Nov 30- Come to Us, Abide with Us
December 1, 2025 by Kara White
Filed under Featured, Livestream Links and Order for Worship
Welcome to Ivy Chapel UCC. Today is the First Sunday in Advent, when we begin preparing for the coming of the Holy Child whom God will send. May we all appreciate and receive God’s amazing gift to the world. Please join us for refreshments in Fellowship Hall following the Annual Meeting.
All of the music is linked on the individual song titles below.
WELCOME
PRELUDE O Come, O Come Emmanuel Ethan Edwards- cello
*CALL TO WORSHIP Linda Lowry
One: In the wilderness, blaze a trail for God.
All: Every valley shall be raised up.
One: Every mountain shall be made low.
All: And the glory of the Lord will be revealed among us.
*HYMNS Hark the Herald Angels Sing #191
Go, Tell It on the Mountain #216
*PRAYER OF INVOCATION Linda Lowry
Ever-present God, your promises are being fulfilled among us moment by moment. At this time of year, as the daytime hours grow shorter and the shadows lengthen, we treasure daylight.
God of Light, help us to turn toward you as we begin this Advent Season. Fill us with fresh expectation. Teach us again that this season is a time to watch, not for things that have already happened, but for exciting new things that have not yet taken place. Come, Christ Jesus. This world greatly needs you. Help us to watch closely and to remain ready for the next holy moment when you will be born. Amen.
LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH – The Candle of Hope
Reader One: The prophet Isaiah calls to us from the past to imagine the future when God’s reign will be fully realized and recognized throughout creation. When that time comes, God “shall judge between the nations and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more.
All: Today, we choose to live in hope, believing that the time of God’s reign has come and is coming among us.
Reader Two: We light this candle of hope as a sign of our promise to follow the Light as we answer God’s call to transform our hope into reality today and in the days to come.
*RESPONSE O Come, O Come, Emmanuel #186
(Verse 1 Only)
OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 2:1-5 Linda Lowry
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Dottie Foster
SPECIAL MUSIC Oh Little Town of Bethlehem
GOSPEL READING Matthew 24:36-44 Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
SERMON “Transform Our Hope” Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer (debts… debtors)
*HYMN Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus #187
*BENEDICTION Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
*POSTLUDE Heavenly Sunlight
