9:30am Welcome - Rev. Dana Seiler Lighting the Advent Candles - Marty Smith Opening Song - “O Come O Come Emmanuel” - Makenzie Payne Time of Greeting Children’s Time Song - “Noel” Sermon - “Hope for a Brighter Future” Isaiah’s message to the Israelites was a reminder that true and come from a restored relationship with God, not from material possessions. God calls out through Isaiah, “Why spend your money on what is not , and your labor on what does not ?” What are the 12 Hebrew imperatives that Isaiah stated in chapter 55? Isaiah 55 offers an invitation to find contentment through relationship with God rather than through worldly pursuits. What are some “vain pursuits” in our modern world that can easily distract us from finding fulfillment in God? The sermon and skit both highlight how waiting can be sacred — a time when God is quietly at work. How has God used a season of waiting in your own life to deepen your faith or teach you hope? Song - “Born in Bethlehem” Offering and Prayer - Kris Galyen Song - “Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus” Benediction 11:00am Prelude - Jeff Perks Welcome - Rev. Dana Seiler Lighting the Advent Candles - Marty Smith Call to Worship - Kris Galyen Leader: Christ, God’s gift to the world, shall come: People: Those who feel despair will know hope. Leader: Those who are oppressed will know freedom. People: Those who are lonely will know love. Leader: Those who are suffering will know inner peace. People: We will fear not, for the Christ Child is coming. Hymn - “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” #2 - 2 Verses Prayer of Confession: God of Promise, there are times when we lose our hope. The world is a hard place to live and it teaches us many harsh lessons. There are times when we do not believe that what lies before us could be anything close to beautiful. We don’t remember Your promises to provide us with mercy and strength and love. Help us to be people of hope, who live in the light of Christmas with the certainty that the darkness will not overcome us, in the name of Jesus, Amen. Declaration of Forgiveness Passing of the Peace Anthem - “I Heard the Bells” (Larson) - Unity Choir Sermon - “Hope for a Brighter Future” - Rev. Dana Seiler Isaiah’s message to the Israelites was a reminder that true and come from a restored relationship with God, not from material possessions. God calls out through Isaiah, “Why spend your money on what is not , and your labor on what does not ?” What are the 12 Hebrew imperatives that Isaiah stated in chapter 55? Isaiah 55 offers an invitation to find contentment through relationship with God rather than through worldly pursuits. What are some “vain pursuits” in our modern world that can easily distract us from finding fulfillment in God? The sermon and skit both highlight how waiting can be sacred — a time when God is quietly at work. How has God used a season of waiting in your own life to deepen your faith or teach you hope? Anthem - “Fear Not” (Fettke) - Unity Choir Offering and Prayer Doxology 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. Hymn - “O Come O Come Emmanuel” - #23 - 3 Verses Benediction Postlude