LESSONS AND CAROLS

Westport Presbyterian Church 1835 – present
Third Sunday of Advent
December 14, 2025

Nativity Illustration by Zack Capps

WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
A SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS
December 14, 2025

PRELUDE: What Child Is This? Paul, William & Gregory White
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES:

Reader: “And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name'” (Luke 1:46-49).
Reader: Today we remember Mary, innocent and powerful, sacred and scared, worried and waiting as the Savior of all grows in her womb. She sings boldly when she might be meek; she bears her role in history with the confidence of a warrior; she is the beginning of a mighty revolution as the proud are brought down and the lowly lifted up.
Reader: Today we give thanks for the Marys among us, who step out of the roles society has planned; unintended pioneers determined to do as God asks; fearless and fearfully stepping out in faith, and beckoning us to do the same.
Reader: On this third Sunday of Advent, we light this candle as a symbol of Mary, mother of God, bearer of the Way.

OPENING HYMN:   Once in Royal David’s City  GTG#140    (v. 1 soloists, v. 2-3 choir & congregation, v. 4 choir only)
Soloists, Ringers: Zack & Reese Capps
FIRST LESSON: Genesis 3:8-15 (page 3)     Rev. Jared Witt
The fall of humanity and promise of a future savior.
CHORAL ANTHEM: Jesus Christ the Apple Tree arr. E. Posto
SECOND LESSON: Genesis 22:15-18 (page 17) Troy Berry
God promises that, through Abraham, All peoples of the world will be blessed.
CAROL:  Comfort, Comfort Now My People  GTG#87   (choir & congregation, all verses)
THIRD LESSON: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 (page 600) Martine Roesel
The people who walk in darkness  Receive the promise of the Messiah.
CHORAL ANTHEM: Savior of the Nations Come arr. G.H. Toole
FOURTH LESSON: Isaiah 11:1-4a, 6-9 (page 602) Mollie Sweeney
The Messiah will come from the root of Jesse   To restore the peace of creation.
CAROL: Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming   GTG #129   (choir & congregation, all verses)
FIFTH LESSON: Luke 1:26-35, 38 (page 53) Carolyn Purdy
An angel appears to Mary and announces That she will bear a holy child.
CHORAL ANTHEM: The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came arr. C. Courtney
SIXTH LESSON: Luke 2:1-7 (page 54) Carolyn Purdy
Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem, Where Mary gives birth to her child.
CHORAL ANTHEM: Snow on Snow arr. R. Schram
SEVENTH LESSON: Luke 2:8-16 (pages 54-55) Tony Waterhouse-Leal
Angels appear to shepherds in the fields And announce the birth of the Messiah.
CAROL:  The First Noel   GTG#147   (choir & congregation, verses 1, 2 & 4)
EIGHTH LESSON: Matthew 2:1-11 (pages 1-2) Riva Capellari
Magi from the East come seeking the Messiah and offer gifts to the baby Jesus.
CALL FOR OFFERING
CHORAL ANTHEM: Saw You Never in the Twilight arr. M. Schweizer
NINTH LESSON: John 1:1-14 (page 86) Rev. Jared Witt
The Word of God becomes flesh And lives among us, full of grace and truth.
CHORAL ANTHEM: Night of the Father’s Love
Note: Congregation is invited to join in singing first verse of Silent Night (GTG #122) on cue
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER:

Our Mother and 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.

WELCOME: News In, Around, and Beyond the Community
CLOSING HYMN:   Angels We Have Heard on High  GTG#113  (choir & congregation, all verses)
BLESSING
POSTLUDE: Angels We Have Heard On High Paul, William & Gregory White

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING:
Immediately following worship we will have a brief congregational meeting to review the church budget and vote to approve pastor’s compensation and church officers.
The church’s nominating committee has proposed the following candidates for 2026:
Deacons (3 year term): Tony Waterhouse-Leal, Joanne Sunshower, Carly Simon
Session (3 year term): Diane Kennedy, Jeanne Reiss
Pastor Nominating Committee: Debbie Anderson, Bob Russell, Karen Elmer, Drew Irwin, Matthew Kennedy.

A WESTPORT WARM WELCOMING!

• WELCOME! MEMBERS! NEWCOMERS! FRIENDS! We are so glad you could join us for worship today! VISITORS, please take a moment to let us know you were here by picking up an attendance card (in the pews) and filling out whatever information you would like to share with us.
• WELCOME FAMILIES! NURSERY care is available in the upstairs children’s space. Parents are asked to fill out a brief registration form before church begins. (This form only needs to be filled out once). Children’s Sunday School usually meets during the second half of worship in the in the 2nd floor Children’s Space, but is on break.
• HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICES available upon request. Talk to Deanna up in the front of the sanctuary at the livestream table if you would like to use one.
• The OVERCOMING OVERWHELM group (meets Sunday mornings at 9:40 a.m.) has decided to take a break from our regular class activities to do some small projects that would help benefit the church. Some possibilities include: helping with mailings, folding brochures, cleaning out or organizing areas of the church that need attention, and anything else we can come up with. Anyone is welcome to join us in that week’s activities, and if we have time we may do a meditation as well. 😊

MISSION & OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES:

• WESTPORT SHOWERS happens on Sunday mornings & Thursday nights. Items Needed for our CLOTHING CLOSET include: Sneakers, T-shirts, Underwear (Men’s Boxer Briefs), Socks, Women’s pants/shorts size 0-8, Men’s pants/shorts size 28-40, Bandaids, Sweatpants, Leggings, Belts, Backpacks, Body wash, Sports bras, & Washcloths.
• WESTPORT SHOWERS is looking for additional volunteers to help with Sunday mornings. With the increase in guests, we would like to have teams of 2 volunteers upstairs working together at the door and 2 downstairs working in the shower/laundry room each Sunday. You would be working with experienced volunteers who can train you in what is needed. If you would like to help, and are willing to volunteer 1 Sunday morning a month, reach out to Drew Irwin or Allison Rozga for more information.
• We are giving out lunches on Fridays in the RESOURCE CENTER and Sundays as part of WESTPORT SHOWERS. Food donations of bread, fruit, meat, cheese, peanut butter are always needed.
• WINTER WEATHER CLOTHING DRIVE: As cooler weather approaches Westport Showers will be collecting coats, hats, gloves, warm socks, and boots. Look through your closets and see if you have any extra items you can donate.
• BOARD MEMBERS NEEDED & PAID PART-TIME POSTITIONS AVAILABLE: Westport Center for the Arts, an non-profit organization founded by our church that has dedicated itself to bringing free art exhibits, concerts, dance performances, etc to the neighborhood, has several positions that need filling. They need a board president to set a meeting agenda and keep track of who is doing what, and they are looking to fill several paid positions that periodically involve some work: Photographer, Grant Writer, Visual Arts Program Director. If interested, email [email protected] or speak with Josh Stark or Deanna Capps.

CHRISTMAS AT WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH:

• Saturday, Dec. 20 11 a.m.- Holiday Cookie Sale Fundraiser (Fellowship Room)
  2:00 p.m. Homemade Cookies by the Pound – Volunteers & Bakers Needed
  Sign up sheets are at the back of the Sanctuary let us know if you can help! Contact James Capps for more information.
• 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Christmas Carol Sing (Chapel)  Come sing-along to your favorite Christmas songs, requests welcome!
  
• Wednesday, Dec. 24 6:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (Sanctuary)
  

INREACH & OUTREACH IN THE COMING WEEK: (All Events are at the Church, 201 Westport Rd – unless noted)

• Tonight, Dec. 14 6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts Pack Meeting/Awards Dinner (Fellowship Room)
• Monday, Dec. 15 6:30 p.m. Men’s AA Meeting (Storefront)
  • • 7:30 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room)
• Tuesday, Dec. 16 4:30 p.m. Centering Prayer and Silence – 20 min (Chapel)
• Thursday, Dec. 18 4:30-5:00 p.m. Willow Woods Winter Music Program (Sanctuary)
  • • 5:30 p.m. Westport Showers – For Women, Trans, & Gender Non- conforming people (Basement)
• Friday, Dec. 19 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Resource Center Open & Sack Lunches Distributed (Storefront)
  • • 12:00 p.m. Westport Center for the Arts – Brown Bag Concert Series: Ad Astra Duo, Melody Stroth (piano) & Eman Chalshotori (cello)  Holiday Music (Sanctuary)
• Saturday, Dec. 20 8:30 a.m. Private Rental – Meeting (Storefront)
  • • 11:00 a.m. Holiday Cookie Sale Fundraiser (Fellowship Room)
    • 2:00 p.m. Carol Sing (Chapel)
• Sunday, Dec. 21 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
  • • 8-9:30 a.m. Westport Showers (Fellowship Room & Basement)
    • 9:40 a.m. “Overcoming Dumpster Fire Overwhelm”
    • 10:00 a.m. Book Discussion Group
    • 11:00 a.m. Lessons & Carols Service (Sanctuary)
      Nursery Care (Upstairs Children’s Room)
    • 12:15 p.m. Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)

LOOKING AHEAD:

• Wednesday, Dec. 24 6:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (Sanctuary)
• Monday, Dec. 22-Friday, Jan. 2 Our Office Manager will be traveling out of town for 2 weeks over the holidays. Our office hours will be limited during this time.  If you need anything contact Pastor Jared