ORDER OF WORSHIP – December 7, 2025
9:00AM Service

PRELUDE

WELCOME/ANNOUNCEMENTS
PREP FOR WORSHIP
ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING The Reitz Family
UNISON PRAYER
Gracious God, grant us Your peace as we prepare for our Lord’s birth. Fill us with Your power and grace as we wait for the One who comes with righteousness and peace. Send your Holy Spirit upon us so that we may be peace-bearers wherever we go. Come, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

ADVENT HYMN We Light the Advent Candles – No. 175, vs. 1,3
(CHOIR ONLY)
1 We light the Advent candles
against the winter night,
to welcome our Lord Jesus
who is the world's True Light,
to welcome our Lord Jesus
who is the world's True Light.

(CHOIR AND CONGREGATION)
3 We light the second candle, and hear God's holy Word,
it tells us, cling to Jesus, prepare to meet your Lord,
it tells us, cling to Jesus, prepare to meet your Lord!

HYMN People, Look East – No. 161

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (spoken in unison)
God of mercy and peace, like those who heard John in the wilderness, we come to You needing to repent. We have turned our hearts toward lesser things—seeking peace in our own plans, comfort in our possessions, security in our routines, and approval in the eyes of others. We cling to control rather than surrender to Your Spirit. Forgive us, Lord. Turn us from the paths that bear no fruit. Prepare our hearts once more for Your coming—for the peace that passes all understanding. In this Advent season, teach us again that our hope and peace are in You alone. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

CHOIR ANTHEM O Magnum Mysterium by Lauridsen

OFFERTORY

SERMON
Jennie Smith
“In the Wilderness”
Matthew 3:1-12

COMMUNION LITURGY
Leader: Is it fitting and right that we come to this table?
People: Yes, it is fitting and right because Jesus came not for the strong, but for the weak; not for the righteous, but for sinners; not for the self-sufficient, but for those who know they need rescue.
Leader:  To all who are weary and need rest; to all who mourn and long for comfort; to all who feel worthless and wonder if God even cares; to all who are weak and frail and desire strength; to all who sin and need a savior—
People: Jesus welcomes into his circle, adopts into his family, and reserves a place at his Table.
All: For he is the mighty friend of sinners, the ally of his enemies, the defender of the   indefensible, and the justifier of those who have no excuses left.

COMMUNION

PASTORAL PRAYER
LORD’S PRAYER

HYMN Prepare the Way, O Zion – No. 152

BENEDICTION

CHORAL BENEDICTION God Be with You