CCLI Number: 2880734
December 21, 2025
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Words of Welcome Rev. John Hill
Centering Music “Angels We Have Heard on High”
Call to Worship (from Isaiah 40:3-5) Amy Noon
A voice cries out in the wilderness:
Prepare the way of the Lord.
Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low.
The uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Opening Hymn “Angels from the Realms of Glory” (UMH #220)
Angels from the realms of glory,
wing your flight o’er all the earth;
ye who sang creation’s story
now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
Come and worship, come and worship,
worship Christ, the newborn king.
Shepherds, in the field abiding,
watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing;
yonder shines the infant light:
Come and worship, come and worship,
worship Christ, the newborn king.
Sages, leave your contemplations,
brighter visions beam afar;
seek the great Desire of nations;
ye have seen his natal star:
Come and worship, come and worship,
worship Christ, the newborn king.
Saints, before the altar bending,
watching long in hope and fear;
suddenly the Lord, descending,
in his temple shall appear:
Come and worship, come and worship,
worship Christ, the newborn king.
Advent Song “Light the Advent Candle” (Chorus, FWS #2090)
Candle, candle, burning bright,
shining in the cold winter night;
candle, candle, burning bright,
fill our hearts with Christmas light.
WEEK 4 – LOVE
Reader #1: During Advent, we light a new candle each week in the Advent Wreath. The circle of the wreath symbolizes God’s never-ending power and love. The light from the candles reminds us that Jesus Christ is the Light of the World. We light the first candle as a symbol of Christ our Hope, who came to be with us and to show us God.
Light the first purple candle
Reader #1: We light the second candle to remind us of God’s promise of peace for the world.
Light the second purple candle
Reader #1: We light the third candle as a symbol of our joy in the birth of the Christ child and in his triumphant return.
Light the rose/pink candle
Reader #2: Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of the Messiah: Jesus Christ. The prophets of old foretold his arrival and his great deeds and pointed to love as the motivation. Hear these words from Isaiah 40:11, “He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms and carry them in his bosom and gently lead the mother sheep.”
Reader #1: We light the fourth candle to honor the prophets who helped to pave the way for the birth of Jesus Christ, who reminded us of God’s great love for us, and who called us to love one another. The fourth candle symbolizes love, which is the heart and nature of God and Christ.
Light the fourth candle (purple)
Reader #2: Let us pray. Almighty God, we thank you for the wisdom you showed in providing us the preparation we need through the prophets to receive your Word. May Christ enter into our hearts in a powerful way this season that we all may grow in his love and likeness. We ask it in the name of the One whom the prophets foretold: Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Advent Song Reprise
Candle, candle, burning bright,
shining in the cold winter night;
candle, candle, burning bright,
fill our hearts with Christmas light.
Children’s Moment Rev. John Hill
Prayer of Confession Amy Noon
God of all grace,
we confess that it is difficult to wait,
to have patience.
We go to great lengths to keep ourselves busy.
We fill our calendars with events
and our days with tasks.
And yet in this season of Advent,
you invite us to slow down…
to wait…
to breathe…
to prepare.
There are promises you make that our hearts long to hear.
There are miracles for us to notice if we stop to pay attention.
There is hope, peace, joy, and love all around.
Grant us the grace to notice them
and to await with glad anticipation
the arrival of your Son,
Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. Amen.
Silent Confession
Words of Assurance Rev. John Hill
Hear the Good News: Christ died for us while we were yet sinners. That proves God’s love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
Glory to God. Amen.
Passing the Peace
Hymn “Love Has Come to Dwell Below”
Love has come to dwell below
Light throughout all of our darkness flows,
hearts awaken, faith is stirred,
God has spoken, living Word.
From age to age the promise grows,
through prophets’ dreams, the hope still shows,
the dawn will break, though night is long,
and God shall come to right the wrong.
Love has come to dwell below
Light throughout all of our darkness flows,
hearts awaken, faith is stirred,
God has spoken, living Word.
A voice cries out, “makes straight the way,
prepare the path for God today.”
Each heart be cleansed, each valley rise,
for peace shall bloom beneath new skies.
Love has come to dwell below
Light throughout all of our darkness flows,
hearts awaken, faith is stirred,
God has spoken, living Word.
Rejoice, o hearts that still believe,
the holy one our pain will weave,
through tears of want and songs of faith
we glimpse the glory of God’s grace.
Love has come to dwell below
Light throughout all of our darkness flows,
hearts awaken, faith is stirred,
God has spoken, living Word.
Mary the mother hears and sings,
the Lord will set the captives free,
through fragile flesh through human breath,
comes love that conquers sin and death.
Love has come to dwell below
Light throughout all of our darkness flows,
hearts awaken, faith is stirred,
God has spoken, living Word.
Now heaven bends to earth’s delight.
The Word of God is born this night.
All nations kneel, all hearts adore,
our God is with us forevermore!
Prayer for Illumination Amy Noon
Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that, as the Scriptures are read and your Word proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Amen.
Scripture Reading Matthew 1:18-25
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
“Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife but had no marital relations with her until she had given birth to a son, and he named him Jesus.
Response to the Scripture Reading Amy Noon
For the Word of God we hear in scripture,
for the Word of God we encounter among us,
and for the Word of God at work within us,
Thanks be to God.
Sermon “Voices of Advent: The Voices of Angels and Prophets ” Rev. John Hill
Musical Reflection
Pastoral Prayer Rev. John Hill
The Lord’s Prayer
Invitation to Offer Tithes and Gifts
https://onrealm.org/CrievewoodUMC/Give
Offertory “Christmastime” Crievewood Choir
Doxology (UMH #95)
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise God, all creatures here below;
praise God, above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Invitation to Discipleship
Closing Hymn “Angels We Have Heard on High” (UMH #238)
Angels we have heard on high
sweetly singing o’er the plains,
and the mountains in reply
echoing their joyous strains.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
which inspire your heavenly song?
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ whose birth the angels sing;
come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
See him in a manger laid,
whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
while our hearts in love we raise.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Benediction Rev. John Hill
Benediction Song “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice” (UMH #224, first half of verse 1 and second half of verse 3)
Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
give ye heed to what we say:
News, news!
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!