Sunday Worship Bulletin, Dec 14 2025

Veradale United Church of Christ

An Open & Affirming Congregation

Worshiping God in Christ – Welcoming All – 

Working for Justice & Peace

“No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, 

you are welcome here!”

Third Sunday of Advent, December 14, 2025• 10:30 a.m.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

10:15am Enter in Silence

10:20 Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Charlie Salt, AV

Joe McSwain, Usher

Louise Tarjuddin, Usher

Gregg Glisson, Usher 

Charlie Salt, Scripture reader

Zack Cooper, Candle of Joy

Sue Ferrozzo, Fellowship Set-Up

_____ Fellowship Clean-up

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Rev. Genavieve Heywood, Pastor 

Candles of Hope and Peace are Re-Lit

10:30am Worship begins

Land Acknowledgement

We worship on the unceded traditional territory of the Spokane, Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, Coeur d’Alene, and other tribes. We acknowledge the history of indigenous genocide, removal, and erasure that continues to this day.  We recognize the role that Christian communities played in these injustices, and we recommit ourselves to seeking more peaceful, just, and neighborly ways of sharing this land with all who call it home.

Community Affirmation

God is our joy. . . all the time!  All the time . . . God is our joy!

A Joyful Word

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly, as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” – Colossians 3:16

Service and Fellowship Opportunities 

Next Sunday: Advent 4 the Candle of Love, Stephanie Wallis

Bible Study, Monday at 7pm

Silent Prayer, Tuesday 9:00 to 9:30am

String-A-Lings

Sing-A-Lings

 Community Giving: Birthday Kits

A Joyful Word by Scotty Patton

Joy is a thing unto itself so other words can’t quite describe it. Perhaps it starts with a little contentment, then stir in some pride and deep satisfaction seasoned with humility, fold in awe, gratitude, love, relationship and community, and you may have some other favorite ingredients to include. Next, sprinkle on some happiness and infuse with dependence on God. Then, once in a while, the ingredients will come together in a way that creates an intoxicating effect of joy beyond description. Where I find this is the only place I can find it - in this moment, now.

‘Opening Hymn

*Hymn: “My Heart Sings Out with Joyful Praise” 106 (NCH)

My heart sings out with joyful praise to God who raises me, who came to me when I was low and changed by destiny. The Holy One, the Living God, is always full of grace to those who seek their Maker’s will in every time and place.

The arm of God is strong and just to scatter all the proud. The tyrants tumble from their throne and vanish like a cloud. The hungry all are satisfied; the rich are sent away. The poor of earth who suffer long will welcome God’s new day.

The promise made in ages past at last has come to be, for God has come in power to save, to set all people free. Remembering those who wait to see salvation’s dawning day, Our Savior comes to all who weep to wipe their tears away

Lighting of the Candle of Joy

 Zack Cooper “By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,  gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.” Galatians 5:22-23

Message from Zack Cooper

Prayer at the lighting of the candle of Joy:

All: Joyful God, hoping in you brings us joy even when the nights seem very dark. As we light this candle, light within each of us a joy that the world cannot understand – the joy of life with you. Amen

Advent Hymn: “Come O Long-Expected Jesus” 122 (NCH)vs 1 and 3

1. Come, O long-expected Jesus, born to set all people free; From our fears and sins release us; grant us your true liberty.

3. Born all people to deliver, born a child, you came to reign! Born to rule on earth forever, come, be known to us again.

Community Prayer

“O Lord, You’re Beautiful” 310 (RB)

O Lord, you’re beautiful. You face is all I seek. For when your eyes are on this child, your grace abounds to me.

Prayers of Gratitude

For when your eyes are on this child, your grace abounds to me.

Prayers of Concern

For when your eyes are on this child, your grace abounds to me.

Silent Prayer

For when your eyes are on this child, your grace abounds to me.

The Lord’s Prayer use the translation which is meaningful to you or

Our Father (Creator) 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.  Amen.

Response: “There Is None” 67 (RB)There is none holy as the Lord, there is none beside thee; Neither is there any rock like our God, there is none holy as the Lord.

A Time of Offering

An Invitation to Share

Dedication Hymn: “Joy to the World” 132 (NCH) verse 3

Christ rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of God's righteousness and wonders of God's love, and wonders of God's love, and wonders of God's love.

Dedication prayer:  

Joyful God, let your hope, peace, and joy bless all who gather here as we offer our time, talent, and treasure to the sharing of the Gospel. May our witness be in our acts of compassion and our prayers of hope that peace may prevail in our hearts. Amen

Listening for God

Gospel of Luke 1: 1-56  Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, ² just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, ³ I, too, decided, as one having a grasp of everything from the start, to write a well-ordered account for you, most excellent Theophilus, ⁴ so that you may have a firm grasp of the words in which you have been instructed.

⁵ In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶ Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. ⁷ But they had no children because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.

⁸ Once when he was serving as priest before God during his section’s turn of duty, ⁹ he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to offer incense. ¹⁰ Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. ¹¹ Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord,

standing at the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified, and fear overwhelmed him. ¹³ But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. ¹⁴ You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, ¹⁵ for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. ¹⁶ He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” ¹⁸ Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know that this will happen? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.” ¹⁹ The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. ²⁰ But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.”

²¹ Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering at his delay in the sanctuary. ²² When he did come out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak. ²³ When his time of service was ended, he returned to his home.

²⁴ After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, ²⁵ “This is what the Lord has done for me in this time, when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.”

²⁶ In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” ²⁹ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰ The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. ³³ He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” ³⁴ Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” ³⁵ The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born^[d] will be holy; he will be called Son of God. ³⁶ And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. ³⁷ For nothing will be impossible with God.”³⁸ Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

³⁹ In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, ⁴⁰ where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit ⁴² and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. ⁴³ And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? ⁴⁴ For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

⁴⁶ And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,⁴⁷     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,⁴⁸ for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant.    Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed,⁴⁹ for the Mighty One has done great things for me,    and holy is his name;⁵⁰ indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him    from generation to generation.⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm;    he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.⁵² He has brought down the powerful from their thrones    and lifted up the lowly;⁵³ he has filled the hungry with good things    and sent the rich away empty.⁵⁴ He has come to the aid of his child Israel,    in remembrance of his mercy,⁵⁵ according to the promise he made to our ancestors,    to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

⁵⁶ And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

Message: My Spirit Rejoices

Meditation in Music

Announcements Reminders

Our Light moves into the World God Loves

* Hymn: “Gentle Joseph, Joseph Dear” 105 (NCH)

1 "Gentle Joseph, Joseph dear, stay with me, for the baby's near; God will surely your goodness hear, as you will love this new-born child," says Mary.

2 "Gladly Mary, Mary mine, I will cradle the child divine; Here will heaven and earth combine, for you will bear God's child, O dearest Mary."

3 "Peace to all and God's good-will," heaven and earth with this song will fill; Soon will God, in the evening still, be born in Bethlehem, the child of Mary.

A Joyful Word

“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.” – Romans 15:13

Benediction

Communal Blessing

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion

Sunday Worship Bulletin, Dec 7 2025

Veradale United Church of Christ

An Open & Affirming Congregation

Worshiping God in Christ – Welcoming All – Working for Justice & Peace

“No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, 

you are welcome here!”

Second Sunday of Advent, December 7, 2025• 10:30 a.m.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

10:15am Enter in Silence

10:20 Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Charlie Salt, AV

Joe McSwain, Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

Tom Cuilla, Usher Coordinator

Joe McSwain, Scripture reader

Kelly Cuilla, Candle of Peace

_____, Fellowship Set-Up

Charlie Salt, Fellowship Clean-up

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Rev. Genavieve Heywood, Pastor 

10:30am Worship begins

Candle of Hope is Re-Lit

Land Acknowledgement

We worship on the unceded traditional territory of the Spokane, Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, Coeur d’Alene, and other tribes. We acknowledge the history of indigenous genocide, removal, and erasure that continues to this day.  We recognize the role that Christian communities played in these injustices, and we recommit ourselves to seeking more peaceful, just, and neighborly ways of sharing this land with all who call it home.

Community Affirmation

God is our peace . . . all the time!  All the time . . . God is our peace!

Service and Fellowship Opportunities 

Next Sunday: Advent 3 the Candle of Joy, Zack 

Bible Study, Monday at 7pm

Silent Prayer, Tuesday 9:00 to 9:30am

String-A-Lings, Wednesday, 5:30pm; 

Sing-A-Lings Wednesday, 6:30pm

 Community Giving: Birthday Kits

‘Opening Hymn

*Hymn “Who Would Think That What Was Needed” 153 (NCH)

Who would think that it was needed to transform and save the earth might not be a plan or army proud and purpose, proved in worth? Who would think, Despite derision, that a child should lead the way? God surprises earth with heaven, coming here on Christmas Day.

Shepherds watch and sages wonder, monarchs scorn and the angels sing; such a place as none would reckon hosts a holy, helpless thing; stabled beasts and passing strangers watch a baby laid in hay: God surprises earth with heaven, coming here on Christmas Day.

Centuries of skill and science spanned the past from which we move, yet experience questions whether with such progress we improve. In our search for sense and meaning, lest our hopes and humor fray, God surprises earth with heaven, coming here on Christmas Day. 

Lighting of the Candle of Peace

Kelly Cuilla: “They shall not hurt or destroy on all God’s holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” Isaiah 11:9

Message from Kelly Cuilla

Prayer at the lighting of the candle of Peace:

All: Holy one, we light this candle asking that all may be filled with the knowledge of you. May all seek the to live justly with one another that peace may prevail.  Amen

Advent Hymn: “Come O Long-Expected Jesus” 122 (NCH)vs 1 and 3

1. Come, O long-expected Jesus, born to set all people free; From our fears and sins release us; grant us your true liberty.

3. Born all people to deliver, born a child, you came to reign! Born to rule on earth forever, come, be known to us again.

Community Prayer

“O Lord, You’re Beautiful” 310 (RB)

O Lord, you’re beautiful. You face is all I seek. For when your eyes are on this child, your grace abounds to me.

Prayers of Gratitude

song

Prayers of Concern

Song

Silent Prayer

Song

The Lord’s Prayer use the translation which is meaningful to you or

Our Father (Creator) 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.  Amen.

Response: “There Is None” 67 (RB)

There is none holy as the Lord, there is none beside thee; Neither is there any rock like our God, there is none holy as the Lord.

A Time of Offering

An Invitation to Share

Dedication Hymn: “Joy to the World” 132 (NCH) verse 3

Christ rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of God's righteousness and wonders of God's love, and wonders of God's love, and wonders of God's love.

Dedication prayer:  Holy One, we are thankful that you come to us in the cold nights of this season. As we give these offerings of our time. talent, and treasure, pour out the healing of hope and peace that we may be your light in the world today. Amen.

Listening for God

Isaiah 11:1-10

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,    and a branch shall grow out of his roots.² The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,    the spirit of wisdom and understanding,    the spirit of counsel and might,    the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.³ His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.

He shall not judge by what his eyes see    or decide by what his ears hear,⁴ but with righteousness he shall judge for the poor    and decide with equity for the oppressed of the earth;he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,    and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.⁵ Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist    and faithfulness the belt around his loins.

⁶ 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.⁷ The cow and the bear shall graze;    their young shall lie down together;    and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.⁸ The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,    and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.⁹ They will not hurt or destroy    on all my holy mountain,for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord    as the waters cover the sea.

¹⁰ On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

Matthew 3:1-12

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ² “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” ³ This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:‘Prepare the way of the Lord;    make his paths straight.’ ”

⁴ Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.⁵ Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region around the Jordan were going out to him, ⁶ and they were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins.

⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?⁸ Therefore, bear fruit worthy of repentance, ⁹ and do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. ¹⁰ Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

¹¹ “I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with^[d] the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹² His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Message: Prepare the Way of Peace

Sharing Holy Communion

Hand sanitizer passed around.

Pastor: Friends in Christ, we gather at our many tables mindful of the presence of God’s Spirit that is here with us.  We seek to honor the request of Jesus given in the scripture.  Of all the teachings Jesus gave to our ancestors, this he asked them and us to do for him to remember him. 

When Jesus and his friends sat together at a Passover meal, Jesus took bread; giving God thanks and praise, he broke the bread.  He gave it to his friends saying, “Take this all of you and eat of it.  This is my body that is broken for you.  Do this in remembrance of me.”

After the meal had ended, Jesus poured out the cup and again he gave God thanks and praise.  He gave the cup to his friends and said, “Take this all of you and drink from it.  This is the cup of the new covenant.  Do this as often as you drink of it in remembrance of me.”

Let us pray.

All: Loving God, you are with us in the easy times and through the difficult experiences.  We thank you with humble hearts. Let your presence be felt among us.  Come, Holy Spirit come.  Bless this bread and this cup and all who have gathered in your Spirit.  Refresh us and renew us as Christ’s body in the world today.  In the name of Jesus, we pray.  Amen.

The ushers will invite who want to receive to come forward. We will break bread and share a common cup or you can receive the packaged bread and drink

Prayer of Thanksgiving

All: We thank you, God, for your presence at all our tables where we remember and experience the presence of Christ.  Help us to live more fully the way of Christ. Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one another, and let us show forth your praise in our lives, through Jesus Christ our Savior.  Amen.

Meditation in Music

Announcements Reminders

Our Light moves into the World God Loves

* Hymn: “O God of Love, O God of Peace” 571 (NCH)

O God of love, O God of peace, make wars throughout the world to cease; The wrath of human wrong restrain: Give peace, O God, give peace again!

Remember, God, your work of old, the wonders that our people told; Heal every malice, harm, and pain: Give peace, O God, give peace again!

Whom shall we trust, O God, but you? For you are constant, strong, and true. None ever called on you in vain: Give peace, O God, give peace again!

Benediction

Communal Blessing

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion

Sunday Worship Bulletin, Nov 30 2025

Veradale United Church of Christ

An Open & Affirming Congregation

Worshiping God in Christ – Welcoming All – Working for Justice & Peace

“No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, 

you are welcome here!”

First Sunday of Advent,  November 30, 2025• 10:30 a.m.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

10:15am Enter in Silence

10:20 Gathering and Prelude

Wayne Shull, Music Director

Charlie Salt, AV

Joe McSwain, Usher

Jerry Brines, Usher

Tom Cuilla, Usher Coordinator

Naomi Hanvey, Scripture reader

Marvin Wilson, Candle of Hope

_____, Fellowship Set-Up

Naomi Hanvey, Fellowship Clean-up

Scotty Patton, Zoom Monitor

Rev. Genavieve Heywood, Pastor 

10:30am Worship begins

(no entrance of light on this Sunday)

Land Acknowledgement

We worship on the unceded traditional territory of the Spokane, Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, Coeur d’Alene, and other tribes. We acknowledge the history of indigenous genocide, removal, and erasure that continues to this day.  We recognize the role that Christian communities played in these injustices, and we recommit ourselves to seeking more peaceful, just, and neighborly ways of sharing this land with all who call it home.

Community Affirmation

God comes to us . . . all the time!  All the time . . . God comes to us!

Service and Fellowship Opportunities 

Next Sunday: Advent 2 

Candle of Peace, Kelly Cuilla 

AND

Plum Pudding!

Worship Team meets after worship today.

Bible Study, Monday at 7pm

Silent Prayer, Tuesday 9:00 to 9:30am

String-A-Lings, Wednesday, 5:30pm; 

Sing-A-Lings Wednesday, 6:30pm

 Community giving next month: Birthday Kits

‘Opening Hymn

*Hymn “Keep Awake, Be Always Ready” 112 (NCH)

1. Keep awake, be always ready, God’s time approaches sure and steady, God’s strength will keep your heart from blame. Clouds, the Spirit’s light concealing, disperse, God’s purest light revealing; creation will it’s Sovereign name. Dry branches burst forth green, God’s advent signs are seen: Hal-le-lu-jah! Christ Judgement won. 

God’s will be done; God’s new dominion thus begun.

2. Rise and shine for One is coming whose love will quench all nature’s thirsting to be made whole forever more. On that day to end all weeping, death’s swords transformed to tools of reaping, the God of might will mercy pour. Incarnate, God appears embracing all our tears: Hal-le-lu-jah! God’s majesty eternally revealed to set the cosmos free.

Lighting of the Candle of Hope

Marvin Wilson: "Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."  Hebrews 11:1

Message from Marvin Wilson

Prayer at the lighting of the candle of Hope:

All: Hope of our lives, we light this candle to declare your hope for all creation.  Bless this light to shine out into the darkness with the promise you are with us. Amen.

Community Prayer

“On Eagle’s Wings” 775 (NCH)

And God will raise you up on eagle’s wings, bear you on the breath of dawn, make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of God’s hand.

Prayers of Gratitude

song

Prayers of Concern

Song

Silent Prayer

Song

The Lord’s Prayer use the translation which is meaningful to you or

Our Father (Creator) 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.  Amen.

Response: “Lord, You're Worthy” 305 RB

Lord, you're worthy to be praised and I worship you. Lord, you're worthy to bow down to and I bow down to you. Lord, you're worthy to be worshipped and I worship you. I praise you, I bow down to you, I worship you.

A Time of Offering

An Invitation to Share

Dedication Hymn: “This Is My Commandment” 241 RB

This is my commandment that you love one another that your joy may be full. This is my commandment that you love one another that your joy may be full. That your joy may be full. That your joy may be full. This is my commandment that you love one another that your joy may be full.

Dedication prayer:  

Holy One, your kin-dom is near, blessing us and this community. We thank you with humble hearts. Bless our offerings of time, talent, and treasure that we may follow the kin-dom’s ways of compassion, justice, and peace.  Amen

Listening for God

 Isaiah 2:1-5

 The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

2 In days to come    the mountain of the Lord’s houseshall be established as the highest of the mountains    and shall be raised above the hills;all the nations shall stream to it.3     Many peoples shall come and say,“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,    to the house of the God of Jacob,that he may teach us his ways    and that we may walk in his paths.”For out of Zion shall go forth instruction    and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.4 He shall judge between the nations    and shall arbitrate for many peoples;they 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 any more.5 O house of Jacob,    come, let us walkin the light of the Lord!

Matthew 24:36-44

 “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.38 For as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so, too, will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two will be in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken, and one will be left. 42 Keep awake, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Message Awaken Hope and Ask the Pastor

Meditation in Music

Announcements Reminders

Our Light moves into the World God Loves

* Hymn: “Awake, Awake, and Greet the New Morn" 107 NCH 

verses 2, 3, & 4

2. To us, to all in sorrow and fear, Emmanuel comes a-singing, whose humble song is quiet and near, yet fills the Earth with its ringing. Music to heal the broken soul and hymns of loving kindness, the thunder of the anthems roll to shatter all hate and injustice.

3. In deepest night Christ’s coming shall be, when all the world is despairing, as morning light so quiet and free, so warm and gentle and caring. One without voice breaks forth in song, a lame one leaps in wonder, the weak are raised above the strong and weapons are broken asunder.

4. Rejoice, rejoice, take heart in the night, though cold the winter and cheerless, the rising sun shall crown you with light, be strong and loving and fearless. Love be our song and love our prayer, and love, our endless story, may God fill every day we share, and bring us at last into glory.

Benediction

Communal Blessing

Be Yourself.

Grow in Christ.

Live with Compassion