December 28, 2025
Sunday Gathering
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-PRELUDE-
Timmy Smallwood

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-ACKNOWLEDGEMENT-
We acknowledge that the place where we are gathered today is the ancient and ancestral homeland of more than twenty Indigenous tribes. We mourn the loss of their lives, livelihoods, homes, and cultures, and acknowledge the legacy of violence against them.

We acknowledge that the space where we worship today was established and built by those whose Black ancestors were also abused and mistreated - some even bought and sold as enslaved people right here in our city.

We acknowledge the women who’ve faced unfair treatment and misogyny throughout the ages, and we acknowledge those who identify as LGBTQ or other who’ve been mistreated and misunderstood.

We acknowledge our role and responsibility as professed followers of Christ to stand for and alongside all of these and others who have been and continue to be oppressed.
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-SINGING TOGETHER-

“The Family of God”

I’M SO GLAD WE’RE A PART OF THE FAMILY OF GOD;
AS WE DRINK FROM GOD’S FOUNTAIN
AND FEAST ON GOD’S LOVE.
WALKING WITH JESUS AS WE TRAVEL ALONG.
WE’RE A PART OF THE FAM’LY,
THE FAM’LY OF GOD.
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-WELCOME-

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-SINGING TOGETHER-

“The Family of God”

YOU WILL NOTICE WE’RE LIKE SIBLINGS
AND LOVED ONES ‘ROUND HERE,
IT’S BECAUSE WE’RE A FAMILY
AND WE HOLD EACH ONE NEAR.
WHEN ONE HAS A HEARTACHE,
WE ALL SHED THE TEARS
AND REJOICE IN EACH VICT’RY
IN THIS FAMILY SO DEAR.

I’M SO GLAD WE’RE A PART OF THE FAMILY OF GOD;
AS WE DRINK FROM GOD’S FOUNTAIN
AND FEAST ON GOD’S LOVE.
WALKING WITH JESUS AS WE TRAVEL ALONG.
WE’RE A PART OF THE FAM’LY,
THE FAM’LY OF GOD.

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-CALL TO WORSHIP-
Wonder of wonders!
Christ is born!
THE CHILD OF GOD HAS COME TO DWELL WITH US.

The Word is made flesh.
THE DIVINE IS WITH US, AND AMONG US.

Earth is blessed.
All life is holy.
WE COME TO WORSHIP IN AWE, IN JOY, AND IN LOVE.
ALLELUIA!

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-OPENING PRAYER-

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-GREETING ONE ANOTHER-

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-SINGING TOGETHER-

“Sweet, Sweet Spirit”
THERE’S A SWEET, SWEET SPIRIT IN THIS PLACE,
AND WE KNOW THAT IT’S THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD;
THERE ARE SWEET EXPRESSIONS ON EACH FACE,
AND WE KNOW THEY FEEL THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.

SWEET HOLY SPIRIT,
SWEET HEAVENLY DOVE,
STAY RIGHT HERE WITH US,
FILLING US WITH YOUR LOVE;
AND FOR THESE BLESSINGS
WE LIFT OUR HEARTS IN PRAISE.
WITHOUT A DOUBT WE’LL KNOW
THAT WE HAVE BEEN REVIVED
WHEN WE SHALL LEAVE THIS PLACE.

THERE ARE BLESSINGS WE SHALL ALL RECEIVE
WHEN WE KNOW THE SPIRIT’S FULLNESS AND BELIEVE;
ALL THE WORLD WILL PROFIT WHEN WE PRAY,
AND WE WALK IN THE SPIRIT EVERY DAY.

SWEET HOLY SPIRIT,
SWEET HEAVENLY DOVE,
STAY RIGHT HERE WITH US,
FILLING US WITH YOUR LOVE;
AND FOR THESE BLESSINGS
WE LIFT OUR HEARTS IN PRAISE.
WITHOUT A DOUBT WE’LL KNOW
THAT WE HAVE BEEN REVIVED
WHEN WE SHALL LEAVE THIS PLACE.

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-SCRIPTURE-
Matthew 2:13-23 (CEB)
When the magi had departed, an angel from the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up. Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod will soon search for the child in order to kill him.” Joseph got up and, during the night, took the child and his mother to Egypt. He stayed there until Herod died. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: I have called my son out of Egypt.

After King Herod died, an angel from the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. “Get up,” the angel said, “and take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel. Those who were trying to kill the child are dead.” Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus ruled over Judea in place of his father Herod, Joseph was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he went to the area of Galilee. He settled in a city called Nazareth so that what was spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled: He will be called a Nazarene.
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-THE MESSAGE-
Kenny Bishop

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-SHARNG JOYS & CONCERNS-

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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“Sweet, Sweet Spirit”
SWEET HOLY SPIRIT,
SWEET HEAVENLY DOVE,
STAY RIGHT HERE WITH US,
FILLING US WITH YOUR LOVE;
AND FOR THESE BLESSINGS
WE LIFT OUR HEARTS IN PRAISE.
WITHOUT A DOUBT WE’LL KNOW
THAT WE HAVE BEEN REVIVED
WHEN WE SHALL LEAVE THIS PLACE.

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-INVITATION TO COMMUNION-

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-COMMUNION MEDITATION-
“The Open Table”
COME, OH COME, COME TO THE TABLE.
GATHER ‘ROUND, COME WITHOUT FEAR.
KNOWN BY NAME HERE AT THE TABLE, THIS TABLE;
WELCOME HERE, TO THE TABLE OF LOVE.

CIRCLE ‘ROUND, LET’S JOIN TOGETHER.
SHARE YOUR JOYS, AND BRING YOUR TEARS.
STRENGTH AND HOPE FOUND AT THE TABLE, THIS TABLE;
WELCOME HERE, TO THE TABLE OF LOVE.

GOD IS LOVE; LOVE IS CREATING
SOMETHING NEW, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.
WE’RE CHILDREN OF GOD, HERE AT THE TABLE, THIS TABLE;
WELCOME HERE, TO THE TABLE OF LOVE.
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-OFFERING-

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-IN GRATITUDE-

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-ANNOUNCEMENTS-

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-INVITATION TO RESPOND-

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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“Joy Unspeakable” 

I HAVE FOUND GOD’S GRACE IS ALL COMPLETE;

IT SUPPLIES MY LONGING NEED.

WHILE I SIT AND LEARN AT JESUS’ FEET,

I AM FREE, YES, FREE INDEED.

IT IS JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY,

FULL OF GLORY, FULL OF GLORY.

IT IS JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY;

O THE HALF HAS NEVER YET BEEN TOLD!

I HAVE FOUND THE PLEASURE I ONCE CRAVED;

IT IS JOY AND PEACE WITHIN.

WHAT A WONDROUS BLESSING! I AM LOVED

BY THE GOD WHO TOOK ME IN.

IT IS JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY,

FULL OF GLORY, FULL OF GLORY.

IT IS JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY;

O THE HALF HAS NEVER YET BEEN TOLD!

I HAVE FOUND THAT HOPE SO BRIGHT AND CLEAR,

LIVING IN THE REALM OF GRACE.

I CAN FEEL THE LOVE OF GOD SO NEAR;

I CAN SEE GOD’S WONDROUS FACE.

I HAVE FOUND THE JOY NO TONGUE CAN TELL,

HOW ITS WAVES OF GLORY ROLL!

IT IS LIKE A GREAT O’ERFLOWING WELL

SPRINGING UP WITHIN MY SOUL.

IT IS JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY,

FULL OF GLORY, FULL OF GLORY.

IT IS JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY;

O THE HALF HAS NEVER YET BEEN TOLD!
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-BLESSING & BENEDICTION-

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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“Joy Unspeakable” 

IT IS JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY,

FULL OF GLORY, FULL OF GLORY.

IT IS JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY;

O THE HALF HAS NEVER YET BEEN TOLD!