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Wesley United Church– Year A
December 7, 2025, 11:00 am
Advent 2- Peace and Communion Sunday
Worship Leader: Joan Chaisson
Reader: Lucy Bragg
Music: Mable Spencer
Greeter: Myrtle Button
Bell Ringer: Ross Cooper
Gathering in the Spirit
Welcome to our worship service either online or in printed form.
Life and Work of the Church may be found at the end of the service.
Our Blessings & Birthdays for this week are:
Lighting of the Candles of Hope and Peace
L. Lord, as we light the Candle of Peace, it reminds us that true peace is not the absence of trouble, but the deep confidence that You are with us, holding all things in Your hands.
*Introit VU # 7 Hope is a Star vs 1 & 2
Hope is a star that shines in the night,
leading us on till the morning is bright.
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.
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.
*CALL TO WORSHIP
L: In the wilderness, a voice cries out: Prepare the way of the Lord!
P: We come, longing for God’s peace to fill our hearts and our world.
L. The valleys shall be lifted up, the rough places made smooth.
P: We come to make room for Christ’s peace in our lives.
L: The Prince of Peace draws near, bringing comfort to the weary and hope to the broken.
P. We welcome the One who makes all things new.
All: Come, Lord Jesus, bring your peace to our homes, and our world.
*Opening Hymn: Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
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.
2 Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art,
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.
3 Born thy people to deliver;
born a child and yet a king;
born to reign in us for ever;
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
4 By thine own eternal Spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all-sufficient merit
raise us to thy glorious throne.
Opening Prayer
Gracious and loving God, on this second Sunday of Advent, we pause in the stillness to welcome Your gift of peace. In a world Lord, quiet our anxious thoughts and steady our restless spirits. Let Your peace flow through us like a gentle river, softening our words, guiding our actions, and shaping our relationships. May we become bearers of peace in our homes, our communities, and beyond.
We pray this in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen
Invitation to Prayer of Confession
Friends in Christ, in this season of waiting, we have lit the second candle of Advent- Peace, but we do confess that our hearts are often restless, our words impatient, and our actions are sometimes far from the harmony God desires.
Let us come before God, first in silence, with honesty and hope, trusting that the One who calms the storm can also quiet the turmoil within us. Then we will pray together.
Prayer of Confession
Lord Jesus, our words have sometimes wounded, our silence has sometimes allowed harm to grow and our hearts have often been restless with worry and fear.
Forgive us for the ways we have chosen division over reconciliation, and self-protection over trust in You. In this season of waiting, teach us to rest in Your presence, to seek peace in our relationships, and to be bearers of Your light in a world longing for peace.
We ask for you to come and make us whole. Amen
Words of Assurance
L. The Prince of Peace draws near, not to condemn, but to restore; not to shame, but to heal. God’s mercy is deeper than our fears, and God’s peace is stronger than our sin. We are forgiven!
P. Thanks be to God!
Listening for the Spirit
*Solo: Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior by Terry Harvey
Pass me not, O gentle Savior
Here my humble cry
While on others Thou art calling
Do not pass me by.
Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others thou art calling
Do not pass me by,
Let me at Thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief;
Kneeling there in deep contrition,
Help my unbelief.
Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others thou art calling
Do not pass me by,
Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace
Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others thou art calling
Do not pass me by.
Scripture Readings
Isaiah 11:1‒10
This reading describes a future leader, often interpreted as the Messiah, who will emerge from the “stump of Jesse,” referring to the lineage of King David. This passage is rich in imagery and conveys themes of restoration, peace and divine justice.
Isaiah 11:1‒10
Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot, yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.
And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on him- the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
He will delight in obeying the LORD. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay.
He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked. He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment.
In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all. The cow will graze near the bear. The cub and the calf will lie down together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.
Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the LORD.
In that day the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him, and the land where he lives will be a glorious place.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Psalm 72:1‒7, 18‒19
This psalm is a prayer for the King’s reign. The psalmist requests that God endow the king with his justice and righteousness, allowing him to judge the people with fairness and protect the poor and oppressed. The doxology at the end expresses a desire for God’s glory to fill the earth forever, highlighting the importance of acknowledging God.
Psalm 72: 1‒7, 18‒19
L. Give the ruler your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal heir,
P. for judging your people rightly, and upholding the poor with justice;
L. that the mountains may bring forth peace for the people,
P. and the hills, prosperity with justice.
Refrain:
Hail to God’s own anointed, who rules in equity.
L. May your anointed defend the cause of the poor among the people, save the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor.
P. May your anointed live as long as the sun endures, as long as the moon from age to age.
L. May your anointed be like rain falling upon the grass, like showers that water the earth;
P. 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.
L. Blessed are you, O God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvellous things.
P. 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.
Response to Psalm
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Gospel Reading: Mathew 3:1-12
This reading describes John the Baptist’s call for repentance and preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ. In this passage, John emphasizes the importance of repentance and baptism, urging people to reflect on their actions and seek forgiveness. He highlights the need of inner transformation and purification, preparing the way for the kingdom of God. John’s message is a call to introspection and change, inviting individuals to take responsibility for their actions and embark on a journey towards spiritual growth and redemption.
Gospel Reading: Mathew 3:1-12
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.]” The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said,
“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the LORD’s coming!
Clear the road for him!’”
John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.
But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.
I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Message: Advent- What does this really mean?
The Advent season leads to the celebration of Jesus’ birth and also emphasizes his future arrival. It’s a season that includes practices like prayer, giving to those in need, and worship (plus more, depending on the tradition). And it reminds us that we’re living during the time between Jesus’ first and second advents, leading us to talk about the hardships we experience in a still-broken world, while also forming us into people who wait with longing for the renewed world to come.
Celebrating Advent also means living into it by practicing a generous way of love and care for our neighbors as we partner with Jesus to bring peace on Earth.
• Week 1: Hope
• Week 2: Peace
• Week 3: Joy
• Week 4: Love
Week 1:Hope (November 30)
As a season of reflection and contemplation, Advent invites us to imagine a kind of hope, rooted in the unchanging nature of God and his promise to restore every part of his creation. Advent Hope does not minimize pain or difficulty, nor does it assume things will soon get better. Instead, it faces the darkness with courage and chooses to trust that God’s promises will come to pass, guaranteed by his long-proven, faithful character.
To hope in God means to wait with patient expectation, trusting that he will fulfill his promises. This kind of waiting leans forward, anticipating the day when Jesus will return to make all things new. Such hope empowers people to persevere, to act justly, and to serve others as a sign of the restoration that will arrive through Jesus.
Week 2 Peace (December 7)
The kind of peace envisioned during Advent comes not through military victory or avoidance of reality but through the way of Jesus. He brings true peace by honestly addressing and working to heal the deeper sources of division, such as fear and pride, that compel people to violence. Jesus keeps all things to himself, offering healing and restoration through love and forgiveness.
As Jesus continues his work of bringing real, lasting peace throughout the Earth, we can participate in that work by living as peacemakers. We join with Jesus by embracing his non-violent way of forgiveness, caring for our neighbors, and extending generous love toward all people.
Week 3: Joy (December 14)
Advent joy is not about general happiness stemming from good times. It’s a deep sense of safety and freedom people feel because of God’s loving character, which remains constant through all circumstances, and also, because God can be trusted to ultimately bless and heal creation as he promised. It is similar to the joy a friend’s presence brings on good days and bad days. We experience joy as God walks with us through the journey of life’s positive and painful circumstances. I compare this joy to the hugs that a special childhood friend can give me. She lives in Stephenville and when she hugs me, I know it is meaningful and sincere. I am sure you all have that special person.
In the Bible, people express joy both when God delivers them from situations of oppression and while still in the middle of exile, persecution, and pain. As people remember God’s loving, rescuing actions throughout history, they wait in joyful hope for him to act in the future, even when that waiting requires patient suffering.
This kind of joy is about being united with the God who walks with us and trusting that he will one day wipe away every tear. It looks to the future but also takes root in our present reality. The season of Advent invites us to experience joy not because everything is perfect but because God is with us and his joy is already breaking into the world.
Week 4: Love (December 21)
Love is often seen as a force beyond our control, something people fall in or out of. Or it may seem like something satisfying that we can achieve, driving us to chase affection through relationships or status. “Love is all you need,” they say, because it’s the path to self-fulfillment.
But something is missing from that picture of love. The Bible invites us to see a kind of love that’s neither accidental nor driven by desire for self-fulfillment. Instead, it involves a steady commitment to care for the well-being of others—never self-seeking, always self-giving—even when it costs us.
Jesus shows this kind of love when he gives his life for friends and enemies alike. Dying on a cross, with his killers still laughing at him, Jesus cares for their well-being as he prays for their forgiveness (Luke 23:34). Living with this kind of love does not mean ignoring our own needs or devaluing ourselves. After all, Jesus says to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:39). But it means choosing to see all people as living miracles of God, each made in God’s image and deeply loved by him.
Advent Season
The Advent season leads us to reflect on the future God is bringing, where every interaction will be shaped and compelled by love. Even more, it invites us to live into that coming world right now by loving others the way Jesus does. As we give of ourselves in order to care for both friends and enemies, we demonstrate the love that Jesus shows to all people.
So, as we journey through this Advent season, may we carry with us the quiet assurance that God’s promises are not distant dreams, but living truths unfolding in our midst. Advent is not only about waiting—it is about preparing our hearts, opening our hands, and living with a joyful hope that shapes how we love, forgive, and serve. As we light the candles each week, let the light shine through us to help others in a world longing for peace. Let us go forth with expectant hearts, ready to welcome the One, who has come, who is here, and who will come again in glory. Amen.
Solo: Love Lifted Me by Terry Harvey
I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more,
But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me!
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me!
All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I’ll cling
In His blessèd presence live, ever His praises sing,
Love so mighty and so true, merits my soul’s best songs,
Faithful, loving service too, to Him belongs.
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me!
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me!
Souls in danger look above, Jesus completely saves,
He will lift you by His love, out of the angry waves.
He’s the Master of the sea, billows His will obey,
He your Savior wants to be, be saved today.
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me!
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me!
Responding to the Spirit
Sacrament of Communion for Advent
In the name of Jesus Christ, I invite all who profess him as Lord and Saviour and are seeking to follow in his way and to live in unity, one with the other, to come to his Table with reverence, faith and thanksgiving. Eat and drink for your strengthening, that you may grow in grace and be blessed with all spiritual blessings, remembering that we, although many, are one body in him.
Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is good to give God thanks and praise.
Holy God, We give thanks for your creation,
fragile, yet fruitful.
We give thanks that you call us into community
where love and justice may flourish.
We give thanks that you invite us on this Advent journey- awake, curious, longing to meet you, as
we set out for your table of grace.
You light our path one step at a time, beckoning us onto a Way that offers us new eyes to explore the vision of the Promised One; new senses to feel the heartbeat of the Vulnerable One, and new courage to share the urgency of the Ruler of Peace.
One more step, one more stretch, one more challenge
takes us deeper into the mystery of your abundant life:
a world healed, renewed; filled with people who have hope, peace, joy and love.
We gather at this table, saying: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is the one that comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!
O God, we have given many thanks, but we realize that we are still needy people. We need your Wisdom: We need your guidance. We need your invitation—your calling— your whispers and your shouts— through the voices of prophets and priests, grandmothers and grandfathers, children and infants, all who listen and speak your love.
Because we didn’t always listen— Because we still
don’t always listen— you gave to us your Christ, alive in the world!
A tiny baby, a youth, an adult, a teacher, a healer, a challenger, a saviour, he laughed with those who laughed and cried with those who cried, but most of all, he loved us with a love that never, ever ends, a love that surpasses even death, a love that brings new life— not only to us … but to all creation! He was wholly God and wholly human.
God, at this time we remember all those whom we wish that could be sharing this feast with you. We pray for all who are in sorrow or in pain, all who are ill or alone, all who would like to be here with us today but for personal reasons are not. Please God, hear the names of those we say aloud or silently in our hearts:____________.
We pray for your church and its varied ministries, for nations as they strive for peace and justice, for the earth, and the fragile web of life we share, for our families and friends. With Jesus we pray together, saying: 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, for ever and ever. Amen
On the night before he was taken to his death on a cross, Jesus gathered with his friends. He shared with them a meal of remembrance and freedom. After an act of utmost humility and hospitality— washing their feet— he blessed the bread and broke it, saying, “take this and eat it. This is my body given for you. Each time you eat bread, remember me!” As the meal drew to a close, he blessed a cup of wine and passed it to them, saying, “Take this and drink it. This is my promise in my life’s blood that sins are forgiven, each time you drink, remember me!”
So we eat, we drink, and we remember Jesus’ death and celebrate his resurrection; we await with hope his coming again to bring peace and justice to the earth; and we proclaim the mystery of our faith.
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Holy Spirit Holy God, send your Spirit upon us, and upon these gifts, that they—and we—might truly be Christ’s body and blood alive in the world!
Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory is yours, God most holy, now and forever. Amen.
These are the holy gifts of God for you, the holy people of God. Come now, for all things are ready!
Sharing of Communion
The Body of Christ shed for you
The Blood of Christ poured for you
Prayer after Communion
At this table, Christ was the host, welcoming all who hunger. At our tables, may Christ be our guest this day and always, that we might welcome hope, peace, joy, and love into our lives, and become hosts to God’s presence and people. God of Love, guide us to the stables of our world, where the lonely and longing gather. Lead us to the mangers of our time, where hope and renewal are born again. Make us heralds of your love and joy. Amen.
Communion Hymn: VU # 457 As We Gather At Your Table vs 2 & 3
2 Turn our worship into witness
in the sacrament of life;
send us forth to love and serve you,
bringing peace where there is strife.
Give us, Christ, your great compassion
to forgive as you forgave;
may we still behold your image
in the world you died to save.
3 Gracious Spirit, help us summon
other guests to share that feast
where triumphant Love will welcome
those who have been last and least.
There no more will envy blind us
nor will pride our peace destroy,
as we join with saints and angels
to repeat the sounding joy.
Offertory Invitation
As we travel, like pilgrims along the road, we encounter those who might need our help and those who might help us. Whatever we have, God invites us to share it with our fellow travellers. Our offerings will now be received.
*Offertory Hymn MV # 191 What Can I Do?
What can I do? What can I bring?
What can I say? What can I sing?
I’ll sing with joy. I’ll say a prayer.
I’ll bring my love. I’ll do my share.
*Offertory Prayer
Gracious God, you walk beside us in our leisure and in our labour. We dedicate these offerings to you. May our work and our leisure, give witness to what we trust in and who we believe, and bring honour and glory to Your name, through Christ our Lord. Amen
*Closing Hymn: VU # 402 We Are One
1 We are one as we come,
as we come, joyful to be here,
in the praise on our lips
there’s a sense that God is near.
We are one as we sing,
as we seek, we are found;
and we come needful of God’s grace
as we meet, together in this place.
2 We are one as we share,
as we share brokenness and fear,
in the touch of a hand
there’s a sense that God is here.
We are one as we care,
as we heal, we are healed;
and we share warmth in God’s embrace
as we pray together in this place.
3 We are one as we feast,
as we feast, peace becomes the sign;
as the bread and the wine
there’s a sense of love divine.
We are one as we come,
as we feed, we are fed;
and we feel God’s refreshing grace
as we meet at table in this place.
4 We are one as we hear,
as we hear, heart and hand unite;
in the word we receive
there’s a sense that God is light.
We are one as we leave,
as we love, we are loved;
and we seek justice in God’s ways
as we move together from this place.
*Benediction & Commissioning
May the peace of God guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. As we go forth, may the light of His coming guide our steps, the promise of His love sustain us, and the hope of His peace fill us with joy. Let us go in the peace and love of our Lord. Amen.
*Sung Benediction VU # 9 People, Look East
People, look east. The time is near
of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east and sing today:
Love the guest is on the way.
Life and Work of the Church
Today, on our Memory Board, we remember Mary Ellen Osmond (1954-2007), Dorthy May Figary (1917-2011) and Walter Percival Figary (1901-1971)
Presentation by Edwina Bateman sharing her personal journey to Africa- a month of teaching, learning and being transformed by the people, culture and faith encountered along the way next Sunday at 2:00pm in our hall.
Gifts with Visions Pamphlets are available on the Information Table if you would like to donate a monetary gift to a certain group of M & S using your family/friend’s name as the person giving the donation.
UCW in partnership with the Women’s Center are once again involved with the Sister Santa Project. This is where you can bring hygienic, personal and treat donations to church which will be given to the center. Then the items will be used to make gifts for the women. Items are asked to be in by today.
Christmas Hampers will be ready for pick up on December 18.
Tuesday Luncheons at Salvation Army is stopped until January 6 and it will be our turn at that time to help with serving and clean up.
Memorial Tree Lighting service for Wesley United & St. Michael’s RC congregation will be held tonight at 7:00 pm.
UCW Christmas Pot Luck Supper for all women in Wesley United and St. Michaels’ Community of Faiths will be tomorrow evening at 5:30 pm.
The Tree Lighting service at The Charles L. LeGrow Hospital will be on Thursday, December 18th at 7:00pm.
UCW are asking all who have Christmas stockings to please bring them in during the month of December.
Wesley United Library- in our former Choir Room. We now have our second bookshelf installed. Please take time before or after our services to borrow, exchange or donate books.
Recovery Is Possible Support Group meetings are held in our church hall on Sunday nights at 7:00 pm. The coordinator for this group is Andrea Feaver.
Walking Group meets on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10:00 am. Dinah Carter is the coordinator for this group.
Darts are played on Tuesdays at 1:00 pm. David Davis & Debbie Moss are the coordinators for this group.
Quilting, Sewing, Knitting, Crafts and Social get-togethers are held on Thursdays, at 1:00 pm. Evelyn MacDonald and Ruth Deveaux are coordinators for these groups.
Previous bulletins have been placed on the Information Table in case anyone would like one. These are nice to give out to people who are unable to attend.
New Copies of “Our Daily Bread” are available on the Information Table.
Columbarium Niches: There is just one niche left that can be reserved. Each niche, which can hold two urns, cost $2500.00. Please contact Mabel Spencer if you are interested in purchasing this niche.
Food Bank –The Food Bank needs sugar, can milk, tea bags, butter or any nonperishable item. You may bring your items to church or drop them off at the Thrift Store.
Recycling Depot Thank you to those who have been donating their recyclables to our account. Our account total is now $116.70. Thank you to the three people who donated this week. You may donate by using the pin number 6953434 (our telephone number) when you drop off your recyclables.
Sunday Morning services on our web site. You are able to read our worship service by clicking on the following link: www.wesleyunitedchurch.sitew.ca Once you are on the site, click Sunday Worship which will take you to the service.
Offerings Needed to Meet 2025 Budget
Local: $5000.00 Monthly
M & S: $200.00 Monthly
Date Local Account M & S
January 2542.00 262.00
February 3969.00 217.00
March 3544.45 288.00
April 3058.79 178.00
May 4711.85 199.00
June 2815.00 1389.00
July 1813.50 157.00
August 1850.50 179.00
September 2512.85 312.00
October 4006.09 127.00
November 7000.80 265.00
Many blessings for this week and during this Advent season, let us remember Jesus’ birth, His life on earth and prepare ourselves for His return.
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