This is the second Sunday for Advent in the worship series, "Grounded and Growing.
See the links below to access the series introduction and the other services.
Series Introduction Advent 1 Advent 3 Advent 4 Christmas
“On that day” according to Isaiah 27, one of two things will happen. On the day of Christ’s second coming, when the dragon that represents chaos and death is destroyed, we will either be found to be a fruitful stalk of grain ready for harvesting or a useless prickly weed ready for burning.
Our world is full of prickly weeds—full of sin. We are full of sin. While this is an uncomfortable truth, we need to sit in that reality and allow our worshiping communities to dwell there also. We need to take off our rose colored glasses and truly look at the world and look at ourselves. This is where the Advent journey takes us. It is a journey among dangerous dragons, prickly weeds, and a warning from John the Baptist that judgement is coming. We need to understand our need for a Savior before we celebrate Christ’s first coming and eagerly anticipate Christ’s second.
Last week we found hope rooted and growing even in the darkness, and this week we find the promise of a time of flourishing, a time of peace. Unlike last week’s passage which described Jesus as the shoot coming out from the stump, this week’s passage shows God’s beloved people rooted and growing. Isaiah 27:6 speaks of being grounded, blossoming, growing, and developing fruit; it is a passage that moves from seed to harvest.
Not only will God’s people be fruitful, they will be tended to and protected by the Lord their keeper. It is an image of benevolent and vigilant care. As a result God’s people cling to God for protection and find shalom, perfect peace, in God’s arms. God’s desire for peace is so great that the phrase, “let it [the vineyard i.e. God’s people] make peace with me,” is spoken twice.
This image is further developed in Psalm 85:10–13, NIV:
Love and faithfulness meet together;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness looks down from heaven.
The LORD will indeed give what is good,
and our land will yield its harvest.
Righteousness goes before him
and prepares the way for his steps.
Which brings us back to the juxtaposition found in Isaiah 27. Are we the weeds or the flourishing vineyard? Are we rooted in the promises of God, and resting in the comfort of God’s protection? Are we clinging to God like a vine clings to its support in order to grow and bear fruit? As John the Baptist warns, “Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 3:10, NRSVUE). There is no flourishing—there is no peace—without repentance.
[Because the sermon handles the topic of repentance, it feels logical to have the time of confession after the sermon. For that reason the sermon comes very early in this service. You are free, as always, to adapt these service plans to fit your own needs and context.]
Additional resources and ideas follow the service outline.
Service Outline
[Start worship in a darkened space with the Hope candle of the previous week lit. If there is a prelude, have it be a quiet one followed by a time of silence. From out of the darkness John the Baptist speaks.]
Reading from Matthew 3:1–3, NRSVUE
John the Baptist: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
“Prepare the way of the Lord.” [Repeat this several times with growing insistence adlibbing if desired.]
Narrator: This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
Isaiah: “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the LORD;
make his paths straight.’ ”
John the Baptist: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
“Prepare the way of the Lord.” [Repeat this several times fading into silence.]
[Silence]
Call to Worship and Advent Candle Lighting
[A long taper candle is lit as house lights are slowly turned on.]
Out of darkness a light shines.
Out of silence a voice cries, “prepare the way of the Lord.”
From a dead stump shoots grow.
Out of chaos a people flourish;
righteousness and peace kiss. |
Today we continue the Advent journey.
Today we light this candle of peace.
—Joyce Borger © 2025 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
[Use the lit taper candle to light the first candle in the advent wreath.]
God invites us,
“let them make peace with me, let them make peace with me.”
Love and faithfulness meet together;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness looks down from heaven.
The LORD will indeed give what is good,
and our land will yield its harvest.
Righteousness goes before him
and prepares the way for his steps.
—Psalm 85:10–13, NIV
Opening Song
“Comfort, Comfort, Now My People” Isaiah 40:1, Olearius
Greeting
The God of peace welcomes us with these words:
“Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father
and Christ Jesus our Lord.”
—2 Timothy 1:2, NRSVUE
Song of Praise
“You are Holy” Imboden, Rhoton
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Reading
Old Testament: Isaiah 27:1–6
Psalm: Psalm 85
New Testament: Matthew 3:1–12
Sermon
"From Repentance to Growth"
[For sermon notes see the service introduction.]
Song of Response
“Bring Peace to Earth Again” (st. 1–3) Stuempfle
Call to Confession
We pray for peace, yet we know that not only do we neglect to foster peace in our own lives, we live in a world that is increasingly devoid of peace. The truth is that neither we nor the world will experience true peace as long as we are not rooted in God, and growing in our faith. The world needs a savior, we need a savior. We cannot achieve peace and overcome death and sin on our own. Acknowledging our need, we go before God in a prayer of confession using the words from Psalm 85 and the refrain from “Bring Peace to Earth Again.” We will end with the fourth stanza.
Prayer of Confession
Sung Refrain: “Bring Peace to Earth Again” Stuempfle
“Restore us again, God our Savior,
and put away your displeasure toward us.
Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your unfailing love, LORD,
and grant us your salvation.”
—Psalm 85:4–7, NIV
Sung Refrain:“Bring Peace to Earth Again” Stuempfle
Lord, forgive us.
Save your people.
Nourish us with your grace so that we may “take root,
blossom, put forth shoots, and fill the whole world with fruit” (Isaiah 27:6, adapt.)
Amen.
Sung Refrain and final stanza: “Bring Peace to Earth Again” (st. 4) Stuempfle
Assurance of Pardon
Receive these words of grace from Psalm 85:
You, LORD, showed favor to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
You forgave the iniquity of your people
and covered all their sins.
You set aside all your wrath
and turned from your fierce anger.
The LORD will indeed give what is good,
and our land will yield its harvest.
—Psalm 85:1–3, 12, NIV
Passing of the Peace
“God’s peace be with you.” “And with you.”
Response of Thanksgiving
“Lord, You Have Lavished on Your Land” Psalm 85, Post
Confessional Statement
Let us confess our faith together.
We pray for the fruits of the Spirit of Christ
who works for peace on earth,
commands us to love our enemies,
and calls for patience among the nations.
We give thanks for God’s work among governments,
seeking to resolve disputes by means other than war,
placing human kindness above national pride,
replacing the curse of war with international self-control.
—Our Song of Hope, © 1978, Reformed Church in America. Used by permission.
Prayers of the People
Offering, Offertory Prayer
Lord’s Supper
Thanksgiving
Song or Hymn of Dedication
“Lord, Make Me An Instrument of Peace” Wardell et al.
Call to Service
In accordance with his promise,
we wait for new heavens and a new earth,
where righteousness is at home.
Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things,
strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish;
and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.
—2 Peter 3:13–15, NRSVUE
Blessing
And as you go forth, go with God’s blessing.
May the God of peace
himself sanctify you entirely;
and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound
and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
—1 Thessalonians 5:23, NRSVUE
—Joyce Borger © 2025 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Used by permission.
Additional Music Suggestions
- “View the Present through the Promise” Troeger
-
“Soon and Very Soon” Crouch
-
“When the King Shall Come Again” Isaiah 35, Idle
-
“Drive Out the Darkness” Marotta et al.
-
“We Will Make No Peace With Oppression” Alattas et al.
-
“Blessed Be the God of Israel” Luke 1:68-79, Daw
-
“On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry” Coffin
Ideas for Inclusion
A few weeks ahead of the service, invite your worshiping community, particularly children and teens, to engage their senses: If peace had a smell what would it be? If you could touch peace, what would it feel like? If you could hear peace what would it sound like? If you could see peace what would it look like? Encourage folks to also submit either verbal answers to those questions or answers in the form of drawings, photos, or other creative expressions. Create a montage of these submissions and project the collection during the offering. Alternatively, you could ask “what is your prayer for peace?” and form those responses into the prayers of the people.
Weekly Prompt
This week pay attention to where you see “prickly weeds” (evidence of sin in this world) and where you see “blossoms” (evidence of peaceful flourishing). Share your observations with others.
Creeds and Confessions
Our World Belongs to God, par. 5
Our Song of Hope, st. 11
