WELCOME TO WORSHIP | sunday | december 7, 2025

a diverse, inclusive church experiencing and reflecting the love, hope and joy of Jesus Christ

to each other and our community.

WELCOME | Pastor Cathy Johns

WELCOME ONE ANOTHER

WAYS TO CONNECT | christchurchfl.org/ways2connect
Please see below.

MUSIC MINISTRY
Jesus, Oh What a Wonderful Child | arr. Mark Hayes     
Carrie Brooke, alto; Leigh Neely, soprano & Mel White, bass
Mark Hayes | © 2012 Jubilate Music Group, LLC. | all rights reserved | used with permission under One License #A-726973

* GATHERING HYMN | Introduced by Connie Booth, liturgist
O Come O Come Emmanuel | The United Methodist Hymnal No. 211 (verses 1,2,3,4) 
O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here until the son of God appear.

(refrain) Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Wisdom from on high, and order all things far and nigh;
to us the path of knowledge show and cause us in her ways to go. (refrain)

O come, O come, great Lord of might, who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient times once gave the law in cloud and majesty and awe. (refrain)

O come, thou root of Jesse’s tree, an ensign of thy people be;
before thee rulers silent fall; all peoples on thy mercy call. (refrain)

Henry Sloane Coffin, Laurence Hull Stookey & Thomas Helmore © words: 1940, 1943, 1981, 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House | music: public domain | CCLI License # 487103

* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe in God, who moved across the dark waters at Creation.
God’s words “Let there be light” filled the heavens and the earth with abundant light and goodness.

God loves, protects, and nurtures all of Creation.

We believe in Jesus Christ, God born among us a fragile baby.
His birth was heralded by angels. From shepherds to kings, people
came to worship Jesus, the infant king. His life, death,
and resurrection continue to transform the world with God’s love.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, who gives us eyes to see all people as beloved children of God. This Spirit calls us to live in peace, and with great joy, sing with the angel chorus:
“Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God’s people of earth.”

* GLORIA PATRI
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

Henry W. Greatorex | public domain | CCLI License # 487103

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE
Dancers Charlotte Castelein & Arabella Hall 
Advent reminds us that we are people who share a story, the story of Jesus, who enacts peace by judging in favor of the poor and deciding with equity for the meek of the earth. We long for the day when “the wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion will feed together, and a little child shall lead them.” (Isaiah 11:6)

all Today we choose to live the story of peace, believing that true peace comes when we seek the flourishing of all God’s creation.

We light this candle of peace as a sign of our commitment to bring Light to the places the world seeks to hide until that day when all creation lives together in harmony and abundance.

CAROL
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear | The United Methodist Hymnal No. 218 (verses 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 men, from heaven’s all-gracious King.”
The world in solemn stillness lay, to hear the angels sing.  

Edmund Sears & Richard Willis | © words & music: public domain | CCLI License # 487103

OFFERING | Pastor Doug Johns
worshiping through the offering of our lives and gifts

·     Place offerings in the plates or wooden boxes

·     Give online at christchurchfl.org/give 

·     Text GIVE to 954.880.3885

·     Mail a check to Christ Church, 4845 NE 25^th Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308

Connect cards may also be placed with your offering. Christ Church is a congregationally supported ministry. Thank you for your faithfulness as we reflect the love, hope and joy of Jesus to our community.

MUSIC MINISTRY
Celtic Advent Carol | Michael Barrett
Chancel Choir 
Be not afraid, I bring you good news. The Savior is coming in glory to you. He shall be called “God’s Holy One.” Will you be ready for him when he comes? Light the candle, Jesus is coming. Open your hearts, prepare ye the way. Sleepers awake, for soon is the dawning. He will turn night into glorious day. Be of good cheer and put away fear, the light now is coming to dry every tear. Love now with us, God’s perfect Son. He will turn night into glorious day. Veni Emmanuel. Captivum solve Israel. Jesus is coming. Could he be coming today? Light the candle, Jesus is coming.

Michael Barrett, Michael Barrett, David Angerman | © 2007, 2008 by GlorySound, a div. of Shawnee Press, Inc. and Malcolm Music, a div. of Shawnee Press, Inc. | all rights reserved | used with permission under One License #A-726973

* DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below; praise him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Bourgeois & Ken | public domain | CCLI License # 487103

MORNING PRAYER

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE | Pastor Monique McBride

SCRIPTURE
Mark 1:1-8 | New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ.
² As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, 
“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way,
³ the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight,’ ”

⁴ so John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ And the whole Judean region and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him and were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶ Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. ⁸ I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

These are the words of God for us, the people of God. Thanks be to God

MESSAGE
A Christmas Carol Revisited | Untangling the Present | Pastor Cathy Johns

THE LORD’S SUPPER

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

The Lord be with you. 
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. 
We lift them to the Lord. 
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

God of our salvation,

Your love is steadfast and you lavish it upon us.
Not being content to be apart from us,

You came to us in human form,
putting on flesh and becoming one of us.
You are not a God that is removed from our reality
but is intimately present in our lives and our struggles.
We lift up to you our thanks for your presence among us.
We give thanks for your son, Jesus Christ,
the very incarnation of your being on this earth.

With all of creation, with your people in every time and place and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join the unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.  

Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest. 

We remember how you called your servant Mary to bear your son,
how you called your servant Joseph to accompany her,
how you called the wise men to search and the shepherds to ponder,
how you called John to proclaim and Jesus to be baptized,
how you called Peter and the disciples to follow and serve.

As we wait, during this blessed season of Advent, we remember your mighty acts in Jesus Christ. We offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith. 

Christ has died; 
Christ is risen;
Christ will come again.

By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet. Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen.

“And now with the confidence of the children of God, let us pray together: 

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 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, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

You do not need to be a member of Christ Church or a United Methodist to come to the table. Christ himself is host and welcomes all.

GATHERING AT THE LORD’S TABLE

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

all Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy ministry in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world, in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

* HYMN OF COMMITMENT
John Spoke as a Prophet | TO GOD BE THE GLORY
John spoke as a prophet, a voice to be heard.
He preached in the desert, proclaiming God's word:
"Come here and be baptized, and God will forgive!"
He taught all those people a new way to live.

(refrain) God of truth! God of grace! Hear our cry and forgive!
May your church in this place find a new way to live.
Confront us and heal us, until we all learn
The life that is ours when we're willing to turn.

We find that we're busy and weary each day;
We're worn and distracted, forgetting to pray.
It feels like we're walking on unsteady ground;
God, change us and mold us and turn us around. (refrain)

The valleys below will be filled to the brim,
The mountains above will be made low for him,
The rough, crooked ways will be made smooth and broad,
And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. (refrain)

Words: Carolyn Winfree Gillette | © 2015 By Carolyn Winfrey Gillette | used by permission | all rights reserved.

* SENDING FORTH

* RESPONSE
O Little Town of Bethlehem | The United Methodist Hymnal No. 230 (verse 2)
For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above,
while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars together, proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the King, and peace to all on earth!

Dennis Allen, Lewis H. Redner & Phillips Brooks | © words: public domain | music: 1998 Pilot Point Music | CCLI License # 487103

 

MUSIC FOR CLOSING
A Festive Trumpet Tune | Gilbert M. Martin
Chuck Stanley, organ
Gilbert M. Martin | © 1969 Lorenz Publishing Co., a division of The Lorenz Corporation | all rights reserved | used with permission under One License #A-726973

* please stand in body or spirit.

Join us next Sunday as we continue the Advent series A Christmas Carol Revisited with the message Claiming the Future, based on Isaiah 41:8-10.

For a complete list of all the ways to conect click here