Embedded Files
We gather for worship on Sunday mornings at 11:00 AM.
We gather for worship on Sunday mornings at 11:00 AM.
Middleton United Methodist Church Liturgy
Middleton United Methodist Church Liturgy
Updated for Sunday, December 21st, 2025 [Advent 7 - Emmanuel (Love)]
Updated for Sunday, December 21st, 2025 [Advent 7 - Emmanuel (Love)]
Prelude - Debbie
Prelude - Debbie
Welcome/Announcements - Pastor Mary Beth
Welcome/Announcements - Pastor Mary Beth
Gathering Hymn - The Friendly Beasts (UMH #227) - Debbie
Gathering Hymn - The Friendly Beasts (UMH #227) - Debbie
Passing the Peace/Call to Worship - John Mathiasen
Passing the Peace/Call to Worship - John Mathiasen
One: May the peace of the Lord be with you!
One: May the peace of the Lord be with you!
Many: And also with you!
Many: And also with you!
One: Come, O Emmanuel; our God, who is love, with us; the expectation and Savior of the nations!
One: Come, O Emmanuel; our God, who is love, with us; the expectation and Savior of the nations!
Many: Hallelujah! Come quickly, Lord Jesus, and teach us to love!
Many: Hallelujah! Come quickly, Lord Jesus, and teach us to love!
Opening Prayer (in unison) - John Mathiasen
Opening Prayer (in unison) - John Mathiasen
We call upon the promised Christ, who bears the names of salvation: O Emmanuel, God with us! Fulfill the hopes of all the ages in our midst. Stir our souls to watchfulness and joy, so that when we finally greet the infant Christ, we may truly receive you, our Savior, into the world and into our hearts. Come, Lord Jesus! Amen.
We call upon the promised Christ, who bears the names of salvation: O Emmanuel, God with us! Fulfill the hopes of all the ages in our midst. Stir our souls to watchfulness and joy, so that when we finally greet the infant Christ, we may truly receive you, our Savior, into the world and into our hearts. Come, Lord Jesus! Amen.
Sing together - Glory be to the Father (UMH #70)
Sing together - Glory be to the Father (UMH #70)
Scripture Reading - John Mathiasen
Scripture Reading - John Mathiasen
God, open our hearts and minds, that as the scriptures are read and your Word proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today.
God, open our hearts and minds, that as the scriptures are read and your Word proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today.
God of love, may Jesus, Emmanuel and son of Mary, be more than just a dream in our hearts. With the apostles, prophets, and saints, save us, restore us, and lead us in the way of grace and peace, that we may bear your promise into the world. And all the beloved said: Amen.
God of love, may Jesus, Emmanuel and son of Mary, be more than just a dream in our hearts. With the apostles, prophets, and saints, save us, restore us, and lead us in the way of grace and peace, that we may bear your promise into the world. And all the beloved said: Amen.
Scripture Reading - Romans 1:1-7 (NASB)
Scripture Reading - Romans 1:1-7 (NASB)
Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for his name’s sake, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for his name’s sake, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
One: For the wisdom and the challenge in these ancient voices,
One: For the wisdom and the challenge in these ancient voices,
Many: We give our thanks!
Many: We give our thanks!
Advent Candle Liturgy - John Mathiasen
Advent Candle Liturgy - John Mathiasen
As we light this seventh Advent candle, we remember that the God who became incarnate and dwelt among us in the flesh of Jesus is the same God who is with us now in the presence of the Holy Spirit. As we light this candle, our prayer is that we may begin to see where the Spirit is at work among us even now.
As we light this seventh Advent candle, we remember that the God who became incarnate and dwelt among us in the flesh of Jesus is the same God who is with us now in the presence of the Holy Spirit. As we light this candle, our prayer is that we may begin to see where the Spirit is at work among us even now.
O Antiphon Hymn - O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Emmanuel verse) - James
O Antiphon Hymn - O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Emmanuel verse) - James
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Lectionary Hymn - O Little Town of Bethlehem (UMH #230) - Debbie
Lectionary Hymn - O Little Town of Bethlehem (UMH #230) - Debbie
Prayers of the People - Pastor Mary Beth
Prayers of the People - Pastor Mary Beth
O God of Elizabeth and Mary, you visited your servants with news of the world’s redemption in the coming of the Savior. Make our hearts leap with joy, and fill our mouths with songs of praise, that we may announce glad tidings of peace, and welcome the Christ in our midst.
O God of Elizabeth and Mary, you visited your servants with news of the world’s redemption in the coming of the Savior. Make our hearts leap with joy, and fill our mouths with songs of praise, that we may announce glad tidings of peace, and welcome the Christ in our midst.
Beloved, as we joyfully await the glorious coming of the Christ, let us pray for the needs of the church, our community, and the world.
Beloved, as we joyfully await the glorious coming of the Christ, let us pray for the needs of the church, our community, and the world.
Are there any requests?
Are there any requests?
(The congregation is invited to speak their requests. After each request is spoken, we all respond in unison. For prayer requests, we respond, “Lord, hear our prayer.” For praises, we respond, “Lord, we lift this praise.”)
(The congregation is invited to speak their requests. After each request is spoken, we all respond in unison. For prayer requests, we respond, “Lord, hear our prayer.” For praises, we respond, “Lord, we lift this praise.”)
God of promise, you have given us a sign of your love through the gift of Jesus Christ, our Savior, who was promised from ages past. We believe the message of your presence, proclaimed by the priests and the prophets, and offer our prayers for your world, confident of your care and mercy for all creation. And all the beloved said: Amen.
God of promise, you have given us a sign of your love through the gift of Jesus Christ, our Savior, who was promised from ages past. We believe the message of your presence, proclaimed by the priests and the prophets, and offer our prayers for your world, confident of your care and mercy for all creation. And all the beloved said: Amen.
(A moment for silent prayers)
(A moment for silent prayers)
And now let us pray the prayer the Lord taught all the disciples to pray. Let’s be so bold as to say:
And now let us pray the prayer the Lord taught all the disciples to pray. Let’s be so bold as to say:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed by thy name;
Hallowed by thy name;
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil;
But deliver us from evil;
For thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory, now and forever. Amen.
For thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory, now and forever. Amen.
Prayer for Today’s Offering
Prayer for Today’s Offering
Holy God, in this season of Advent anticipation, we bring these gifts. Awaken us, Lord, to your coming, not just in the past, but in this present moment. Help us to use these resources—and the very hours of our lives—to prepare a way for your peace. May these offerings be a tangible sign of our hope, dedicated to seeking your presence in the most unlikely places. And all the beloved said: Amen.
Holy God, in this season of Advent anticipation, we bring these gifts. Awaken us, Lord, to your coming, not just in the past, but in this present moment. Help us to use these resources—and the very hours of our lives—to prepare a way for your peace. May these offerings be a tangible sign of our hope, dedicated to seeking your presence in the most unlikely places. And all the beloved said: Amen.
Doxology - Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow (UMH #95) - James
Doxology - Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow (UMH #95) - James
Prayer Hymn - Come Thou Long Expected Jesus (UMH #196) - James
Prayer Hymn - Come Thou Long Expected Jesus (UMH #196) - James
Sermon: Isaiah 7:10-16 (CEB) - Pastor Mary Beth
Sermon: Isaiah 7:10-16 (CEB) - Pastor Mary Beth
Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: “Ask a sign from the Lord your God. Make it as deep as the grave or as high as heaven.”
Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: “Ask a sign from the Lord your God. Make it as deep as the grave or as high as heaven.”
But Ahaz said, “I won’t ask; I won’t test the Lord.”
But Ahaz said, “I won’t ask; I won’t test the Lord.”
Then Isaiah said, “Listen, house of David! Isn’t it enough for you to be tiresome for people that you are also tiresome before my God? Therefore, the Lord will give you a sign. The young woman is pregnant and is about to give birth to a son, and she will name him Immanuel. He will eat butter and honey, and learn to reject evil and choose good.
Then Isaiah said, “Listen, house of David! Isn’t it enough for you to be tiresome for people that you are also tiresome before my God? Therefore, the Lord will give you a sign. The young woman is pregnant and is about to give birth to a son, and she will name him Immanuel. He will eat butter and honey, and learn to reject evil and choose good.
One: For the wisdom and the challenge held within these ancient voices,
One: For the wisdom and the challenge held within these ancient voices,
Many: We give our thanks!
Many: We give our thanks!
Sermon Hymn - Light of the World (Lauren Daigle) - James
Sermon Hymn - Light of the World (Lauren Daigle) - James
Benediction - Pastor Mary Beth
Benediction - Pastor Mary Beth
One: As you go from this place, may you magnify the Lord with your whole life, and may you trust in the promise that God fills the hungry with good things and casts down the arrogant from their thrones. Go forth now, empowered by the Christ who comes, to live in the hope of the unexpected Kingdom. And may the blessing of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with you always. Amen.
One: As you go from this place, may you magnify the Lord with your whole life, and may you trust in the promise that God fills the hungry with good things and casts down the arrogant from their thrones. Go forth now, empowered by the Christ who comes, to live in the hope of the unexpected Kingdom. And may the blessing of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with you always. Amen.
Sending Hymn: Song of Hope (TFWS #2186) - Debbie & James
Sending Hymn: Song of Hope (TFWS #2186) - Debbie & James
Postlude - James
Postlude - James
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