December 21, 2025
SUNDAY OF LOVE!
FOURTH 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: Joan Sheddan
Candlelighter: Michael Rainey
“I have heard it said, ‘angels don’t have feet – have no need of them’…not true!
I have watched the ground and know the feet of angels: the ones that carry prayers are calloused and dust covered and streaked with a thousand tears…
they surround each of us with their gossamer gifts of love.”
Gathering
(*Indicates that you may stand if you are able…)
PRELUDE
INTROIT MV # 158 “Dream a Dream”
WELCOMING INTO THE LIGHT
LIGHTING OF THE CHRISTMAS WREATH CANDLES
Leader: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God.
: In the beginning is our hope, and hope is in God.
Leader: On the last Sunday of November, we lit a candle of hope which symbolizes 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
Leader: Isaiah, the prophet, spoke of the Wonderful Counsellor, the Prince of Peace
Michael: and his authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace.
Leader: So, this morning, let us not forget to celebrate our inner peace and to also seek peace for the world.
Michael: Let peace embrace all of creation, winding like a ribbon until it enfolds the complete earth.
Leader: So 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
Leader: God delights us with wonder and blessing each morning.
Michael: God brings smiles to our faces and joy to our sleepy souls.
Leader: Let our delight burst forth with the birth of new life today.
Michael: Let our candle of joy reflect our desire for inward happiness.
(The third candle, the candle of JOY is lit…)
ALL sing: VU #7 “Hope Is a Star” verse #3
Leader: So now we have before us in the Advent wreath the candle of Love. Love feeds our souls and makes our lives hopeful, peaceful, and full of joy.
Michael: As fellow travelers on the road, we want to love everything in our lives: family, our home, our church, our job, our pets, and our world.
Leader: So, we pray for hope, for peace, we pray for joy…and we pray that we can take the time to feel the love of God surrounding, uplifting, and supporting each of us.
Michael: As this candle is lit, may it remind us of the love which makes our lives complete and our deepest caring for each other.
(The fourth candle, the candle of LOVE is lit…)
ALL sing: VU #7 “Hope Is a Star” verse #4
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.
OPENING CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)
Leader: As morning sun separates the horizon, night from day, light from shadows,
ALL: we assemble to hear the ancient story told again this year,
Leader: a story of God’s love burning brightly
ALL: into a waiting world; a spark of new life that unites us with God’s love.
Leader: So come, all ye faithful; come, all ye doubtful. Come, all ye hopeful and weary, all ye tired and expectant. Come be open to the presence of the Holy One finding you at home and finding a home in you.
ALL: Breathe in the Holy Spirit…breathe out all that clutters and distracts.
Leader: Breathe in the Holy Spirit…breathe out all that clutters and distracts.
ALL: Breathe in the Holy Spirit…breathe out all that clutters and distracts……We are as ready as we can be right now – and God is with us.
Leader: So may we open ourselves to the living God with the words of our opening prayer:
Opening Prayer (Unison)
O Loving and ever so Gracious God, we have come together awaiting the birth of peace on Earth, goodwill to all people. This we seek and pray for, time and time again. Bless us with your love and grace on this day and forevermore, we pray. Help us to open our hearts to others: family, friends, strangers – neighbours all, even as you welcome us into your loving presence. Help us to give of ourselves, we pray, in new relationships and in old, that we may reflect your love and peace and grace. Help us to love, cherish, and share, and to be both loving and loved, today, tomorrow, and forever.
O come, O come, Emmanuel…Amen.
(George Allan, Chatham, Ont., Gathering magazine, A/C/E 2025/2026, pg. 28)
ASSURANCE of PARDON: (Leader)
The Christmas carol sings, “Joy to the world! The Lord is come: let earth receive her King! Let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing.” Indeed, let your heart sing on this day….Have love….
Be at peace….Be filled with hope…Amen.
CHOIR SELECTIION “Carol of The Bells”
MEDITATION: (Unison)
Christmas is more than twinkling lights and wrapped gifts—it’s a sacred reminder of God’s love made visible through the birth of Jesus Christ. For us, it’s a season to pause, reflect, and realign our hearts with the hope, peace, and joy that came into the world that holy night. In a world often shadowed by fear, uncertainty, and division, Christ’s birth is a beacon of hope. His light still pierces the darkness, calling us to be bearers of that same light in our families, communities, and beyond. Christmas is the celebration of Emmanuel—God with us. It’s a reminder that God’s love is not distant or abstract, but personal, present, and transformative.
CHILDREN’S PAGEANT
Engaging the Sacred Text
(Reader: Joan Shedden)
FIRST SCRIPTURE
ISAIAH 7:10-16 (554) The sign of Emmanuel…
SECOND SCRIPTURE
LUKE 1:46-565 (832) Mary’s Magnificat (Song of Praise)…
HYMN of ILLUMINATION VU # 71 “’Twas in the Moon of Wintertime”
GOSPEL PASSAGE
MATTHEW 1:18-25 (783) Joseph’s dream…
SERMON / MESSAGE / HOMILY “The Perfect Christmas”
Responding
OFFERING INVITATION (Leader)
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 now present our morning offering.
(Bill Steadman, Goulais River U.C., Goulais River, Ont. Gathering magazine, pg. 31)
ADVENT OFFERING CHOIR MUSICAL SELECTION
“I Wonder as I Wander” by: Kyle Peterson
PRAYER of DEDICATION (Rev. Jope)
CLOSING WORDS (Dancing God ) (Leader)
LORD’S PRAYER
Blessing
COMMISSIONING (unison)
And now into a waiting world we go, waiting for the birth of that child who will change the world, waiting for the spirit of Christmas to descend, finding, in the midst of all the frantic activity, a quiet place to pray, hoping for the peace the season promises. God is in charge and comes to us in love, to hold us and keep us all our days…Amen.
*HYMN VU # 73 “The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy”
BLESSING (Rev. Jope)
RECESSIONAL
POSTLUDE MUSIC
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SCRIPTURE PASSAGES for SUNDAY, December 24
Christmas Eve
ISAIAH 9:2-7
LUKE 2:1-7
LUKE 2:8-14
LUKE 2:15-19