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Third Sunday of Advent
December 14, 2025
(Shepherds/Joy)
Welcome and Announcements
Gathering the Family Together
The Shepherds Danced
- MEN: Born a baby boy. WOMEN: Hallelujah!
Jesus is our joy. Hallelujah!
Refrain: MEN: The angels sang and the shepherds danced
and the prophets wept for joy.
WOMEN: The angels sang and the shepherds danced
and the prophets wept for joy.
- MEN: Helpless little one. WOMEN: Hallelujah!
God’s almighty Son Hallelujah!
Repeat Refrain
- MEN: Gift from heaven above. WOMEN: Hallelujah!
Source of peace and love. Hallelujah!
Repeat Refrain
- MEN: Give God thanks and praise. WOMEN: Hallelujah!
Celebrate His ways. Hallelujah!
Repeat Refrain
Ending: ALL: The angels sing. Come and join the dance
and your heart will weep for joy.
The angels sing. Come and join the dance
and your heart will weep for joy.
by Richard Blank
Jesus, Jesus, Oh, What a Wonderful Child
Jesus,---- Jesus,---- Oh,---- What a wonderful Child.
Jesus,---- Jesus,---- So holy,---- Meek, and mild.
New Life,---- New Hope,---- New Joy He brings.
Listen,---- To the angels sing.
“Glory,---- Glory,---- Glory;” to the new-born King!
Call To Worship
Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:15-20
The Preeminence of Christ
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Prayer of Invocation
Advent Proclamation
Leader: Today we light three candles.
The first reminds us of our need for a Savior.
The second reminds us of the promises in God’s Word.
The third reminds us that Jesus is coming soon, and we
must abide in Him so that when He appears we may have
confidence and not shrink from him in shame at His
coming.
Leader: O Key of David, Jesus Christ,
the gates of heaven open at Your command.People: Come and show us the way to salvation.
Declaring What We Believe
Red Hymnal #169 “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer,
Our spirits by Thine advent here.
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, And order all things, far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show, And cause us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
O come, Desire of nations, bind In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease, And be Thyself our King of peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
Latin: c. 9th Century. Tr. John M. Neale & Henry S. Coffin.
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We Respond to God’s Presence
Red Hymnal #182 “How Great Our Joy”
How Great Our Joy!
While by the sheep we watched at night,
Glad tidings brought an angel bright.
How great our joy! Great our joy!
Joy, joy, joy! Joy, joy, joy!
Praise we the Lord in heaven on high!
Praise we the Lord in heaven on high!
There shall be born, so he did say,
In Bethlehem a child today.
How great our joy! Great our joy!
Joy, joy, joy! Joy, joy, joy!
Praise we the Lord in heaven on high!
Praise we the Lord in heaven on high!
There shall the Child lie in a stall,
This Child who shall redeem us all.
How great our joy! Great our joy!
Joy, joy, joy! Joy, joy, joy!
Praise we the Lord in heaven on high!
Praise we the Lord in heaven on high!
This gift of God we’ll cherish well,
That ever joy our hearts shall fill.
How great our joy! Great our joy!
Joy, joy, joy! Joy, joy, joy!
Praise we the Lord in heaven on high!
Praise we the Lord in heaven on high!
German Carol. JUNGST German Melody
Red Hymnal #174 “Lo! How a Rose E’er Blooming”
The First Noel
The first Noel the angels did say,
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the east beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night;
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
And by the light of that same star
Three Wise Men came from a country afar,
To seek for a king was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went;
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
Children’s Lesson
Pastoral Prayer
The basket to receive His tithes and our offerings
is located on the left as you leave the Sanctuary.
We Worship Through Hearing
Today’s Message
Advent Series: What Is Christmas All About?
“Shepherds/Joy: What Is All That Noise?”
Luke 2:8-20
Notes
I. ________________ Shout of Joy.
(Luke 2:8-14)
II. The _________________ Cry of Praise.
(Luke 2:15-20)
III. __________________ Worship to Christ is Born.
We Are Sent Forth in Worship
to Share the Gospel
Angels from the Realms of Glory
Verse 1:
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.
Refrain: Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.
Verse 2:
Shepherds, in the field abiding,
Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing;
Yonder shines the infant light: (Refrain)
Verse 3:
Though an Infant now we view Him,
He shall fill His Father’s throne,
Gather all the nations to Him;
Every knee shall then bow down: (Refrain)
Verse 4:
Lord of Heaven, we adore Thee,
God the Father, God the Son,
God the Spirit, One in glory,
On the same eternal throne.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Lord of Heaven, Three in One.
Benediction
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Bulletin Date: 2025-12-14