(Image: “Joyful Mountain Landscape” Klee, Paul 1929 Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, CT US)
©Order of Worship for Sunday December 07, 2025
Second Sunday of Advent
A Weary World Rejoices
For the Avent Ferry UMC Worship Video Click Here (Link opens in a new window)
The worship video will be available live at 11:00 am
Prelude…………..“Abiding Peace”………………Greg D.
Music: Greg D.
Coming of the Light:
Greetings:………………………………………………..Pastor Liz
Announcements:…………………………………………..Lorri B.
Call to Worship:…………………………………………..Chad V.
Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion!
For lo, I will come and dwell in your midst, says the Lord.
Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day,
and shall be my people; and I will dwell in your midst.
(Zechariah 2:10-11b)
Opening Prayer:………………………………………….Chad V.
In the advent seasons, when the past has fled, unasked, away
and there is nothing left to do but wait,
God, shelter us.
Be our surrounding darkness;
be the fertile soil out of which hope springs in due time.
In uncertain times, help us to greet the dawn and labor on,
love on, in faith awaiting your purpose hid in you
waiting to be born in due time. Amen. (Ruth Duck, USA)
Lighting of the Advent Candle:…………………..Chad/Joe
Scripture: Isaiah 9:6
A child is born to us,
a son is given to us,
and authority will be on his shoulders.
He will be named
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
How does a weary world practice peace?
By listening before we speak and saying
sorry when we need to.
By advocating for justice and caring for
Our neighbor. By practicing Sabbath and
forgiving seventy times seven.
By choosing grace over hate and opening
the door for each other.
There are a million ways to practice peace.
So today we light the candle of peace as a
reminder and a charge.
With God’s help, may we bring peace
into a weary world. Amen.
Light the second candle-The Candle of Peace.
Opening Hymns: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” #196 UMH
Words: Charles Wesley, 1744
Music: Rowland H. Prichard, 1830; harmony from The English Hymnal, 1906
1. Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.
2. Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.
Passing of the Peace:……………………………….Pastor Liz
Let us offer signs of reconciliation and peace to one another.
Gloria Patri:…….“Glory Be to the Father”…….#71 UMH
Words: Lesser Doxology, 3rd-4th century
Music: Henry W. Greatorex, 1851
Glory be to the Father
and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, to
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen. Amen.
Giving of our Tithes and Offerings:…………….Pastor Liz
Offertory:……………“ Peace, Peace”……..Choir/Mark B.
Words and Music: Rick and Sylvia Powell Arr. by Fred Bock
AFUMC Giving Link: https://afumc.com/give/
“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” (The Doxology) #94 UMH
Adapted © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
Words by Thomas Ken, 1674, adapted by Gilbert Vieira, 1978
Music: Geistliche Kirchengesänge, 1623; harmony by Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise God, all creatures here below:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise God, the source of all our gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts!
Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Prayer After Receiving:………………………………Pastor Liz
The Prayers of the People:………………………….Pastor Liz
Old Testament Lesson:………….Isaiah 11:1-10…………Joe B.
A ruler brings justice and peaceA shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.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.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,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.Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist and faithfulness the belt around his loins.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.The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.
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.
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.
Hymn of Preparation:.“Emmanuel, Emmanuel” #204 UMH
Words and Music by Bob McGee, 1976 (Matthew 1:23)
©1976 C. A. Music (division of Christian Artists Corp.)
Emmanuel, Emmanuel, Emmanuel, Emmanuel,
his name is called Emmanuel. his name is called Emmanuel.
God with us, revealed in us, God with us, revealed in us,
his name is called Emmanuel. his name is called Emmanuel.
Message: ……………………………….Pastor Liz
Response to the Word: Holy Communion
CONFESSION & PARDON
Pastor Liz: Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
All pray in silence.
Pastor Liz: Hear the good news:
Christ died for us while we were yet sinners; that proves God’s love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
All: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
All: Glory to God. Amen.
THE PEACE
Let us offer one another signs of reconciliation and love.
All, including the pastor, exchange signs and words of God’s peace by crossing hands, wave to one another due to social distancing guidelines.
Pastor Liz: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Pastor Liz: Lift up your hearts. The pastor may lift hands and keep them raised.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
Pastor Liz: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Pastor Liz: And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Pastor Liz: In union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
All: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Pastor Liz: All honor and glory is yours, almighty Father, now and forever.
All: Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Closing Hymn: “People, Look East” #202 UMH
Words: Eleanor Farjeon, 1928, Music: Trad. French carol.
1. People, look east. The time is near of the crowning of
the year. Make your house fair as you are able, trim the
hearth and set the table.
People, look east: Love the Guest, is on the way.
2. Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare, one more seed
is planted there. Give up your strength the seed to
nourish, that in course the flower may flourish.
People, look east: Love the Rose, is on the way.
3. Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim, one more
light the bowl shall brim, shining beyond the frosty weather,
bright as sun and moon together.
People, look east: Love, the Star, is on the way.
4. Angels announce with shouts of mirth him who brings
new life to earth. Set every peak and valley humming
with the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look east: Love, the Lord, is on the way.
Dismissal with Blessing:…………………………Pastor Liz
Postlude:……………………………………………………Greg D.
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Sunday December 7th Worship Service