December 7, 2025
SUNDAY OF PEACE
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
A Service of Prayer, of Song, of Meditation, and of Coming Together Soon, to Witness the Birth of Jesus
Lead Minister: The Rev. Jope Langejans
Music Director: Cody Obst
Minister Emeritus: Rev. Gerry Scharff
Honorary Associate Ministers: Rev. Clint Mooney & Rev. Kelley Warner
Chair of Council: Vacant
Reader: Murray Rose
Candlelighter: Craig Cheffins
Special Musical Guests: Horizon Ridge
“How does God make us?...GOD MAKES US FRIENDS…for friendship is life that is shared; shared without insisting upon rights, though not denying them. Shared with respect and love for self to set the standard and starting point for that greater love that risks the self that God has given. This brings peace – both inner and outer.”
Gathering
(*Indicates that you may stand if you are able…)
PRELUDE
INTROIT VU # 22 “Wait for the Lord”
(We will sing this together 3 or 4 times as a centreing hymn…)
WELCOMING INTO THE LIGHT
LIGHTING OF THE CHRISTMAS WREATH CANDLES:
Rev. Jope: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God.
Craig Cheffins: In the beginning is our hope, and hope is in God.
Rev. Jope: This Advent season began with the lighting of the candle of hope which symbolized our hope for this season of shorter days and longer nights. With this in mind, we light the candle of hope…
(The first candle, the candle of HOPE is lit…)
ALL sing VU #7 “Hope Is a Star” verse #1
Rev. Jope: Isaiah spoke of the Wonderful Counsellor, the Prince of Peace.
Craig Cheffins: His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace.
Rev. Jope: Let us celebrate our inner peace and seek peace for the world.
Craig Cheffins: Let peace embrace creation, winding like a ribbon until it enfolds the earth.
Rev. Jope: And now we light the candle of Peace and put our trust in ourselves that we will live peaceful lives.
(The second candle, the candle of PEACE is lit…)
ALL sing: VU #7 “Hope Is a Star” verse #2
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ACKNOWLEDGING THE TERRITORY (Unison)
We acknowledge the traditional territories and the value of the traditional and current oral practices of the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Tsuut’ina and Stoney Nakoda Nations, the Metis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.
A GIFT OF SONG – HORIZON RIDGE “God Bless Us Everyone”
A TIME FOR OUR CHILDREN
OPENING CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)
Leader: We have lit the candle of peace and as people of hope, we may hope for peace in many different places in our worlds.
ALL: We pray for peace in our world, of course, but we also pray for peace much closer to home. We wish for peace in our hearts and souls, and that means giving up most of the guilt we sometimes feel at this time of year.
Leader: We spend endless energy worrying about giving everyone in our family a perfect Christmas, and so often, we lose sight of the fact that we need one, too. We need to feel peace in our homes.
ALL: And so, we have lit the candle of peace to remind us of the need for peace in our souls, peace in our bodies, peace for our sense of responsibility, and peace for our lives.
Leader: This Sunday sets us into December and may we all be ready to herald a new dawning, a new birthing, and a new sense of peace in a sometimes-frantic world.
ALL: The days are drawing near; the journey to Bethlehem continues. On our path so far, we have found hope and today we proclaim peace as we gather as God’s people.
Leader: We now settle ourselves in this moment and offer a word of prayer:
Opening Prayer (Unison)
We live in a world where peace seems like a distant dream, O God. And so, we pray – not just for the absence of violence and conflict, but for the deep peace of knowing and trusting your will and your way. As the darkness and coldness of December sets in, we trust that the light and the warmth of your Holy Spirit will enfold us and remind us of the shalom that is to come and the shalom that is already within us. And now we use these words which come from the Australian national release of the Decade to Overcome Violence:
God of reconciling love, whose covenant with us is an everlasting covenant, and whose peace passes all our understanding, release, we pray, the dove of peace in our hearts and lives; pour out your love upon your warring children; touch with your healing Spirit the violent places of our world; enable us to link our hands in your service, and lead us in ways of true and lasting reconciliation, now and forever…Amen.
ASSURANCE of PARDON: (Leader)
Like the unconditional love of a tiny baby holding its arms out for a hug, so Jesus holds out arms of forgiving welcome to all of us. In that tiny embrace, we find ourselves once again made whole and truly fulfilled – never alone but always accompanied by a spirted companion… Emmanuel…thanks be to God!
*HYMN: VU # 40 “Before the Marvel of This Night”
(At the end of each stanza, please sing: “sing peace, sing peace,
sing gift of peace, sing peace, sing gift of peace.”)
MEDITATION: (Unison)
The Advent flame begins to glow,
A light of hope the world will know.
It stirs the heart, it lights the way,
For Christ, the gift of Christmas Day.
Its steady glow, a guiding beam,
Through nights of doubt, it casts a dream
Each spark reminds, "No need for fear,
The Jesus’ love is always near."
Engaging the Sacred Text
(Reader: Murray Rose)
FIRST SCRIPTURE
ISAIAH 11:1-10 (558) The peaceable reign of God…
SECOND SCRIPTURE
ROMANS 15: 4-13 (924) The root of Jesse and hope of the Gentiles…
A GIFT OF SONG – HORIZON RIDGE “The Gift”
GOSPEL PASSAGE
MATTHEW 3:1-12 (784) (Rev. Jope) John the Baptist preaches…
SERMON / MESSAGE / HOMILY “There is Peace in Sharing”
Responding
OFFERING INVITATION (Leader)
During this season, we are focused on gifts – the gifts we find for others, the gifts we receive under the tree, the gifts of love and caring that are shared among strangers for the good of all, and the gift of the Holy Child. Let us now thing about the ways that we ourselves share gifts of time, prayer, financial gifts, 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. (Bill Steadman, Goulais River U.C., Goulais River, Ont. Gathering magazine, Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, 2025-2026, Year A, pg. 31)
A GIFT OF SONG – HORIZON RIDGE “Let There Be Peace on earth”
PRAYER of DEDICATION (Rev. Jope)
CHRISTMAS PRAYER for PEACE AROUND the WORLD (Unison)
Loving Creator,
In this holy season of light and hope, we lift our hearts to You.
Where there is conflict, sow seeds of understanding.
Where there is sorrow, pour out comfort.
Where there is fear, breathe courage and calm.
Bless leaders with wisdom to choose compassion over division.
Strengthen communities to stand together in kindness.
Wrap every hurting soul in the warmth of Your love,
so that peace may take root in every heart, home, and nation.
May this Christmas be a turning point—
a season where love overcomes hatred,
and unity blossoms across the earth….Amen.
Blessing
COMMISSIONING (unison):
In this Advent season, prepare a place for peace inside you. Be ready to speak peace, act peace, and imagine peace. Live out your baptism as you wait for the Prince of Peace…Amen.
*HYMN VU # 28 “Herald! Sound the Note of Gladness”
BLESSING (Rev. Jope)
RECESSIONAL
POSTLUDE MUSIC
************************************************************************************************
SCRIPTURE PASSAGES for SUNDAY, December 14
Third sunday of advent - Joy
ISAIAH 35:1-10
PSALM 146:5-10 or LUKE 1:46b-55
JAMES 5:7-10
MATTHEW 11:2-11