First Presbyterian Church
Order of Worship

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Sunday Worship
December 14, 2025 - 10 a.m. EST

Prelude - Christmas Carol Sing

Ringing of the Church Bell

Invitation to Worship - A Sanctified Art

One: When the sun rises, what shall we sing —

All: My soul magnifies the Lord.

One: And when chaos and violence echo on the screen —

All: My soul magnifies the Lord.

One: For our God is a God of justice and peace.

All: My soul magnifies the Lord.

One: So when all is wrong, or all is right —

All: My soul magnifies the Lord.

Hymn 102 - Savior of the Nations, Come

Savior of the nations, come;
Virgin’s Son, make here Your home.
Marvel now, O heaven and earth,
That the Lord chose such a birth.

From God’s heart the Savior speeds;
Back to God his pathway leads;
Out to vanquish death’s command.
Back to reign at God’s right hand.

Now your manger, shining bright,
Hallows night with newborn light.
Night cannot this light subdue;
Let our faith shine ever new.

Praise we sing to Christ the Lord,
Virgin’s son, incarnate Word!
To the holy Trinity
Praise we sing eternity.

Lighting of the Second Advent Candle - A Sanctified Art
Hussey family

One: I will wait for a promotion.

All: I will wait for the sequel.

One: I will wait for space to grow.

All: I will wait for the phone to ring.

One: I will wait for the water to boil.

All: I will wait for the text to come through.

One: I will wait for Christmas to arrive.

All: I will wait for a lot of things, but I will not wait for joy.

One: In a world where suffering and violence plague the news, I will choose to delight in that which is good.

All: This week, we light the candle of joy to remind us that darkness does not have the last word. May this light guide and inspire us as we work to spread God’s joy and delight through this world. Amen.

Canticle 91 - Come, Come, Emmanuel

Come, come Emmanuel.
Come, Emmanuel.
Come, come Emmanuel.
Come, Emmanuel.

Sharing the Peace

Welcome and Announcements
Wallace W. Bubar

Old Testament Reading - Isaiah 7:10-16
Heather Kessler, liturgist

Anthem - A Prayer for Advent (J. Paul Williams, Douglas Nolan)
The Angel Choir
Joy Hire, director
Meredith Needham, piano

Word with Children
Kristin Ream

New Testament Reading - Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon - “Holy Disruption”

Hymn 129 - Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming

Lo, how a rose e’er blooming
From tender stem hath sprung,
Of Jesse’s lineage coming,
By faithful prophets sung.
It came, a floweret bright,
Amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.

Isaiah ‘twas foretold it,
The rose I have in mind;
With Mary we behold it,
The Virgin Mother kind.
To show God’s love aright
She bore for us a Savior,
When half spent was the night.

This flower, whose fragrance tender
With sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor
The darkness everywhere.
Enfleshed, yet very God,
From sin and death he saves us
And lightens every load.

Prayers of the People

One: God of faithfulness:

All: Hear our prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer [unison]

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, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Offering

Offertory - Mary’s Lullaby (John Rutter)

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Doxology 606 - Praise God, from Whom All Blessing Flow

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication

Hymn 110 - Love Has Come

Love has come, a light in the darkness!
Love explodes in the Bethlehem skies.
See, all heaven has come to proclaim it.
Hear how their song of joy arises:
Love! Love! Born unto you, a Savior!
Love! Love! Glory to God on high!

Love is born! Come share in the wonder.
Love is God now asleep in the hay.
See the glow in the eyes of His mother.
What is the name her heart is saying?
Love! Love! Love is the name she whispers.
Love! Love! Jesus, Immanuel.

Love has come, He never will leave us!
Love is life everlasting and free.
Love is Jesus within and among us.
Love is the peace our hearts are seeking.
Love! Love! Love is the gift of Christmas.
Love! Love! Praise to You, God on high!

Benediction

Postlude - People, Look East! (arr. Kristina Langlois)
Philip Everingham

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