Fourth Sunday in Advent
December 21, 2025

The Gift of Love

Prelude:                                        

Love Came Down at Christmas

Words by Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)
Irish Melody; Arranged by Brian Henkelmann
Josh Nguyen, flute; Les Holben, piano

© 2007 Concordia Publishing House

Call to Worship 

People of Hope, as we enter into worship, let us pray:

Surprising God, you make your presence known in unexpected ways,
and challenge our comfortable assumptions about how you work.

Meet us here today and open our hearts to recognize you in our midst as you call us to live into your new thing: a world where your love takes shape in justice and peace. In the Name of the One who is coming to bring us love, rise as you are able and sing!

**Processional Hymn

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the Christ Child bring;
Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinner reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies;
With th’angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! The Herald Angels sing, “Glory to the Christ Child bring!”

Christ by highest heav’n adorned, Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time the Savior comes, offspring of the virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the God-head see; hail th’incarnate Deity,
Pleased on earth with us to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! The Herald Angels sing, “Glory to the Christ Child bring!”

Hail the Bearer of God’s peace, hail the Sun of righteousness,
Light and life our Savior brings, ris’n with radiant healing wings.
Mildly laying glory by, born that we no more may die,
Born to raise us all from earth, born to give us second birth.
Hark! The Herald Angels sing, “Glory to the Christ Child bring!”

Words: Charles Wesley, 1739, alt.
Music: Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, 1840

Welcome and Life of the Church

**Sharing of the Peace

The Candle of Love

Call to Advent

O Come, Emmanuel

Arranged by Mark Hayes

Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra

Words and Music: Mark Hayes from Child of Peace

© 2004 Hal Leonard Corporation

Dawson:  We experience love because God loves us. We experience love most fully when we turn away from self, turn toward God, and make room for Christ to be born in our hearts.

Andria:     Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent the Only Begotten into the world so that through this one we might have life. Love, then, consists of this: not that we loved God, but that God loved us and sent the Only Begotten to be an offering for our sins. Beloved, 
if God has love us so, we must have the same love for one another. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.

Jeremy:     Let us pray:

Thank you, God for the love you give us. As we prepare for the coming of the Christ child this year, we ask you to surround us with your perfect love. Enable us to share your gift of love with our unliving and sometimes unlovable world. We pray this in the name of the Child of Love, Emmanuel, God with us. Amen.

Dawson:  Today we light the candle of Love—the Love we experience when Jesus is born in our hearts.

Gradual

Shine On Us

Lord, let the light, light of your hope, shine on us.

Lord, let the light, light of your hope, shine on us.

That all may be saved, that all may have life;

To find the way in the darkest night,

Let your hope shine on us.

**Lord, let the light, light of your Word, shine on us.

Lord, let the light, light of your Word, shine on us.

That all may be saved, that all may have life;

To find the way in the darkest night,

Let your Word shine on us.

Let your Word shine on us.

Words and Music: Michael W. Smith and Deborah D. Smith

© 1996 O’Ryan Music

**Gospel Lesson: John 13:34-35

One: God be with you.

All: And also with you.

One: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John.

All: Glory to you, O God.

One: “A new command I give you: love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

One: This is the Gospel of Hope.

All: Praise to you, Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit.

**Gloria

Advent Gloria

Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Words and Music: French Carol

Sermon

The Gift of Love

Offering Call       

Offertory

Unto Us a Child Will Be Born

 Words based on Isaiah 9:6-7
Music by Dan and Heidi Goeller

Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra

Unto us a Son will be given, unto us a Child will be born!
Unto us a Son will be given, unto us a Child will be born!

He will rule with justice, his peace will never end.
Reigning on the throne of David, he will rule forevermore!

Unto us a Son will be given, unto us a Child will be born!
Unto us a Son will be given, and his name will be called:

Mighty God, Eternal Sovereign, Counselor, the Prince of Peace!
God’s dominion he will bring us: justice peace, and righteousness!

Unto us a Son will be given, unto us a Child will be born!
Unto us a Son will be given, unto us a Child will be born!

from The Word Became Flesh
Words based on Isaiah 9:6-7
Music by Dan and Heidi Goeller
Arranged by Dan Goeller © 2008 Dan Goeller Music

Great Thanksgiving for Advent

Sursum Corda

Sanctus

Holy, holy, God, you are holy. Ruler of the sea and sky.

Angel hosts above adore you. Earth sings out its endless cry:

“Hail, hosanna in the highest!”

“Peace on earth,”

the heavens reply.

Words adapted from the Liturgy by David Moldenhauer

Music: French Carol, 17th Century

Words of Institution

Prayer of Consecration

Invitation to Communion

Music during Communion

Come, Emmanuel

Come and speak to us, come and renew us,

come and live through us, Emmanuel.

Grace to implore us, ever before us,

come and restore us, Emmanuel.

Come, Emmanuel.

Come, Emmanuel.

Come, Emmanuel.

Come, Emmanuel.

Once mercy found us, still you astound us.

Hold and surround us, Emmanuel.

Living inside us, faithful to guide us,

cover and hide us, Emmanuel.

Come, Emmanuel.

Come, Emmanuel.

Come, Emmanuel.

Come, Emmanuel.

Words and Music: Twila Paris

© 2003 Ariose Music and Mountain Spring Music

Isn’t He?

Isn’t he beautiful? Beautiful, isn’t he? Prince of Peace, child of God, isn’t he?

Isn’t he wonderful? Wonderful, isn’t he? Counselor, almighty God.

Isn’t he, isn’t he, isn’t he, isn’t he?

Words and Music: John Wimber

©1980 Mercy Publishing

What Child Is This?

What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping?

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this the angels sing, is Christ, God’s holy offering.

Haste, haste your praise to bring, the babe the child of Mary.

Why lies the child in manger bare where ox and ass are feeding?

give heed, draw near, for sinners here the silent Word is pleading.

This, this the angels sing, is Christ, God’s holy offering.

Haste, haste your praise to bring, the babe the child of Mary.

Words and Music: Andy Irons © Andy Irons/RESOUNDworship.or

**Emmanuel

Emmanuel, Emmanuel, your name is called Emmanuel.

God with us, revealed in us, your name is called Emmanuel.

Words and Music: Bob McGee

© 1975 C.A. Music/C.A. Records, Inc.

**Prayer of Thanksgiving 

**Recessional Hymn:

Love Has Come!

Love has come, a light in the darkness!
Love explodes in the Bethlehem skies.
See, all heaven has come to proclaim it;
Hear how their song of joy arises:
Love! Love! Born unto you, a Savior!
Love! Love! Glory to God on high.

Love is born! Come share in the wonder;
Love is God now asleep in the hay.
See the glowing in the eyes of the mother;
What is the name her heart is saying?
Love! Love! Love is the name she whispers;
Love! Love! Jesus, Emmanuel.

Love has come, and never will leave us!
Love is life everlasting and free.
Love is Jesus within and among us;
Love is the peace our hearts are seeking.
Love! Love! Love is the gift of Christmas;
Love! Love! Praise to you God, on high!

Words: Ken Bible © 1996, 1997 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
Music: French Carol, 17^th Century

**Benediction         

Postlude for Dismissal

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