Dear Trinity Community:
Advent is a season of both quiet reflection and joyful expectation. It is a time of spiritual preparation, as we watch and wait for the coming of the Kingdom of God. Through our experience of sacred Word, music, and service to others, the story of the coming of Christ gradually unfolds and deepens our understanding of God’s message of love and redemption. May our Advent journey propel us toward the true joy of Christmas. Our Advent theme this year will focus on four very poignant readings from the Old Testament proclaiming “Jesus Comes”—to give us God’s righteousness, to bring judgment but also grace, to defeat our enemies and bring us joy, and to tenderly lead and guide us.
Christmas Service Schedule
Christmas Eve and Christmas DayChristmas Eve Worship with Children, Youth, and Families
4pm | Mission Campus
4pm and 6pm | Shawnee Campus
Jesus, the Light of the World, arrived on that wonderful Christmas night. The light of a special star appeared over his birth place in Bethlehem. The radiance of God’s glory surrounded the shepherds as the angel of the Lord announced his birth. Jesus came to save us from sin and darkness, and he continues to shine his light upon this world until he returns as promised. These special worship services offer special music and family-friendly elements woven within our worship, communion (Shawnee campus), and candles.
Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols
6pm | Mission Campus
This annual celebration on Christmas Eve is designed for people who are looking for a traditional Lessons and Carols service. The service combines scripture and music to tell the story of the expectation and birth of Christ. The story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus is told in nine short scripture readings from Genesis, Isaiah, and the gospels. Christmas carols will include Joy to the World, O Come, All Ye Faithful, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Silent Night, Go Tell It on the Mountain, and more. The Trinity Choir and Festival Brass lead this joyful Christmas Eve service. No sermon will be given.
Christmas Eve by Candlelight with Communion
9:30pm | Mission Campus
This traditional late evening service on Christmas Eve begins with a 20-minute prelude of special music and congregational carols. Music will include pieces by J.S Bach, Johannes Brahms, Morten Lauridsen, and carol arrangements by Sir David Willcocks. A sermon, candles, and Holy Communion are included.
Advent Week One
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’”
Jeremiah 33:14-16
Advent Week Two
“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.
“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.
“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’“
Malachi 3:1-7b
Advent Week Three
Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
The Lord has taken away the judgments against you;
he has cleared away your enemies.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
you shall never again fear evil.
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Fear not, O Zion;
let not your hands grow weak.
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,
so that you will no longer suffer reproach.
Behold, at that time I will deal
with all your oppressors.
And I will save the lame
and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
and renown in all the earth.
At that time I will bring you in,
at the time when I gather you together;
for I will make you renowned and praised
among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
before your eyes,” says the Lord.
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Advent Week Four
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.
Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of his brothers shall return
to the people of Israel.
And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth.
And he shall be their peace.
Micah 5:2-5a
