Grace United Church | United Church in Thornbury, ON

Grace United Church is live

December 7, 2025: Second Sunday of Advent

Phyllis Fleming

Sunday, December 7, 2025

Chat

Service and Hymns

Playlist

Loading chat...

December 7, 2025

Second Sunday in Advent

Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live

Leading us today in Worship:
Worship Leader: Phyllis Fleming
Music Director: Dr. Christopher Burton
Lay Leader: Debby Weale

Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung words: bold italics
Asterisk * Indicates when the congregation may stand if able.

We Gather

PRELUDE: “…des pas sur la neige” - C. Debussy

A Stewardship Second
The path to peace has many routes. Giving generously is one of them.

GREETING: (2 Cor. 13:13)
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all!
And also with you!

WELCOME & INTRODUCTION

A SONG TO BEGIN: VU #2 - “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” v.1
Come, thou long-expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free:
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.

OUR COMMITMENT to SAFE SPACE & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the LAND
We believe all people are made in the image of God and are entitled to dignity and respect. At Grace United Church we try to offer a safer, inclusive and generous space for all who are seeking a faith community. We offer full participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, all races, ages and abilities in the life and work of the ministry.
Grace United Church is situated on the traditional territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation. We acknowledge that they are the first stewards of this land and we respect their histories and past and present cultures. We will work to recognize and remove barriers to reconciliation.

CALL to WORSHIP (GA)
We are called into worship and fellowship by the words of John the Baptist:
Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
We bring our wishes for the world and its people:
Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall encounter the salvation of God.
Come, let us worship.

*OPENING HYMN: VU #18 - “There’s a Voice in the Wilderness”
1. 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!

OPENING PRAYER (WM)
Come, Emmanuel, into this heart we share as your people, as your body in Christ, your church.
Come, Emmanuel, meet us in the frailty of our human flesh.
Come, Emmanuel, find us in our longing and desire for serenity and peace.
Come, Emmanuel, dance with us.
Come, Emmanuel, light up our hearts.
Come, Emmanuel, use us to prepare the way for a new day, where we recognize you and cherish your earth: star and soil, breath and light, this moment and every moment, your gift to each of us in life itself.
Come, Emmanuel, our hope is in you. Amen.

We Listen

ANTHEM: “Longing for Light We Wait in Darkness”
Words and Music by Bernadette Farrell

Theme Conversation: Peace
Advent Candle Lighting (DS)
(The candle of hope is lit.)
Today we kindle the Advent candle of peace.
(The second purple candle is lit.)
We welcome the glow that causes us to pause, the glow that entices us to gather together, the glow that shines in hearts of goodwill.
Come, Holy Stranger, sharer of peace on this Advent journey: welcome us as we welcome you.
We receive the light of peace.

HYMN: VU #7 – “Hope is a Star”, v.2
2. Peace is a ribbon that circles the earth,
giving a promise of safety and worth.
When God is a child there’s joy in our song.
The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong,
and none shall be afraid.

Lighting of Children’s Lantern

PRAYER of CONFESSION and WORDS of ASSURANCE (GD)
God, you call us to freedom and possibility, but sometimes we feel like we are held for ransom by our own decisions, by our own circumstances in life.
Sometimes we just don’t know what to do or who to turn to for help.
Sometimes we fear trusting you, O God, afraid that opening our souls to you will result in punishment.
Yet, in this season of waiting, you wait for us, your arms reaching out with loving invitation. In hopeful response, we open ourselves to your healing embrace.
(a time of silent prayer)
Like the unconditional love of a little infant holding its arms out for a hug, so Jesus holds out arms of forgiving welcome to us.
In that embrace, we find ourselves once again made whole and fulfilled - never alone but always accompanied by a spirited companion, Emmanuel.
Thanks be to God!

PRAYER for ILLUMINATION
As we prepare to listen for what the Bible is saying to us, let us pray:
Advent is a time of waiting.
We acknowledge that sometimes we find it hard to wait, O God.
Advent is a time of preparation.
Open our hearts and minds, O God, so that we may prepare for the Christ-child to be born in us.
Help us to receive your word to us, O God,
Your word of Peace for today, in words written long ago. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Isaiah 11:1-10 – reading from the Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Like a branch that sprouts from a stump, someone from David's family will someday be king.
The Spirit of the Lord will be with him to give him understanding, wisdom, and insight.
He will be powerful, and he will know and honor the Lord.
His greatest joy will be to obey the Lord. This king won't judge by appearances or listen to rumors.
The poor and the needy will be treated with fairness and with justice.
His word will be law everywhere in the land, and criminals will be put to death.
Honesty and fairness will be his royal robes.
Leopards will lie down with young goats, and wolves will rest with lambs.
Calves and lions will eat together and be cared for by little children.
Cows and bears will share the same pasture; their young will rest side by side.
Lions and oxen will both eat straw. Little children will play near snake holes. They will stick their hands into dens of poisonous snakes and never be hurt.
Nothing harmful will take place on the Lord's holy mountain. Just as water fills the sea, the land will be filled with people who know and honor the Lord.
The time is coming when one of David's descendants will be the signal for the people of all nations to come together. They will follow his advice, and his own nation will become famous.

Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 VU #790, (Parts1&3)
Refrain:
Hail to God’s own anointed, who rules in equity.

Give the ruler your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to the royal heir,
for judging your people rightly,
and upholding the poor with justice;
that the mountains may bring forth peace for the people,
and the hills, prosperity with justice.
Refrain:
Hail to God’s own anointed, who rules in equity.

May your anointed defend the cause of the poor among the people,
save the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor.
May your anointed live as long as the sun endures,
as long as the moon from age to age.
May your anointed be like rain falling upon the grass,
like showers that water the earth;
may your anointed be one in whose days
justice shall flourish and peace abound
till the moon is no more.
Refrain:
Hail to God’s own anointed, who rules in equity.

Blessed are you, O God, the God of Israel,
who alone does marvellous things.
Blessed is your glorious name for ever.
May the whole earth be filled with your glory.
Refrain:
Hail to God’s own anointed, who rules in equity.

Matthew 3:1-12 - reading from the Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Years later, John the Baptist started preaching in the desert of Judea. He said, “Turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven will soon be here.”John was the one the prophet Isaiah was talking about, when he said,
“In the desert someone is shouting, ‘Get the road ready for the Lord! Make a straight path for him.’ ”
John wore clothes made of camel's hair. He had a leather strap around his waist and ate grasshoppers and wild honey.
From Jerusalem and all Judea and from the Jordan River Valley crowds of people went to John. They told how sorry they were for their sins, and he baptized them in the river.
Many Pharisees and Sadducees also came to be baptized. But John said to them:
You bunch of snakes! Who warned you to run from the coming judgment? Do something to show you have really given up your sins. And don't start telling yourselves that you belong to Abraham's family. I tell you that God can turn these stones into children for Abraham. An ax is ready to cut the trees down at their roots. Any tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into a fire.
I baptize you with water so you will give up your sins. But someone more powerful is going to come, and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His threshing fork is in his hand, and he is ready to separate the wheat from the husks. He will store the wheat in a barn and burn the husks in a fire that never goes out.

RESPONSE
These words from scripture are meant to guide us, nurture us, and teach us.
Thanks be to God!

SUNG RESPONSE: VU #10 - “Prepare the Way of the Lord”
Prepare the way of the Lord!
Prepare the way of the Lord!
Make a straight path for him, make a straight path;
prepare the way of the Lord!

MESSAGE

We Respond

*HYMN: VU #8 – “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming”
1. Lo, how a rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung,
of Jesse’s lineage coming, as seers of old have sung.
It came a blossom bright,
amid the cold of winter, when half spent was the night.

2. Isaiah ‘twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind,
with Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind.
To show God’s love aright
she bore for us a Saviour when half spent was the night.

PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
The Peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.

Those online may share the peace of Christ by typing in the chat box.
You may also think of one person with whom you would like to share the peace of Christ.

INVITATION to the OFFERING
In God’s Kin(g)dom there is peace. You help God’s peace to emerge in the world when you share your gifts in this church and with the Mission and Service of the United Church of Canada. Please share generously.

Hymn of Dedication: VU #542 “We Give You But Your Own”
We give you but your own,
whate’er the gift may be;
all that we have is yours alone,
we give it gratefully.

PRAYER of DEDICATION for OUR OFFERINGS
O God, may gifts given here today, and those we have given by PAR [or on-line, or by e-transfer] help to build peace: peace across the world, peace within our homes, and peace within ourselves. Amen.

Donate online: www.graceunitedthornbury.ca, select “DONATE”
or contact the office by email: accounting@graceunitedthornbury.ca
or phone: 519-599-2438 to arrange a cheque pick-up, or an e-transfer
Mail: Grace UC, 140 Bruce St. S. PO Box 219, Thornbury, ON N0H 2P0
or Offering Plate at the back of the sanctuary.

Tap your debit card at the door of the church, and Donate to Grace United Church through CanadaHelps.org. Our account is set up with them now and it is easy to register. Tax receipts are given automatically at the time of giving. Care, Prayer, Share

MEMORIES and BLESSINGS TREE

PRAYERS of the PEOPLE & the LORD’S PRAYER (VU 910)

WHAT’S UP AT GRACE?

We Go Out

*HYMN: VU 44 - “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear”
1. It came upon the midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth
to touch their harps of gold,
‘Peace on the earth, good will to all,
from heaven’s all-gracious King!’
The world in solemn stillness lay
to hear the angels sing.

2. Still through the cloven skies they come
with peaceful wings unfurled;
and still their heavenly music floats
o’er all the weary world;
above its sad and lowly plains
they bend on hovering wing,
and ever o’er its Babel sounds
the blessed angels sing.

3. Yet with the woes of sin and strife
the world has suffered long;
beneath the angel strain have rolled
two thousand years of wrong;
and warring humankind hears not
the love song which they bring.
O hush the noise, and cease your strife,
to hear the angels sing.

4. For, lo! the days are hastening on,
by prophets seen of old,
when with the ever-circling years
shall come the time foretold,
when peace shall over all the earth
its ancient splendours fling,
and the whole world send back the song
which now the angels sing.

*COMMISSIONING and BENEDICTION

*SUNG BLESSING: VU #424 “May the God of Hope Go With Us” v. 1
1. May the God of hope go with us every day,
filling all our lives with love and joy and peace.
May the God of justice speed us on our way,
bringing light and hope to every land and race.
Praying, let us work for peace,
singing, share our joy with all,
working for a world that’s new,
faithful when we hear Christ’s call.