ORDER OF WORSHIP -December 7th, 2025

DECEMBER 7TH, 2025 10:30 AM

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT – PEACE

COMMUNION SUNDAY

**Kindly stand if you are able

PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR PHONE before Worship Service unless NECESSARY for medical reasons.

PRELUDE                                                                                             John Coates

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE – Mary Whidden and Robert Ferguson

CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 72)

LEADER: Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king’s son.

PEOPLE: May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.

LEADER: May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the

earth.

PEOPLE: In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the

moon is no more.

LEADER: Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.

PEOPLE: Blessed be his glorious name forever; may his glory fill the whole

earth. Amen and Amen.

INVOCATION

As we move closer to the birth of Christ, we gather together to thank the Lord for the

gift of salvation.

**OPENING HYMN                   “Angels We Have Heard on High”                Red #152

CALL TO CONFESSION 

Even as we accept the blessing of the gift of Christ’s birth, we know that we are sinners

in need of forgiveness.

PRAYER FOR UNDERSTANDING

Dear God, even in this season of greatest joy we know that we too often do not

live up to your teachings. We worry too much about our own security and

comfort and forget about those who struggle to get by. Help us to remember all

your children as we celebrate the birth of your son. Help us to see your light in

every person and not just in the star over the manger.          

(A moment for silent personal confession)

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

We are all like the shepherds waiting on the hillside. Know that the angels have a

message for all of us. We are saved!

**GLORIA PATRI                      Avery & Marsh (Back of the Red hymnal)    

HYMN OF PRAISE                   “O Come, All Ye Faithful”                             Red #173

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

The words of the scripture are a balm for the wounded and a comfort for the afflicted.

Let us listen and understand.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

OLD TESTAMENT                   Isaiah 11:1-10                                     Rob Ferguson

NEW TESTAMENT                  Romans 15:4-13

GOSPEL                                  Matthew 3:1-12

SERMON MESSAGE               What is Joy?                                      James Phillips

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE, THE CHURCH AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

And Lord we pray for those in our own hearts whose names you already know, for their own healing and comfort, in your name and that of our redeemer Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray, saying:

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 debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

COMMUNION HYMN               “Let Us Break Bread Together”           Red #776

HOLY COMMUNION

Invitation to the Table

Great Prayer of Thanks

Words of Institution

Prayer of Conclusion

**PASSING OF THE PEACE

**AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (from the Apostles’ Creed)

I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS

Let us return to God the offerings of our life and the gifts of the earth. May our gifts be a blessing to those who receive them. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. 

OFFERTORY                                   “Lord of All Good”                                                     Red #645

PRAYER OF THANKS

 We thank you, our Lord for those gifts to us that we send to you for your work and ours

in congregation, community, and culture. Guide us in good use as we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen

**DOXOLOGY                          Avery & Marsh (Back of the Red hymnal)

HYMN OF PARTING                “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice”                Red #157                                                                       

BENEDICTION

Stir us, O Lord to dare more boldly.

-Desmond Tutu

POSTLUDE                               “One Day”                                                                  Red #196

Blessings!

James Phillips

Union Church

44 Balmville Rd, Newburgh NY 12550

https://www.newburghpresby.org

(845) 562-0954