DEC 14, 2025 ORDER OF WORSHIP

 

WELCOME Reverend Jacob Jackson

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS Liturgist: Cody Clark

 

ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING:  The Clark family

First Reader: In the midst of our waiting and longing for God to make the world right again, we cling to the truth that God has saved, God is saving, and God will save. So today, we join our voices with the prophet Isaiah, who calls us to live in the joy of the truth of God’s salvation. 

All: We choose to believe that the day is coming when “the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10).

Second Reader: We light this candle of joy as a sign of the Truth that sets us free to live in joy as we wait and work for the day when all creation will flourish together. 

Light the third candle (pink) of the Advent wreath.

PRELUDE Dr. Banks

 

INVOCATION (Remain Seated) Liturgist

God of joy and renewal,

You turn our deserts into gardens and our fears into songs of praise.

In the dry places of our lives, pour out Your living water.

Let joy spring up from unexpected places —

in quiet acts of kindness, in words of hope, in hearts made whole.

Open our eyes to see Your glory and our lips to proclaim Your joy.

In the name of Jesus, our Redeemer and Friend.

Amen.

 

**CALL TO WORSHIP Liturgist

Liturgist: The desert shall rejoice and blossom!

People: The wilderness will sing for joy!

 

Liturgist: The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the lame shall leap.

People: We come to see and to celebrate God’s renewal among us.

 

Liturgist: Strengthen your hands, take courage, and do not fear.

People: Our joy is in the Lord, who makes all things new!

 

**TFWS HYMN #2085 “He Came Down”

Verse 1

He came down that we may have love

He came down that we may have love

He came down that we may have love

Hallelujah for evermore

 

Verse 2

He came down that we may have peace

He came down that we may have peace

He came down that we may have peace

Hallelujah for evermore

 

Verse 3

He came down that we may have joy

He came down that we may have joy

He came down that we may have joy

Hallelujah for evermore

 

OFFERING & OFFERTORY

 

**DOXOLOGY    

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him all creatures here below;

Praise Him above ye heav’nly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

 

JOYS AND CONCERNS Reverend Jacob Jackson

PASTORAL PRAYER

LORD’S PRAYER

 

OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 35:1-10 NIV

35 The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, 

--

2 it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God. 

--

3 Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; 

--

4 say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” 

--

5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 

--

6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. 

--

7 The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow. 

--

8 And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. 

--

9 No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, 

--

10 and those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

 

RESPONSE TO SCRIPTURE

Liturgist:  The Word of God for the people of God.

Congregation:  Thanks be to God.

 

SPECIAL MUSIC Dr. Banks

 

GOSPEL READING Matthew 11:2-11 NIV

2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 

--

3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” 

--

4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 

--

5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 

--

6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” 

--

7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 

--

8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 

--

9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 

--

10 This is the one about whom it is written: “ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’  

--

11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

 

RESPONSE TO SCRIPTURE

Pastor:  The Word of God for the people of God.

Congregation:  Thanks be to God.

 

SERMON “All is Calm, All is Bright: Streams in the Desert”

Reverend Jacob Jackson

 

**UMH HYMN #246 “Joy To The World”

VERSE 1

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And heaven and nature sing,

And heaven and nature sing,

And heaven, and heaven and nature sing.

 

VERSE 2

Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!

Let all their songs employ,

While fields, and floods, rocks, hills, and plains

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

 

VERSE 3

No more let sins and sorrows grow,

Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make His blessings flow

Far as the curse is found,

Far as the curse is found,

Far as, far as the curse is found.

 

VERSE 4

He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders, wonders of His love.

 

FELLOWSHIP BLESSING

Loving God, thank You for bringing us together today. Bless our snacks, our conversations, and the friendships we make. Help us welcome everyone with kind hearts and joyful spirits. Amen.

 

**BENEDICTION Reverend Jacob Jackson

 

POSTLUDE Dr. Banks

(Please be seated as the postlude closes our service)