise using the liturgy and music from the Holden Evening Prayer that provides us with an opportunity to open up our hearts, minds and spirits to God’s tender embrace.
Holden Evening Prayer was written by Marty Haugen in 1985-86 when he was musician-in-residence at Holden Village, a small intentional community in the Cascade Mountains of Northern Washington. This beautiful contemplative service is rich with beautiful melodies and harmonies, reflection, and prayer. It follows the outline of a traditional Evensong liturgy with Psalms, canticles, Scripture, and prayers, and it uses inclusive contemporary language.
Longest Night Worship: December 16th at 7:00pm
Cick here to view Longest Night Bulletin
Join us Wednesday, December 16 at 7:00pm for our Longest Night Service. Limited seating is available for those who would like to join in person (a mask must be worn) for the service and we will also live stream the service on cann.online.church and on Facebook for those who cannot join in person.
This service will have opportunities for people to actively participate in worship, even from home! If you watch the service online, stop by the door of the church office anytime this weekend, up to Wednesday evening and pick up your worship kits to take home. You can also have yours mailed to you (if you cannot pick them up *The office needs to know this by Thursday Dec. 10th at 12:00pm*). The worship kit will help you participate more fully in the lament, longing and hope of the evening worship service.
What is a Longest Night Service?
There’s an Advent tradition within Western Christianity of inviting people to come together for the Longest Night, a night around the time of the winter solstice, when there are more hours of darkness than light. It’s a time to come together for prayers and laments, to mourn the losses and griefs of the year, to let the tears flow for the hurting places in our own lives, as well as for our country and our world. Known also as “Blue Christmas,” a Longest Night Gathering is a safe and sacred space to share anguish, to plead with God to remember us, to pray for justice and restoration, even to hope against hope, through our doubts and tears and fears, that “God will set things right all over the earth.”
Please contact the church office to RSVP to be in the sanctuary for worship, or to answer any questions. 252-338-6113
Phone: 252-338-6113
Email: office@cmpchurch.org
Advent Resources
We sent a daily Advent devotional to each home to read throughout this Advent Season. If you have not received yours or would like access to the devotional on your computer/phone/tablet, please reach out to the office. We will be happy to send you a link to it.
We also have a weekly devotional to read while lighting your Advent Candles. If you do not participate in the Advent Wreath making event, you may contact the office for a printed version or read it on a computer/phone/tablet. You will need to access both of the following links.