The Third Sunday of Advent
Centering Practice
We invite you to slow down, breathe, and connect with God, each other, and yourself. Begin by closing our eyes and taking several slow, deep breaths.
- Make two fists, rub your cheeks — turn to your neighbor and say, “You look good!”
- Now, turn back to them and say, “I look good!”
Lighting of the Advent Candles
Week Three: The Candle of Joy
Reading 1
We give thanks for the light of Christ,
shining in the lives of all God’s people.
Reading 2
As we light our Advent candle
We thank You for the joy You give.
As we prepare for Christmastime
Light of the world, shine on us.
Reading 3
In the midst of sorrow,
Bring joy to our hearts.
To all the people who don’t know You,
Light of the world, shine through us.
Reading 4
In this world of pain and darkness,
Help us to find joy in serving You.
In our service here today,
Light of the world, light the way.
— Light Two Purple Candles and One Pink Candle —
Worship Songs
Oh Our Lord
O come, O come Emmanuel…
We behold the breaking dawn
The light that shines over everyone
We look to You, we long for You, oh Lord
We behold the rising sun
The earth awaits, Your hope has come
We look to You, we long for You, oh Lord
Oh, oh, oh, our Lord
Oh, oh, oh, our Lord
How majestic is Your name in all the earth
We behold the falling rain
Like waters rise, flood this place
We reach for You, we cling to You, oh Lord
Oh, Your name is a light in the darkness
Oh, Your name is the word of truth
Oh Your name, oh Your name
O Come Let Us Adore Him
O come all ye faithful
Come let us adore Him
O come all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye, O come ye
To Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
Born the King of angels
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord
Sing choirs of angels
Sing in exaltation
O sing all ye
Citizens of Heaven above
Glory to God
Glory in the highest
O sing Alleluia
Come let us adore Him
Yea Lord we greet Thee
Born this happy morning
Jesus, to Thee be all
Glory giv’n
Word of the Father
Now in flesh appearing
You Hold It All Together
You come at the right time
When I least expect it
Never behind
So why would I be surprised
When You deliver every time?
On mountaintops, You stay the same
On valley low, You never change
And I believe that I will see
The goodness of the Lord
I’m confident as seasons change
Your faithfulness remains
You go, You go before me
To prepare a blessing
You madе a way
It’s more than I could imagine
More than I can fathom
Or comprehend
God of my present
God of my future
You write my story
You hold it all together
Open Up
May Your love
Cause us to open up
Cause us to open up our hearts
May Your light
Cause us to shine so bright
That we bring hope into the dark
All that we do without love
It means nothing
Grant us the courage to give
As You’re calling
Make me an instrument
Of Your peace
Where there is hatred
Let me sow love
Where there is darkness
Let me shine light and…
Hope for the hopeless
Your love is
Strength in our weakness
Your love is
May we love
As You love
Communion
Offering Prayer
Announcements
- Thanks for worshiping with us today! We hope you experience meaningful connection with God and others in our community. If you’re visiting for the first time today, we’d love to get to know you better. Please take home a visitor’s card with QR code so that we can stay in touch & build a relationship!
- Weekly Advent Devotionals: We have a few paper copies today — keep an eye out in your email for digital copies of both the individual and family devotion guides
- Christmas Offering: Our Christmas offering this year will support Justice Ventures International and World Relief Southern California! Please watch this video to learn more about the impactful work of World Relief. Our children will also be raising their own Christmas offering for pigs though world vision. You can give in person or via Tithely (and choose “Christmas 2025” from the drop-down menu).
- Christmas Party: This Saturday, December 20th at 5:00 pm, we will celebrate Christmas together as a church! Ian will send out a potluck sign-up sheet. Please prepare a small white elephant gift from home (please do not purchase any new items!). We’ll also play a few games together!
- Christmas Sunday: We will celebrate Christmas next Sunday, December 21st with a special intergenerational worship gathering!
- Winter Bible study will start up sometime in January!
- Resolution Run: Members of our Run Club will participate in the Resolution Run at Mission Bay on January 10, 2026 — 5K/10K/and half-marathon options! Please talk to Jin if you’d like to sign up with our team
Passing of the Peace
Let’s greet each other at this time!
Blessing of the Children
Scripture Reading
Isaiah 35:1-10
1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus
2 it shall blossom abundantly,
and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
the majesty of our God.
3 Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
“Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God.
He will come with vengeance,
with terrible recompense.
He will come and save you.”
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6 then the lame shall leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
7 the burning sand shall become a pool,
and the thirsty ground springs of water;
the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp,
the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
8 A highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Holy Way;
the unclean shall not travel on it,
but it shall be for God’s people;
no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.
9 No lion shall be there,
nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
but the redeemed shall walk there.
10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return,
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
Together: Thanks be to God.
Prayer Stations
Worship Songs
Here’s My Heart
Here’s my heart Lord
Here’s my heart Lord
Here’s my heart Lord
Speak what is true
I am found, I am Yours
I am loved, I’m made pure
I have life, I can breathe
I am healed, I am free
You are strong, You are sure
You are life, You endure
You are good, always true
You are light breaking through
You are more than enough
You are here, You are love
You are hope, You are grace
You’re all I have, You’re everything
Expectation
You redeem our past
You take what’s old and broken
You’re breathing in new life
Rhythms of Your grace
Moving us to freedom
From darkness into light
You will make all things new,
You’ll bring Your kingdom here
We wait in expectation
We lift our eyes to You
Salvation’s drawing near
We wait in expectation
You have overcome
The troubles we are facing
You’re standing here with us
Oppression cannot win
And anxious thoughts are broken
By the pow’r of Jesus’ name
Anchor & Hope Church 