Date 12/7/25  (click the date for the digital OOS)

Worship Leader   Rev. Dr. Kate R. Walker 

Time for All Ages   Erica Shadowsong  

Liturgist    Alice Carnes 

Music     Dr. James Johnson Jazz Trio: Dr. J., piano, Jeff Grubbs, bass, Tom Wendt, drums 

Song Leader Rob Schwartz 

Tech     Nicky Baldy 

Prelude Brother Rudolf, arr. Dr. James Johnson  

Welcome   Rev. Dr. Kate R. Walker 

Lighting the Chalice, Advent Candle and Call to Worship   Rev. Kate and Alice Carnes 

Opening Hymn  #225 “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” 

Collective Grounding   

We name our collective recommitment to care for the earth. 

Knowing the ground we live upon is sacred, 

We pledge to bring new life to the earth 

New Life to the air 

New Life to the waters 

New Life to each other 

For all Life is sacred 

Story for All    “Jesus and the Beatitudes”  Erica Shadowsong 

Singing For Our Children  (sung to tune of “The Holly and The Ivy”, Trad. English; additional words by Erica Shadowsong) 

The holly and the ivy, 

When they are both full grown, 

Of all the trees that are in the wood 

The holly bears the crown. 

Oh the rising of the sun 

And the running of the deer, 

The singing of the nightingale 

At the turning of the year. 

Share the Plate  James Soffietti, Manager of Community Food Services, EECM 

Offering   Alice 

Donations by check may be mailed to the church office.  Electronic donations can be made online through the church website or by texting “give” to (412) 435-1050 and following the instructions.          

Share the plate for December is East End Community Ministries (EECM) 

Joys and Sorrows: During the offertory music, you are invited to light a candle or place a stone in Blessed Community water as you offer silent gratitude or prayers. Two tables are in the sanctuary; one in the front, to the right of the platform, and one in the back right alcove. 

Offertory Music Jesus, the Light of the World, hymn arr. Dr. James Johnson 
 

Meditation, silence, or prayer    Rev. Kate 

Musical Response   #238 “Within the Shining of a Star” 

Reading     “Salvation (Fourth Principle)” by Rev. Adam Lawrence Dyer    Alice 

Sermon   “What Would Jesus Do?”  Rev. Kate 

Hymn   #276  “O Young and Fearless Prophet” 

Extinguishing the Chalice Flame   Rev. Kate and Alice  

We extinguish this flame but not the light of truth, the warmth of community, or the fire of commitment: these we carry in our hearts until we are together again. 

Benediction  Rev. Kate 

Postlude Silent Night, arr. Dr. James Johnson 

To donate to Share the Plate  

– by check mailed to the church office, please include STP on the memo line  

– online on the church website, use the drop down to select Plate. 

– by texting “Give” to 412-435-1050 following the directions with the word share or pledge after the donation amount as appropriate. 

To make a pledge payment  

-by check, please put pledge in the memo line  

– online on the church website, keep the default General Fund 2025 option  

Dr. James Johnson (piano) is co-founder of the Afro-American Music Institute (AAMI) in Homewood, which recognizes the importance of training students of all ages in the music of the African American community such as blues, jazz, soul and gospel. The work of AAMI strives to heighten community consciousness, self-awareness, and music appreciation.

 Jeff Grubbs is a jazz bassist who is also a veteran member of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He has performed in the local jazz scenes of Cleveland, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami and Pittsburgh with artists including Nat Adderly, Mose Allison, Donald Byrd, Kurt Elling, Roger Humphries, Ellis Marsalis, Chris Potter, Diane Schur, Billy Taylor, among many others. 

Thomas Wendt (drums) maintains a busy freelancing schedule with Pittsburgh’s top jazz artists and has played with international artists David “Fathead” Newman, Donald Byrd, James Moody, Jimmy Heath, Clark Terry. He appears on numerous recordings with artists including Jay Ashby, Joe Negri, Maureen Budway, and on the Emmy Award winning soundtrack for the PBS documentary, “Fly Boys.” Thomas serves on the faculty at the Afro- American Music Institute and Duquesne University. 

EAST END COOPERATIVE MINISTRY

Founded in 1970, East End Cooperative Ministry serves thousands of individuals and families in the Pittsburgh region. Through three essential programs, Community Food Services (CFS), Housing and Employment Services (HES), and Children and Youth Services (CYS), we provide:

Free meals and groceries for those struggling with food insecurity.

Assistance with securing permanent housing for homeless individuals.

Emergency shelter for the homeless and for those recovering from addiction after successfully exiting a drug rehabilitation program.

Case management for individuals/families struggling with poverty, addiction, and mental health issues.

Education and training for those with barriers to employment.

Mentoring to help urban children/youth succeed in school, make healthy decisions, and value themselves.