9:00AM/10:30AM Services
November 30, 2025
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Sunday, November 30, 2025 9:00AM & 10:30AM
PLEASE SILENCE OR PLACE YOUR CELL PHONE ON VIBRATE.
GATHERING
PRELUDE
WORDS OF WELCOME
MINUTE FOR MISSION Service of Reflection and Healing Hendrick Zitter
ADVENT WREATH CANDLE LIGHTING AND CALL TO WORSHIP
9:00AM The Postma Family 10:30AM Lawrence and Carol Young
Reader 1: Today is the first Sunday in the season of Advent. Advent means “coming,” and in this season we prepare for the coming of Christ. We light the candles on the Advent wreath to remind us of the blessings Christ brings to the world.
Reader 2: Today we light the first candle of the Advent wreath, the candle of HOPE. The scriptures encourage us, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23) Our hope is grounded in the fact that the Lord is faithful, that the Lord has, and will, fulfill His promises. Congregation: “The Hope of Christ sustains us.”
LIGHTING OF THE CANDLE OF HOPE
*PRAYER OF INVOCATION
Reader 1: Let us pray...Gracious and loving God, let your hope arise in our hearts. We lift our eyes to see that our hope comes from You alone. We invite Your Spirit into this beautiful Advent season. Renew our sense of holy anticipation. Let us be people who are waiting eagerly for Jesus to come again. May You be glorified in this season of expectation. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
*HYMN We Gather Together
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Apostles’ Creed)
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, The holy catholic church, The communion of saints, The forgiveness of sins, The resurrection of the body, And the life everlasting. Amen. *GLORY BE TO THE FATHER
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Lord God, we praise You for sending light into this world. We confess that we live as though the light had never defeated darkness. We confess that we ignore the Savior You sent to be among us and to live in us. We’ve kept the birth of your Son confined to the Christmas season and do not yearn for His coming each moment in our waiting hearts. Forgive us for not opening our eyes to Jesus. Prepare us for His return. Help us rejoice in the light so that your grace can illuminate the darkened places of our hearts. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON (1 John 1:9)
Leader: If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Therefore, let us assure one another of God’s pardon.
All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God.
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
Spirit of God, speak once again through the Words of Scripture that our listening ears may hear Your voice. Help us to place Your Word in our minds, treasure it in our hearts, choose it with our wills, and live it through our bodies. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
SCRIPTURE
Leader: This is the word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God!
Romans 15:5-13
ANTHEM Bring Us Hope
Page 1619 Pew Bible
Ruth Elaine Schram Chancel Choir; Gregory Hamilton, cello
Bring us hope, bring us love, bring us peace from above. Bring us hope, bring us love, peace and joy from above. Bring us hope, bring us hope.
Bring us light, take our darkness away. Bring us light, turn our night into day. Bring us hope, bring us love, peace and joy from above. Bring us hope, bring us hope.
CARING BAPTISM (9:00AM)
Beng Wood
Hope to replace our hopelessness, love to refill our emptiness, Peace in the midst of our distress, Oh, how we need Your joy!
Bring us hope, bring us love, bring us peace from above. Bring us hope, bring us love, peace and joy from above. Bring us hope, bring us hope.
RECOGNITION OF NEW MEMBERS (9:00AM) - Richard Coyle, Denny Diehl, Julie Hamblen, Dawn Holmes, Dan Holmes, Jo Baker, Thom Corrigan, Jenine Carpenter, Tom Carpenter, Andy Frew, Ken Wood, Bo Dennis, Vanessa Dennis, Paul Hendrickson, Karen Tuff, Brian Trouette, Ernie Johnson, and Anne Christensen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
OF DEDICATION
*HYMN Now Thank We All Our God SCRIPTURE 1 Peter 3:8-22 Page 1730 Pew Bible
*BENEDICTION & RESPONSE Now unto Him
*POSTLUDE
Poinsettia Envelopes
As we prepare for the Advent and Christmas season, we invite y contribute toward the beautiful poinsettias that will adorn our sanctuary. Envelopes for poinsettia donations can be found in the pews. Your gift may be made in honor or memory of a loved one, yours and their names will be printed in our Christmas bulletin.
Each plant will be $15.00.
Today is the last day to donate. Thank you for helping us celebrate the season with beauty and
October Draft Financials
Net excess receipts $123,779 less $243,501 in depreciation
If you have any questions please contact Bobi Tomlon, Accountant at 480-488-3384 or accounting@deserthills.org
Today’s flowers are given by Marty Foster and family: To Christy, my loving daughter, sister and aunt. You are always in our hearts and minds. Next Sunday Luke 1:26-38 (Mary) and John 14:15-27
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