Advent
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Advent

Christmas Eve

Sunday, December 24 Traditions worship service. 4 pm – Family Friendly Service in the CLC – The 4:00 pm service is held in our Christian Life Center hall. The music is led by our contemporary worship band and singers. The message tells the Christmas story through the eyes of “Clopper” the donkey and is fun for all ages. Many families with younger children choose to attend this service. It ends with the waving of glow sticks. 8 pm – Traditional Candlelight service in the Sanctuary – The 8:00 pm service is in the Sanctuary and ends with the singing of Silent Night and the lighting of candles. The music for this service is led by our Chancel Choir and the message is given by Rev. Kelly Lyn Logue. Communion is offered at both services with gluten-free options available. The 8 pm service will be livestreamed. If you are unable to attend in person, please consider joining via livestream at 8 pm or anytime later. Isaiah 9:2-7 Luke 2:1-20

Fourth Sunday of Advent – The Voices of Angels and Prophets

Sunday, December 21 Traditions worship service. This Sunday, December 21st, is the fourth Sunday in Advent and we will listen to “The Voices of Angels and Prophets.” We continue our Advent Sermon Series, Voices of Advent based on Matthew Skinner’s Book “Voices of Advent: The Bible’s Insights for a Season of Hope”. Isaiah 7:10-16 Matthew 1:18-25

Third Sunday of Advent – The Voice of Mary

Sunday, December 14 Traditions worship service. This Sunday, December 14th, is the third Sunday in Advent and we will listen to “The Voice of Mary.” We continue our Advent Sermon Series, Voices of Advent based on Matthew Skinner’s Book “Voices of Advent: The Bible’s Insights for a Season of Hope”. Isaiah 35:1-10 Luke 1:46-55

Second Sunday of Advent – The Voice of John the Baptist

Sunday, December 7 Traditions worship service. This Sunday, December 7th, is the second Sunday in Advent and we will encounter John the Baptist. Join us as we listen for John’s voice and hear his message for us today. We continue our Advent Sermon Series, Voices of Advent based on Matthew Skinner’s Book “Voices of Advent: The Bible’s Insights for a Season of Hope”. Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 Matthew 3:1-12

First Sunday of Advent – The Voice of Jesus

Sunday, November 30 Traditions worship service. We begin a new church year with the first Sunday of Advent, a season of preparation, expectation and waiting for the celebration of Christmas. We begin our Advent Sermon Series, Voices of Advent based on Matthew Skinner’s Book “Voices of Advent: The Bible’s Insights for a Season of Hope”. Psalm 122 Matthew 24:36-44

Deck the Halls with Love

Sunday, December 24.  Traditions online worship service. The classic hymn by Christina Rossetti reminds us that “Love was born at Christmas, star and angels gave the sign.” The world is looking for evidence of God’s love. As followers of Jesus, we work to make God’s love real. We deck the halls of our sanctuary, our homes, our hearts, and lives with Love so that to those love is a stranger, they will find in us kind and generous friends, building each other up. Luke 1:26-38, 46-55

Deck the Halls with Joy

Sunday, December 17.  Traditions online worship service. As we have lots of opportunities to gather together this season with songs and sounds of joy, we recognize that Joy does not mean that we pretend that all is well when there are many for whom all is not well. Instead, we claim the deep reservoir from which joy can be drawn and experienced even in darker times. As followers of Jesus, we claim the joy that sustains our life and presence that abides, even in the difficult moments. We deck the halls of our sanctuary, our homes, our hearts, and our lives with Joy so that we may continue to search out and celebrate the joys we find along the way of our journey in life, be they big or small, always to the glory of God. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

Deck the Halls with Peace

Sunday, December 10.  Traditions online worship service. As we wait for the celebration of the birth of our Savior, we remember the message of the angels to the shepherds, the good news of Peace on Earth, and Goodwill to all. Our world aches for the arrival of the Prince of Peace. As followers of Jesus, we are called to be peacemakers every day. So, we deck the halls of our sanctuary, our homes, our hearts, and lives with peace—peace for the world in the midst of war and peace between all that separates us from one another. Psalm 85 Isaiah 40:1-11

Deck the Halls with Hope

Sunday, December 3.  Traditions online worship service. It seems as though we can’t go anywhere without seeing the signs of the Christmas season. But what are the signs of the Advent season? Advent can be an uncomfortable time of waiting and anticipation as the days draw shorter and the light recedes. Whether you embrace or endure the outward decorations of the season, we pray you’ll join us as we adorn our hearts with Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. This Sunday, we will read the great prayer of hope from Isaiah 64 and gather together at the Lord’s table to receive Holy Communion. We hope you’ll join us in person or online to deck the halls of our hearts with hope. Isaiah 64:1-9

The Light Shines in the Darkness

Christmas Day, December 25.  Traditions online worship service. Merry Christmas! For unto us a son is born! May God’s peace find you well on this Christmas day and may you carry the light of Christ into the new year. John 1:1-14

Resilient Love

Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 18.  Traditions online worship service. On this 4th Sunday in Advent, we read from the Gospel of Matthew how an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream explaining that Mary “will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21). This fulfilled what the Lord had promised to the prophet Isaiah: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which means God with us.” (25). We look forward to having harpist, Anita Burroughs Price, leading us in worship as we celebrate and claim that God keeps God’s promises. Isaiah 7:10-17 Matthew 1:18-25

Faith Requires Improvisation

Third Sunday of Advent, December 11.  Traditions online worship service. This Sunday, the 3rd Sunday of Advent, we sing with Mary “my soul magnifies the Lord.” (Luke 1:46b) We shift from a tone of expectation of Christ’s coming to one of rejoicing at the arrival of the restoration and salvation that the birth of Jesus brings. Worship with us as we celebrate this good news! Isaiah 35:1-10 Luke 1:39-55

Do You See What I See

Second Sunday of Advent, December 4.  Traditions online worship service. We begin our celebration of the season of Advent this Sunday. The season of Advent, which comes from the Latin word adventus meaning “coming” begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. Advent is also the beginning of the church year for Christians. Join us as we prepare for and anticipate the coming of Christ, not only in the humble stable in Bethlehem but also the second coming of Christ as a fulfillment of all that was promised in his first coming. Matthew 3:1-12 Isaiah 11:1-10

Watchful Living

First Sunday of Advent, November 27.  Traditions online worship service. We begin our celebration of the season of Advent this Sunday. The season of Advent, which comes from the Latin word adventus meaning “coming” begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. Advent is also the beginning of the church year for Christians. Join us as we prepare for and anticipate the coming of Christ, not only in the humble stable in Bethlehem but also the second coming of Christ as a fulfillment of all that was promised in his first coming. Isaiah 2:1-5 Matthew 24:36-44

The Light of Hope

First Sunday of Advent, November 28  “The Lights of Christmas” series.  Traditions online worship service. Romans 5:1-5 Luke 1:5-20

Light of the World

Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 20 Traditions online worship service due to the COVID-19 pandemic Genesis 1:1-5 Revelation 22:5 John 1:1-5, 10-14