Blog

November 30, 2025
First Sunday of Advent
TRADITIONAL Service
Union-Congregational Church

Gathering Music                                    

Welcome and Announcements                       

Sharing the Peace of Christ

Introduction to Theme

Call to Worship                           
One: Eager for the coming of Christ,
let us enter into the mystery of God’s dawning presence among us.
All: Loving God, we open our hearts to you,
and await your gracious coming.
 

One: In the winter darkness we long for your light.
All: We confess our need for your grace,
for the sin of our lives and the brokenness of this world.
 

One: Come, O Lord! May your peace dawn on our world.
All: Come, O Savior! May your grace be born in our hearts.
 

One: Bless the darkness, that we may wait with hope.
All: Bless the silence, that we may listen for your coming.
 

One: Grant us stillness, that with patience and courage
we may prepare room in our hearts and minds for the coming of Christ.
All: Come, O Savior, Come!

Opening Prayer (unison)                        
Living God, Christ Mystery, Spirit of Hope,
we give you thanks for this holy moment together. 
As we take in the hope you offer,
may we be a reflection of your light,
expanding the sacred time of “right now”
into the sacred time of “always and for all time.”

Opening Hymn: #153 Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

Lighting the Candle of Hope
                              
During this order, one candle of the Advent wreath is lighted. It may be any candle in the wreath except the central Christ candle. 
Readers may divvy up the following text:
Today is the beginning of Advent- the preparation time for celebrating Christ's birth. We are here because God's promises to our ancestors came true when Jesus was born. God's promise is kept each Sunday when we worship because Christ is in our midst. God will keep the promise to come again in glory. 
From Isaiah 60:2—“Though darkness covers the earth and gloom the nations, the Lord will shine upon you; God’s glory will appear over you.” 
We light this candle to proclaim the coming of the light of God into the world. With the coming of this light there is hope. Because of Christ we not only have hope, but we believe that good is stronger than evil. God wants us to work for good in this world. 
Light one candle in the wreath. 
 

Please pray with me. O God, we thank you that Jesus brought hope into our world. By the good news of the Bible you are still bringing hope to people. Help us to be ready to welcome Jesus Christ so that we may think good thoughts and do good deeds and so that we may be a people of hope in our world. Amen. 
 

Song: “We Light a Candle” by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan (verse 1 only)
 

We light a candle for hope
and our world that’s longing for hope
We light a candle for hope
and our world that’s longing for hope
Holy One, shine with the fire of our lives, oh
We light a candle for hope
and our world that’s longing for hope

Children’s Time

Reading of Scripture                 
Before reading, please say: “ The busy-ness of the holiday season can overrun the sense of the sacred. The irony is that setting apart time for connection with the sacred gets pushed aside in order to create the trappings of what is supposed to be the season of celebrating the presence of the Holy! We will begin our Advent journey toward Christmas by emphasizing the gift of being awake to the “now”… the gift of sacred time with God, with each other, and with those in need of hope.”

Romans 13: 11-14 (The Message)
11-14 But make sure that you don’t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. We can’t afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don’t loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!

Matthew 24: 36-44 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition)
36 “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so, too, will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two will be in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken, and one will be left. 42 Keep awake, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

After reading, please say, “Here end the readings for today. May God bless us as we learn from these holy words. Amen.”

Media: “I Need a Silent Night” by Amy Grant

Message: Something New, Even Now

Hymn: #154 O Come, O Come Emmanuel
 

Prayers of the People
Time for Silent Prayer
Joys and Concerns 
After each prayer petition, Jacob will say, “God in your mercy”, and the congregation is invited to respond: “Receive our prayer.” 
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer (unison)
 

We Offer Our Gifts

Doxology

Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Beloved Creator, we offer these gifts to you in the spirit of Hope. We place our trust in you and in those who faithfully care for your people, that these gifts will be used to protect and uplift those who are in need. Help us to remember our role to act as agents of your grace each and every day. Amen.

Closing Hymn: #180 O Little Town of Bethlehem (1,3,4)

Benediction
When you see lights twinkle, when you catch a reflection in a mirror, when you notice the sunlight dancing on a surface or a nightlight glowing in the darkness, let these be signs that the Christ Light is revealed again and again in and through this world. Know that your brilliant presence is pouring more hope into a weary world. God loved us by becoming us. This means you are already reflecting the sacred. In the name of the Creator, Christ, and Spirit of Hope.

Sending Music                                   

Call to Worship by Rev. Steve Garnaas-Holmes (Unfolding Light)
Prayer of Dedication by Rev. Maria Mankin for UCC Worship Ways
All other liturgy and theme by Dr. Marcia McFee, Worship Design Studio