to watch this worship service on YouTube, click here.

Rather than remembering the events of Jesus' birth, the third week of Advent looks at the beginning of Jesus' ministry as announced by John the Baptizer. Pastor Bob uses this text to help us see how important it is to consider that Jesus grew up to teach and demonstrate God's love and calls us to follow him in this work.
Our observance of Advent continues in the service. Advent is a time of remembering Jesus' coming to us. We observe Advent each year to remind us that, although Jesus has already come, what will fully come in God's time has not yet arrived. We still must wait and anticipate the fullness of God's rule and realm.
This year, our Advent theme uses the hymn "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel".
Each Sunday and Advent and on Christmas Day, we will have one verse from that hymn as the theme for the day.
The theme for today is taken from the fourth verse:
O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
and death's dark shadows put to flight
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
The theme is "Jesus comes as the Light of the World". Jesus brings hope to a world that is dark and filled with lifelessness.
Our worship today is 24 minutes long and includes a time of prayer, scripture, a number of favorite hymns, preaching as well as communion. You may choose to participate, or simply meditate as we tell of Jesus' invitation to "do this in remembrance of me." If you would like to share with us at the table that goes beyond earthly boundaries of time, place, and structure, we ask that you prepare a piece of bread of some type and a drink such as grape juice, wine, or water. As we pray, our prayers extend to where you are. If you are unable to eat or drink, you may want to use a symbolic gesture or mental symbol as you come together at this table of remembrance with us.
(Scroll down for an Order of Worship)

We hope that as you join us for worship you will feel a blessing from being part. Please tell friends, family, and others you know about our online church that is here with doors that are always open, walls as wide as the world, and always room at the table.

ORDER OF WORSHIP:
1. Opening background music:
--- "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" - instrumental
-- Brian Wallen & Dean Phelps on guitar
2. "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" verse 4
--- from "Ten More Miles" with the guitar and vocal talents
--- of Dean Phelps, Brian Wallen, and Molly Wallen
3. Pastor's Prayer: Pastor Deb
4. "Stepping in the Light" - Dean Phelps
5. Message: “Beyond the Baby" Pastor Bob
--- scriptures: Luke 3:7-18
6. "Let Us Walk in the Light of Our Lord" - DisciplesNet singers
7. Communion: Elder Susan
8. "Seed, Scattered and Sown" - DisciplesNet singers
9. Sending Out
10. Credits
--- background music: - "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel verse 4"
-- Brian Wallen & Dean Phelps on guitar

We are grateful for the permission of the artists to use "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" from the "Ten More Miles" Christmas album (c) 2018 theWallensMusic.

If you would like to chat with one of our pastors, including talking more about belief in God, becoming a Christian or following Christ, or living as a disciple of Christ, please email us at pastor@disciplesnet.org, or contact us using the contact information on our website, disciplesnet.org, or our Facebook page, DisciplesNet Church.

INVITATION TO GIVING:
DisciplesNet Church is a not-for-profit church that exists to cross barriers and boundaries to share the Good News of God's redeeming love. We rely on the gifts of our online viewers as we continue to grow and extend our nets around the world.

We also extend the invitation for you to be part of the DisciplesNet ministry by giving a one-time gift, or ongoing, including a tithe. Even the smallest of gifts, like the mustard seed, has a way of growing in amazing ways to share God's word and the love of Jesus Christ. We have a giving page on our website, disciplesnet.org, and email address: giving@disciplesnet.org

God bless you, and thank you for joining us!