Service Sunday December 21, 2025

HIGHLAND HILLS UNITED CHURCH

Minden, Ontario

All are Welcome!

Watch a video recording using YouTube below.

Fourth Sunday of Advent - Love

Worship Leader: Rev. Max Ward

Music Director: Melissa Stephens

(For a Printer Friendly PDF version click this link)

The Gathering

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF LAND:

The United Church of Canada acknowledges that its buildings and ministries, from coast to coast to coast, are on traditional territories of Indigenous Peoples. In this pastoral charge, we gather on the ancestral territory of the Nishnaabeg, with whom Treaty 20 and the Williams Treaties were signed. Creator God, as we come together in worship, gathered on this territory, keep us mindful of the covenants that have been broken with First Nations Peoples. Be with us as we strive to work toward respectful relationships with Indigenous Peoples.

THE APPROACH

CALL TO WORSHIP:

One: In this fourth week of Advent, we honour God’s gift of love.

ALL: We mark the time leading to Christmas with light.

One: We honour Jesus’ birth; a light in our shadows.

ALL: Where the world groans in loneliness, sadness, or hate, our God responds with love, with joy.

One: We worship in love, seeking to be people of love.

ALL: Christ be our light and our love always.

Written by Elaine Bidgood Sveet, Zion Lutheran Church, Minot, North Dakota

Gathering, Pentecost 2 2025, p.28. Used with permission

CHOIR “Simply Waiting”

ADVENT CANDLE-LIGHTING LITANY:

One: Today is the fourth Sunday in Advent. Last week we lit the first three candles in our Advent wreath, the candles that represent our hope, our desire for peace, and the joy of our hearts.

(Relighting the Candles of Hope, Peace and Joy)

One: Today we light the fourth candle, the candle that represents love. We live in a world longing for love: a love that recognizes each one of us as a child of God, a love that welcomes us as we are, a love that celebrates all that we are.

All: Knowing the need for love in our own lives and in our world, we light this candle as a symbol of love promised in the coming of Jesus

(The candle of Love lit.)

ADVENT HYMN: “A Candle Is Burning” VU #6 – verses 4

4. A candle is burning, a candle of love,

a candle to point us to heaven above,

a baby for Christmas, a wonderful birth,

for Jesus is bringing God’s love to our Earth

LESSONS & CAROLS

First Lesson from Genesis 3: 8–15; 17–19

God tells sinful Adam that he has lost the life of Paradise and that his seed will bruise the serpent’s head.

HYMN: “O Come , O Come Emmanuel” VU #1

1 O come, O come, Emmanuel,

and ransom captive Israel

that mourns in lowly exile here

until the Son of God appear.

Refrain Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

shall come to thee, O Israel.

2 O come, O Wisdom from on high,

who orders all things mightily;

to us the path of knowledge show,

and teach us in her ways to go. Refrain

3 O come, O come, great God of might,

who to your tribes on Sinai's height

in ancient times once gave the law

in cloud, and majesty, and awe. Refrain

4 O come, O Rod of Jesse's stem,

from every foe deliver them

that trust your mighty power to save,

and give them victory o'er the grave. Refrain

5 O come, O Key of David, come,

and open wide our heavenly home;

make safe the way that leads on high,

and close the path to misery. Refrain

6 O come, O Dayspring, from on high,

and cheer us by your drawing nigh;

disperse the gloomy clouds of night,

and death's dark shadows put to flight. Refrain

7 O come, Desire of nations, bind

all peoples in one heart and mind;

O bid our sad divisions cease,

and be for us the Prince of Peace. Refrain

Second Lesson from Genesis 22: 15–18

God promises to faithful Abraham that in his seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.

Third Lesson from Isaiah 9: 2; 6–7

The prophet foretells the coming of the Saviour.

CHOIR: “Prepare the Way of the Lord”

Fourth Lesson from Isaiah 11: 1–3a; 4a; 6–9

The peace that Christ will bring is foreshown.

Fifth Lesson from the Gospel of Luke 1: 26–35; 38

The angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary.

HYMN: “There’s a Voice in the Wilderness” VU #18

There's a voice in the wilderness crying,

a call from the ways untrod: prepare in the desert a highway,

a highway for our God! The valleys shall be exalted,

the lofty hills brought low; make straight all the crooked places

where God, our God, may go!

2 O Zion, that bringest good tidings,

get thee up to the heights and sing! Proclaim to a desolate people

the coming of their King. Like the flowers of the field they perish,

like grass our works decay; the power and pomp of nations

shall pass, like a dream, away.

3 But the word of our God endureth,

whose arm is ever strong; God stands in the midst of nations,

and soon will right the wrong. God shall feed the flock like a shepherd,

the lambs so gently hold; to pastures of peace will lead them,

and bring them safe to fold.

4 There's a voice in the wilderness crying,

a call from the ways untrod: prepare in the desert a highway,

a highway for our God! The valleys shall be exalted,

the lofty hills brought low; make straight all the crooked places

where God, our God, may go!

Sixth Lesson from Luke 2: 1; 3–7

St Luke tells of the birth of Jesus.

Seventh Lesson from Luke 2: 8–16

The shepherds go to the manger.

CHOIR: “Over in Bethlehem”

Eighth Lesson from the Gospel of Matthew 2: 1–12

The wise men are led by the star to Jesus.

HYMN: “Hark the Glad Sound” VU #29

1 Hark, the glad sound! The Saviour comes,

the Saviour promised long: let every heart prepare a throne,

and every voice a song.

2 He comes, the prisoners to release

in Satan's bondage held; the gates of brass before him burst,

the iron fetters yield.

3 He comes, the broken heart to bind,

the bleeding soul to cure, and with the treasures of his grace

to bless the humble poor.

4 Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,

your welcome shall proclaim; and heaven's eternal arches ring

with your beloved name.

Ninth Lesson from the Gospel of John 1: 1–14

St John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation.

CHOIR “Glory to God in the Highest”

OUR RESPONSE

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE and

THE LORD’S PRAYER: (sung VU #960)

PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY PRAYER: In Unison

We never know, living Christ, whether what we offer is enough. Still, we present these gifts for your work in the world, trusting that you will bless them—and us—for your purpose. May these gifts seed new life springing out of old stumps. Amen.

Written by Gord Dunbar, while at Kincardine P.C., Kincardine, Ont.

Gathering, Pentecost 2 2025, p.30. Used with permission

CHOIR: “Give Your Heart at Christmas”

SENDING FORTH:

A TIME OF FELLOWSHIP

Valid for: 26/10/2025 - 25/10/2026; One License - Copyright Cleared Music for Churches.