Pine River United Methodist Church
Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 21, 2025
Worship Service 10:30 a.m.
*please stand if you are able
SPECIAL MUSIC “One Tin Soldier” Jody Wilson & Dic Danielson
RINGING OF THE BELL
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND JOYS AND CONCERNS
ADVENT HYMN Faith We Sing #2090 Advent Song verse 1,2,3,4
LIGHTING OF FOURTH ADVENT CANDLE
HYMN: Faith We Sing #2164 Sanctuary
*Call to Worship
Leader: Come, people of God, bring your worries and your weariness.
All: We come, seeking sanctuary in God’s promise of hope.
Leader: When life feels impossible and choices feel few, God is still at work.
All: God’s Spirit opens the way where we see no way. Come, Lord Jesus, and make room in us for hope.
*HYMN #219 What Child Is This
*Unison Prayer
God of hope, you enter our lives when we least expect it. You shine light into impossible places and speak life where we only see endings. Teach us to wait with patience, to trust with courage, and to act when your Spirit calls. Fill us with your hope and send us to be bearers of hope in the world. It is in the name of the One who is our hope we pray. Amen.
HYMN #217 Away in a Manger
SCRIPTURE LESSONS:
Isaiah 7:10-16 page 606 in OT of Pew Bible
10 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.
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 page 522 in OT of Pew Bible
1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock!
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth
2 before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.
Stir up your might,
and come to save us!
3 Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.
4 O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears
and given them tears to drink in full measure.
6 You make us the scorn of our neighbors;
our enemies laugh among themselves.
7 Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.
17 But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand,
the one whom you made strong for yourself.
18 Then we will never turn back from you;
give us life, and we will call on your name.
19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.
Matthew 1:18-25 page 7 in NT of Pew Bible
18 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.
Leader: The word of God for the people of God.
People: Praise be to God.
MESSAGE “Room for Hope” Pastor Jen Matthees
SPECIAL MUSIC: “O Holy Night” Jody and Dic
HYMN #230 O Little Town of Bethlehem verses 1,2
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
SILENT PRAYER
THE LORD’S PRAYER
*HYMN #211 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel verses 1, 6
*BENEDICTION
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Please join us on Wednesday, December 24 for our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 28: 10:00 a.m. Coffee Fellowship
10:30 a.m. Worship
December Mission: Gifts and appreciations
Poinsettia order sheet is on the back table also. Poinsettias are $20. A separate check or cash would be appreciated by the treasurer for the poinsettia(s) if possible.
Extra printed December Newsletters are on the back table.
Church Office Hours for this Holiday week:
Tuesday 8:00 – Noon, 1:00 –3:00 p.m.
Wednesday and Friday 8:00 – 12:30 p.m
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For prayer requests please contact the church office: prmethodist@gmail.com OR 218-587-4091.
The beginning of each month we will be starting a new prayer list. If you want continued prayers for a loved one, please contact church office.
GOD HEARS AND ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS
*Our services can now be viewed on YouTube during worship service or at any other time of the day or week. There may be a delay in the streaming so be patient and the service WILL begin. Copy and Paste the link below to watch our Services.
https://www.youtube.com/@pineriverunitedmethodist2574/streams