December 21, 2025
Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 21, 2025 Livestream Worship Online Bulletin
Bringing in the Light of Christ
Chiming of the Trinity
Prelude
O Come, All Ye Faithful arr. James Koerts
Welcome
Call to Worship
The nights are long, but the dawn is near.
We come waiting for Love to take on flesh among us.
Joseph listened for God in a dream, and Mary opened her life to the impossible.
We come listening, hoping, ready for courage to rise in us, too.
Emmanuel—God with us—meets us in our fear and in our longing.
We prepare our hearts to receive Love again.
Come, people of God—
Let us worship the One who comes in tenderness and strength, in mystery and mercy, in Love made flesh.
Hymn
Blessed Be the God of Israel UMH#209
The Lighting of the Advent Wreath Candles - Joy that rises from within
Love that takes on flesh
Shasta Wilde and Dylan Bortell
All: We light this candle as a sign of love. May it remind us that God is with us—in every heart, every home, and every act of compassion.
A Reading from the Old Testament
Isaiah 7:10-16
Responsive Psalm
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 UMH pp. 801 & 802
Duet
Pie Jesu Andrew Lloyd Webber
Paula Dempsey and Barbara Dick
A Reading from the Gospels
Matthew 1:18-25
Sermon
Emmanuel: Love Made Flesh Through Courage and Faith | Rev. Kelly Dotson
Concerns and Prayers with the Lord’s Prayer for Advent
Holy One,
Maker of the dawn and Keeper of every waiting heart,
your presence draws near in ways gentle and surprising.
Your kin-dom comes among us like light that grows,
like hope that refuses to be extinguished.
Let your dreams for the world take root in us—
dreams of justice, mercy, and shared bread;
dreams where every child is cherished,
and every elder is honored; where the hungry are filled,
and the weary can finally rest.
Give us what we need for this day—
enough courage to show up with honesty,
enough compassion to love our neighbor,
enough strength to take the next faithful step.
Forgive us when fear closes our fists or hardens our hearts;
heal the harm we’ve done,
and soften us to offer grace to those who wound us,
as freely as you have offered grace to us.
Guide our feet away from the paths
that lead to despair, violence, or indifference.
Make straight the highways of our hearts
that Christ may enter in.
Deliver us from all that steals our joy
and all that dims your light within us.
For your kin-dom is breaking in—
a kin-dom of hope, peace, joy, and love—
now and forever.
Amen.
Blessing of the Tithes and Offerings
What can I give him poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
yet what I can I give him: give my heart.
Hymn
My Soul Gives Glory to My God UMH#198
Blessing and Sharing of Christ’s Light
Postlude
Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine arr. Sally DeFord
Today’s Worship Participants
Our Pastor: Rev. Kelly Dotson
Music Director: Dr. Joel Reed
Pianist: Patty Higgins