Order of Worship

12-07-25

Second Sunday of Advent

There Is Room For Every Story

Prelude ~

Shared by Tanner Bayles

Welcome and Announcements

Shared by Pastor Ken

Opening Words

Shared by Pastor Ken

One: Who are we and what are we called to do?

All: We are the sensitive and responsive ones called to create a world where every person is radically affirmed and barriers between people become

bridges of inclusion, justice, and spirituality.



Singing Our Faith ~ O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

by Thomas Helmore

1. 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!

2. O come, thou Wisdom from on high,

And order all things, far and nigh;

To us the path of knowledge show,

And cause us in her ways to go.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel!

3. O come, Desire of nations bind

All peoples in one heart and mind;

Bid envy, strife and quarrels cease;

Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.

Chorus

4. O come, thou Day-spring, come and cheer

Our spirits by thine advent here

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night

And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Chorus

Call to Worship and Lighting the Second Advent Candle

Michelle Black

Michelle: Over a hundred people, from the ages of two to eighty

years old, were asked the question,

“What are you afraid of?” From

the voices of different generations, hear their answers:

Andrew: Not being enough.

Alex: Not making enough of a difference.

Andrew: Falling down.

Linda: That we will forget we belong to one another.

Andrew: Climate change.

Michelle: My child having to learn gun violence drills at school.

Andrew: Spiders.

Linda: Not having someone to take care of me; not having

someone who knows my stories.

Alex: My mental health slipping.

Andrew: Ending up alone.

Alex: Nightmares.

Linda: Stopping short of following God all the way.

Michelle: Today we light the candle of peace, because we so

desperately need God’s peace in the midst of all we fear.

(Another worship leader or reader lights the candle.)

Alex: May this light be a reminder that Christ is coming. God was with generations before, God is with us today, and God will be with us tomorrow. Even now, God is on the way. Amen.

Opening Prayer ~ In This Quiet Place

In this quiet place

In this quiet place

Help me be still and know

How can I give, and how to forgive

In this quiet place

In this quiet place

Help me be still and know

You

Like Jesus in the garden

Let me be in this quiet place

Let me see your path for me

Let me trust in your grace

In this quiet place

In this quiet place

Help me be still and know

How to be true in all I do

In this quiet place

In this quiet place

Help me be still and know

You



Celebrations For the Deep Goodness of Life

Led by Pastor Ken

This is our time to share the celebrations of our lives: birthdays, anniversaries, words of kindness and works of peace and justice.

Music for Thinking of You Cards ~

Shared by Tanner Bayles

In the pew racks are cards with the title “Thinking Of You”. Please use these cards to write a note to someone so they know they are remembered and cared for. Put the card in the offering plate when it comes by, and the church office will forward the cards to the person addressed on the card. This was one of the elements of our time together that you lifted up as important for all of us.

Thank you!

Invitation To The Table of Jesus

Led by Michelle Black and Pastor Ken

Friends, Advent is a season of waiting.

We wait for Christ to be born.

We wait with the feeling that love is near.

We wait for God’s promised day.

Advent is a season of waiting.

And while we humans are good at many things, waiting is not high on that list. We are an impatient and anxious bunch, eager for the hope of what comes next. Maybe that’s why this Table is such a gift.

For when we come to this Table, for just a moment, the waiting stops. When we come to this Table, for just a moment, we get a glimpse of God’s promised day. We get a glimpse of a world where all are fed and all are welcomed. And for just a moment we can believe the angels when they say,

“Be not afraid.” For just a moment,

Mary’s words tumble through our minds— words of justice and hope, words like, “the hungry have been filled” and “the humble have been lifted.”

So come to this Table.

Come catch a glimpse of what could be.

Come end your waiting, for love is hovering close.

This is what it’s all about.

God is all around us.

So come. This good news is for you.

All are welcome here.

(Everyone is invited to the Table of Love to share the bread and cup. Take a piece of bread, dip it into the cup, and eat it. Come up by way of the center aisle and return by way of the side aisles. Our Advent offering goes to our Immigration Justice Ministries Fund.)

Communion Song ~ O Come, O Come Emmanuel

QR Code for Giving Page

Chime Calls Us to The Word About Life

Word About Life

Words For Mission

Led by Michelle Black

Please stand in mind, body, or spirit

One: As you leave this place, may you go knowing that from

generation to generation, we have been claimed and loved.

From generation to generation, God has been by our side.

From generation to generation, we are not alone.

The God of yesterday and the God of tomorrow knows you

by name, loves you, and calls you forth, saying,

“Go be the person you are called to be, love wildly, do justice, and come back soon.”

Embrace us as partners in the divine acts of creating.

These are the times!

All: We are the people!

One: All of Creation is blessed!

All: May we love all and serve all!

One: May God be with you.

All: And also with you.

One: Amen.

All: Amen.

Sending Forth Songs ~ What Child Is This

1. What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping?

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet while shepherds watch

are keeping?

This, this, is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and

angels sing;

Haste, haste your praise to bring, the babe, the child of

Mary!

2. Why lies the child in manger bare where ox and ass are

feeding?

Give heed, draw near; for sinners here the silent word is

pleading.

Chorus.

3. Bring gifts of incense, gold, and myrrh; come, join in jubilation;

The Holy Child, though meek and mild, has come with God’s

salvation.

Chorus.

Sermon Reboot is ON for today.

This is a time to talk about the message and explore together using the ORID Art Form Conversation methodology. What is ORID? It stands for Observation, Reflection, Interpretation, and Decision. You will get the hang of it.