December 21st

Fourth Sunday of Advent

WELCOME AND LITURGY OF GATHERING

Leader: **Reading of Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 (FNV). This is the word of the Lord.

ALL: Thanks be to God.

Trinity is fostering a haven of belonging where wanderers and wonderers 

gather to discover and embody the love of Jesus in the world.

COMMUNAL SINGING

Angels We Have Heard on High

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains

Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing,
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King

O Come All Ye Faithful

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come, and behold Him, born the King of angels!

O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!

Sing, choirs of angels; sing in exultation;
sing, all ye citizens of heav'n above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest!

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv'n!
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!

COMMUNITY CONFESSION AND ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING

Leader: Today marks the fourth Sunday of Advent, the season in which we anticipate celebrating the birth of Jesus. For unto us, a child is born - the presence of God With Us -  will show us the way.  This Advent, we pause. We breathe. We pray. We dig deep. We reach out. We rise up. We remember. We vision. We sit with the pain. We stay with the trouble. We wait, expectant. We light candles. We labor. We open to You, and to one another, and to the Sacred Mystery that is Emmanuel, God-With-Us, Love Incarnate, Divinity Enfleshed.

Reading - Romans 1:1-7

Prayer & Candle Lighting: The Love of God-With-Us does not come as mere feeling, or sentimental fluff. Love cannot be imposed from on high. Love is our greatest commandment— tending tenderly to God, to other, and to self. The Love of God-With-Us is love in action, radical love practices: redistribution of resources and risks, solidarity with those most exposed to threat, hospitality to caravans, refugees, migrants, and sojourners, caring for those we’ve been taught to despise, or fear. This love is fierce, and tender. It defies unjust rules and flattens hierarchies of value. The Love of God-With-Us is collective, liberating us from deadly alienation. Love is gestating in darkness; it comes unexpectedly. Love invites our expectation, and demands our participation. Prepare the way, for Love enfleshed. May Love be birthed among, within, and through us, this Advent. 

ALL: Forgive us, Always Present God. In a season when your presence calls us to look outward, we too easily get self-absorbed. We’re annoyed by our families, angered by those who think differently and pre-occupied by our own well-being. May the light of your presence illuminate our selfishness.

Leader: Hear the good news: the One who came so long ago continues to draw near to us, offering forgiveness and healing to all!

ALL: Thanks be to God! We will celebrate the coming Messiah by opening our arms to all of God’s children!

BLESSING AND PASSING THE PEACE 

Adults: The Lord be with you!

Children and Kids Ministry Leader: And also with you! 

During this time we greet one another, recognizing that we are all a part of the body, as PreK-5th grade children are led to their ministry space. Younger children and youth remain, and are welcome, in the Gathering. Materials for toddlers are available and we understand that their presence means they will be heard, no need to worry about their vocal contributions.

ADVENT REFLECTION

Resilient Advent - A Gift Not Asked For

Matthew 1.18-25

-Reread the text for the week. Where does resilience show up? 

-Consider the Advent theme for this week. How are you or might you need to experience hope, faith/peace, joy, love, or Christ this week?

-In what ways might you/we need to make space to receive the healing gift of God coming to dwell with us?

-As Advent sets the pattern for the year ahead - as the Church - how are you being empowered for the journey ahead?

-In new or old ways, how might you celebrate Jesus’ birth this year?

*For discussion prompts visit the series page here.

LORD’S TABLE LITURGY

Leader: As we draw closer to Jesus’ birth, as we seek to hear the angels and follow the shepherds, we would tell of the revelation of your mystery in Jesus:

ALL: Jesus was born, to live, to be, to die with us; Jesus was raised, so we would know that death has no power; Jesus will come, your final “yes” to all our doubts and worries.

Leader: As we long to be awakened, say “yes” to your great love, we gather at the Table, praying you will pour out your Spirit on us and the feast prepared. 

ALL: Though broken, the bread can make us strong enough to go and be the gift another needs, sharing your blessings of love and grace, swaddling the most vulnerable we meet with Jesus’ compassion. Though just a cup, your grace fills us with the courage to say “yes” to the Spirit which beckons us to share peace with all the broken, to learn the language of hope from the children in our midst, and draw closer to the Baby born not into wealth and power, but into poverty and weakness. 

Leader: The Table of the Lord is open for all who seek to live in the love of Christ.

*communion elements are gluten free, not allergen free

RESPONSE & OFFERING OF WORSHIP                                                                                                                                    

The Offering Basket 

Prayer requests may be posted in the Zoom chat (Zoom participants) or written and placed in the offering basket.

What Child is This? 

What child is this, who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary! 

Why lies he in such mean estate
Where ox and lamb are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here,
The silent Word is pleading.

So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come peasant king to own Him,
The King of kings, salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Advent. The Advent season is here! You may access the Advent series page here, along with other resources. 

Advent Morning Prayer. Each weekday morning during Advent we will be participating in the morning prayers reflecting on poems and writings of familiar and new authors, and listening to music that Trinity Church is sharing throughout this season. ⁠Join us weekday mornings at 7am on Zoom or catch up throughout the day on Facebook or YouTube. Questions? email joel@indytrinity.org

Holiday Schedule.

• Christmas Eve Gathering @ 5:30pm

• NO Gathering Sunday, December 28th - enjoy gathering with friends and family

• January 4th - Brunch Gathering

Please join the Youth Group in collecting food items and funding to support IYG's food pantry. This is an ongoing need that IYG has, but with the lack of SNAP benefits, there is a higher need than the typical season. We will run the food drive through Christmas, no matter the status of SNAP benefits and encourage folks to keep IYG in their thoughts during their regular grocery shopping! Bring items to the building or send funds for the youth group to shop via Venmo @britney-yount.

2026 Budget. The 2026 Budget has been made available via email and in Church Documents on the website. If you need access to either of these, please let us know (contact@indytrinity.org). If you have any questions about this year’s budget, please contact Brenda Howard (brenda@indytrinity.org) or Steve Edinger (steve@indytrinity.org). If you have any questions about our Foundation Fund (previously called our Investment Accounts), please contact Jay Howard (jay@indytrinity.org).

THE BENEDICTION

Leader: Go forth to share God's love with all.

ALL: We will become a river of love through the world.

Leader: Go forth to share Christ's grace.

ALL: We will be a fountain flowing in the barren places.

Leader: Go forth to share the community of the Spirit.

ALL: We will become a pool of peace where all may be refreshed.

Leader: Go, in Love!

(Some liturgies adapted from lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.com and enfleshed.com)

Remain in the Gathering space for general connection and prayer.

GATHERING RESOURCES AND INFORMATION

**Throughout Advent we are introducing the First Nations Version of Psalms in our liturgy. We understand that the Spirit has no gender. While the FNV does use the word “Grandfather” for the Great Spirit, and we at Trinity might more naturally gravitate toward a feminine or gender-inclusive term for the Spirit, we have chosen to read from this version to open ourselves to the diverse humanlike depictions of Creator and hear these sacred texts in new ways. No translation is perfect. If you’d like to read what the translators of the FNV have to say about their choice regarding gender and the Great Spirit, you are welcome to read the excerpt at the front of this Trinity Gathering copy (it is marked). 

Land Acknowledgement. We acknowledge that the land on which we gather for worship was stolen from Native peoples, who were driven out of the area and of their native lands by genocide, force (through broken treaties and laws imposed upon their nation), and systematic disposession.  The Myaamiaki, Kaskaskia, and Kickapoo peoples* and their sovereign Nations have cared for, and are deeply a part of, this land - past, present, and future. (ref: Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery, Trinity Church)

Gathering Hosting Schedule. As an act of service and care, please join staff, leaders, and others from your parish in hosting Sunday Gatherings. These are great times to connect and welcome others to converse while serving as well. Arrival at 9:45am is great, 9:30am is super helpful for assisting with audio equipment and/or indoor set up. Cleaning up on the back end should only take 10-15 minutes. The hosting checklist is in the Trinity office. Thank you!

December

7th: Broad Ripple

14th: North/Carmel

21st: Midtown/Downtown

24th/Christmas Eve: Leadership Team

28th: No Gathering

January 

4th/New Year Brunch: Fishers

11th: Broad Ripple

18th: North/Carmel

25th: Midtown/Downtown

Guide and Service Dog Training. As we welcome Guide/Service Dogs at Gatherings, please familiarize yourself with resources under on these two websites https://www.guidedogs.com/resources/blindness-and-guide-dog-etiquette and https://www.guidedogsofamerica.org/best-practices-when-around-a-service-dog/  and discuss main points with those in your household. If you or anyone in your household has severe allergies or any fear of dogs, etc. please contact us (contact@indytrinity.org) so we can do our best to keep Gathering spaces welcoming for all. 

Health Guidelines. Gatherings can look differently according to the needs of our leaders and community if health concerns take effect. We ask that everyone remain flexible if and/or when this is the case. If a Gathering is going to be virtual, we will send an email by 8am on Sunday, or earlier. If you have experienced fever, coughs, or other clear signs of illness in the last 48 hours, please remain home and join the Gathering via Zoom. If your symptoms are not highly contagious or you are unsure about exposing others, please wear a mask.