December 21, 2025
“It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you…
At this Christmas when Christ comes, will He find a warm heart?
Mark the season of Advent by loving and serving others with God's own love and concern.”
~Mother Teresa
"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love."
~Hamilton Wright Mabie
WORDS OF GREETING AND GATHERING
Chris Zepp
WELCOMING STATEMENT
RISE believes that God has open arms, and so should we. Our Creator wants us to love, accept and affirm every human being, including persons of every age, race, ethnic background, nationality, gender identity, sexual orientation, family or socioeconomic status, educational background, religion or creed, and physical or mental ability. We celebrate our diversity and recognize the sacred worth and dignity of all. Everyone is invited and encouraged to join us as we seek to follow Jesus with mutual respect, understanding, and love.
*Read more about “Why Pronouns Matter” HERE.
OPENING Affirmation
~Homiletics, adapted
Into the stillness of a Bethlehem night, God came.
Into the silence of verdant pastures, God spoke.
God came so the disenfranchised might find hope;
The despairing might find safety;
God came so that love might win over hatred and revenge;
That we might be restored to the ways of peace.
Undeserving, we kneel at the manger.
New life and a grace beyond comprehension is ours for the asking.
May the Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love of Christmas surround us
As we await the coming of Immanuel…
Opening SongS
Songs Will Happen!
“O COME, O COME, IMMANUEL”
O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
REFRAIN:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show
and teach us in its ways to go.
REFRAIN
O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
and turn our darkness into light.
REFRAIN
O come, O King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace.
REFRAIN
“Personant Hodie” (On this day earth shall ring)
~Text: Piae Cantiones, Music: German Meolody
On this day earth shall ring
with the song children sing
to the Lord, Christ our King,
born on earth to save us;
him the Father gave us.
Id-e-o-o-o, id-e-o-o-o, id-e-o,
gloria in excelsis Deo!
His the doom, ours the mirth;
when he came down to earth,
Bethlehem saw his birth;
ox and ass beside him
from the cold would hide him.
Id-e-o-o-o, id-e-o-o-o, id-e-o,
gloria in excelsis Deo!
God's bright star, o'er his head,
Wise Men three to him led;
kneel they low by his bed,
lay their gifts before him,
praise him and adore him.
Id-e-o-o-o, id-e-o-o-o, id-e-o,
gloria in excelsis Deo!
On this day angels sing;
with their song earth shall ring,
praising Christ, heaven's King,
born on earth to save us;
peace and love he gave us.
Id-e-o-o-o, id-e-o-o-o, id-e-o,
gloria in excelsis Deo!
Advent Reflections
Beth Sellers
Personal Reflections
Lighting the Advent Candles — Love (+Hope, Peace, & Joy)
Advent Song
“Light of Love”
~Brent Holl and Chris Zepp
Light up the candles - hope, peace, joy, and love
All are essential, but the greatest is love
Love come to save us, Love divine
Love born as a baby, saving humankind
Love born as a baby, saving humankind
Love is patient, Love is kind
Love’s alive at Christmas time
The advent candle, light of Love
A gift to us from God above
We’re called to love in all we’re meant to do
People we’re close with and strangers too
Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes not
God is always with us and love is what we’ve got
God is always with us and love is what we’ve got
Love is patient, Love is kind
Love’s alive at Christmas time
The advent candle, light of Love
A gift to us from God above
A gift to us from God above
Scripture Readings
Isaiah 7:10-16 (CEB)
10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: 11 “Ask a sign from the Lord your God. Make it as deep as the grave or as high as heaven.”
12 But Ahaz said, “I won’t ask; I won’t test the Lord.”
13 Then Isaiah said, “Listen, house of David! Isn’t it enough for you to be tiresome for people that you are also tiresome before my God? 14 Therefore, the Lord will give you a sign. The young woman is pregnant and is about to give birth to a son, and she will name him Immanuel. 15 He will eat butter and honey, and learn to reject evil and choose good. 16 Before the boy learns to reject evil and choose good, the land of the two kings you dread will be abandoned.
Matthew 1:18-25 (CEB)
18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. When Mary his mother was engaged to Joseph, before they were married, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph her husband was a righteous man. Because he didn’t want to humiliate her, he decided to call off their engagement quietly. 20 As he was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child she carries was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 Now all of this took place so that what the Lord had spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled:
23 Look! A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son,
And they will call him, Emmanuel.(Emmanuel means “God with us.”)
24 When Joseph woke up, he did just as an angel from God commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he didn’t have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. Joseph called him Jesus.
THEOLOGICAL Reflection
Alexis Ward Owens
“Light and Love in the Darkness”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Have you ever experienced a billboard style sign from God like Ahaz, Joseph, or Alexis? If so, how did it happen and how did you know that’s what it was?
Who are some of the bearers of light and love in your life? Who are you a bearer for?
What are some ways that we as a community work to share God’s light and love with the world?
Song
“In the Bleak Midwinter”
~Christina Rossetti / Gustav Holst
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone:
snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter, long ago.
Our God, heav’n cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;
heav’n and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign:
in the bleak midwinter a stableplace sufficed
the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.
Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
cherubim and seraphim thronged the air,
but only his mother, in her maiden bliss,
worshiped the Beloved with a kiss.
What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb,
if I were a wise man, I would do my part,
yet what I can I give him: give my heart.
Prayer
~Homiletics, adapted
Offering and NOMOFOMO
One of our core values is, "God gives to us, so we give back." We're called to give as a joy-filled response to what we've been given. Your financial gifts make a tremendous difference in the lives of God's beloved in Harrisonburg and beyond. Whether it's helping to make sure children in our community have enough to eat, helping to respond to the mental health crisis in our community, or providing much needed backing for the operating costs of our spaces and staff — your gift is a part of God's dream and we are grateful for everyone who partners with us on this journey!
DONATIONS NEEDED FOR
IFA CoMMUNITY UNITY EVENT
Sunday, January 18
As winter approaches, our unhoused neighbors in the area face harsh conditions. Your generosity can make a difference in someone’s comfort, safety, and dignity this season.
The Interfaith Association of Harrisonburg-Rockingham is hosting a Community Unity Event in the New Year with the goal of creating a meaningful, coordinated service project that combines practical needs with community outreach.
We will be collecting donations over the next several weeks to support the effort. Check out the flyer for a full list of items being collected. They are especially seeking unisex warm socks, winter hats, gloves, and hand/feet warmers.
All items collected will be distributed at the IFA Community Unity Event Meal being hosted at Muhlenberg Lutheran Church on Sunday, January 18, 2026.
Longest Night Worship TONIGHT
Trinity Presbyterian Church
Sunday, December 21, 7 pm
A reflective worship service held on the winter solstice. This is a compassionate space to acknowledge pain, loss, loneliness, or illness, and to find hope alongside others who understand. Elements such as candle lighting, prayer, quiet reflection, and communion will be included.
RISE Christmas Eve
JWUMC Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, December 24
4 pm - Deliver the Love Prep
5:30 pm - Worship Service
Join us at 4pm for light refreshments while we pack goody bags for Deliver the Love (see below).
Service of scripture readings, communion, candles, and hymns begins at 5:30.
On Christmas Eve we will be a packing care package bags to deliver a little bit of love and Christmas cheer to those who have to work on Christmas Eve!
How do I help?
1. RISE will provide the bags and paper to make cards, but we need cheerful items to fill the bags! Homemade cookies, Christmas stickers, candy, etc. Please bring items you would like to contribute with you to worship or with you on Christmas Eve!
2. Come help us pack the bags at 4pm before the service on Christmas Eve.
3. Take a couple of bags after the service to drop off to the folks who have to work at a business on your way home to spread the love of Christ! RISE leadership will take bags to the hospital.
No WTF until January 15
6 pm Thursdays
*Note New Day*
No Worship next Sunday, December 28
Happy Holidays!
Worship on January 4
New Year Examen
*No Livestream*
Closing Song
“GO, TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN”
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
While shepherds kept their watching
O'er silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens
There shone a Holy light
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
The shepherds feared and trembled
When, lo! Above the Earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Savior's birth
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
Down in a lowly manger
Our humble Christ was born
And brought us all salvation
That blessed Christmas morn
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
Parting Blessing
~Homiletics, adapted
Friends, as you leave from this place,
remember the Light of the World who is to come.
Remember the light of Christ
who will show us what a life of love looks like.
May God bless you, and make your love increase
and overflow this day and always.
Friends, remember that you are a gift.
Now go and share the gift of Immanuel!
Remember friends — you are a gift!
Now go and be a gift!
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