Hampstead Congregational Church
December 21, 2025
Fourth Sunday of Advent
No Matter Who You Are or Where You Are on Life’s
Journey,
You are Welcome Here!
Order of Worship
Prelude Herb Tardiff
Greetings and Announcements
Call to Worship (responsive) Rick Little
Leader: The journey to incarnation.
People: The way into the future.
Leader: The path of promise.
People: The prophetic pilgrimage.
Leader: The ancient adventure.
People: Come, let us walk into the light of God.
Gathering Prayer (unison) Rick Little
O come, O come, Emmanuel. In these
waning days of Advent, grant us the patience to seek you. Free us from our
fears, and give us the strength to give names to things that matter. In these
waning days of Advent, may our minds turn towards Christ as we prepare for his
birth. Amen.
Passing of the Peace of Christ
(Feel free to pass the peace by shaking hands, offering hugs or waves. Those who would like to share peace without physical contact are invited to place their hands over their hearts in greeting.)
*Opening Hymn: CH #149
Lighting the Advent Candles Bob & Marge O’Brien
Congregational Response: Ch #132 When God is a Child (Verse 4)
Love is a flame that burns in our heart;
Jesus has come and will never depart;
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.
Scripture Readings: Isaiah 7: 10-16, Matt 1: 18-25 (NRSVUE) Rick Little
Isaiah 7: 10-16
Again the Lord spoke to
Ahaz, saying, 11 “Ask a sign of
the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But
Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the
test.” 13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear then, O
house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals that you weary my God
also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a
sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name
him Immanuel. 15 He shall eat curds and honey by
the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For
before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land
before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.
Matt 1: 18-25
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 pregnant from the
Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a
righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to
divorce her quietly. 20 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. 21 She
will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people
from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill
what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 “Look, the virgin shall become
pregnant and give birth to a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which
means, “God is with us.” 24 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 given birth to a son, and he named him Jesus.
Children’s Choir: Away in the Manger
Children’s Message
Sermon: "God with Us" Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin
Special Music
Call for Concerns & Celebrations
Pastoral Prayer Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin
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, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Call to Offering
*Doxology: Praise
God for gifts of hope and peace;
Praise
God for gifts of joy and love;
Praise
God for sending Christ to dwell:
On earth
for us – Emmanuel. Amen.
*Prayer of Dedication Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin
Creator God, Receive these tokens of our praise, given with
joyful hearts.
Open us to rejoice in the giving and the sharing of this offering. Help us serve you and your beloved
world with these gifts and with all we are and all we
have. AMEN
*Hymn of Going Forth: Ch #143
*Benediction Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin
Place your trust in God, for God is with you. Listen carefully for God’s loving whisper in this time--the words will give you healing and hope. Go in peace and may God’s peace always be with you. AMEN.
Music Usage permitted through OneLicense HCC License # A-730412 and CCLI License Number 2927783. All rights reserved.
Steeple Lighting
Steeple Lit
December 15th to December 22nd
In loving memory of
Ernest Noel
Beloved father, grandfather
& great grandfather
