Instrumentalists: Steve & Karen
Announcements & Call to Worship (Behold)
Congregation
Behold
Advent Reading- Hope
Scott & Heather
O Come O Come Emmanuel
Come Thou Long Expected
Grace Giving
Sing We the Song of Emmanuel
Angels We Have Heard on High
O Come All Ye Unfaithful
Steve
Message
Congregation
Unbelievable
Reader 1 : 1 Peter 1:3-5 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
Reader 2: (vs 6 -7) In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Reader 1: (vs 8-9) Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Today, we light the first candle of Advent, the candle of hope. This flame represents the growing anticipation and radiant hope within us. As we light this candle, may our hearts ignite with the flame of hope, illuminating our path through this Advent season.
Reader 2: In a world marred by brokenness, we hold on to hope anchored in the promise of a Messiah – the hope that dwelled in the hearts of those waiting for His arrival. These ancient words of the prophet Isaiah, spoken centuries before they came to pass, gave hope and promise:
Reader 1: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel.”
Reader 2: It was a promise of salvation and a promise of God’s very presence with us.
Reader 1: Jesus, the fulfillment of this promise, arrived as Emmanuel, God with us. Through His birth, life, death, and resurrection, He offers us the hope of redemption and eternal life. In Him, we find peace, strength, and the confident assurance that our hope is not in vain.
Reader 2: As we journey through this Advent season, let’s hold on to the hope found only in Christ. Despite the challenges we face, our hope remains secure because of the unwavering love and faithfulness of our God.
Reader 1: Let us together thank our heavenly Father for the hope we have in Jesus Christ. As we set out on this Advent journey, let your hearts be filled with eager anticipation and renewed hope. Fix your gaze on Him, who is our hope, our joy, and our ultimate source of fulfillment. Allow him to Guide you through this season, and empower you to share the hope of Christ with others.