December 7, 2025
Sunday Gathering

The Second Sunday of Advent
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-PRELUDE-
“Sing the Glad Song” - F. Ritter

Brenda Gardiner

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-A READING-
God In the Kitchen”
Brian Weinburger
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-SINGING TOGETHER-

“Show Up”

SUN SETTING EARLY, GET OUT THE CANDLES

SO MUCH REVEALED IN A SPARK

WHAT DO YOU PICTURE IN THESE GROWING SHADOWS?

WHAT DO YOU FEAR IN THE DARK?

I BELIEVE THAT A GOD, BORN INTO EMPIRE

CARRIES THE MESSAGE THAT HOPE IS ENOUGH

A LITTLE BRAVE CANDLE AGAINST GROWING SHADOWS

FEARFUL OR NOT, WE SHOW UP

WE SHOW UP.  

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-WELCOME-

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-GREETING ONE ANOTHER-

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-SINGING TOGETHER-

“Show Up”

I BELIEVE THAT A GOD, BORN INTO EMPIRE

CARRIES THE MESSAGE THAT HOPE IS ENOUGH

A LITTLE BRAVE CANDLE AGAINST GROWING SHADOWS

FEARFUL OR NOT, WE SHOW UP

WE SHOW UP.
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 -LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE-

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-CALL TO WORSHIP-
Family of Faith, God is at work!
GOD IS HEALING AND CREATING,

Redeeming and dreaming,
CALLING AND SENDING,

Listening and loving.
YES, INDEED, GOD IS AT WORK!

So may we worship our God who never gives us.
MAY WE WORSHIP OUR GOD
WHO HOLDS ONTO HOPE.
AMEN! 

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-OPENING PRAYER-
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 -SINGING TOGETHER-

 “Looking Out a Prison Window”
LOOKING OUT A PRISON WINDOW,
WHO CAN SEE THE FLOWERS BLOOM?
HOPE DISSOLVES LIKE DREAMS AT DAYBREAK
LEAVING US AN EMPTY ROOM
STILL BEYOND WHAT WE CAN SEE,
GOD IS ALWAYS PLANTING SEEDS.

ALL THE THINGS THAT KEEP US CAPTIVE

SHRINK OUR OPTIMISTIC FAITH.

WE MUST PRACTICE HOPE ON PURPOSE

EVEN WHEN OUR SPIRITS BREAK.

‘TIL AT LAST OUR FREEDOM COMES

AND WE FINALLY SEE THE SUN.

TO OUR SIBLINGS STILL IMPRISONED

BEHIND BARS OF STEEL OR FEAR,

BRING THE MESSAGE FROM OUR SAVIOR:

HOPE IS REAL AND DAWNING NEAR.

TELL THE GOSPEL ALL AROUND:

NEW LIFE SPRINGS UP FROM THE GROUND.

WE ARE CALLED TO LIBERATION,
TO BE FREED AND TO SET FREE.
BREAKING CHAINS OF WORLDLY POWERS,
WHO WOULD CLAIM OUR LIBERTY?
BODY, SPIRIT, MIND, AND HEART,
LIBERATE EACH CAPTIVE PART.

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-SCRIPTURE-
Matthew 11:1-11 (MSG)
During the rule of King Herod of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the When Jesus finished placing this charge before his twelve disciples, he went on to teach and preach in their villages.

John, meanwhile, had been locked up in prison. When he got wind of what Jesus was doing, he sent his own disciples to ask, “Are you the One we’ve been expecting, or are we still waiting?”

Jesus told them, “Go back and tell John what’s going on:
The blind see,
The lame walk,
Lepers are cleansed,
The deaf hear,
The dead are raised,
The wretched of the earth learn that God is on their side.

“Is this what you were expecting? Then count yourselves most blessed!”

When John’s disciples left to report, Jesus started talking to the crowd about John. “What did you expect when you went out to see him in the wild? A weekend camper? Hardly. What then? A sheik in silk pajamas? Not in the wilderness, not by a long shot. What then? A prophet? That’s right, a prophet! Probably the best prophet you’ll ever hear. He is the prophet that Malachi announced when he wrote, ‘I’m sending my prophet ahead of you, to make the road smooth for you.’

“Let me tell you what’s going on here: No one in history surpasses John the Baptizer; but in the kingdom he prepared you for, the lowliest person is ahead of him.
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-THE MESSAGE-
“Even when… there is God”
Pam Lee-Miller

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-SPECIAL MUSIC-
“Still In My Storm”

Timmy Smallwood

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-PASTORAL PRAYER-

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-INVITATION TO COMMUNION-

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-COMMUNION MEDITATION-
“O Come, All You Faithful” (adapted)
O COME, ALL YOU PEOPLE,
ALL WHO SEEK BELONGING,
O COME, ALL GOD’S CHILDREN, BELOVED AND WHOLE.
COME TO THE TABLE,
OPEN FOR CREATION:
O COME, AND TASTE THE BREAD HERE,
O COME, AND DRINK THE WINE HERE,
O COME, AND TAKE YOUR PLACE HERE,
WHERE THERE IS LOVE.

COME, ALL YOU WEARY,
COME AND FIND COMPASSION;
COME, AND DISCOVER GOD’S LOVE IN THE WORLD.
HOPE IS DISCOVERED,
AND BECOMES OUR COURAGE:
O COME, AND TASTE THE BREAD HERE,
O COME, AND DRINK THE WINE HERE,
O COME, AND TAKE YOUR PLACE HERE,
WHERE THERE IS LOVE.

COME, ALL YOU STRANGERS,
EVERY TRIBE AND NATION;
COME, EVERY VOICE AND TONGUE FROM ALL O’ER THE WORLD,
HERE WE REMEMBER
CHRIST IN EVERY NEIGHBOR:
O COME, AND TASTE THE BREAD HERE,
O COME, AND DRINK THE WINE HERE,
O COME, AND TAKE YOUR PLACE HERE,
WHERE THERE IS LOVE.

COME, TASTE THE PROMISE
OF GOD’S NEW CREATION—
TABLES MADE WIDER,  AND WALLS BROKEN DOWN.
FEAST OF BELONGING,
BREAD FOR LIBERATION:
O COME, AND TASTE THE BREAD HERE,
O COME, AND DRINK THE WINE HERE,
O COME, AND TAKE YOUR PLACE HERE,
WHERE THERE IS 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-
God, Be With Your Weary People” 

GOD, BE WITH YOUR WEARY PEOPLE,

RISE FROM SACRED ANCIENT ROOT.

BRANCH OF AGES, BUD AMONG US,

LEAF AND BLOSSOM, FILL WITH FRUIT.

WE AWAIT YOUR NEW BEGINNINGS,

DREAMS DEFERRED AND HOPES DELAYED.

MEET DESPAIR WITH SWEET ASSURANCE,

STRENGTHEN HEARTS SO LONG AFRAID.

GOD, BE WITH YOUR HUNGRY PEOPLE,

SERVE A FEAST FOR ALL TO EAT.

BREAD OF LIFE, ABUNDANT BLESSING,

BRING A JUSTICE MORE COMPLETE.

WE HAVE YEARNED FOR PEACE AND PLENTY,

SNARED BY GREED AND WORN BY WAR.

MAKE OUR WEAPONS FIT FOR FARMING,

MOVE OUR HANDS TO SHARE ONCE MORE.

GOD, BE WITH YOUR HARDENED PEOPLE,

EASE EACH BRITTLE MIND AND SOUL.

SOURCE OF STIRRING, RIGHTEOUS WATERS,

FREE US AS YOUR MERCIES ROLL.

WE HAVE LONGED FOR LIFE UNBOUNDED,

FRESH AND FLOWING, CLEAR AND BRIGHT.

BAPTIZE US WITH FIRE AND SPIRIT,

BIRTH AMONG US NEW DELIGHT.
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-BLESSING & BENEDICTION-

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-POSTLUDE-
“Holiday Joy!” - arr. D. Wyrtzen
Brenda Gardiner