Sunday, December 7, 2025 -- 10:30am Worship Service
Welcome to Maxwell Street! We hope you will consider wearing a nametag so that we might get to know one another better. They can be found in the lobbies outside the sanctuary. You can find more helpful information inside this bulletin.
GREETING & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Advent Candle Lighting - Nan, Gus, and Susan Gill
Children of God, what are we waiting for?
We wait for peace where conflict rages,
for gentleness where harshness prevails.
We wait for swords to be reshaped into plows,
for walls to crumble and bridges to rise.
We wait, longing for the Prince of Peace,
who stills our storms and guides our feet.
Hymn 82 - Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus, part of vs. 1
Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in thee.
Prelude - Lo! How a Rose E’re Blooming, John Randall Dennis
Call to Worship (Based on Isaiah 1.1-10)
A shoot shall come forth from Jesse’s stump,
And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him.
He will judge the poor with righteousness, and the meek with equity;
He will be clothed with righteousness and faithfulness.
The wolf and the lamb will live peacefully together,
The leopard and the kid will lie down side by side.
The cow and the bear will graze together; the lion will eat straw like the ox,
And a little child will lead them all.
They will neither hurt nor destroy on God’s holy mountain,
For the earth will be full of the knowledge of God, as the waters fill the sea.
+ Hymn 93 - Lift Up Your Heads
+ Call to Confession
+ A Prayer of Confession
God of Grace, we confess that we are not ready for you to come into our world — not quite yet. We cling to the known and familiar, afraid of the transformation your grace will bring. Yet you are always a step ahead of us, a voice crying out in the wilderness, inviting us into to bold new ways of being disciples. Humble us, O God, and teach us to do the work of repentance so that, fully reliant on your grace, we may know the richness of restored relationship with you and one another. Hear now our silent prayers of confession.
• Assurance of Pardon
• Response to Forgiveness: Hymn 581, (Gloria Patri)
Passing of the Peace
Children’s Message
Prayer for Openness
Holy God, our hope and strength, by the power of your Spirit prepare the way in our hearts for the coming of your Word, so that we may see the glorious signs of your promise fulfilled; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture Reading - Galatians 4:4-7, NT pg. 190
This is the written testimony to the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Anthem - Of the Father’s Love Begotten, arr. Dennis
Of the Father’s love begotten, E’re the worlds began to be, He is Alpha and Omega, He the Source, the Ending He. Of the things that are, that have been, and that future years shall see, evermore and evermore! O ye heights of heav’n adore Him; angel hosts His praises sing; pow’rs dominions, bow before Him, and extol our God and King. Let no tongue on earth be silent, ev’ry voice in concert ring, evermore and evermore! Christ, to Thee with God the Father, and, O Holy Ghost, to Thee, hymn and chant and high thanksgiving and unwearied praises be: honor, glory, and dominion, and eternal victory, evermore and evermore!
Anthem - Good Christian Men, Rejoice, arr. Dennis
Good Christian men rejoice with heart and soul and voice; give ye heed to what we say: News! News! Jesus Christ is born today! Ox and ass before Him bow, and he is in the manger now: Christ is born today! Good Christian men rejoice with heart and soul and voice; now ye hear of endless bliss: Joy! Joy! Jesus Christ was born for this! He has opened heaven’s door, and man is blessed evermore: Christ was born for this! Good Christian men rejoice with heart and soul and voice; now ye need not fear the grave: Peace! Jesus Christ was born to save! Calls you one and calls you all to gain His everlasting hall: Christ was born to save!
Scripture Reading - Luke 2:8-16, NT pg. 58
ANTHEM – Glory to God, G. F. Handel
Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth. Good will towards men.
SCRIPTURE READING - Micah 5:2-5a, OT pg. 865
A CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
The congregation is invited to join the choir in singing.
Joy to the world! The Lord is come; let earth receive her King: let ev’ry heart prepare Him room, and heav’n and nature sing, and heav’n and nature sing, and heav’n and heav’n and nature sing.
He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love.
The first Noel, the angel did say, was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; in fields where they lay keeping their sheep, on a cold winter’s night that was so deep. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel.
Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright. Round yon virgin mother and Child, Holy Infant so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
Infant holy, Infant lowly, for His bed a cattle stall; oxen lowing, little knowing Christ the Babe is Lord of all. Swift are winging angels singing, noels ringing,k tidings bringing: Christ the Babe is Lord of all, Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Flocks were sleeping, shepherds keeping vigil till the morning new saw the glory, heard the story, tidings of a gospel true. Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, praises voicing, greet the morrow: Christ the Babe was born for you, Christ the Babe was born for you.
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head; the stars in the sky looked down where He lay, the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains, and the mountains in reply echo back their joyous strains. Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Come to Bethlehem, and see Him whose birth the angels sing; come adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gloria in excelsis Deo.
PLEASE STAND
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem! Come and behold Him, born the King of angels! O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!
Prayers of the People & THE LORD’s PRAYER
Offering
• INVITATION
• Offertory - Thou Who Wast Rich, Chancel Choir, Will Jones, solo
Thou who was rich beyond all splendor, all for love’s sake becamest poor; thrones for a manger didst surrender, sapphire paved courts for stable floor. Thou who art God beyond all praising, all for love’s sake becamest Man; stooping so low, but sinners raising Heav’nwards by thine eternal plan. Thou who art love beyond all telling, Savior and King we worship thee. Emmanuel, within us dwelling, make us what thou wouldst have us be.
• Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessing flow Praise Christ the Word in flesh born low;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore; One God, Triune, whom we adore. Amen.
• Prayer of Dedication
+ HYMN 102 - Savior of the Nations Come
Charge & Benediction
Benediction Response - Hymn 82, Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
1 Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
Postlude - Celebration, John Randall Dennis, brass quintet, organ, and timpani
GREETING & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Advent Candle Lighting - Nan, Gus, and Susan Gill
Children of God, what are we waiting for?
We wait for peace where conflict rages,
for gentleness where harshness prevails.
We wait for swords to be reshaped into plows,
for walls to crumble and bridges to rise.
We wait, longing for the Prince of Peace,
who stills our storms and guides our feet.
Hymn 82 - Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus, part of vs. 1
Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in thee.
Prelude - Lo! How a Rose E’re Blooming, John Randall Dennis
Call to Worship (Based on Isaiah 1.1-10)
A shoot shall come forth from Jesse’s stump,
And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him.
He will judge the poor with righteousness, and the meek with equity;
He will be clothed with righteousness and faithfulness.
The wolf and the lamb will live peacefully together,
The leopard and the kid will lie down side by side.
The cow and the bear will graze together; the lion will eat straw like the ox,
And a little child will lead them all.
They will neither hurt nor destroy on God’s holy mountain,
For the earth will be full of the knowledge of God, as the waters fill the sea.
+ Hymn 93 - Lift Up Your Heads
+ Call to Confession
+ A Prayer of Confession
God of Grace, we confess that we are not ready for you to come into our world — not quite yet. We cling to the known and familiar, afraid of the transformation your grace will bring. Yet you are always a step ahead of us, a voice crying out in the wilderness, inviting us into to bold new ways of being disciples. Humble us, O God, and teach us to do the work of repentance so that, fully reliant on your grace, we may know the richness of restored relationship with you and one another. Hear now our silent prayers of confession.
• Assurance of Pardon
• Response to Forgiveness: Hymn 581, (Gloria Patri)
Passing of the Peace
Children’s Message
Prayer for Openness
Holy God, our hope and strength, by the power of your Spirit prepare the way in our hearts for the coming of your Word, so that we may see the glorious signs of your promise fulfilled; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture Reading - Galatians 4:4-7, NT pg. 190
This is the written testimony to the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Anthem - Of the Father’s Love Begotten, arr. Dennis
Of the Father’s love begotten, E’re the worlds began to be, He is Alpha and Omega, He the Source, the Ending He. Of the things that are, that have been, and that future years shall see, evermore and evermore! O ye heights of heav’n adore Him; angel hosts His praises sing; pow’rs dominions, bow before Him, and extol our God and King. Let no tongue on earth be silent, ev’ry voice in concert ring, evermore and evermore! Christ, to Thee with God the Father, and, O Holy Ghost, to Thee, hymn and chant and high thanksgiving and unwearied praises be: honor, glory, and dominion, and eternal victory, evermore and evermore!
Anthem - Good Christian Men, Rejoice, arr. Dennis
Good Christian men rejoice with heart and soul and voice; give ye heed to what we say: News! News! Jesus Christ is born today! Ox and ass before Him bow, and he is in the manger now: Christ is born today! Good Christian men rejoice with heart and soul and voice; now ye hear of endless bliss: Joy! Joy! Jesus Christ was born for this! He has opened heaven’s door, and man is blessed evermore: Christ was born for this! Good Christian men rejoice with heart and soul and voice; now ye need not fear the grave: Peace! Jesus Christ was born to save! Calls you one and calls you all to gain His everlasting hall: Christ was born to save!
Scripture Reading - Luke 2:8-16, NT pg. 58
ANTHEM – Glory to God, G. F. Handel
Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth. Good will towards men.
SCRIPTURE READING - Micah 5:2-5a, OT pg. 865
A CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
The congregation is invited to join the choir in singing.
Joy to the world! The Lord is come; let earth receive her King: let ev’ry heart prepare Him room, and heav’n and nature sing, and heav’n and nature sing, and heav’n and heav’n and nature sing.
He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love.
The first Noel, the angel did say, was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; in fields where they lay keeping their sheep, on a cold winter’s night that was so deep. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel.
Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright. Round yon virgin mother and Child, Holy Infant so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
Infant holy, Infant lowly, for His bed a cattle stall; oxen lowing, little knowing Christ the Babe is Lord of all. Swift are winging angels singing, noels ringing,k tidings bringing: Christ the Babe is Lord of all, Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Flocks were sleeping, shepherds keeping vigil till the morning new saw the glory, heard the story, tidings of a gospel true. Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, praises voicing, greet the morrow: Christ the Babe was born for you, Christ the Babe was born for you.
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head; the stars in the sky looked down where He lay, the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains, and the mountains in reply echo back their joyous strains. Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Come to Bethlehem, and see Him whose birth the angels sing; come adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gloria in excelsis Deo.
PLEASE STAND
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem! Come and behold Him, born the King of angels! O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!
Prayers of the People & THE LORD’s PRAYER
Offering
• INVITATION
• Offertory - Thou Who Wast Rich, Chancel Choir, Will Jones, solo
Thou who was rich beyond all splendor, all for love’s sake becamest poor; thrones for a manger didst surrender, sapphire paved courts for stable floor. Thou who art God beyond all praising, all for love’s sake becamest Man; stooping so low, but sinners raising Heav’nwards by thine eternal plan. Thou who art love beyond all telling, Savior and King we worship thee. Emmanuel, within us dwelling, make us what thou wouldst have us be.
• Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessing flow Praise Christ the Word in flesh born low;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore; One God, Triune, whom we adore. Amen.
• Prayer of Dedication
+ HYMN 102 - Savior of the Nations Come
Charge & Benediction
Benediction Response - Hymn 82, Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
1 Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
Postlude - Celebration, John Randall Dennis, brass quintet, organ, and timpani