"Hymns and Carols"
THE CELEBRATION OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD
CHRISTMAS DAY
December 25, 2022 11:00 a.m.
WE GATHER IN GOD’S NAME
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF HOMEWOOD
MISSION STATEMENT
Through the grace of God, faith in Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit, we prayerfully seek to discern God’s will for this congregation and to reach beyond ourselves to feed the hungry, body and soul. Adopted by Session 7/31/17
PRAYER FOR PEACE ||| Peace Prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
PRELUDE
*CALL TO CONTINUING WORSHIP
O sing to the Lord a new song,
For the true light has come into the world!
Break forth into singing,
For in Christ is life!
The Word has become flesh and lives among us,
And we have seen God’s glory, full of grace and truth!
HYMNS AND CAROLS BY REQUEST
CALL TO CONFESSION
Turning to God and following the light of Christ, let us in faith confess our sin and the sins of the world.
*DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
Friends, believe the good news of the gospel:
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Thanks be to God!
WELCOME AND CHURCH COMMUNICATIONS
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING Isaiah 52:7-10
7How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” 8Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices, together they sing for joy; for in plain sight they see the return of the LORD to Zion. 9Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. 10The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
HYMNS AND CAROLS BY REQUEST
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING John 1:1-14
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God!
WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD
HYMNS AND CAROLS BY REQUEST
INVITATION TO OFFERING
From the fullness of God we have all received grace upon grace. Let us offer our lives to the Lord.
OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS
OFFERTORY
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
For the blessings of this and all our days, we thank you, gracious God. Accept, we pray, not just this money but also our lives freely offered in gratitude for all you have done for us. Use them both, in this place and wherever you might take us. Amen.
WE GO IN GOD’S NAME
BLESSING & CHARGE
The Light of light illumines our lives like the dawn’s first rays. The light shines and will not be overcome. In the name of God, creation’s spark; Christ, the bright morning star; and the Spirit of fire,
Amen.
Clothe yourselves with love. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. And be thankful…Do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God through him.
Amen.
POSTLUDE
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord! Thanks be to God!
Rev. Matt Lang, Pastor
Mrs. Mary Ann Wenzelman, Interim Organist/Pianist
Worship Liturgist: Laura Dillman
Usher: Laura Dillman
Web Technicians: Shirley Armistead, Nancy Beaudoin, Phil Dillman, Kathie Hazlett