December 7, 2025

Advent 2025

Week 2: Peace Theme: Generosity and Gratitude

Matthew 3:1-12, CEB

Worship

Oh, Come All Ye faithful

Welcome

In the season of Advent, we remember how, for many years and centuries, the people of God waited for the long-prophesied Messiah, who eventually arrived through the birth of Jesus.  The word Advent means “coming” or “arrival.”  During this season, as the people of God, we assume a posture of waiting and preparation. 

 This Advent season, we invite you to join us in embodying the spiritual practice of Living Generously. By committing to “Generous living,” it guides us toward curiosity, gratitude, and openness to participate in the movement of God’s Spirit.  Together, let us embrace the season of Advent with reflection on how we can practice generosity in our lives.

Advent Candle Reading - Lighting of the Candles

In a world often driven by the urge to maintain the status quo, we choose instead to pursue God’s peace. We choose to listen to the voices calling us toward righteousness and to open ourselves to God’s refining grace, that we might be shaped to reflect God’s love throughout the earth.

Today, we light the candles—the Candle of Hope and the Candle of Peace—to signify to the world a declaration to hold fast to hope and peace, for Emmanuel—God with us—is near.

May this Candle of Peace remind us of our commitment to pursue peace—in our own hearts, in our families, in our community, and throughout the world—until God’s kingdom comes on earth as it is in heaven. 

Lighting of the Candles

Let’s Pray Together:

Christ, our Peace, remind us to prepare for your coming.

Teach us to watch for the signs,
to listen for the messengers,
to live expectantly for the Good News
breaking into our neighborhoods, our world, and our lives.

Christ, our Peace,
help us clear the way for you—
to release the clutter of our minds,
and the pace of hurry that crowds our lives.

Where we have sinned,
move us toward repentance.
And for those who have harmed us,
may your light break through
so that all might be made new in Christ.

On this Sunday of peace, we look to you, the source of peace,
may your peace take root
in our community, our world, and our lives. Amen.

Call & Response Prayer

Jesus, we await your coming,

We wait, filled with hope,

Knowing your light will shine in the darkness.

We wait, anticipating your peace,

Believing that one day, it will fill our world.

We wait, embracing your love,

May we reach out to share it with our neighbors.

We wait with joy,

Bubbling up within us in expectation of your birth.

Lord, as we wait,

fill us with your peace and guide us to extend this peace to others.

Amen.

Communion Call & Response Reading

As Jesus requested,
the table has been prepared,
and all are welcome at the meal.
So come, each of you, all of you, come to the table:
Those, like Peter, with more enthusiasm than resolve,
Come to the table;
Those, like James and John, dismayed by Kingdom priorities,
Come to the table;
Those, like Mary, full of love and grief,
Come to the table;
Those, like Martha, struggling for faith in the face of despair,
Come to the table;
Those, like Judas, disillusioned and rebellious,
Come to the table.
Jesus offers the bread and the cup to all.

Prayer of Confession

Holy God,
Forgive our deceptions, of others and of ourselves.
Forgive our greed.

Forgive our lack of generosity.
Forgive our tendency to name those who are different as the enemy.
Forgive our failure to embody Your love.

Assurance of Pardon 

The bread is offered to each person at the table. The cup is given to all for the forgiveness of sins. It is through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ that we receive forgiveness. Amen

Communion Instructions

Communion

Prayer

Invitation for Connection

As we have been welcomed by Christ at this table, let us now turn to welcome one another by sharing the peace we have received by saying, “God’s Peace be with you.”

(pause for a moment for peace to be offered)

After sharing a message of peace, Children are invited to go upstairs for the Children's Ministry.

Announcements

Living Well Through Advent: Practicing Generosity with All Your Heart, Mind and Soul is a free daily devotional offering thoughtful writings and reflection questions to ponder this Advent season.  Pick up a copy at the back table or download a PDF from the WHCC Digital Newsletter.

Youth & Children’s Ministry Advent Devotional, The Will to Dream calls us into holy longing—a sacred desire for a world made whole. Rooted in prophetic imagination, this Advent–Epiphany series guides families in practices and reflections to confront despair, embody justice, and claim hope as a radical act. Together, we learn to dream not as escape, but as spiritual resistance—shaped by the visions of Isaiah, the song of Mary, and the stories surrounding Jesus’ birth.

Next Sunday is Embodiment Sunday! You are invited to attend the Sounds of Christmas from 6–7 pm, as we gather for a night filled with live Christmas music and personal stories of what this season means to us. Together, we’ll reflect on the hope, peace, joy, and love that echo through the Christmas story.

Christmas Eve Service

You are invited to spend Christmas Eve at Wellington Heights Community Church to celebrate the Good News of God-with-us.  Service begins at 4 PM and will include Silent Night by Candlelight. Nursery and Children’s Ministry will be available (6 months-5th grade)

We are looking for 2 volunteers on Christmas Eve to assist with setting up extra chairs as needed and dimming the lights for Silent Night.  

Please email stephanie@wellingtonheightscommunitychurch.org if you are available to help from 3:30-5 PM.  

Scripture Reading

Matthew 3:1-12, CEB

3 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the desert of Judea announcing, 2 “Change your hearts and lives! Here comes the kingdom of heaven!” 3 He was the one of whom Isaiah the prophet spoke when he said:

The voice of one shouting in the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight.”

4 John wore clothes made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. 5 People from Jerusalem, throughout Judea, and all around the Jordan River came to him. 6 As they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. 7 Many Pharisees and Sadducees came to be baptized by John. He said to them, “You children of snakes! Who warned you to escape from the angry judgment that is coming soon? 8 Produce fruit that shows you have changed your hearts and lives. 9 And don’t even think about saying to yourselves, Abraham is our father. I tell you that God is able to raise up Abraham’s children from these stones. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be chopped down and tossed into the fire. 11 I baptize with water those of you who have changed your hearts and lives. The one who is coming after me is stronger than I am. I’m not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 The shovel he uses to sift the wheat from the husks is in his hands. He will clean out his threshing area and bring the wheat into his barn. But he will burn the husks with a fire that can’t be put out.”

Sermon 

Pr. Stephanie 

Worship

Your Peace Will Make Us One

Worship

What A Time

Benediction

Looking Ahead