PRELUDE/ENTRANCE
*OPENING HYMN “Emmanuel, Emmanuel” UMH 204
GREETING/ANNOUNCEMENTS
* SONG
“Good Christian Friends, Rejoice” UMH 224
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Liturgist: Beloved, we gather to rejoice in God who does wondrous things, who promises that someday all manner of things shall be well.
People: We rejoice in the truth of the day that all the earth awaits.
Liturgist: We worship with joy now, confident that God will not stop until all creation is at peace.
People: We rejoice in the truth of the day that all the earth awaits.
Liturgist: We lift up our voices in song and story, in prayer and praise, as we remember and rejoice in all that God has done and will do among us.
People: We rejoice in the truth of the day that all the earth awaits.
Liturgist: Come! Let us worship God with joy as we work with God toward the day when all of creation lives in everlasting joy.
ALL: Come! Let us rejoice in the truth of the day that all the earth awaits.
Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, and May 2025.
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE
“Light the Advent Candle” TFWS 2090
Verse 3
OPENING PRAYER (Together)
Holy God of Joy, we rejoice in the reality of who you are. We live within the joy of your love for us. Our contentment comes and goes. Our happiness ebbs and flows. Our feelings depend upon our circumstances, our physical health, and our brain chemistry. But our joy is deeply rooted in our identity as your beloved children. And we give you thanks. Amen.
Written by Joanna Harader and posted on Spacious Faith, http://spaciousfaith.com/.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
SHARING GOD’S PEACE
GOD SIGHTINGS AND SUPPLICATIONS
THE LORD’S PRAYER
PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE
A TIME FOR CHILDREN
SPECIAL MUSIC
FIRST SCRIPTURE Isaiah 35:1-10
*SECOND SCRIPTURE Matthew 11:1-11
MESSAGE
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
*SONG OF RESPONSE
“Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming” UMH 216
*OFFERING OF OURSELVES
“For Our Country” UMH 429
*DOXOLOGY UMH 95
*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
SENDING FORTH
*SONG OF DISMISSAL
“I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light" UMH 206
*BENEDICTION
*PEACE “Shalom to You” UMH 666