Sunday, November 30, 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 - Becky & Micah Kemper
Children of God, what are we waiting for?
We wait for dawn when night feels endless.
We wait for the breaking of chains that bind.
We wait with prophets whose words still echo,
with ancestors who held hope close in exile,
with weary souls who dare to believe again.
We wait, not with empty hands, but with open hearts,
trusting the One whose promise is faithful still.
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 - Wachet auf, Johann Gottfried Walther
Call to Worship
The prophet Isaiah made this invitation to his listeners,
and he extends it to us again today:
Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord.
Let us go to the house of the God of Jacob and Rachel.
May God teach us to walk in God’s paths.
Let us worship God.
+ Hymn 357 - The Days Are Surely Coming
+ Call to Confession
+ A Prayer of Confession
God of the future, you are coming in power to bring all nations under your rule. We confess that we have not expected your kingdom, for we live casual lives, ignoring your promised judgment. We accept lies as truth, exploit neighbors, abuse the earth, and refuse your justice and peace. In your mercy, forgive us. Grant us wisdom to welcome your way, and to seek things that will endure when Christ comes to judge the world. 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 - Isaiah 2.1-5 OT pg 631 (NRSVUE)
The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
This is the written testimony to the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Offering
• Offertory - Carol to our Blessed Lord, Helen Lipscomb, Chancel Choir
Our blessed Lord, we give thee praise that thou hast deign’ed to take our ways. Born of a maid a man to abe, and all the angels sing to thee. The eternal Father’s Son he lay cradled in a crib of hay. The everlasting God appears in our frail flesh and blood and tears. Blessed Lord. This for the world the Lord has done, through the life of his only Son; may we rejoice in all eternity, for Lord of all the world is he.
Scripture Reading - Matt. 24:36-44 NT pg 27
Sermon - Something to Look Forward To, Rev Matt Falco
+Statement of Faith - The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
+ HYMN 505 - The Trumpets Sound, The Angels Sing
THE LORD’S SUPPER
• Invitation
• Prayer of Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise…
• Words of Institution
• The Communion of the People
The congregation is invited to come forward to tear off a piece of bread and dip it in the cup. There is gluten-free bread on the table. If you would prefer to receive Communion in your pew, an elder or deacon will serve you. After consuming the bread and the cup and returning to your seat, turn your mind to what God is inviting you to consider in this moment of stillness.
• Prayer after Communion
God our hope, we give you thanks that you have given us this foretaste of the justice, righteousness, and peace of your promised new creation. Strengthen us with this heavenly food as we seek to serve your holy realm. Lead us to live in joyful expectation of the coming again in glory of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
+ HYMN 88 - O Come, O Come, Emmanuel vs. 1, 2, 6, and 7
+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 - Maple Leaf Rag, Scott Joplin, Dr. William Handley, piano
+ Indicates that the congregation is invited to stand in body and/or spirit.
Greeting & Announcements
Advent Candle Lighting - Becky & Micah Kemper
Children of God, what are we waiting for?
We wait for dawn when night feels endless.
We wait for the breaking of chains that bind.
We wait with prophets whose words still echo,
with ancestors who held hope close in exile,
with weary souls who dare to believe again.
We wait, not with empty hands, but with open hearts,
trusting the One whose promise is faithful still.
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 - Wachet auf, Johann Gottfried Walther
Call to Worship
The prophet Isaiah made this invitation to his listeners,
and he extends it to us again today:
Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord.
Let us go to the house of the God of Jacob and Rachel.
May God teach us to walk in God’s paths.
Let us worship God.
+ Hymn 357 - The Days Are Surely Coming
+ Call to Confession
+ A Prayer of Confession
God of the future, you are coming in power to bring all nations under your rule. We confess that we have not expected your kingdom, for we live casual lives, ignoring your promised judgment. We accept lies as truth, exploit neighbors, abuse the earth, and refuse your justice and peace. In your mercy, forgive us. Grant us wisdom to welcome your way, and to seek things that will endure when Christ comes to judge the world. 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 - Isaiah 2.1-5 OT pg 631 (NRSVUE)
The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
This is the written testimony to the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Offering
• Offertory - Carol to our Blessed Lord, Helen Lipscomb, Chancel Choir
Our blessed Lord, we give thee praise that thou hast deign’ed to take our ways. Born of a maid a man to abe, and all the angels sing to thee. The eternal Father’s Son he lay cradled in a crib of hay. The everlasting God appears in our frail flesh and blood and tears. Blessed Lord. This for the world the Lord has done, through the life of his only Son; may we rejoice in all eternity, for Lord of all the world is he.
Scripture Reading - Matt. 24:36-44 NT pg 27
Sermon - Something to Look Forward To, Rev Matt Falco
+Statement of Faith - The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
+ HYMN 505 - The Trumpets Sound, The Angels Sing
THE LORD’S SUPPER
• Invitation
• Prayer of Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise…
• Words of Institution
• The Communion of the People
The congregation is invited to come forward to tear off a piece of bread and dip it in the cup. There is gluten-free bread on the table. If you would prefer to receive Communion in your pew, an elder or deacon will serve you. After consuming the bread and the cup and returning to your seat, turn your mind to what God is inviting you to consider in this moment of stillness.
• Prayer after Communion
God our hope, we give you thanks that you have given us this foretaste of the justice, righteousness, and peace of your promised new creation. Strengthen us with this heavenly food as we seek to serve your holy realm. Lead us to live in joyful expectation of the coming again in glory of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
+ HYMN 88 - O Come, O Come, Emmanuel vs. 1, 2, 6, and 7
+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 - Maple Leaf Rag, Scott Joplin, Dr. William Handley, piano
+ Indicates that the congregation is invited to stand in body and/or spirit.