PRELUDE/ENTRANCE
*OPENING HYMN “Emmanuel,Emmanuel” UMH 204
GREETING/ANNOUNCEMENTS
* SONG
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” UMH 211
(Verses 1, 2, 4, 7)
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Liturgist: Beloved, once again, we embark on the Advent path that points us to the coming of Jesus.
People: We journey together toward the day that all the earth awaits.
Liturgist: We remember the signs and the times that heralded the arrival of the baby Jesus, God Incarnate.
People: We journey together toward the day that all the earth awaits.
Liturgist: We tell the stories once again as we learn how to discern the signs and the times, watching for glimpses of God’s here-and-not-yet kingdom among us.
People: We journey together toward the day that all the earth awaits.
Liturgist: Come, let us worship God who shines a light to guide us on the path to peace and flourishing for all creation.
ALL: Come, let us worship as we journey together toward the day that all the earth awaits.
Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, May 2025
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE
“Light the Advent Candle” TFWS 2090
Verse 1
OPENING PRAYER (Together)
Compassionate God, greet us with your grace this day, for we need you. We cannot save ourselves. Though we may be frantic with activity, our efforts do not yield peace, peace as you can give. Today we would be quiet enough to hear your voice. Today we would be still enough to feel your touch. Help us to find that place where we can receive as well as give, wait as well as act, and listen as well as speak. Our whole world needs your peace. Let us come before you and learn your ways, laying down our weapons and feeding the hungry. Come to us now, through Jesus the Christ. Amen.Reprinted by permission of the publisher from Touch Holiness, ed. Ruth C. Duck and Maren C. Tirabassi. Copyright © 1990 by The Pilgrim Press.
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 Romans 13:11-14
*SECOND SCRIPTURE Isaiah 2:1-5
MESSAGE
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
*SONG OF RESPONSE
“I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light" UMH 206
*OFFERING OF OURSELVES
*AFFIRMATION FROM ROMANS” UMH 887
*DOXOLOGY UMH 95
*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
SENDING FORTH
*SONG OF DISMISSAL
“Soon and Very Soon” UMH 706
*BENEDICTION
*PEACE “Shalom to You” UMH 666