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Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 21, 2025 10:30 a.m.
(Welcome to worship today. Bold responses are spoken by the congregation.
Note that an * indicates when all are invited to rise in body or in spirit.)
Prelude “Veni Emmanuel” Calvin Hampton
“Interlude and Procession on Veni Emmanuel” Don Stone
Greetings and Announcements Rev. Gregg Neel
This is the day the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
An Act of Praise
Introit “Salvation is Created” Tschesnekov
*Westminster Chimes
Candle of Love
This Advent will be a season of song, and as we prepare to light the Advent candles, we will sing a verse each week of a song written by our own John Goff.
*Invitation to Worship and the Lighting of the Candles
Eliz and Ryan Roser
Ada and Charlie
On this bright morning full of love,
we remember what God’s love looks like:
like God being with us,
like dreams encouraging us to not be afraid,
like being saved from our sins.
On this fourth Sunday in Advent,
we light these candles to remind us of God’s love.
(The candles are lit.)
Let us worship God.
*Hymn #110 “Love Has Come” bring a torch
Love has come: a light in the darkness! Love shines forth in the Bethlehem skies.
See, all heaven has come to proclaim it; hear how their song joy arises:
Love! Love! Born unto you, a Savior! Love! Love! Glory to God on High.
Love is born! Come, share in the wonder. Love is God now asleep in the hay.
See the glow in the eyes of his mother; what is the name her heart is saying?
Love! Love! Love is the name she whispers. Love! Love! Jesus, Emmanuel.
Love has come and never will leave us! Love is life everlasting and free.
Love is Jesus within and among us. Love is the peace our hearts are seeking.
Love! Love! Love is the gift of Christmas. Love! Love! Praise to you, God on high.
*Invitation to Confession Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
How easily we lost our way on the road to Bethlehem! How quick we are to dismiss the dreams and hopes our God has for us in this holy season! Let us come to the One who is ready to live with us in forgiveness and grace. Let us first pray in silence.
*Silent Prayer
*Unison Prayer of Confession
Come O God of love and forgive us for turning your compassion into commercials, your joy into jingles, your hope into hollow words, your love into lust for the short lasting offerings of the world. May we find our way to the one born simply, born gracefully, for us – Jesus, the child of wonder and life.
*Assurance of Forgiveness
On this bright morning full of love, we remember what God’s kin(g)dom is like, reminding one another that we are forgiven and free to thrive.
Alleluia. Amen.
*The Passing of the Peace
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
An Act of Proclamation
Moments with Children Rev. Eileen Parfrey
Anthem “Ding Dong Merrily on High” French carol;
arr. Carolyn Jennings
Ding, dong! Merrily on high, in heaven the bells are ringing.
Ding, dong! Verily the sky is riven with angel singing.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
E’en so here below, below let steeple bells be swungen.
And i-o, i-o, i-o by priest and people be sungen.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Pray ye dutifully prime your matin chime, ye ringers.
May ye beautifully rhyme your evetime song, ye singers.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
The Scripture Reading Matthew 1: 18-25 (pg. 1) Rev. Gregg Neel
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel’,
which means, ‘God is with us.’ When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Sermon “Dreaming and Living” Rev. Gregg Neel
A Moment for Silent Reflection
An Act of Response
*Hymn #143 “Angels, from the Realms of Glory” regent square
Angels from the realms of glory,
wing your flight o’er all the earth;
ye who sang creation’s story
now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
Refrain:
Come and worship, come and worship,
worship Christ, the newborn king.
Shepherds, in the field abiding,
watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing;
yonder shines the infant light: [Refrain]
Sages, leave your contemplations,
brighter visions beam afar;
seek the great Desire of nations;
ye have seen his natal star: [Refrain]
Sharing Joys & Concerns Rev. Junha Kim
(At the conclusion of spoken joys, let us pray together, “Thanks be to you, O God.”
For concerns, let us make them our own by praying, “Lord, hear our prayer.”)
Pastoral Prayer and 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.
Offering Ourselves and Our Gifts
(Text 73256 the word WESTPRESPDX to give using your mobile device. This number will never send unsolicited texts to you. To cancel further messages, text STOP. If you need assistance with text giving, text HELP. Standard text message and data rates may apply.
If you’re new to Westminster, please let us know by filling out a pink visitor card and dropping it in the offering plate. Thank you.)
Offertory Anthem “The First Noel” arr. Dan Forrest
The first Noel the angels did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay. In fields where they lay keeping their sheep on a cold winter’s night that was so deep. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel. Born is the King of Israel. They looked up and saw a star, shining in the east, beyond them far. And to the earth it gave great light. And so it continued both day and night. {Refrain}
Then let us all with one accord sing praises to our heavenly Lord. That hath made heaven and earth of naught and with his blood mankind hath bought. {Refrain}
*Doxology – Hymn #606
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
-OR-
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host;
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*Hymn #132 “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice” in dulci jubilo
Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
give ye heed to what we say:
Jesus Christ was born today.
Ox and ass before him bow,
and he is in the manger now.
Christ is born today!
Christ is born today!
Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
now ye hear of endless bliss:
Jesus Christ was born for this!
He has opened heaven’s door,
and we are blest forevermore.
Christ was born for this!
Christ was born for this!
Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
now ye need not fear the grave:
Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all
to gain his everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save!
Christ was born to save!
*Benediction Rev. Gregg Neel
*Postlude “Noel Offertoire Op. 60 No. 4” Alexandre Guilmant
(You may be seated for the postlude or you may depart.)