The Order of Worship – December 28, 2025
This is the 362nd Day of 2025.
There are 3 more days remaining in 2025.
Filled with the Holy Spirit,
we are a people of prayer
committed to love one another
and equipped to share Christ’s love throughout the world.
First Sunday after Christmas
Prelude:
Welcome & Announcements:
Bible Study is at afaithtalk.com
Call to Worship: Love Came Down at Christmas…#242
Responsive Reading: Psalm 148
God’s splendor is over earth and heaven
1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host!
3 Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars!
4 Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for he commanded and they were created.
6 He established them forever and ever;
he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.
7 Praise the LORD from the earth,
you sea monsters and all deeps,
8 fire and hail, snow and frost,
stormy wind fulfilling his command!
9 Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Wild animals and all cattle,
creeping things and flying birds!
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and women alike, old and young together!
13 Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
his glory is above earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his faithful,
for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the LORD!
Opening Hymn: All Creatures of Our God and King…62 (Eb)
All creatures of our God and King
lift up your voice and with us sing
O praise Him alleluia
Thou burning sun with golden beam
thou silver moon with softer gleam
O praise Him
O praise Him
Alle-luia, alle-luia, alle-lu-ia
Thou rushing wind that art so strong
ye clouds that sail in Heav’n along
O praise Him alleluia
Thou rising morn in praise rejoice
ye lights of evening find a voice
O praise Him
O praise Him
Alle-luia alle-luia alle-lu-ia
Let all things their Creator bless
and worship Him in humbleness
O praise Him alleluia
Praise praise the Father praise the Son
and praise the Spirit
three in One
O praise Him
O praise Him
Alle-luia alle-luia alle-lu-ia
Affirmation of Faith:
The Apostle’s Creed..No. 881
I believe in God the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord:
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified,
dead,
and buried;
the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge
the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Gloria Patri…Page 70
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen. Amen.
Praise Song: Amazing Love (You Are My King)
I’m forgiven, because you were forsaken
I’m accepted, you were condemned
I’m alive and well, you’re spirit is within me
Because you died and rose again
Amazing love, how can it be
that you my king would die for me
Amazing love, I know it’s true
It’s my joy to honor you in all I do, I honor You.
I’m forgiven, because you were forsaken
I’m accepted, you were condemned
I’m alive and well, you’re spirit is within me
Because you died and rose again
Amazing love, how can it be
that you my king would die for me
Amazing love, I know it’s true
It’s my joy to honor you
in all I do, I honor You.
You are my King
You are my King
Jesus, You are My King
Jesus, You are my King
Amazing love, how can it be
that you my king would die for me
Amazing love, I know it’s true
It’s my joy to honor you
in all I do, I honor You.
In all I do, I honor You.
Pastoral Prayer
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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 trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever. Amen.
Anthem: I Could Sing of Your Love Forever (E)
Offertory
Doxology:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen
Children’s Moment
Children’s Song (I’ve Got Peace Like a River…TFWS #2145)
Verse 1
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river in my soul.
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river in my soul.
Verse 2
I’ve got love like an ocean,
I’ve got love like an ocean,
I’ve got love like an ocean in my soul.
I’ve got love like an ocean,
I’ve got love like an ocean,
I’ve got love like an ocean in my soul.
Verse 3
I’ve got joy like a fountain,
I’ve got joy like a fountain,
I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul.
I’ve got joy like a fountain,
I’ve got joy like a fountain,
I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul.
Verse 4
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got love like an ocean,
I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul.
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got love like an ocean,
I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul.
Prayer for Illumination
Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that as the Scriptures are read and your Word is proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Amen.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 2:13-23
The slaughter of innocent children
13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”
14 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”
16 When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.”
19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 20 “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.”
21 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. 23 There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He will be called a Nazorean.”
Leader: The Word of God for the people of God
All: Thanks be to God
New Testament Reading: Hebrews 2:10-18
Christ frees humankind
10 It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, 12 saying, “I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.” 13 And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Here am I and the children whom God has given me.”
14 Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death.16 For it is clear that he did not come to help angels but the descendants of Abraham.
17 Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.
Leader: The Word of God for the people of God
All: Thanks be to God
Sermon Text: Isaiah 63:7-9
Israel saved by God’s own presence
7 I will recount the gracious deeds of the LORD, the praiseworthy acts of the LORD, because of all that the LORD has done for us and the great favor to the house of Israel that he has shown them according to his mercy, according to the abundance of his steadfast love. 8 For he said, “Surely they are my people, children who will not act deceitfully,” and he became their savior 9 in all their distress. It was no messenger or angel but his presence that saved them; in his love and pity it was he who redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
Leader: This is the Word of God for the people of God
All: Thanks be to God
Sermon: “Saved by God’s Own Presence”
Closing Hymn: Go Tell it on the Mountain…251 (G) (1 & 3)
Refrain:
Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
go tell on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.
Verse 1:
While shepherds kept their watching,
over silent flocks by night, behold throughout the the heavens, there shone a holy light.
Refrain
Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
go tell on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.
Verse 3:
Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born,
and God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn.
Refrain
Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
go tell on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.
Filled Up and Poured Out
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