(Download a pdf of the full bulletin here)
10:00 AM Service December 7, 2025
PRELUDE
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
RINGING OF THE BELL
Please stand as you are able.
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, whose home is heaven and earth, whose salvation is sure.
Amen.
Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Long-expected God, we confess that we look to ourselves for the peace and security only you can provide. We reach for swords and spears, reluctant to release our grip on the ways of war.
We become impatient while waiting and weary of keeping awake. Free us from self-reliance, and teach us to live in harmony with our neighbors. Increase our trust in God’s timing,
and awaken us to your advent among us, that we may abound in the hope you have promised. Amen.
God judges us not as we deserve, but according to God’s own righteous-ness. You are freed and forgiven, saved by grace, and ready to wel-come the Savior. Amen.
GATHERING HYMN “Come To Us” next page
Words and Music by Greg Walton, © 2011 SPIRIT AND SONG OCP Used by permission CCLI # 2561118
“Come to Us”
GREETING
The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
And also with you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray. Lord God, Prepare the way in us this Advent, that we might make space in our hearts for the arrival of your son, our savior. Amen.
Please be seated.
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE
We light two candles for two people: you and me.
The way of Jesus is not often the easy one,
And so we walk it together.
We light two candles to say YES to the invitation to walk the way of Jesus together.
Hymn # 253 “He Came Down” vs. 1-2
WORD
FIRST READING Isaiah 11:1-10
Isaiah describes the coming of a future, ideal ruler who will renew David’s royal line (the stump of Jesse). Gifted by the spirit of God, this ruler will reign with perfect justice. Enmity and danger will be restored to harmony and peaceful coexistence.
1 A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 2 The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wis-dom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowl-edge and the fear of the Lord. 3 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,
4 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.
5 Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist and faithfulness the belt around his loins.
6 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. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. 9 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. 10 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.
Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.
PSALM Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19
Refrain:
1 Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the
king’s son; 2 that he may rule your people righteously and the poor with justice; 3 that the mountains may bring prosperity to the people, and the hills, in righteousness.
Refrain:
4 Let him defend the needy among the people, rescue the poor, and crush
the oppressor. 5 May he live as long as the sun and moon endure, from one generation to
another. 6 Let him come down like rain upon the mown field, like showers that water
the earth.
Refrain:
7 In his time may the righteous flourish; and let there be an abundance of
peace till the moon shall be no more. 18 Blessed are you, Lord God, the God of Israel; you alone do wondrous
deeds! 19 And blessed be your glorious name forever, and may all the earth be
filled with your glory. Amen. Amen.
Refrain:
SECOND READING Romans 15:4-13
God’s promise to include Gentiles within the circle of God’s blessed people has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Christians live out their unity by welcom-ing and encouraging each other just as Christ has welcomed them into God’s family.
4 Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, 6 so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the ancestors 9 and that the gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will confess you among the gentiles and sing praises to your name”; 10 and again he says, “Rejoice, O gentiles, with his people”; 11 and again, “Praise the Lord, all you gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him”; 12 and again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the gentiles; in him the gentiles shall hope.” 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.
CHILDREN’S SERMON Pastor Chris Steubing
Please stand as you are able.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
The Gospel according to Matthew.
Glory to you, O Lord.
GOSPEL READING Matthew 3:1-12
Just before Jesus begins his public ministry, John the Baptist appears, calling people to mend their ways and speaking of a powerful one who is to come.
1 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ”
4 Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region around the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore, bear fruit worthy of repentance, 9 and do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Al - le - lu - ia. Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the
Words of e—ter— nal life. Al - le - lu - ia. Al - le - lu - ia.
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
Please be seated.
SERMON Rev. Chris Steubing
HYMN OF THE DAY “On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s Cry” Hymn #249
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS—Gerri Dominguez and Ben Malina
I invite you, together with the whole congregation, to confess the faith in which we have been baptized.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, Who was con-ceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was
buried; He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand
of the Father, And he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the
communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection
of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen
You have made public profession of your faith. Do you intend to continue in the covenant God made with you in baptism: to live among God’s faithful people, to hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper, to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, to serve all people, following the example of Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth? If so please answer: I do and I ask God to help and guide me.
Let us pray:
Let us rejoice with our sister and brother in Christ. We rejoice in you in the life of baptism. Together we will give thanks and praise to God and proclaim the good news to all the world.
THE PRAYERS
. . .God of grace, Hear our prayer.
THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.
Let us share the peace with one another.
OFFERING
OFFERING MUSIC “Advent Noel” Choir
Please stand as you are able as the offering is brought forward.
OFFERING PRAYER
Let us pray. Nourishing God, you are water in the wilderness and streams in the desert. Through this meal, satisfy our parched places, that we may rejoice and be for the world signs of your kingdom come. Amen.
MEAL
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise. . . We praise your name and join their un-ending hymn:
In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the for-giveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.
With this bread and cup we remember our Lord’s Passover from death to life as we proclaim the mystery of faith;
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray…
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
Here is life. God is with us. Come, receive what God has promised.
Communion Distribution---All are welcome to receive Holy Communion at the Lord's table. If you'd like to receive a blessing instead, you may simply come forward and cross your arms over your chest. If you are unable to come forward, please notify an usher and we will bring the sacrament to you. The communion cups contain wine (red) or grape juice (white). Gluten-free wafers are available upon request.
Communion Hymns
Hymn #256 “Comfort, Comfort Now My People”
Hymn #254 “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”
POST COMMUNION BLESSING
Please stand as you are able.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Let us pray. God our host, at this table you have fed us with joy and gladness. Send us forth, eager to share the feast, welcome the stranger, and bear good fruit in the name of Jesus. Amen.
BENEDICTION
May God bless you with courage, as you seek the YES within you; May Christ be born again in every risk you take for the sake of the world; and may the Holy Spirit remind you, again and again, that you are never alone, and that you are loved beyond measure.
SENDING HYMN “Prepare the Royal Highway” Hymn #264
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Keep awake.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE
Our staff and worship leaders today:
Pastor—Rev. Chris Steubing
Visitation Pastor—Rev. Judi Miller
Communion Assistants—Wendy Kuenemann and Claire Roberts
Our Reader—Kathy Lenhardt
Our Liturgist—Don Gillett
Organist—Jimmy Cheung
Choir and Hand Bell Director—Wendy Kuenemann