9:30am Prelude - “Angels We Have Heard on High” Burton - Andrea Mumm, Harp Welcome - Rev. David Bonnema Lighting the Advent Candle - The Walker Family Opening Song - “Angels We Have Heard on High” - Kim Underwood Time of Greeting Children’s Message Song - “How Great Is Our God” Special - “Ave Maria” by Schubert Sermon - “The Season of Anticipation” What are you anticipating the most this Christmas season? Jeremiah teaches us how to live during the in-between times. “This is what the Lord says: ‘You say about this place, “It is a waste, without people or animals.” —Jeremiah 33:10 God’s people could only see what was right in front of them. God asked them to anticipate something better that was still to come. Yet in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted, inhabited by neither people nor animals, there will be heard once more the sounds of and gladness… —Jeremiah 33:11a How will God restore the land that had fallen into disarray? By the coming of the Messiah. In those days and at that time I will make a righteous sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. —Jeremiah 33:15 One day Christ will come again. Until then, we wait in expectant anticipation. Offering and Prayer - Rick Ayers Closing Song - “O Come Let Us Adore Him” Benediction Postlude - “Allegretto” - F.J. Naderman 11:00am Prelude - “Angels We Have Heard on High” - Burton - Andrea Mumm, harp Welcome - Rev. David Bonnema Lighting the Advent Candle - The Walker Family Call to Worship - Rick Ayers Leader: Listen–all creation rejoices with singing! People: Let our ears be opened to the sounds of the Christmas season. Leader: Rejoice– there is joy in the hearts of those who await the coming Christ child. People: Let us receive the joy that was given to us on that still, silent night. Leader: See– wonders and miracles are happening all around us. People: Let us experience the magic of the season as we worship today. Hymn - “Joy to the World” - 4 Verses #40 Prayer of Confession Joyful God, we come to you today asking for our hearts to be stirred. We spend so much time planning, worrying, hoping, praying, and wishing that we forget to take time to just be happy. So help us today to be filled with the joy that comes with Christmas, to enjoy time together with our family and friends, and to revel in the beauty and warmth of this Christmas season, where we celebrate the entry of joy into our world in Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, Amen. Declaration of Forgiveness Passing of the Peace Anthem - “Come to My Heart” - Fettke/Grassi - Unity Choir Sermon - “The Season of Anticipation” - Rev. David Bonnema What are you anticipating the most this Christmas season? Jeremiah teaches us how to live during the in-between times. “This is what the Lord says: ‘You say about this place, “It is a waste, without people or animals.” —Jeremiah 33:10 God’s people could only see what was right in front of them. God asked them to anticipate something better that was still to come. Yet in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted, inhabited by neither people nor animals, there will be heard once more the sounds of and gladness… —Jeremiah 33:11a How will God restore the land that had fallen into disarray? By the coming of the Messiah. In those days and at that time I will make a righteous sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. —Jeremiah 33:15 One day Christ will come again. Until then, we wait in expectant anticipation. Anthem - “Ave Maria” Schubert Offering Prayer of Thanksgiving and the Lord’s Prayer Doxology - “Gloria in Excelsis Deo” Affirmation of Faith - by Rev. Stephen M. Fearing We believe that God has come to us as a little child, making our weakness his strength, securing our salvation by becoming one of us, blessing us with unending love, filling our hearts with joy to be shared with one another. We believe that God has birthed righteousness into the world, giving us a law that will be written upon our hearts, making the cause of the oppressed the highest priority, declaring an everlasting reign of peace, and defeating the power of pain and suffering. We believe that God calls us to participate in this reality of love, inviting us to proclaim Christ’s resurrection to others, transforming us as disciples to go out into the world, sending us forth to announce his kingdom of peace and comfort, challenging us to see everyone as nothing less than beloved children. This we believe. Closing Hymn - “Do You Hear What I Hear?” Benediction Postlude - “Allegretto” - F.J. Naderman