December 14, 2025
Prelude: There’s a Song in the Air
Harrington/Held
Welcome
Lighting the Advent Candles
Alan, Julia, and Adelynn Champagne
We light these candles as a sign of the coming light of Christ. Advent means coming. We are preparing ourselves for the days when nations shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
The wolf shall live with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the rose it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing.
[Isaiah 2:4, 11:6, 35:1]
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (Hymn 2)
Wesley/Prichard
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.
Born Thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a king,
Born to reign in us forever, now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit, rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all-sufficient merit raise us to thy glorious throne.
Confession
God of joy and recovery, we see your glory when desolate places begin to bloom and when people are healed and encouraged. However, this growth often takes much longer than we want or expect. Forgive us for our impatience. Forgive us when we turn to quick pleasures rather than true joy and rest. Strengthen our weak hands and fearful hearts. Show us the way in the wilderness, and help us nurture seeds of joy in our hearts. Amen.
Silence
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Hymn 9)
Latin, 12th century/adapt. Helmore
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!
Forgiveness in Jesus Christ
Peace
The peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
Advent Doxology
(from Angels, from the Realms of Glory)
Salisbury Hymn Book/Smart
All creation, join in praising God the Father, Spirit, Son
Evermore your voices raising to the eternal Three in One:
Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King!
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Readings
Jim Rose
Old Testament: Isaiah 35:1–10
New Testament: James 5:7-10
Solo: Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn
Haugen
Carollen Ryan
Sermon: Joy for the Joyless
Scott Starbuck
Focus: Do not look for rest in any pleasure, because you were not created for pleasure: you were created for spiritual joy. And if you do not know the difference between pleasure and spiritual joy you have not yet begun to live. –Thomas Merton
Response: It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (Hymn 38)
Sears/Willis
It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old
From angels bending near the earth, to touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, good will to all, from heaven’s all-gracious King”:
The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.
And ye, beneath life’s crushing load, whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow,
Look now! For glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing:
O rest beside the weary road, and hear the angels sing.
For lo, the days are hastening on, by prophet bards foretold,
When with the ever-circling years comes round the age of gold;
When peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling,
And the whole world give back the song which now the angels sing.
Pastoral Prayer & 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, and deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Call to Stewardship
Zak Cannard
He has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. -Luke 1:48a
Sending: Angels We Have Heard on High (Hymn 23)
French carol
Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains.
Glo-ria in excelsis Deo, Glo-ria in excelsis Deo.
Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heavenly song?
Glo-ria in excelsis Deo, Glo-ria in excelsis Deo.
Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee Christ, the Lord, the newborn King.
Glo-ria in excelsis Deo, Glo-ria in excelsis Deo.
Charge & Benediction
Postlude: Joy to the World
Handel/Schalk
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