Order of Worship
10th of December
Today is the Second Sunday of Advent. The candle which we light today symbolises peace.
The reading for Second Advent is taken from Isaiah 9:2, 6-7. Hear the Word of God:
2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
3 You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Song 1 – O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Song 2 – Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
Song 3 – Hark, the Herald Angel Sings
Song 3 – Silent Night
Our welcome team members will pass an offering basket during this song.
For information about giving online, please visit ucclife.fi/give or follow the QR code on the screen. You can also speak to our pastors or leaders for more information about giving and generosity. You can also ask the welcome team for more info on giving online, or giving specifically towards out Stewardship Campaign.
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.
Praise God for all that he has done
Praise Him for Jesus’ reign begun!
He came with love to make us one;
He will return, His kingdom come!
Amen
Our second Scripture reading today is Luke 1:26–31 and Luke 1:34–35. Hear the Word of God:
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favoured one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
This is the Word of the Lord.
A very warm welcome to all, and especially to any visitors joining us. We’re so glad you’re here with us today.
If you’d like to get connected or find out more about UCC, please see our digital visitors card or speak to us after the service.
Song 5 – Go Tell it on the Mountain
Today we are offering Sunday school classes in English and Finnish for two groups: 3 to 5 year olds & Eskari to 2nd graders.
There will also be a play area for smaller children with a live feed of the service.
For more information please ask the ushers or our youth pastor Gabe.
Our third Scripture reading today is Luke 2:1-7. Hear the Word of God:
2:1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Radiant Dawn: Zechariah’s Song of Light & Peace”
Luke 1:67-79
I. He Brings the Light of Liberation to Those Who are in Darkness
”to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” v 79a
II. He Brings the Light of Life to Those Under Death
“to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” v 79b
III. He Brings the Light of Leadership to Those Without Direction
”to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” v 79c
Luke 1:67-79 (ESV)
67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us[h] from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Song 6 – Joy to the World
Song 7 – Here I Am to Worship
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
– John 14:27