Advent Worship at Calvary

The Perfect Imperfect

DECEMBER 21, 2025 AT 10AM

In a dream, Joseph received a startling message from God turned his world upside down, and Joseph's faithfulness in responding to God's dream, changed the world. We rejoice for all who hear God's dreams and respond with faith instead of fear. 

ADVENT 2025: SOON AND VERY SOON

This Advent, we acknowledge our need for radical hope. The scriptures from this season encourage us to prepare for God's best, yet it sometimes feels like we are living in the “worst of times.” Can we hold fast to the promise that “soon and very soon” we are going to see the hope, peace, joy, and love of God manifest in our lives and int the world? Soon and very soon, friends, soon and very soon. This Advent, we wait with hope.

Our next Worship Service on Sunday, December 21:
"Rejoice! Rejoice!"

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Thank you for joining us for Worship! 

10am Sunday Worship Livestream

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Please enjoy this week's service.
Next week's service (12.21) will be uploaded Sunday morning before 10am.

December 21, 2025 at 10am

Matthew 1:18-25


Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

  and they shall name him Emmanuel’,

which means, ‘God is with us.’ 

When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

Join us for our Christmas Eve services
5pm - Candlelight - childcare available for ages infants to 5 years old
8pm - Lessons & Carols - join us for caroling on the steps after the service
See you there!

Previous Sermons

A pink image that says ‘soon and very soon advent 2025’ in darker pink and a few stars
By Rev. Marci Glass December 14, 2025
God chose an unwed teenage girl to bear the son of God. It reminds us that God is willing to be vulnerable. Because Mary was vulnerable. There was a more than decent chance that this pregnancy could have resulted in Mary being stoned to death. God does not just have a preference for the poor and the weak. God became po
A teal image with the text ‘soon and very soon advent 2025’ in lighter teal and stars
By Rev. Joann Lee December 7, 2025
Repentance is part of the work of preparation – and both activities have individual and collective elements. As crowds come to John for baptism, their repentance becomes a community event. Preparing the path of God also requires communities to engage in peace, love, and justice.
A purple and pink image that says ‘soon and very soon advent 2025” with stars
By Rev. Victor Floyd November 30, 2025
“Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.” But when? There is no holy itinerary for God’s arrival — no day or hour, no platform or gate. In Matthew 24, Jesus teaches us that if we want to live good and meaningful lives, we must keep awake: stay alert, attentive, expectant. God’s ever-dawning presence is
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Join us for Bible Study

Join us for Men's Bible Study. Click to email David Barnes for Zoom info
The Women of Calvary Bible Study

3rd Thursdays of the month • zoom • 6 - 7:15pm

The Women of Calvary Bible Study meets via Zoom on the third Thursday of the month from 6 pm - 7:15 pm starting on September 18, 2025.
This year's study is Finding Resilience, Joy, and Our Identity in Jesus Christ by Rhashell D. Hunter. In this Bible study, we will explore resilience. This is modeled for us by several biblical characters, gospel and epistle writers, as well as Jesus. The Bible study is also about joy. How do we find joy in a chaotic world? Christian joy may be different from how a lot of people define joy. We will also seek to rediscover our identity.
Please join us for this study whether you're new to Bible Study or have participated in this study for years. Books are $10, scholarships available!
Please contact Rev. Joann for Zoom info: joannlee@calpres.org. Click to Email Joann

Music

Add Your Voice


Calvary enjoys a long and treasured legacy as a center for great music in San Francisco. Through weekly liturgies, regular concerts featuring our choir and orchestra and guest musicians, and as an essential venue for the many arts organizations who perform in our historic sanctuary, that rich tradition is vibrantly alive today. Our weekly worship services feature our 40-voice Chancel Choir, our 6,155 pipe organ and Bösendorfer Imperial grand piano, professional soloists and other fine guest musicians, children and youth, handbells, and a range of exceptional music you likely won’t encounter in many other places of worship.

Learn More About Our Music Ministry

Enjoy our 2024 Choir Tour of Europe



A group of choir members singing with the music in the pews of the Chapel

More Faith Services at Calvary