Our journey to the incarnation begins with, not the pregnancy of Mary, but that of her older cousin, Elizabeth. Elizabeth and her husband are well past the years when they can expect to become parents, but with God, nothing is impossible. (An angel says that.) What can the restoration of their hope teach us about this journey?
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Second Sunday in Advent
The Return of Hope
Isaiah 54:1-8; Luke 1:5-25
Union Presbyterian Church
December 7, 2025
Sharing the Light of Christ, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Liturgist: Kathy Sullivan Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube
Welcome
Announcements Kathy Sullivan
Prelude Chris Bartlette
“Of the Father’s Love Begotten,” Molly Ijames
©2013, Lorenz Publishing Co., All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
* Call to Worship/ Lighting of the Advent Candle of Peace
Now is the time of watching and waiting,
the time of pregnant expectation of new life.
We light this candle as a sign of the coming light of Christ.
As the Lord has promised, in days to come,
The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling shall lie down together,
and a little child shall lead them.
Let us walk in the light of the Lord.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
* Hymn # 602 PH
“Song of Zechariah,” Michael A. Perry, Hal H. Hopson
©1973, ©1983, Hope Publishing Company, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
Blest be the God of Israel,
Who comes to set us free;
Who visits and redeems us,
Who grants us liberty.
The prophets spoke of mercy,
Of freedom and release;
God shall fulfill that promise
And bring the people peace.
God from the house of David
A child of grace has given;
A Savior comes among us
To raise us up to heaven.
Before Him goes the herald,
Forerunner in the way,
The prophet of salvation,
The harbinger of day.
On those who sit in darkness
The sun begins to rise,
The dawning of forgiveness
Upon the sinner's eyes.
God guides the feet of pilgrims
Along the paths of peace.
O bless our God and Savior
With songs that never cease!
* Call to New Life
Let us come before God with receptive and willing spirits.
* Prayer for Wholeness and Peace (responsive)
God of the past, in the vastness of the holy temple your messenger promised the hope of new life where none was expected. We rejoice that through the centuries, that message has brought confidence and joy to your people.
God of the present, even now you are with us. Forgive us, that we have often failed to discern your presence with us, and have felt deserted and alone. Make strong in our hearts the faith that allows us to serve you peacefully and with gratitude.
God of the future, you have promised that Christ’s reign is coming. Teach us to live in expectation, that what we are and do today may be anchored in the joyful hope of your tomorrow. Through the grace of our brother Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
* Words of Assurance
In the tender compassion of our God,
the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to shine upon those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
By the grace of our loving God, we are forgiven and made free!
Rejoice! God comes to bring the birthday of hope and peace.
* Sharing of the Peace
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.
May the peace of God be with you.
And also with you.
Let us share a sign of God’s peace with one another.
Scripture Isaiah 54:1-8 (NRSVUE)
Shout for joy, O barren one who has borne no children;
burst into song and shout,
you who have not been in labor!
For the children of the desolate woman will be more
than the children of the one who is married, says the Lord.
Enlarge the site of your tent,
and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out;
do not hold back; lengthen your cords
and strengthen your stakes.
For you will spread out to the right and to the left,
and your descendants will possess nations
and will settle desolate towns.
Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed;
do not be discouraged, for you will not suffer disgrace,
for you will forget the shame of your youth,
and the disgrace of your widowhood you will remember no more.
For your Maker is your husband;
the Lord of hosts is his name;
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
the God of the whole earth he is called.
For the Lord has called you
like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit,
like the wife of a man’s youth when she is cast off,
says your God.
For a brief moment I abandoned you,
but with great compassion I will gather you.
In overflowing wrath for a moment
I hid my face from you,
but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,
says the Lord, your Redeemer.
Time for Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube
Music: “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed” (Public Domain)
Anthem Choir
“The Great Forerunner of the Morn”
(Public Domain)
The great forerunner of the morn,
The herald of the Word, is born;
And faithful hearts shall never fail
With thanks and praise his light to hail.
With heavenly message Gabriel came,
That John should be that herald’s name,
And with prophetic utterance told
His actions great and manifold.
Though not yet born, John gave a-right
His witness to the coming Light;
And Christ, the Sun of all the earth,
Fulfilled that witness at his birth.
John’s mighty deeds exalt his fame
To greater than a prophet’s name;
Of woman born shall never be
A greater prophet than was he.
The great forerunner of the morn,
The herald of the Word, is born;
And faithful hearts shall never fail
With thanks and praise his light to hail.
Scripture Luke 1:5-25
And it was in the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the lineage of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living according to all the commandments and righteous requirements of the Sovereign God blamelessly. Now they had no child because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were advanced in age.
And it happened when Zechariah was serving as priest, and his order had the service before God, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to offer incense and he entered the sanctuary of the Holy God. The whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the time of the incense offering. There appeared to Zechariah a messenger of the Living God, standing to the right of the altar of incense. Now Zechariah was shaken when he saw the messenger and fear overwhelmed him. But the messenger said to him, “Fear not, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to a son for you, and you will call his name John. You will have joy and gladness, and many at his birth will rejoice, or he will be great in the sight of the Sovereign God. Wine and strong drink he must not drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb. He will turn many of the women and men of Israel to the Holy One their God. He will go before the Holy God with the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to prepare for the Redeeming God a people made ready.”
After those days Elizabeth his wife conceived, and she hid herself for five months. She said, “This is the Holy God’s doing; God has done for me when God looked favorably on me and took away my disgrace among humankind.”
Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:
Thanks be to God!
Sermon “The Return of Hope”
* Affirmation of Faith Canticle of Zechariah (Luke 1:68-79, Lutheran Psalter)
Blessed are you, Lord, the God of Israel,
for you have come to your people and set them free.
You have raised up for us a mighty savior
born of the house of your servant David.
Through your holy prophets, you promised from of old,
to save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us,
to show mercy to our forbears,
and to remember your holy covenant,
This was the oath you swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship you without fear,
holy and righteous before you,
all the days of our life.
And you, child, shall be called
the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way,
to give God’s people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God,
the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to shine upon those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
* Hymn # 3 PH (verses 1 and 2)
“Comfort, Comfort You, My People”
(Public Domain)
Comfort, comfort you my people,
Tell of peace, thus saith our God;
Comfort those who sit in darkness
Bowed beneath oppression's load.
Speak ye to Jerusalem
Of the peace that waits for them;
Tell them that their sins I cover,
And their warfare now is over.
For the herald's voice is crying
In the desert far and near,
Bidding us to make repentance
Since the kingdom now is here.
O that warning cry obey!
Now prepare for God a way;
Let the valleys rise in meeting
And the hills bow down in greeting.
Prayers of the People
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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Prayer Response # 3 PH (verse 3)
“Comfort, Comfort You My People” (Public Domain)
Make you straight what long was crooked,
Make the rougher places plain;
Let your hearts be true and humble,
As befits God’s holy reign.
For the glory of the Lord
Now o’er earth is shed abroad;
And all flesh shall see the token
That God’s word is never broken.
Call for Offering
* Doxology # 156 W & R (verse 5)
“On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry” (Public Domain)
To you, O Christ, all praises be,
Whose advent sets your people free;
Whom with the Father we adore
And Holy Spirit evermore!
* Dedication of Offering
* Hymn # 13 PH
“Prepare the Way, O Zion”
(Public Domain)
Prepare the way, O Zion,
Your Christ is drawing near!
Let every hill and valley
A level way appear.
Greet One who comes in glory,
Foretold in sacred story.
O blest is Christ that came
In God’s most holy name.
Christ brings God’s rule, O Zion;
He comes from heav’n above.
His rule is peace and freedom,
And justice, truth, and love.
Lift high your praise resounding,
For grace and joy abounding.
O blest is Christ that came
In God’s most holy name.
Fling wide your gates, O Zion;
Your Savior’s rule embrace.
And tidings of salvation
Proclaim in every place.
All lands will bow rejoicing,
Their adoration voicing.
O blest is Christ that came
In God’s most holy name.
* Benediction
Postlude Chris Bartlette
“On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry,” Lyndell Leatherman
©1983, Hope Publishing Company, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
Where an * is indicated, please rise in body and/or in spirit.
“W & R” ~ the red Worship and Rejoice hymnal.
“PH” ~ the blue Presbyterian Hymnal
Scripture Translations:
All translations are from The Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year A, by Wilda C. Gafney, unless otherwise indicated.
NRSVUE = The New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition.
Prayers taken and adapted from the Book of Common Worship (PCUSA) and Bread for the Journey: Resources for Worship, ed. Ruth Duck