God’s Presence Brings LIfe - “Ezekiel: Valley of Dry Bones”
Second Sunday of Advent
*Please stand in body or in spirit. Congregational responses are in bold and preceded by "All"
GATHERING
Welcome and Announcements
Invitation and Sharing of Peace
Peace be with you. And also with you.
Prelude Brighter Days HUM Men’s Choir
Lighting of the Altar Candles
Call to Worship (Clergy Stuff)
LEADER: We come to this house worn down by the world.
ALL: Breathe new life into our hearts, O God.
LEADER: Receive the Holy Spirit, here in this place.
ALL: We receive it with joy and thanksgiving!
Advent Candle Lighting (Clergy Stuff)
LEADER: Ezekiel wrote of a people given new life. Jesus, you are the source of this new life for us. We cry to you to heal our brokenness, and revive our spirits.
ALL: We light the first candle in expectation of your coming. We light the second candle in hope of new life in you.
Opening Prayer (Clergy Stuff)
All: Living God, All of creation is your beloved child. Hear the cries of all who are in pain, in grief, in fear. Give heed to the lost, the despairing, and the dying. Draw all into your loving embrace and breathe into all things your life-giving Spirit, that we might be renewed to be bearers of your light and love to one another. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
*Opening Song Hark the Herald Angels Sing (UMH 240}
1. Hark! the herald
angels sing,
“Glory to the
newborn King;
peace on earth,
and mercy mild,
God and sinners
reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye
nations rise,
join the triumph
of the skies;
with th’angelic
host proclaim,
“Christ is born
in Bethlehem!”
Refrain
Hark! the herald
angels sing,
“Glory to
the newborn King!”
2. Christ, by highest
heaven adored;
Christ, the
everlasting Lord;
late in time
behold him come,
offspring of
a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh
the Godhead see;
hail th’incarnate Deity,
pleased with us
in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our
Emmanuel.
born to raise us
from the earth,
born to give
us second birth.
Refrain
Hark! the herald
angels sing,
“Glory to
the newborn King!”
LISTENING
Scripture Reading Ezekiel 37:1-14
This is the Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.
Message for All Ages
Sermon “Ezekiel: Valley of Dry Bones” Rev. DV Yost
RESPONDING
*Sermon Song Oh Holy Night (words on screen)
- O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
it is the night of the dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine! O night when Christ was born!
O night divine! O night, O night divine! - Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
with glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
there came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger;
in all our trials born to be our friend.
He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger.
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend! - Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave iis our brother,
and in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever!
His pow'r and glory evermore proclaim!
His pow'r and glory evermore proclaim!
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Prayers of the People |
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God who was, and is, and is to come, we lift our prayers to you.
Offertory Jesus, Oh, What a Wonderful Child (HUM Men’s Choir)
*Offering Response Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow (UMH 94)
*Prayer of Dedication (Clergy Stuff)
All: Holy God, we bring to you our humble gifts, out of what you have first given us. As you gave new life to a pile of dried up bones, give life to these, our offerings, that they might become an overflowing blessing to renew a world in need. Amen.
Communion Sung Response TFWS 2257a-d
Leader: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
...
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord; God of power and might.
Heaven and heart are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest!
Blest is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest!
...
All: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest!
...
The Lord’s Prayer (Spoken)
All: 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.
Sung: Amen, Amen, Amen.
Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest!
Sharing the Bread and Cup
All are welcome to receive communion. We serve bread and individual juice cups or prepackaged wafers and juice. Gluten-free is also available. If you would like to be served in your seat, let the ushers know.
Communion Song Lord Help Me to Hold Out (HUM Men’s Choir)
SENDING
*Closing Song Joy to the World (UMH 246 )
- Joy to the world,
the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
let every heart
prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing,
(and heaven and nature sing,)
and heaven and nature sing,
(and heaven and nature sing,)
and heaven, and heaven,
and nature sing.
- Joy to the world,
the Savior reigns!
Let all their songs employ;
while fields and floods,
rocks, hills and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
(repeat the sounding joy,)
repeat the sounding joy,
(repeat the sounding joy,)
repeat, repeat
the sounding joy.
- No more let sins
and sorrows grow,
nor thorns
infest the ground;
he comes to make
his blessings flow
far as the curse is found,
(far as the curse is found,)
far as the curse is found,
(far as the curse is found,)
far as, far as
the curse is found.
- He rules the world
with truth and grace,
and makes
the nations prove
the glories of
his righteousness,
and wonders of his love,
(and wonders of his love,)
and wonders of his love,
(and wonders of his love,)
and wonders, wonders
of his love.
*Benediction
Benediction Response
Postlude
Announcements
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CHRISTMAS EVE SCHEDULE
6:45 PM Concert
7 PM Candlelight Service - BACKPACK BUDDIES:
December’s food items are Individual Servings of Instant Oatmeal, and dry cereal or any item listed on the shopping list. If you find it difficult to shop, you may send a monetary donation to the church or place your donation in the offering plate on any Sunday. Please mark your gift, “Backpack Buddies”. -
THRIFT STORE HOLIDAY SCHEDULE:
We will be closed from December 23 through January 10, 2026. The store will reopen for donations on Tuesday, January 13, and for shopping on Thursday, January 15, 2026.
This Week at Arnolia
- Tuesday, December 9: Thrift Store accepting donations
- Tuesday, December 9: 12 Noon Pastor's Study
- Tuesday, December 9: 6:30 PM Bible Study
- Wednesday, December 10: 7:30 PM Rejuvenate
- Thursday, December 11: Thrift Store Open
- Thursday, December 11: 7:30 PM Chancel Choir
- Friday, December 12: Pastor’s Sabbath - Church Office Closed
- Saturday, December 13: 10 AM - 2PM Thrift Store Open
- Sunday, December 14: 10 AM Worship Service
- The Church Office is open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Copyrights
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing – UMH 240– Public Domain
Joy to the World– UMH 246– Public Domain
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