KNOX

United Church of Canada’s Pioneer Pastoral Charge of Alsask, Saskatchewan, Cereal & Oyen, Alberta & Knox United Church, Consort, Alberta, Canada

ADVENT:December 7th, 2025 Knox United, Consort – 11am

ORDER OF WORSHIP TO THE GLORY OF GOD

Prelude/Announcements/Welcome

Lighting of the Advent Candles (Hope, Joy, Peace & Love)

 

Hymn VU #6                                                 “A Candle Is Burning”

 

Call to Worship: Isaiah 2:1-5 GNB – read responsively.

Minister: Here is the message which God gave to Isaiah son of Amoz about Judah & Jerusalem: In days to come the mountain where the Temple stands will be the highest one of all, towering above all the hills.

Congregation: Many nations will come streaming to it, and their people will say, "Let us go up the hill of the LORD, to the Temple of Israel's God. He will teach us what He wants us to do; we will walk in the paths He has chosen.”

M: For the LORD's teaching comes from Jerusalem; from Zion He speaks to His people.

C: He will settle disputes among great nations. They will hammer their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives.

M: Nations will never again go to war, never prepare for battle again.

ALL: Now let us walk in the light which the LORD gives us!

 

Prayer (Unison): Oh God, you are LORD of all & so we have gathered here to lift up our praise & worship, to you. Please, we humbly pray, enter our worship & guide us that we may be touched by you. Touch us with your grace & mercy. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour, we pray. Amen.

 

Hymn VU #1                                                 “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

 

Moment for Mission: Mission & Service of the United Church of Canada – “Healing with Horses: Transforming Through Trust” pub. 12 Sept.

 

Offering/Offertory: Hymn MVU #191     “What Can I Do”

Offertory Prayer (unison): Oh God, may our minds & our hearts be open & receptive to your Good News & the reality of the life you have granted us. Help us, we humbly pray, to live your way, each & every, day. In the name of our Saviour Jesus we pray. Amen.

 

Welcoming one another in the Peace & Love of Jesus, the Messiah!

 

Scripture: Isaiah 65:17-25 GNB

The LORD says, "I am making a new earth & new heavens. The events of the past will be completely forgotten. Be glad & rejoice forever in what I create. The new Jerusalem I make will be full of joy & her people will be happy… There will be no weeping there, no calling for help. Babies will no longer die in infancy & all people will live out their life span. Those who live to be a 100 will be considered young. To die before that would be a sign that I had punished them. People will build houses & get to live in them - they will not be used by someone else. They will plant vineyards & enjoy the wine - it will not be drunk by others. Like trees, my people will live long lives. They will fully enjoy the things that they have worked for. The work they do will be successful & their children will not meet with disaster. I will bless them & their descendants for all time to come. Even before they finish praying to me, I will answer their prayers. Wolves & lambs will eat together; lions will eat straw, as cattle do & snakes will no longer be dangerous. On Zion, my sacred hill, there will be nothing harmful or evil."

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 GNB

Our friends, we command you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to keep away from all believers who are living a lazy life & who do not follow the instructions that we gave them. You yourselves know very well that you should do just what we did. We were not lazy when we were with you. We did not accept anyone's support without paying for it. Instead, we worked & toiled; we kept working day & night so as not to be an expense to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to demand our support; we did it to be an example for you to follow. While we were with you, we used to tell you, "Whoever refuses to work is not allowed to eat." We say this because we hear that there are some people among you who live lazy lives & who do nothing except meddle in other people's business. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we command these people & warn them to lead orderly lives & work to earn their own living. But you, friends, must not become tired of doing good.

 

Time for the Young at Heart:      “Apocalypse”

 

Hymn VU #60                                  “O Come All Ye Faithful”

 

Scripture: Romans 13:11-14 GNB

You know that the time has come for you to wake up from your sleep. For the moment when we will be saved is closer now than it was when we first believed. The night is nearly over, day is almost here. Let us stop doing the things that belong to the dark & let us take up weapons for fighting in the light. Let us conduct ourselves properly, as people who live in the light of day - no orgies or drunkenness, no immorality or indecency, no fighting or jealousy. But take up the weapons of the Lord Jesus Christ & stop paying attention to your sinful nature & satisfying its desires.

Matthew 24:36-44 GNB

"No one knows, however, when that day & hour will come - neither the angels in heaven nor the Son; the Father alone knows. The coming of the Son of Man will be like what happened in the time of Noah. In the days before the flood people ate & drank, men & women married, up to the very day Noah went into the boat; yet they did not realize what was happening until the flood came & swept them all away. That is how it will be when the Son of Man comes. At that time two men will be working in a field: one will be taken away, the other will be left behind. Two women will be at a mill grinding meal: one will be taken away, the other will be left behind. Watch out, then, because you do not know what day your Lord will come. If the owner of a house knew the time when the thief would come, you can be sure that he would stay awake & not let the thief break into his house. So then, you also must always be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you are not expecting Him.

 

Message:                                          “Salvation is Near!”

 

Affirmation of Faith: A New Creed (1968) – (Unison)

We are not alone, we live in God’s world. We believe in God: who has created & is creating, who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile & make new, who works in us & others by the Spirit. We trust in God. We are called to be the Church: to celebrate God’s presence: to live with respect in Creation, to love & serve others, to seek justice & resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified & risen, our judge & our hope. In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God.

Pastoral Prayer/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 & forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us & lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom & the power & the glory, forever. Amen.

 

Hymn VU #38                                  “Angels We Have Heard on High”

 

Benediction (Numbers 6:24-26)

 

Parting Blessing “May the LORD”

“May the LORD, mighty God, bless & keep you forever. Grant you peace, perfect peace, courage in every endeavour. Lift your eyes & see God’s face, feel God’s grace forever. May the LORD, mighty God, bless & keep you forever.”

 

Announcements

• 14 December - Christmas Worship 11 am, Oyen United, Alberta

• 21 December – Christmas Pageant 11am, Knox United Consort, Alberta

• 21 December – Christmas Carol Hymn Sing 11am, Oyen United, Alberta

• 21 December – Christmas Worship 7pm (Sask.) Alsask United, Saskatchewan

• 23 December - Christmas Worship 7pm, Cereal United, Alberta

• 24 December - Christmas Eve Service 7 pm, Knox United Consort, Alberta.

​

​

Good day & welcome to the worship service!

If you are a visitor, we hope that you will experience God’s love and joy.

We also hope that you will also experience our friendship.

 “We are glad having you here!”

 

Music:            We are grateful to our church musicians Elaine Michaels (Cereal & Oyen),

                         Dianne Ball & Treena Mears (Alsask), Stacey Devos (Consort),

                         TaiLi Rhoad (Oyen & Concert)

Minister:         Reverend Johnny Rhoad - (780) 625-4448

                          (403) 577-3769 Knox United Church, Consort

                          (403) 664-3987 Oyen United Church

Ministry:         You, the Congregation!

 

God’s grace be with all of you.

​