Stout Memorial United Methodist Church 3329 Broad Street | Parkersburg | West Virginia | 26104 www.stoutmemorial.org | (304) 428 - 1179 | stoutmemorial@gmail.com First Sunday of Advent November 30, 2025— Traditional Worship 10:45 AM Ministers The congregation Pastor Helen R. Oates Ministers through Music Terri Bush ~ Choir Director Bonnie Leonhart ~ Organist Ministers Though Service Andrew Mommessin ~ Sound Coordinator Sarah Sisson—Communications Director Danny Stemple—IT Specialist Order of Worship First Sunday of Advent November 30, 2025 Welcome and Announcements Rev. Helen R. Oates Prelude Bonnie Leonhart Choral Introit Advent Grace by Lloyd Larson Chancel Choir Call to Worship - Lighting of the Advent Wreath Wes & Sherry Bargelogh Reader : Congregation: Today, we choose to live in hope, believing that the time of God’s reign has come and is coming among us. (First Candle is Lit) Hymn Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus UMH 196 Alex Olson Opening Prayer Alex Olson O God, you never sleep but always watch with infinite care over your children.Keep us from growing weary of waiting for your love, lest we miss the glory of your appearing. O Christ, bright morning star, awaken us to live today as children of the light. Even so, come quickly, to our lives and our world. Amen. New Testament Reading Romans 13:11-14 Alex Olson Words for the Young At Heart Joys and Concerns Morning Prayer & The Lord’s Prayer Anthem Will We Know Him? by Don Besig and Nancy Price Chancel Choir Gospel Lesson Matthew 24:36-44 Sermon “Wake Up!!!” Pastor Helen Hymn I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light UMH 206 Offertory Bonnie Leonhart Thank you for continuing to support the ministries of Stout Memorial. Those joining us online can take time to give as well. Giving can be done on our website at www.stoutmemorial.org/give. Doxology UMH 94 Prayer of Dedication Our desire is to stay in Love with you, O God, but you know our intentions don’t always reflect our needed discipleship. Forgive us. As we share these first fruits,use them to be a blessing to others. Enable our giving to be a sign of our faithfulness. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen. Hymn Joy to the World Vs. 1 & 2 UMH 246 Benediction Postlude Let There Be Peace on Earth Bonnie Leonhart A Special Word of Thanks to the Eureka Small Group which hosted our Thanksgiving Dinner. The food was great, fellowship even better. Everyone worked together and created a beautiful dinner for the congregation. Thank you group members! And thank you congregation for all the abundant side dishes and desserts! Thank you to the Altar Guild who coordinated and the many additional hands who brought the sanctuary and other spaces alive for Advent and Christmas! Congregational Appreciation The silk flowers on the altar this morning are given to the glory of God by the Altar Guild. If you would like to help place flowers on the Altar, consider a donation to the flower fund. The altar guild would like to invite you to sponsor the altar flowers. Each vase costs $25. When you sponsor the altar flowers, you may do so in memory or in honor of someone or a special event or anniversary. Go to stoutmemorial.org/altarflowers for more information. The Stout Memorial Altar Flower ministry needs smiling faces to deliver Sunday flowers. A sign-up sheet is on the welcome desk in the Gathering space along with directions for delivery. Presenting flowers helps to create smiles. Our Mission: We exist to see all people find Hope, Healing, and Wholeness through Jesus Christ. Stop. Take a moment. Breathe deeply. We have arrived—again—at the beginning of the journey. That’s the strange thing about this season. Advent sits us down in the liminal space of God’s already-and-not-yet kingdom and asks us to wait. Now, if you’re around young children for any length of time, you will be reminded that waiting is very hard. Whether it’s in the car, the grocery store line, or a doctor’s office, a child despises waiting. About five minutes in, we start getting “How much longer? I have nothing to do! I’m bored!!!” Discipleship Resources