Sunday December 7, 2025 Worship Service
Livestream at 11:10 a.m.

Gathering in God’s Name

Prelude — Lo, How a Rose — Johannes Brahms         
As the prelude begins, you are invited to begin your personal preparation for worship.

Silent Meditation
So long as there are men and women, Christ walks the earth as your neighbor, as the one through whom God calls on you, speaks to you, and makes demands            
on you.  That is the most serious and most blessed thing about the Advent message. Christ lives in the shape of the person in our midst.  – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Lighting of the Advent Candle of Peace — The Murray Family (Josh, Emily, and Elizabeth)

Congregational Response — Light the Candle — Carl Schalk

Advent Call to Worship
A voice cries, “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord;
       We are preparing our hearts for the God of peace to come into the world. 
We join our voices with the heavenly host and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
       God has come into our lives, turning our hearts toward him. We have received         the ultimate gift of peace in Jesus.

Praise and Adoration

*Opening Hymn #82 — Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus — HYFRYDOL
(*Please stand, if you are able.)     

Confession and Pardon

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, we pray today awaiting the coming of the Prince of Peace.  We live in a time where division and strife are the norm, and we are prone to stand by idly. Forgive us for our inaction in being agents of your love.  Help us choose words and take actions that bring about reconciliation.  Let us always look for solutions that honor your creation and attest to the gospel of Christ.   

Silent Prayers of Confession and Petition

Kyrie Eleison (#578) — O Lord, Have Mercy — ORÉ PORIAJÚ VEREKÓ

Assurance of Pardon

*Alleluia (#587) — Alleluia! — CELTIC ALLELUIA

*Welcome

Announcements

Fellowship of Prayer

Joys and Concerns

Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Advent Hymn #100 — My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout — STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN

Proclamation of God’s Word

Scripture Lesson — Matthew 3: 1-12 — page 784 of the pew Bible

Sermon — “Reflecting the Grace and Mercy of God” — Dr. Zieman

Prayer

Our Response to God’s Word

Presentation of Tithes and Offerings

Offertory —  Advent Motet — G. Schreck; arr. Olaf Christiansen

The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

Invitation to the Lord’s Table

*Affirmation of Faith — The Confession of 1967, 9.07
In Jesus of Nazareth, true humanity was realized once for all. Jesus, a Palestinian Jew, lived among his own people and shared their needs, temptations, joys, and sorrows. He expressed the love of God in word and deed and became a brother to all kinds of sinful men and women.  But his complete obedience led him into conflict with his people.  His life and teaching judged their goodness, religious aspirations, and national hopes.  Many rejected him and demanded his death.  In giving himself freely for them, he took upon himself the judgment under which everyone stands convicted. God raised him from the dead, vindicating him as Messiah and Lord.  The victim of sin became victor and won the victory over sin and death for all.

*Sanctus — Holy, Holy, God Almighty — DIVINUM MYSTERIUM

The Words of Institution

The Serving of the Elements
Please come forward as directed by an usher.  All baptized Christians are encouraged to partake – by taking a piece of bread and dipping it into the cup.  Gluten-free bread is at the station closer to the pulpit. If you are unable to come forward, an elder will serve you in the pew.

Communion Anthem — Love Divine — Bob Chilcott

*Prayer of Thanksgiving
Lord, you are always coming to us.  But at Christmastime, especially, allow us to see you in our midst as we prepare our celebrations.  Give us the grace, & the courage, to fling wide our hearts this year, that all our acts of kindness & generosity to others would be a response to the love you have sown in our hearts as You come to us anew as our Savior & Messiah.  Amen.  

*Advent Hymn #93 — Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates — TRURO  

*Charge and Benediction

*Benediction Response

*Postlude —  Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers — Jeffrey Blersch