Livestream broadcast will be available at 10:45 AM: (Please note that the “Order of Worship” below is an edited shorter version of the Sunday Bulletin)
“REFLECTIONS”
THIRD AVENUE UNITED CHURCH
WELCOMES YOU WORSHIP!
Order of Worship
DECEMBER 14, 2025
THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT “JOY”
ORDAINED MINISTER: Rev. Jo-Ann Hills
ORGANIST / PIANIST: Ilene Wettergreen
HANDBELL DIRECTOR: Kathleen Link
OFFICE COORDINATOR: Jodi Hargreaves
SPECIAL MUSIC: JUBILATION HANDBELL RINGERS
“Where Are You Christmas?” arranged by Blanch Lewis
“A Winter's Night So Deep”arranged by Brenda Austin
“Glockenspiel”with Anne Marie Woytowich
SCRIPTURES READER: Darlene Humenny
PIANO/ORGAN PRELUDE
ACKNOWLEDGING TERRITORY:
We acknowledge that we at Third Avenue United Church live, work, worship, and play on the traditional lands of Treaty 6 and the homeland of the Metis. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus once again, we remember everything this birth means for our whole world and all people: hope, peace, joy, and love. May we live our lives moving gently in creation, listening, learning, and striving to be people of reconciliation. Used with permission from Gathering: ACE 2022-2023; Jessica Knoyle
WELCOME, TIME OF CELEBRATION OF BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES, ANNOUNCEMENTS
ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING: Cody & Beth Saril Two blue candles are lit.
The advent season is a time known for candles, coloured lights, and bright stars. This four week-long season points us toward the cradle of Bethlehem and the cross of Calvary. It is important that we light the candles to remind us that we do not live in the shadows of despair and discouragement. We are a people of light and joy. Today we light the candle of joy to guide us on our journey to Bethlehem. (light the pink candle) Used with permission from Gathering ACE 2025-2026; Laura J. Turnbull
SING: Tune: KREMSER “We praise you, O God” (VU 218)
We're lighting our candle,
our candle of hope now,
we're lighting our candle
to burn through the night.
We wait for our Saviour,
we wait for his coming,
in hope this holy Advent,
we wait for the light.
1. CALL TO WORSHIP:
Today we continue the journey in a new Christian year - a journey of waiting, hoping, and anticipating. With God, we embark on a journey of joy.
Today we seek new insights and new understandings. We give thanks for the ways in which God has brought us to this moment.
Today we are clear that we are not alone. God is among us, drawing us into a time of renewal and opening us to a moment of grace. Used with permission from Gathering: ACE 2025-2026; Bill Steadman
2. OPENING PRAYER: Praise God, O my soul. As long as I live I will praise God.
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is the Maker of heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them. Give your praise to God, O my soul. Amen. Used with permission from Gathering: ACE 2025-2026:Wanda Winfield.
3. LEARNING TIME: Jubilation Handbell Ringers “Where Are You Christmas?” By Blanch Lewis
4. HYMN: VU 35 “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice”
1. Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice!
Give ye heed to what we say:
News! News! Jesus Christ is born today.
Ox and ass before him bow,
and he is in the manger now.
Christ is born today! Christ is born today!
2. Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice!
Now ye hear of endless bliss:
Joy! Joy! Jesus Christ was born for this!
He hath opened heaven's door,
and we are blest forevermore.
Christ was born for this! Christ was born for this!
3. Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice!
Now ye need not fear the grave:
Peace! Peace! Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all
to gain his everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save!
5. PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION: God of the journey, we have begun to make our way to Bethlehem. We stumble on rocks and pull out a well-worn map, wondering if we are on the right path. Here in the wilderness, may these words from scripture guide our path. May they offer the peace of a deep and sacred breath, that we might discover a clear and evident way ahead, the one that leads to a humble stable, the one that reveals Emmanuel, God-with-us. Amen. Used with permission from Gathering ACE 2025-2026: Sheryl Spencer
6. PRAYER OF YEARNING: Advent God, we yearn to rejoice, as we tell of Jesus coming into our world. We long to see your promise of mercy, justice, and restoration, fulfilled for all people everywhere. In our yearning, we discover that our hands are weak, our knees are feeble, and our hearts are full of fear. Stuck in old stories and remembered glories, we grow critical of one another and of ourselves. We even wonder whether Jesus is near. Then our desire to rejoice sputters in frustration and impatience. Restore us, yearned-for-God, for your joy is not our accomplishment, but your gift. Set us on the Holy Way of advent, forgiven, strengthened, and healed, rejoicing in your glory and majesty. Amen.
From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission
7. WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
Advent People of God, as those ransomed by the Lord, walk the Holy Way, where no traveler goes astray. Come, rejoicing and singing, knowing that sorrow and sighing shall flee and that God's everlasting joy shall surround and hold you. Thanks be to God. Amen. From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission
8. MUSICAL RESPONSE: Jubilation Handbell Ringers“A Winter's Night So Deep” by Brenda Austin
9. Affirmation of Faith: “The Nicene Creed” VU 920 We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
in accordance with the Scriptures;
On the third day he rose again
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father [and the Son],
who with the Father and the Son
is worshipped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism
for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
10. INVITATION TO OFFERING:
During this season, we are focused on gifts-the gifts we find for others, the gifts we receive under our tree, the gifts of love and caring that are shared among strangers for the good of all, and the gift of the baby Jesus. Let us now think about the ways that we ourselves share gifts of time, money, prayer, and commitment as we seek to enable the ministries that are important to us and support the partnerships that allow us to share in God's purposes everywhere. We present our morning offering. Used with permission from Gathering A/C/E 2025/26; Bill Steadman
11. OFFERTORY
(sung to the tune of “Good King Wenceslas”)
Here our gifts we offer, God, thankful for your blessings.
Take them, Spirit, use them to spread the hopeful message
that Christ comes to bring to us life for all creation.
May our gifts help bring to all love and transformation.
12. OFFERING PRAYER: Generous God who calls us to rejoice, you fill the hungry with good things and you help your people in need. Receive the gifts we offer, we pray, and make them, and us, joyful and patient sigs of your coming justice and glory. Amen. From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission
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13. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND LORD'S PRAYER:
THE LORD'S PRAYER
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.
14. HYMN 68 VU “All Poor Ones and Humble”
1. All poor ones and humble
and all those who stumble,
come hastening, and feel not afraid;
for Jesus, our treasure, with love past all measure,
in lowly poor manger was laid.
Though wise men who found him
laid rich gifts around him,
yet oxen they gave him their hay
and Jesus in beauty accepted their duty;
contented in manger he lay. Refrain: Then haste we to show him the praises we owe him;
our service he ne'er can despise;
whose love still is able to show us that stable,
where softly in manger he lies.
2. The Christ Child will lead us,
the Good Shepherd feed us
and with us abide till his day.
Then hatred he'll banish;
then sorrow will vanish,
and death and despair flee away.
And he shall reign ever,
and nothing shall sever
from us the great love of our King;
his peace and his pity
shall bless his fair city;
his praises we ever shall sing. Refrain
15. BLESSING:
The word we have been given this day is joy. May we carry joy on our journey throughout this week, the joy we have encountered and experienced in this place. May we offer the vision of joy to all we meet. May we share the blessing that we have received, this day and always. Used with permission from Gathering ACE 2025/2026 Bill Steadman
16. THREE FOLD AMEN
POSTLUDE: Jubilation Handbell Ringers “ Glockenspiel” by Anne Marie Woytowich
SCRIPTURE LESSONS:
Isaiah 35: 1 - 10
God's Splendor Will Be Seen
God Changes Everything
God's Sacred Highway
Responsive Reading: Psalm 146: 5 - 10 VU page 868 REFRAIN: “Give your praise to God, O my soul.”
James 5: 7 - 10 Contemporary English Version Be Patient and Kind
The Gospel of Matthew 11: 2 - 11 Contemporary English Version
Next Sunday: Fourth Sunday of Advent “Love” December 21, 2025: Isaiah 7: 10 -16;
Psalm 80: 1 - 7, 16 - 18; Romans 1: 1 - 7; Matthew 1: 18 - 25.
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