Order of Service / Advent 4 / December 21, 2025

*Gathering Hymn Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (#2 VU | vs. 1,3,4)

Welcome & Land Acknowledgement

Advent Candle-Lighting

One: Today we light the fourth candle, the candle of Love. Love is the deep heartbeat of Advent: the love that became flesh, the love that comes close with tenderness and truth. This flame carries the promise that no darkness is too deep for God’s compassion. May this light shape our lives, so that we become bearers of Christ’s love to everyone we meet along the way.

All Sing - Then Let Us Sing #55 “We light this candle”

We light this candle for love. Await the new life within.

May our hearts now live each day, so love can find a way, so love can find a way.

Call to Worship

One: In this fourth week of Advent, we honour God’s gift of love.

All: We mark the time leading to Christmas with light.

One: We honour Jesus’ birth, a light in our shadows.

  All: Where the world groans in loneliness, sadness, or hate, our God responds with love, with joy.

One: We worship in love, seeking to be people of love.

All: Christ be our light and our love always.

*Elaine Bidgood Sveet. Gathering ACE 2025-2026. Page 28.

Opening Prayer

*Opening Hymn Come Touch Our Hearts (#12 MV | vs. 1,2,3)

Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison)

God of Love, we confess that our hearts are not always ready for you. We fill our days with many things, and we forget to make room for your presence. Forgive us for the times we hold back love. Forgive us when we choose comfort instead of compassion. Come close to us again. Calm what is anxious in us, soften what is hard, and heal what is hurting. Renew us by your Spirit, so we can welcome Christ with open hearts and share your love with others. Hear us, O God, as we offer our personal prayers to you in the silence of this moment… (a time of silent confession) Amen.

Words of Assurance

One: The love of God has come near to us.

All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and held in love.

One: Nothing can separate us from God’s love.

All: We receive this love with grateful hearts.

One: God’s love restores what is wounded and renews what is tired.

  All: By God’s Spirit, we are made new. Thanks be to God.

<Welcoming New Member>

Announcements and Minute for Mission

Prayer for Illumination

Proclaiming the Scriptures

Isaiah 7:10-16 The sign of Emmanuel

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 (VU p. 794, P1) Shine forth and save us.

Matthew 1:18-25 Joseph’s dream.

This is the Good News from the Bible.

  Thanks be to God.

Anthem

Sermon

*Hymn It Came upon the Midnight Clear (#44 VU)

*Offering

*Offertory Hymn (#55 VU | v. 4, In the Bleak Midwinter)

What can I give him, poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;

if I were a wise man, I would do my part;

yet what I can I give him -- give my heart.

*Offertory Prayer (Unison)
God of all people, we bring our gifts to you. May our offerings be used to prepare the world for Christ’s coming. May these offerings and the goodwill of our hearts and lives be magnified and multiplied to bring love, justice, and compassion for our work here and in the world. Amen.

*Lori Van Santvoort-Jansekovich. Gathering ACE 2022/2023. Page 27.

Prayers of the People and Lord’s Prayer

*Closing Hymn Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (#48 VU)

*Commissioning

One: Rejoice in God always!

  All: In the excitement of looking forward to Christmas,

One: rejoice in God always!

All: As we anticipate sharing time with family and friends again,

One: rejoice in God always!

All: In Advent worship and the singing of carols,

One: rejoice in God always! May you find our Loving God in the warm hug, in the family memories, in the laughter of a little child, and in hard times shared.

  All: We rejoice in God always. Amen.

*Commissioning Song Prepare the Way of the Lord (#10 VU)

Prepare the way of the Lord! Prepare the way of the Lord! Make a straight path for him, make a straight path, prepare the way of the Lord! (x2)

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