https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j85hxgf_SuOFWV3dtJ50sjwuraGMkQBM/view
Above is the link to the recording of our worship service for the 1st Sunday of Advent.
To view the recording copy the link, above, and place it into your internet browser.
Thanks to the Plummer family for lighting our first Advent candle.
Order of Worship, Grafton Community Church, 11-30-25
Bill Watson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Grafton Community Church Worship
Time: Meeting – 9:45 a.m. November 30, 2025
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Meeting ID: 235 223 715
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This will make the service more enjoyable for all.
**In the sanctuary, masks and a safe social distance are suggested, especially when singing or responding in prayer!!!
Order of Worship, Grafton Community Church, 11-30-25 –First Sunday of Advent
Prelude (Ken Olsson, Music Minister)
(After entering Zoom or the Sanctuary, please use mute or observe silence to allow all to prepare for worship. Thank you & Blessings)
Sussex Carol (Mark Hayes)
Be Thou My Vision (Lloyd Larson)
Overture from “Messiah” (G. F. Handel)
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus (Jonathan W. Lee)
O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Lloyd Larson)
Welcome and Announcements (Linda Robertson, Council Chair)
No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!
*Please observe a moment of silence; so we may each offer our prayers and praise to Creator, Christ & Holy Spirit.
*Hymn #119 “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel ”
1 O come, O come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.
[Refrain]
Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
2 O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death's dark shadows put to flight.
[Refrain]
3 O come, thou Wisdom from on high, and order all things, far and nigh;
to us the path of knowledge of show, and cause us in her ways to go.
[Refrain]
4 O come, Desire of nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind;
bid envy, strife and quarrels cease; fill the whole world with heaven's peace.
[Refrain]
All lyrics © 1995 Chalice Press
Used by Permission. CCLI License #21383697
* Advent Call to Worship
One: God of Peace, we seek you.
Many: During this holy season of Advent, help us to see you in all whom we encounter.
One: God of Peace, we seek you.
Many: We seek you in the crude manger, a child born to save the world. May your peace be a
comfort to all who long for justice.
One: God of Peace, we seek you.
Many: May your Peace fill our hearts and grace our lips so we might reflect your Peace for all the world.
* Unison Prayer from Psalm 100
Creator, Christ & Holy Spirit; be with us, God of Hope, in our advent journey to the stable and beyond. Be with us in our meetings and in our travels together. Be with us in our worship and our prayer be with us on our journey toward the light of Christ, God of Hope. Amen!
*Advent Candle Lighting — Rachel & Eilidh Plummer
*Hymn #142 “People Look East” (verse 1)
(Candle lighters come forward during this hymn)
People look east, the time is near
of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
trim the hearth and set the table.
People look east and sing today:
Love the guest is on the way.
Reader: Come, let us worship. Worship is not special words, even sacred words. Worship is awareness. Worship is listening and learning. When we know who we are and why we exist, worship penetrates to the depths. Worship isn’t pretending. It’s not parading superiority. Worship is like the flower bending to a gentle breeze. Worship is putting muscle to our caring. Worship is the realization that serving God is costly and demanding. This is a day when we embrace the hope of prophesy; so, Advent worship is coming to God’s inner chamber and daring to claim what has always been meant for us.
(First purple candle is lighted)
Reader: This first of the four candles of the Advent season helps to illuminate, for us, God’s inner chamber and the hope contained there. Peer inside for yourself during this season and find there the hope that is revealed for you.*
*Based on liturgy composed by the late Rev. James Arthur Scott
*Response: Hymn 128 “One Candle Is Lit” (verse 1)
(Candle lighters return to their seats during this hymn)
Come surely Lord Jesus as dawn follows night,
our hearts long to greet you, as roses the light.
Salvation draw near us, our vision engage.
One candle is lit for the hope of the age
Scripture:
Psalm 25: 4-7
Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.
Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
According to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!
Matthew 24: 36-39 & 44
"But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
For as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark,
and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so, too, will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
*Hymn #125 “Come, O Long-Expected Jesus”
1 Come, O long-expected Jesus, born to set your people free.
From our fears and sins release us; Christ, in whom our rest shall be.
You, our strength and consolation, come salvation to impart;
dear desire of every nation, joy of many a longing heart.
2 Born your people to deliver, born a child, and yet a king,
born to reign in us forever, born your gracious realm to bring.
By your own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone;
by your all-sufficient merit raise us to your glorious throne.
Reflection: “ Turn Dark into Light ” Pastor Bill Watson
Synopsis: : Today, on the first Sunday of Advent, we begin in darkness and doubt, as we move toward the shining Star of Bethlehem. It’s a story for the ages, when you hear it in its entirety, which you will today. It is the gift of this Advent season.
*Hymn #595 “Be Thou My Vision”
1 Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; naught be all else to me, save that thou art
thou my best thought, by day or by night, waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
2 Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word; I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord;
thou my redeemer, my love thou hast won, thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.
3 Riches I heed not, nor vain empty praise, thou mine inheritance, now and always:
thou and thou only, first in my heart, Great God of heaven, my treasure thou art.
4 Great God of heaven, my victory won, may I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Sun!
Heart of my heart, whatever befall, still be my vision, O Ruler of all.
Offerings of the People
You can present your offering for the work of Grafton Community Church, using the “Donate Now” button on our Facebook page at The Grafton Church, or on our web site www.graftoncommunitychurch.org (The button may actually say “Shop Now,” but it has the same function.
Offertory: (Music Minister Ken Olsson)
In the Bleak Mid-Winter (Phil Perkins)
Response: Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise God all creatures here below – Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise God above the source of gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts.
Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit – Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Offertory Prayer of Dedication
The Benediction & 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, the power, and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen.
Postlude: (Music Minister Ken Olsson)
Ding! Dong! Merrily on High (Mark Hayes)
Please greet your neighbors on Zoom or at a “Safe Social Distance” in the sanctuary, as the postlude ends. On Zoom unmute your mikes, share greetings and the peace of this virtual space.
Masks are optional but suggested in the sanctuary!
Grafton Prayer List:
Our Planet Earth * Immigrants experiencing or facing detention or deportation in their loneliness and fear *Those enduring times of stress *Those with PTSD & their families *Beloved pets of Grafton *Mary Karam, & the Humes family *Arlene & Ron Carey *Gaelle McLoud *The Rowley family *Carol Bason *Arthur Park *Norm Robertson *Nancy Merrill *Dick Warren *Cecile Fisher Smith *Dennis Scharback *Todd Baker (Pastor Watson’s friend) *Linda Preziosi *Christine Tattersall *Gayle Arbuckle *Jeremiah Olmas (Mary Feder’s friend’s grandson) *Jim Webb (Angela Moulton’s Father) *Karen Hunt *David Lambert *Sophie Field *Irene Rice *Max Brown *Dick Desrochers *Ben Williams (Pastor King’s husband) *Patricia Donatelli *Lorrie Young *Sherry Brown & Family *Ed Gruelich
Those Who Have Lost Loved Ones
*Irene Rice & family *Family & friends of Liam Parker (Michele Chickering’s son) *Family & friends of Jerry Goldlust (Christine Tattersall’s close friend) *Family & friends of Bob Wright *Family & friends of Barbara Andrews (Meg Gonzalez’ mom) *Family & friends of Bob Haseltine *Family & friends of Donald F.M. Bolton *Family & friends of Denize Schemm *Family & friends of Helen Lanoie (mother of Andre Lanoie) * Family & friends of Bernard “Pete” Haley *Family & friends of Donna Rice *Family & friends of Galen Pinkham *Family & friends of Susan Lathrop *Family & friends of David James Smith (Cecile Smith’s brother in law) *Family & friends of David Fischmann (partner of Katherine Brown) *Family & friends of Estelle Pieth *Family & friends of Dave Robinson *Family & friends of Debbie Wright *Family & friends of Stephan Fitzsimmons (Caidin Domeracki’s grandfather) *Family & friends of Paul Nolan (Steve Nolan’s cousin)
Extended Care:
*Dottie Royal, Bromley Manor, 2595 Depot St., Manchester, VT 05255
*Rev. Catherine Cadieux, Sterling House, 33 Atkinson Street, Bellows Falls VT 05101
Grafton Community Church, 55 Main Street, PO Box 158, Grafton, VT, 05146, United States
(802) 843-2346 Graftonchurch@gmail.com
Our Website: www.graftoncommunitychurch.org
On Facebook: The Grafton Church
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at Grafton Community Church