PRELUDE/ENTRANCE

*OPENING HYMN “Emmanuel, Emmanuel” UMH 204

GREETING/ANNOUNCEMENTS

* SONG

“Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” UMH 196

*CALL TO WORSHIP

Liturgist: Beloved, we gather to remember who we are, not who the world tells us to be.

People: We tell the story together of the day that all the earth awaits.

Liturgist: We recall the story of God’s people, how God has called us to live in peace and righteousness in a world full of conflict and twisted morality.

People: We tell the story together of the day that all the earth awaits.

Liturgist: We recount the story of our journey with God, the moments of God’s provision, God’s prodding, and God’s prophetic guidance.

People: We tell the story together of the day that all the earth awaits.

Liturgist: We gather to repent and return anew to God’s story that guides our lives to work for peace and flourishing for all God’s creation.

ALL: We gather to tell the story of the day that all the earth awaits. Thanks be to God! Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, May 2025.

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE

“Light the Advent Candle” TFWS 2090

Verse 2

OPENING PRAYER (Together)

Merciful God, you sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation. Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER, U.S.A., 20TH CENT., ALT.)

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

WORDS OF ASSURANCE

SHARING GOD’S PEACE

GOD SIGHTINGS AND SUPPLICATIONS

PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE

A TIME FOR CHILDREN

SPECIAL MUSIC

FIRST SCRIPTURE Isaiah 11:1-10

*SECOND SCRIPTURE Matthew 3:1-12

MESSAGE

RESPONSE TO THE WORD

*SONG OF RESPONSE

Come Jesus Come Words on the Screen

*OFFERING OF OURSELVES

*DOXOLOGY UMH 95

*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

HOLY COMMUNION

GREAT THANKSGIVING UMH 15

THE LORD’S PRAYER

SHARING THE BREAD AND CUP

SENDING FORTH

*SONG OF DISMISSAL

It's Me, It's Me, O Lord" UMH 352

*BENEDICTION

*PEACE “Shalom to You” UMH 666