December 28, 2025
Prelude: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
Bach, arr. Wells
Welcome
Welcome & Call to Worship
[Isaiah 52]
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news.
Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices, together they sing for joy; for they see the return of the LORD.
Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.
All the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
Let us worship the LORD!
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Hymn 31)
Wesley/Mendelssohn
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Hymn 31)
Wesley/Mendelssohn
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King,
Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies;
With angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”
Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold him come, offspring of the virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the God-head see; hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased in flesh with us to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”
Hail! The heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by, born that we no more may die,
Born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth.
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”
Confession
God of good news, you bring hope and comfort to places darkened by oppression and mourning. You call us to share your light, but sometimes we struggle to feel close to you ourselves. Help us open our hearts to the good news. Forgive us when we put our trust in what the world has to offer and fail to hold space for the mystery of your incarnation. Inspire us again with your love of justice and your compassion for the weak and grieving. May we see your salvation and sing for joy. Amen.
Silence
In the Bleak Midwinter (Hymn 36)
Rossetti/Holst
What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.
Forgiveness in Jesus Christ
Peace
The peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
Advent Doxology
(from Angels, from the Realms of Glory)
Salisbury Hymn Book/Smart
All creation, join in praising God the Father, Spirit, Son
Evermore your voices raising to the eternal Three in One:
Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King!
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Readings
Shirley Russell
Old Testament: Isaiah 52:7–10
New Testament: John 1:1-14
Solo: Gesù Bambino (The Infant Jesus)
Yon
Carollen Ryan, soprano; Katriel Starbuck, violin
Sermon: Wake up!
Scott Starbuck
Focus: “There are two ways of waking up in the morning. One is to say, 'Good morning, God,' and the other is to say, 'Good God, morning'!” ― Archbishop Fulton Sheen
Response: O Little Town of Bethlehem (Hymn 44)
Brooks/Redner
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light;
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary; and gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth!
And praises sing to God the King, and peace to all on earth.
How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him, still the dear Christ enters in.
O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!
Pastoral Prayer & The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, and deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Call to Stewardship
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. -Luke 2:22
Sending: Go, Tell It on the Mountain (Hymn 29)
African-American spiritual
Refrain:
Go, tell it on the mountain Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!
While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens there shone a holy light. (refrain)
The shepherds feared and trembled when lo! Above the earth,
Rang out the angel chorus that hailed our Savior’s birth. (refrain)
Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born,
And God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn. (refrain)
Charge & Benediction
Postlude: Joy to the World
Handel, arr. Wilson
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