Digital Bulletin

Order of Service

December 14, 2025

Prelude

Approaching God

Call to Worship: Joe Spix

Prayer: Carmen Bobis and Erin Brasher

Songs of Worship:

O Come O Come Emmanuel

Go Tell it On The Mountain

God Rest Ye Merry Christmas

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Hearing God 

Scripture Reading: Habakkuk 2:6-20 (ESV)

6 Shall not all these take up their taunt against him, with scoffing and riddles for him, and say,“Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own—for how long?—and loads himself with pledges!” 7 Will not your debtors suddenly arise, and those awake who will make you tremble? Then you will be spoil for them. 8 Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you, for the blood of man and violence to the earth, to cities and all who dwell in them. 9 “Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house, to set his nest on high, to be safe from the reach of harm! 10 You have devised shame for your house by cutting off many peoples; you have forfeited your life. 11 For the stone will cry out from the wall, and the beam from the woodwork respond. 12 “Woe to him who builds a town with blood and founds a city on iniquity! 13 Behold, is it not from the Lord of hosts that peoples labor merely for fire, and nations weary themselves for nothing? 14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.15 “Woe to him who makes his neighbors drink— you pour out your wrath and make them drunk, in order to gaze at their nakedness! 16 You will have your fill of shame instead of glory. Drink, yourself, and show your uncircumcision! The cup in the Lord's right hand will come around to you, and utter shame will come upon your glory! 17 The violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, as will the destruction of the beasts that terrified them, for the blood of man and violence to the earth, to cities and all who dwell in them. 18 “What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it, a metal image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation when he makes speechless idols! 19 Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake; to a silent stone, Arise! Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it. 20 But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.”

Habacuc 2:6-20

6 »Pronto sus cautivos se burlarán de ellos. Se mofarán, diciendo “¡Qué aflicción les espera, ladrones!¡Ahora tendrán su merecido! Se hicieron ricos por medio de la extorsión, pero ¿cuánto tiempo puede durar esto?”.7 De repente tus deudores tomarán medidas. Se volverán en tu contra y te quitarán todo lo que tienes, mientras que tú te quedarás temblando e impotente.8 Debido a que saqueaste a muchas naciones, ahora todos los sobrevivientes te saquearán a ti. Cometiste asesinatos por toda la tierra y llenaste los pueblos de violencia. 9 »¡Qué aflicción te espera a ti que construyes mansiones con dinero deshonesto! Crees que tu riqueza comprará seguridad y así pondrás el nido familiar fuera de peligro. 10 Sin embargo, por causa de los asesinatos que cometiste, deshonraste tu nombre y te costó la vida. 11 Hasta las piedras de los muros gritan contra ti y las vigas de los techos le hacen eco a la queja.12 »¡Qué aflicción te espera a ti que construyes ciudades con el dinero adquirido mediante el crimen y la corrupción! 13 ¿No ha prometido el Señor de los Ejércitos Celestiales que las riquezas de las naciones se convertirán en cenizas? ¡Se esfuerzan mucho, pero todo es en vano! 14 Así como las aguas llenan el mar, la tierra se llenará del conocimiento de la gloria del Señor. 15 »¡Qué aflicción te espera a ti que emborrachas a tus vecinos! Los obligas a beber para regodearte de la vergüenza de su desnudez.16 Sin embargo, pronto te llegará el turno de ser deshonrado. ¡Ven, bebe y demuestra tu desnudez[a]! Bebe de la copa del juicio del Señor y toda tu gloria se convertirá en vergüenza. 17 Derribaste los bosques del Líbano. Ahora serás derribado. Destruiste los animales salvajes; ¡ahora el terror de ellos será el tuyo! Cometiste asesinatos por toda la tierra y llenaste los pueblos de violencia.18 »¿De qué sirve un ídolo tallado por hombres o una imagen fundida que te engaña? ¡Qué necio es confiar en algo elaborado por tus propias manos, un dios que ni siquiera puede hablar! 19 ¡Qué aflicción te espera a ti que les dices a ídolos de madera: “Despierten y sálvennos!”. A imágenes de piedra, mudas, dices: “¡Levántense y enséñennos!”. ¿Podrá un ídolo decirte qué hacer? Aunque estén recubiertos de oro y plata, por dentro no tienen vida.20 Pero el Señor está en su santo templo. Que toda la tierra guarde silencio delante de él».

Sermon: The Waiting is Over- Reyn Cabinte

Reflection: Mary's Boy Child Sung by Andrew M. Rosales

Responding to God

Final Song: Angel We Have Heard on High

Sent By God

Benediction


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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Join Us for Christmas Café this Month
A weekly newsletter for Uptown Community Church
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Don’t Miss What’s Coming Up at Uptown
There’s a lot happening at Uptown this month! Pastor Reyn was recently featured on a podcast we’re excited to share, and after service we’ll enjoy Christmas Café with coffee and cocoa. Please note there will be no in-person service on December 28, and we are thankful for each of you as we wrap up the year together.
Gospel Legacy in NYC tells the stories of pastors, church planters, and leaders who are bringing the hope of Jesus into the heart of New York City. Pastor Reyn is featured in episode six and shares some of Uptown's history and DNA. We invite you to listen in!
Listen In
On Sunday, December 14 we'll have a Christmas Cafe during our social hour! Come for a warm yet chill time of coffee, cocoa, and cookies downstairs in the fellowship hall.

On Sunday, December 28, we will not be worshiping together at Uptown. 
Instead, we want to encourage Uptowners to worship differently by gathering together in someone's home and watching a New Year's Eve reflection by Pastor Reyn. Please also consider visiting another church. Below are some we recommend. (Please check the website first to confirm service times).

Covenant Church of The Heights

Dyckman Heights Church

Redeemer East Harlem 

Emmanuel Presbyterian Church

Apostles Uptown

An invitation to grace-powered generosity:

  • By God’s grace, our giving in the first five months of this fiscal year has grown versus the first five months of last fiscal year. 

  • However, cost-of living increases, income changes among givers, the healthy departures of key members, and investment in critical ministries means we still need an additional $10,000 to reach our $420k budget goal for this year.

  • Please consider one of these ways to help Uptown "close the giving gap" by December 31.

  • Read this letter from Pastor Reyn for context.
GIVE TO UPTOWN
JOIN A LIFE GROUP
For more information about how to join a Life Group, please contact Mirjam at mirjam@uptowncommunitychurch.com or fill out the interest form below.
Life Group Interest Form
We all need prayer. Join us every Wednesday at 12:15 via Zoom for prayer for each other, the church, our neighborhood, and world. Join via Zoom at https://staffweb.zoom.us/j/93435669145.
Submit a Prayer Request
Click the links below for more information.

Have a practical need?
diaconate@uptowncommunitychurch.com

Listen to sermon recordings
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GIVE TO UPTOWN

Uptown Events 
December 2025

December 6: Women's Social: Cookie Swap
December 14: Christmas Cafe: Cocoa and Coffee Hour
December 28: No In-person Sunday Worship Service
 
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