“Greetings from all of us at Immanuel”
During the season of Advent, we will be going through the book of Isaiah in a series titled, “A Thrill of Hope”. This series will focus on God’s promises through the prophet Isaiah. These promises gave hope to hopeless people, but they were not immediately fulfilled. As we journey through Isaiah and look at the promises God made to His people, we will see how it is our hope for what is to come that forms us as we wait in the present moment.
Isaiah will challenge us to see that God doesn’t work according to our timeline and He certainly doesn’t work in the way that we think He should, but even when all hope seems lost, and even when we can’t make sense of what is happening, God is at work to fulfill His promises.
Through Isaiah God reveals to us what we will ultimately see in the manger scene. We will see that in God’s timing, He uses the unexpected and the unimaginable to accomplish His purposes, and when we believe in a God like this, even when all hope seems lost, and even when we can’t make sense of things, there is always the thrill of hope in a God who is faithful to fulfill His promises.
This week we enter the world of Isaiah 11 which is a world filled with the corruption and devastation of sin. Yet, in this world, where sin has caused great destruction, God promises to intervene. God promises hope for new life and restoration through a promised Savior who will be what every other king failed to be, and who will bring what no other person could bring, freedom from sin and new life.
The Approach to God
Pre-Service Music He Is Born -Collinsworth
Go Tell It On the Mountain -Hayes
Call to Worship
*Songs O Praise Him -Crowder
Do You Hear What I Hear -Regney/ Shayne
Kids Message
Congregational Prayer
Words of Assurance and Law of God
Advent Wreath Lighting
Advent Video Testimonial
The Word of God
*Song Come Thou Long Expected Jesus -Wesley/ Prichard
Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-9
Message “Hope Sprouts Eternal”
Pastor Matt
Prayer for Blessing
The Response to the Word
*Song Unspeakable Joy -Tomlin/ Cash/ Handel/ Watts/ Gilder
*Benediction
Postlude Good Christian Friends, Rejoice -McDonald
Offering
*Songs used by permission of CCLI #95502
ANNOUNCEMENTS
December Calling Team: Please call Sue F. or Liz S. with any special concerns or requests.
December Mission of the Month, Eve’s House: (Ending. Violent. Encounters.) This organization provides legal services, shelter, food, and a safe place to live for women and children who have experienced domestic violence. For more information, please visit www.eveinc.org, or if you are in need of help, please call the Crisis Line at (517) 372-5572.
Prayer Request: Please pray for traveling mercies and protection over Mark and June as they travel too and from the Mayo Clinic this week. Please also pray for a positive report from the doctors regarding Mark’s test results, and for complete healing in Jesus name. Thank you.
CONNECT this Wednesday, December 15: Ashlee will be serving lasagna, salad, garlic bread, and dessert for dinner. Afterwards, the CONNECT Kids will enjoy watching a Christmas movie with popcorn, and they will be bringing home their Christmas ornaments that they made over the last 2 weeks.
Join Us Next Sunday, December 19, After the Service, for an Enhanced Coffee Hour: Food will be provided by the Fellowship Team.
Men’s Bible Study: Due to Holiday travel and participant schedules, the Men’s Bible Study will be meeting only once during the month of December on Tuesday, December 21, at 7:00 p.m., at the same location. Thanks ~ Bruce and Mike.
New Greeter Schedule posted. Thanks to everyone who participated as a greeter in 2021. The new schedule for January- March has been posted, so please sign up early to get the week(s) of your choice. All volunteers are welcome! This is a great way to meet and greet both our church family and visitors.
Join Us as We Continue through the Series, “A Thrill of Hope.”:
December 19 - Isaiah 40:1-11; 21-31 "A Comforting Hope"
December 26 - Isaiah 61 "A Hope for December 26th"
Prayers for RCA Missionaries-
Friends with Health Concerns
Sara A., Shelby A, Mark and June B, John B, Joe C
Howard C, Sandy F, John F, Carol G,
Kathy G, Roland H, and other Parkinson’s sufferers,
Lon H, Marcia N, Sandi S, and Caitlin S.
If you are in need of meals, or if you are willing to provide meals when needed, please contact Kerri M.
Save the Dates
December 20- Prayer Team Meeting, 6:30 pm.
December 21- Men’s Study, 7:00 pm.
December 22- No CONNECT/ Youth Group, Winter Break
December 24- Christmas Eve Service, 6:00 pm.
December 29- No CONNECT/ Youth Group, Winter Break
January 05- CONNECT/ Jr. & Sr. High Youth Group, 5:30 pm