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
November 30, 2025
THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT “HOPE”
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
ORDAINED MINISTER: Rev. Jo-Ann Hills
ORGANIST / PIANIST: Ilene Wettergreen
HANDBELL DIRECTOR: Kathleen Link
OFFICE COORDINATOR: Jodi Hargreaves
SCRIPTURES READER: Theresa Bacchetto
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:(Joshua Ortiz and his Mom, Beth Ortiz)
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 hope. Today we light the candle of hope to guide us on our journey to Bethlehem. (light a blue 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 begin a new journey in a new Christian year - a journey of waiting, hoping, and anticipating. With God, we embark on a journey of hope.
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: Everlasting God, we begin our journey toward Christmas with hope stirring within. Teach us how to get ready. Show how to prepare our hearts for Jesus. Help us walk in your ways, as we put on your Son, Jesus Christ. Guide us on your paths of peace and understanding, as we prepare our hearts anew for the road ahead. Amen. From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2024.
Copyright @2023 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission.
3. LEARNING TIME: “ A time of honoring past and present”
4. HYMN: VU 71 “T'was in the Moon of Wintertime”
1. 'Twas in the moon of wintertime, when all the birds had fled,
that mighty Gitchi Manitou sent angel choirs instead;
before their light the stars grew dim,
and wandering hunters heard the hymn: Refrain: Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.
2. Within a lodge of broken bark the tender babe was found,
a ragged robe of rabbit skin enwrapped his beauty round;
but as the hunter braves drew nigh,
the angel song rang loud and high: Refrain
3. The earliest moon of wintertime is not so round and fair
as was the ring of glory on the helpless infant there.
The chiefs from far before him knelt
with gifts of fox and beaver pelt. Refrain
4. O children of the forest free, the angel song is true,
the holy child of earth and heaven is born today for you.
Come, kneel before the radiant boy,
who brings you beauty, peace, and joy: Refrain
5. PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION: As we receive the readings from your holy word, Gracious God, open us to greater understanding. We ask this in Christ Jesus. Amen. Used with permission from Gathering: Pentecost 2; 2025: Mary Anderson
6. REFLECTION:
7. 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
8. PRAYER OF CONFESSION: O Holy God, today we come to you asking your forgiveness for those times when we have not left room for you to build a home within our hearts and our lives, those times when we have pushed you out of our hearts and lives. Advent is a busy time in our world when so many activities, parties, and events may pull us away from you, and others away from us just when we need their companionship. Forgive us when we leave you to the last of our lists. Help us to put you first in our lives. Forgive us when we forget the importance of the Season of Advent, when we forget to cherish the time of waiting and preparing, pushing along with society to celebrate Christmas before it is time.
Mary prayed to you and sang of justice, in a time when doing so was dangerous. She trusted in you, and you kept Mary and her family safe. Forgive us when we do not trust in you but rather put our trust in the world and turn away from you. In the name of Jesus, the one we await. Amen.
Used with permission from Gathering: ACE 2025-2026; Andrea Allan
9. WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
Today and every day, God loves us, forgives us, and sets us free. Today and every day, we remember that our living God endures forever. God's realm will never be destroyed. We will always have a place in God's love. Used with permission from Gathering: ACE 2025-2026; Andrea Allan
10. PASSING OF THE PEACE:
Let us beat our swords into plowshares and our spears into pruning tools. God wants us to live in peace. Share this peace with one another.
11. 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
12. 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.
13. OFFERING PRAYER: We never know, living Christ, whether what we offer is enough. Still, we present these gifts for your work in the world, trusting that you will bless them-and us-for your purpose. May these gifts seed new life springing out of old stumps. Amen. Used with permission from Gathering A/C/E 2025/26;Gord Dunbar
Please give by contributing online using “E-transfers” or PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittance) or by placing your offering in the plate.
E-transfers can be sent to: thirdaveunited@sasktel.net answer to security question is: “payment”
14. SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION
Communion Hymn VU 901 “Blest Be the God of Israel”
1. Blest be the God of Israel,
who comes to set us free;
who visits and redeems us and grants us liberty.
he prophets spoke of mercy,
of freedom and release;
God shall fulfil the promise
and bring the people peace.
2. Now from the house of David a child of grace is given;
a Saviour comes among us to raise us up to heaven.
Before him goes the herald,
forerunner in the way,
the prophet of salvation,
the harbinger of Day.
3. On prisoners of darkness the sun begins to rise,
the dawning of forgiveness upon the sinner's eyes,
to guide the feet of pilgrims
along the paths of peace;
O bless our God and Saviour with songs that never cease!
15. HYMN: VU 2 “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”
1. Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free:
from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.
2. Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art,
dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
3. Born thy people to deliver; born a child and yet a king;
born to reign in us for ever; now thy gracious kingdom bring.
4. By thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all-sufficient merit raise us to thy glorious throne.
16. BLESSING:
The word we have been given this day is hope. May we carry hope on our journey throughout this week, the hope we have encountered and experienced in this place. May we offer the vision of hope to all we meet. May we share the blessing that we have received, this day and always. Amen. Used with permission from Gathering ACE 2025/2026 Bill Steadman
17. THREE FOLD AMEN
SCRIPTURE LESSONS:
Isaiah 2: 1 - 5
Peace That Lasts Forever
Responsive Reading: Psalm 122 REFRAIN: “With joy we go to God's own house and enter with a song.”
Romans 13: 11 - 14
The Day When Christ Returns
The Gospel of Matthew 24: 36 - 44
No One Knows the Day or Time
Next Sunday: Second Sunday of Advent December 7, 2025: saiah 11: 1 - 10;
Psalm 72: 1 - 7, 18 - 19; Romans 15: 4 - 13; Matthew 3: 1 - 12.
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