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First Sunday of Advent
11/30/2025 - 10:30 pm
CHRISTMAS CAROL SING
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
MINUTE FOR MISSION “Brazilian Congregation” Pastor Barbara Barkley
CENTERING MUSIC Jesus, Jesus, Rest your Head Appalachian Carol
MOMENT OF HOPE
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE OF HOPE
PRAYER CONFESSING OUR NEED FOR GOD’S GRACE
God of the prophets; in the wilderness you sent your messenger to prepare the way for the coming of the Christ. Forgive us when we fear that your love does not exist. We say that we hope for the best, yet we prepare for the worst. Help us to prepare for the best; to hear your good news, to ready our hearts to welcome you in the many ways you come to us, especially through your gift of Jesus Christ our Savior.
MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER
SONG OF RENEWAL #82 vs. 1 Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
CELEBRATION OF GOD’S GRACE
One: We fix our hearts on God and are assured of God’s forgiveness and love. Jesus is God’s good news of hope in our hopeless world, God’s good news of grace in our graceless world. We are a beloved people of God. Thanks be to God!
All: Amen
*PASSING THE PEACE
Leader: The peace of Christ be with you.
People: And with you also.
Leader: Let us pass the peace of Christ.
People: The peace of Christ be with you. (To one another)
ANTHEM “People, Look East” by W. Schoenfeld
BLESSING THE CHILDREN AND SINGING TO GODLY PLAY
Sing: Like a child love would send to reveal and to mend,
Like a child and a friend, Jesus comes.
Like a child we may find claiming heart, soul, and mind,
Like a child strong and kind, Jesus comes.
Today’s Story “Advent #1”
Peter Cloven & Cyndi Sneeringer
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!
Let it shine! Let it shine! Let it shine!
Leader: And as we continue our worship…
Congregation: May God be with you there.
Children: May God be with you here.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Leader: God in your Grace,
People: Hear our prayer
PASTORAL PRAYER
THE LORD’S PRAYER
As we pray together the Lord's Prayer, you are invited to say this in whatever version is most comforting and meaningful to you. Here is one possible version (ecumenical version) that you can use:
Our Father, who is in heaven, holy be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS Daniel 3:1-30; John 18:36-37
RESPONSE
Reader: The Gospel of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION, from Psalm 19 - responsively
Pastor: May the words of my mouth
People: And the meditations of our hearts
All: Be acceptable in your sight, O Lord,
Our rock and our redeemer. Amen.
SERMON God Holding Us Even in the Flames Pastor Barbara Barkley
MOMENT OF SILENT REFLECTION
*HYMN OF RESPONSE #92 While We Are Waiting, Come
While we are waiting, come; While we are waiting, come.
Jesus, our Lord, Emmanuel, While we are waiting, come.
With power and glory, come; with power and glory, come.
Jesus, our Lord, Emmanuel, while we are waiting, come.
Come, Savior, quickly come; come, Savior, quickly come.
Jesus, our Lord, Emmanuel, while we are waiting, come.
MOMENT OF THANKS
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
OFFERTORY We Three Kings /John H Hopkins, Jr.
ADVENT DOXOLOGY TUNE: INFANT HOLY
Glory be to God, Creator; glory be to Christ the Son;
Glory be to Holy Spirit, glory to the Three-in-One.
Here we offer to you gladly all the gifts that you impart,
As we glory in your Presence, giving from a grateful heart.
*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Magnificent God, you created the universe, and your wisdom shines through the laws of nature that we discern. In the incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ, you worked a miracle. Through your awesome deeds, you light an inextinguishable hope in our hearts. Help our congregation to work together in new ways to share your amazing good news. May our tithes and offerings support your work through our ministries. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
CLOSING HYMN #88 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, thou dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Desire of nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind;
Bid envy, strife, and discord cease; Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
POSTLUDE In This Hall Trad. French carol
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION