November 30, 2025
WE GATHER IN AWE AND PRAISE
PRELUDE “Prelude for Advent” arr. Stephen DeCesare
INTROIT 359 “Freedom is Coming” FREEDOM IS COMING
WELCOME Rev. Trip Porch
One: This is the day that the Lord has made
All: Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
*CANDLE LIGHTING Marie Boozer & Jim Legg
Reader: Advent is not a season of quiet waiting, but of holy defiance.
To light a candle in the dark is to resist the darkness with hope.
With each small flame kindled, we declare that God’s light still shines,
and we will not despair.
Today we light a candle to be reminded of Joyful Abundance.
God invites us to imagine a world different from our own,
but also possible within our world
Where the thirsty are invited to drink, the hungry to feast,
and all to delight in what God gives to all for free.
This candle shines against the lie of scarcity and fear of not having enough.
This candle is a flame of resistance against emptiness.
All: We will come to the waters, and we will rejoice in God’s abundance.
God’s Word is fruitful, and joy shall be our strength.
*HYMN 77 “Isaiah the Prophet Has Written of Old” SAMANTHRA
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION Ella Bryan
God of Living Water, we confess that we often believe the lie of scarcity. We cling to what we have, fearing there will not be enough: enough time, enough love, enough resources, enough hope. We forget your invitation to feast without cost. We ignore our neighbors who hunger while we live with more than we need. Forgive us, O God. Turn us again toward your abundance. Soften what has hardened in us. Open our hands to share freely, our hearts to love boldly, and our lives to resist every system that denies your generosity. In your mercy, renew us. Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON Rev. Trip Porch
*RESPONSE OF PARDON 90 “Wait For the Lord” 2 times WAIT FOR THE LORD
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
One: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,
All: And also with you.
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
ANTHEM "Hark the Glad Sound" arr. Timothy Shaw
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Robin Murray
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
Scripture Isaiah 55:1-13
All of you who are thirsty, come to the water! Whoever has no money, come, buy food, and eat!
Without money, at no cost, buy wine and milk! Why spend money for what isn’t food,
and your earnings for what doesn’t satisfy?
Listen carefully to me and eat what is good; enjoy the richest of feasts.
Listen and come to me; listen, and you will live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful loyalty to David.
Look, I made him a witness to the peoples, a prince and commander of peoples.
Look, you will call a nation you don’t know, a nation you don’t know will run to you
because of the Lord your God, the holy one of Israel, who has glorified you.
Seek the Lord when he can still be found; call him while he is yet near.
Let the wicked abandon their ways and the sinful their schemes.
Let them return to the Lord so that he may have mercy on them,
to our God, because he is generous with forgiveness.
My plans aren’t your plans, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my plans than your plans.
Just as the rain and the snow come down from the sky and don’t return there without watering the earth,
making it conceive and yield plants and providing seed to the Sower and food to the eater,
so is my word that comes from my mouth; it does not return to me empty.
Instead, it does what I want and accomplishes what I intend.
Yes, you will go out with celebration, and you will be brought back in peace.
Even the mountains and the hills will burst into song before you; all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
In place of the thorn the cypress will grow; in place of the nettle the myrtle will grow.
This will attest to the Lord’s stature, an enduring reminder that won’t be removed.
One: Holy wisdom, Holy Word,
All: Thanks be to God
SERMON Rev. Trip Porch
WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD
*HYMN INSERT “Come to the Water”
TIME OF OFFERING Receiving Tithes and Estimates of Giving online giving is available at www.indianolapres.org/give
OFFERTORY “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” arr. Martin Dicke
COMMUNION
INVITATION TO THE TABLE
GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
SHARING OF BREAD AND CUP #347 “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” PICARDY
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
God of Abundance, we thank you for feeding us with this meal of grace. May the bread we have shared strengthen us to resist every force that denies your generosity. May the cup we have tasted embolden us to pour ourselves out in love for neighbors near and far. Send us out as carriers of hope, bearers of light, and partners in your dream where all are fed and all are free. Amen.
*HYMN 106 “Prepare the Way, O Zion” BERDEN VÄG HERRAN
TIME OF COMMUNITY SHARING
CHARGE & BENEDICTION
CHORAL RESPONSE “Amen” African-American Traditional
POSTLUDE “Prepare the Way, O Zion” arr. James Gilbert
Acknowledgments: Unless otherwise indicated, all texts and music are printed and broadcast under OneLicense.net license #A-702452