DEC 7, 2025 ORDER OF WORSHIP

 

WELCOME Reverend Jacob Jackson

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS Liturgist: Pete Dell

 

MISSION MOMENT Life Crisis Center

 

ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING:  The Dell Family

First Reader: Advent reminds us that we are people who share a story, the story of Jesus, who enacts peace by judging in favor of the poor and deciding with equity for the meek of the earth. We long for the day when “the wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion will feed together, and a little child shall lead them” (Isaiah 11:6).

All: Today, we choose to live the story of peace, believing that true peace comes when we seek the flourishing of all God’s creation. 

Second Reader: We light this candle of peace as a sign of our commitment to bring Light to the places the world seeks to hide until that day when all creation lives together in harmony and abundance. 

Light the second candle of the Advent wreath.

PRELUDE Dr. Banks

 

INVOCATION (Remain Seated) Liturgist

God of all creation,

You plant the seed of peace in the soil of our hearts.

When the world feels divided and restless,

remind us that Your Spirit still works quietly beneath the surface,

bringing forth new life.

May Your Word take root in us today,

so that we might bear fruits of gentleness, unity, and faith.

Through the Branch that brings peace — Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

 

**CALL TO WORSHIP Liturgist

Liturgist: The night is nearly over. The day is almost here.

People: We awaken to the promise of light!

 

Liturgist: The Lord calls us to walk in His ways — to turn from darkness and live in hope.

People: We lift our eyes to the mountain of the Lord, where peace shall reign.

Choir: sings UMH 204 “Emmanuel, Emmanuel”

 

All: God is with us — and we will walk in His light.

Choir: sings UMH 204 “Emmanuel, Emmanuel”

 

**UM HYMN #216 “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming”

Verse 1

Lo how a Rose e'er blooming

From tender stem hath sprung

Of Jesse's lineage coming

As those of old hath sung

It came a flow'ret bright

Amid the cold of winter

When half-spent was the night

Verse 2

Isaiah twas foretold it

the Rose I have in mind

we Mary we behold it

the Virgin Mother kind

To show God's love a right

she bore to us a Savior

when half spent was the night

VERSE 3

O Flower whose fragrance tender

with sweetness fills the air

dispel in glorious splendor

the darkness everywhere

True man yet very God

from sin and death now save us

and share our every load

 

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 11:1-10 NIV

11 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 

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2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord— 

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3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 

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4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. 

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5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. 

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6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. 

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7 The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. 

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8 The infant will play near the cobra’s den, the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. 

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9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. 

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10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.

 

RESPONSE TO SCRIPTURE

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

Congregation:  Thanks be to God.

 

SPECIAL MUSIC (Choir Performing, Dr. Banks Choice) Dr. Banks

 

NEW TESTAMENT READING Romans 15:4-13 NIV

4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. 

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5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 

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6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

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7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 

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8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews  on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed 

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9 and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.”  

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10 Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”  

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11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.”  

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12 And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.”  

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13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

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: Rooted in Promise”

Reverend Jacob Jackson

 

**TFWS HYMN #218 “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear”

Verse 1

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 men

From heaven's all gracious King

The world in solemn stillness lay

To hear the angels sing

 

Verse 2

Still thro' the cloven skies they come

With peaceful wings unfurled

And still their heavenly music floats

O'er all the weary world

Above its sad and lowly plains

They bend on hovering wing

And ever o'er its Babel sounds

The blessed angels sing

 

Verse 3

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

 

Verse 4

For lo the days are hastening on

By prophet seen of old

When with the ever-circling years

Shall come the time foretold

When peace shall over all the earth

Its ancient splendors fling

And the whole world send back the song

Which now the angels sing

 

HOLY COMMUNION

Pastor:  The Lord be with you.

People:  And also with you.

Pastor:  Lift up your hearts. 

People:  We lift them up to the Lord.

Pastor:  Let us give thanks to the Lord.

People:  It is right to give our thanks and praise.

(Pastor Prays)

People:  Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

(Pastor Prays Prayer of Consecration)

People:  Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

 

CLOSING SONG “Just as I Am - I Come Broken”

Just as I am without one plea

But that thy blood was shed for me

And that thou bidst me come to thee

O Lamb of God I come, I come

 

I come broken to be mended

I come wounded to be healed

I come desp’rate to be rescued

I come empty to be filled

I come guilty to be pardoned 

 

By the blood of Christ, the lamb

And I’m welcomed with open arms

Praise God just as I am

Just as I am and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark blot

To thee whose blood can cleanse each spot

O Lamb of God I come, I come

 

I come broken to be mended

I come wounded to be healed

I come desp’rate to be rescued

I come empty to be filled

I come guilty to be pardoned 

 

By the blood of Christ, the lamb

And I’m welcomed with open arms

Praise God just as I am

Just as I am I would be lost

But mercy and grace my freedom bought

And now to glory in your cross

O Lamb of God I come

 

I come broken to be mended

I come wounded to be healed

I come desp’rate to be rescued

I come empty to be filled

I come guilty to be pardoned 

 

By the blood of Christ, the lamb

And I’m welcomed with open arms

Praise God just as I am

FELLOWSHIP BLESSING

Creator God, thank You for this beautiful world You made. Thank you for the food that grows from the earth, for the hands that prepare it, and for the friends we share it with. Bless our time together after service, help us enjoy Your creation, and remind us to care for it with love. Amen.

 

**BENEDICTION Reverend Jacob Jackson

 

POSTLUDE Dr. Banks

(Please be seated as the postlude closes our service)