The Acclamation
Darkness encircles us, Loving God.
Its weight is heavy. We call out for your Light.
Facing danger and loss of what is right and true, we light these candles to remind us that You alone radiate justice and peace.
Advent Wreath Lighting
Advent Collect
Let us pray.
Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
God’s Word
Isaiah 7: 10-16
A reading from the book of Isaiah.
God spoke again to Ahaz. This time he said, “Ask for a sign from your God. Ask anything. Be extravagant. Ask for the moon!”
But Ahaz said, “I’d never do that. I’d never make demands like that on God!”
So Isaiah told him, “Then listen to this, government of David! It’s bad enough that you make people tired with your pious, timid hypocrisies, but now you’re making God tired. So the Master is going to give you a sign anyway. Watch for this: A girl who is presently a virgin will get pregnant. She’ll bear a son and name him Immanuel (God-With-Us). By the time the child is twelve years old, able to make moral decisions, the threat of war will be over. Relax, those two kings that have you so worried will be out of the picture. But also be warned: God will bring on you and your people and your government a judgment worse than anything since the time the kingdom split, when Ephraim left Judah. The king of Assyria is coming!”
Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 80
Listen, Shepherd, Israel’s Shepherd—
get all your Joseph sheep together.
Throw beams of light
from your dazzling throne
So Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh
can see where they’re going.
Get out of bed—you’ve slept long enough!
Come on the run before it’s too late.
God, come back!
Smile your blessing smile:
That will be our salvation.
God, God-of-the-Angel-Armies,
how long will you smolder like a sleeping volcano
while your people call for fire and brimstone?
You put us on a diet of tears,
bucket after bucket of salty tears to drink.
You make us look ridiculous to our friends;
our enemies poke fun day after day.
God-of-the-Angel-Armies, come back!
Smile your blessing smile:
That will be our salvation.
Remember how you brought a young vine from Egypt,
cleared out the brambles and briers
and planted your very own vineyard?
You prepared the good earth,
you planted her roots deep;
the vineyard filled the land.
Your vine soared high and shaded the mountains,
even dwarfing the giant cedars.
Your vine ranged west to the Sea,
east to the River.
So why do you no longer protect your vine?
Trespassers pick its grapes at will;
Wild pigs crash through and crush it,
and the mice nibble away at what’s left.
God-of-the-Angel-Armies, turn our way!
Take a good look at what’s happened
and attend to this vine.
Care for what you once tenderly planted—
the vine you raised from a shoot.
And those who dared to set it on fire—
give them a look that will kill!
Then take the hand of your once-favorite child,
the child you raised to adulthood.
We will never turn our back on you;
breathe life into our lungs so we can shout your name!
Romans 1: 1-7
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Church in Rome
I, Paul, am a devoted servant of Jesus Christ on assignment, authorized as an apostle to proclaim God’s words and acts. I write this letter to all the believers in Rome, God’s friends.
The sacred writings contain preliminary reports by the prophets on God’s Son. His descent from David roots him in history; his unique identity as Son of God was shown by the Spirit when Jesus was raised from the dead, setting him apart as the Messiah, our Master. Through him we received both the generous gift of his life and the urgent task of passing it on to others who receive it by entering into obedient trust in Jesus. You are who you are through this gift and call of Jesus Christ! And I greet you now with all the generosity of God our Father and our Master Jesus, the Messiah.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to our community.
Thanks be to God.
Matthew 1: 18-25
Words of Freedom from the Gospel of Matthew
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ
The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they enjoyed their wedding night, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn’t know that.) Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced.
While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God’s angel spoke in the dream: “Joseph, son of David, don’t hesitate to get married. Mary’s pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God’s Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus—‘God saves’—because he will save his people from their sins.” This would bring the prophet’s embryonic revelation to full term:
Watch for this—a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son;
They will name him Immanuel (Hebrew for “God is with us”).
Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly what God’s angel commanded in the dream: He married Mary. But he did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the baby Jesus.
The Gospel of the Saviour
Praise to you O Christ
The Nativity Pageant
The Prayers
Advent Affirmation of Faith
We believe in God, the Creator, who formed the heavens and the earth,
called us to care for creation with humility and love.
We believe in Jesus Christ, God with us, born of Mary, who proclaimed good news to the poor, freedom to the oppressed, healing to the wounded, and justice to those cast aside.
We believe in the Spirit of God, who moves through darkness and chaos, bringing life, renewal, and hope; who stirs us to protect the earth, to defend the marginalized, to stand against racism, war, and abuse, and to honor the dignity of all people.
We believe in the coming of Christ, who will make all things new, who calls us to prepare the way of peace and to walk humbly with God.
In this season of hope, we commit to act with courage and compassion, for the sake of creation, for the least among us, and for the glory of God.
Amen.
Prayers of the People
God of hope, hear our prayers:
We pray for the hungry or homeless. Energize us to call on our leaders to eliminate poverty by taxing the ultra-wealthy and relieving burdens on the working poor. Empower this church to do what we can to provide for the needs of all.
Come, Christ, and bring your justice.
We pray for the earth, suffering from human exploitation. Empower leaders who stop new fossil fuel development and accelerate the spread of renewable energy for all. Protect all species. Teach us to respect our only home.
Come, Christ, and bring your justice.
We pray for survivors of violence, prejudice, and abuse. Give them safety, healing, and vindication. Teach those who mistreat others to stop and change their ways.
Come, Lord Jesus, and bring your peace.
We pray for an end to war and the flourishing of love and understanding among all nations. Instead of missiles and warheads, direct governments to spend for food, education, healthcare, and housing for all.
Come, Lord Jesus, and bring your peace.
We pray for all whom society replaces dignity and inclusion with hatred and scorn. Let us be a place that affirms the sacred worth of every person. Protect migrants.
Come, Lord Jesus, and bring your joy.
Celebrant: Almighty God, as we await your coming, kindle in us a passion for your justice and a commitment to your peace, that we may labor for the triumph of your realm.
Amen.
The Confession and Absolution
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
God of mercy,
we confess that we have sinned against you,
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
Forgive us, we pray.
Strengthen us to live in hope and work for justice,
so that we may reflect your love in the world. Amen.
Celebrant: Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in the zone, in the moment, in God. Amen.
The Peace
Leader: May Christ’s peace be with you, always.
People: And with you, too.
Announcements
The Holy Communion
Walk in love, the way Christ walked. Become a holy offering to God, rich with the fragrance of grace.”. based on Ephesians 5:2
During the Offertory, a hymn, psalm, or anthem may be sung.
Doxology
(Words: Isaac Watts (1674-1748), para. of Psalm 117; Music: Old 100th, melody from Pseaumes octante trois de David, 1551, alt.; harm. after Louis Bourgeois (1510?-1561?); Licensed for Use: CCLI Copyright License 20716203; CCLI Streaming License 20716210
At the Presentation
All things come of you, O Lord;
And of your own have we given you.
Our God be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them towards Our Christ.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
We lift up our thanks and praise.
It is right, and it is joyful,
to give you thanks and praise,
Holy God, Creator of heaven and earth.
In this season when the days grow short
and the world is heavy with fear and struggle,
your mercy rises like a beautiful dawn.
Through prophets you promised a child
who would bring justice to the oppressed
and comfort to all who sit in the shadow of death.
And now, when conflict and confusion swirl around us,
you are faithful—
guiding your people, renewing courage,
and leading us into peace.
And so we join with angels and archangels
and with all creation in heaven and on earth
to sing your praise:
All:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power, God of might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
We praise you in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
We praise you in the highest.
Celebrant:
Holy God, you love us with a love that never lets us go.
When we became stuck into darkness, you did not turn from us.
You sent Jesus, your Son, Light of the world,
to live among us, to heal us,
to welcome the forgotten, to draw forth new strength,
and to show us the way of compassion and joy.
On the night before he died,
Jesus took bread; gave thanks to you; broke it;
and gave it to his friends, saying:
“Take and eat.
This is my Body, given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.”
After supper he took the cup;
gave you thanks;
and gave it to them, saying:
“Drink this, all of you.
This is my Blood of the new covenant,
poured out for you and for many
for the forgiveness of sins.
Whenever you drink it,
remember me.”
And so, remembering his love,
his death and resurrection,
and his promise to come again
we offer you these gifts,
and we offer you our lives.
Send your Holy Spirit on us
and on these gifts of bread and wine,
that they may become for us
the Body and Blood of Christ.
Make us radiant with his presence.
Strengthen us to be people of light,
people who carry your presence
into every corner of this world.
Bring us with all your saints
into the fullness of your new creation—
a day when your peace and joy are all in all.
Through Christ,
and with Christ,
and in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
to you be glory and praise,
now and forever.
Amen.
Let’s pray together in the spirit that Jesus taught us:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and forever.
Amen.
Breaking of the Bread
These are God’s gifts for all of us, God’s people.
Post-Communion Prayer
God of all that is, was, and will be,
We thank You for this feast of grace and love.
Here, at this table, we’ve tasted connection—
to You, to one another, to all creation.
In the breaking of bread and the sharing of the cup,
we’ve glimpsed a world made whole,
a table where all are welcome,
and there’s always enough.
As we leave this sacred moment,
help us carry its energy into the everyday.
Let the bread fuel us for justice,
let the cup refresh our hope.
We step into the world ready to love louder,
to risk kindness, to practice peace.
May the spirit of this meal propel us forward,
toward mercy, toward courage, toward You.
Amen.
The Blessing
Our Advent blessing is in the form of a haiku, an ancient Japanese poetic form.
Morning star rising—
may its hope rest on your path.
Go now, held in light.
Closing Hymn
The Dismissal
Go into the world in hope, to proclaim justice, peace, and love. Alleluia, alleluia.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.