Sunday, December 28, 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
Prelude - Christmas Medley, Betty Jean Chatham, Susan Carey, piano
Call to Worship
Wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking,
“Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?
For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.”
On this first Sunday of Christmas, we, too, have come to worship
Jesus the Messiah: the son of David, the son of Abraham.
When the wise men saw the child with Mary his mother, they knelt down,
paid him homage, and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
On this first Sunday of Christmas, we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice,
holy and acceptable to you, O God.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all.
Glory to God in the highest heaven!
+ Hymn 152 - What Star is This, with Beams So Bright
+ Call to Confession
+ A Prayer of Confession
God of Christmas, we would never have thought to find your Savior in an innocent baby. We confess we would have expected a warrior with a great army. We would not have thought to find your kingdom to be one of service, obedience and humility. We confess we would have expected, maybe even wanted, a kingdom that reflected our own values and self-interests. Lord, forgive us when we quickly leave Christmas behind and neglect to live lives worthy of our calling as followers of our Lord, the Prince of Peace. By your Holy Spirit, help us turn to you and live according to the values of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
• Assurance of Pardon
• Response to Forgiveness: Hymn 581, (Gloria Patri)
Passing of the Peace
Children’s Message
Prayer for Openness
Almighty God, the gospel writer John tells us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us.” As we hear your Word read and proclaimed today, may we hear and see the glory of Jesus Christ and receive grace upon grace. Amen
Scripture Reading - Isaiah 63:7-9
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. For he said, “Surely they are my people, children who will not deal falsely”; and he became their savior in all their distress. It was no messenger or angel but his presence that saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
This is the written testimony to the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Anthem - Carol of the Birds, John Jacob Niles, Cindi Kupar and Stephanie Spencer
Scripture Reading - Hebrews 2:10-18
Sermon - Pondering and Anticipation - Ruling Elder Janet Lumpp
Responsive Reading - Songs of Mary and Zechariah (see insert)
Statement of Faith - From the Confession of 1967
In Jesus of Nazareth, true humanity was realized once for all. Jesus, a Palestinian Jew, lived among his own people and shared their needs, temptations, joys, and sorrows. He expressed the love of God in word and deed and became a brother to all kinds of sinful men and women. But his complete obedience led him into conflict with his people. His life and teaching judged their goodness, religious aspirations, and national hopes. Many rejected him and demanded his death. In giving himself freely for them, he took upon himself the judgment under which everyone stands convicted. God raised him from the dead, vindicating him as Messiah and Lord. The victim of sin became victor, and won the victory over sin and death for all.
+ HYMN 109 - Blest Be the God of Israel
Prayers of the People & THE LORD’s PRAYER
O Christ, our light, hear our prayer.
Offering
• INVITATION
• Offertory
• 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 143 - Angels from the Realms of Glory
Charge & Benediction
Benediction Response - Hymn 134, Joy to the World, verses 1 and 4
1 Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her king;
let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
4 He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love, and wonders, wonders of his love.
Postlude - Christmas Joy, Albin Whitworth
GREETING & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Prelude - Christmas Medley, Betty Jean Chatham, Susan Carey, piano
Call to Worship
Wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking,
“Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?
For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.”
On this first Sunday of Christmas, we, too, have come to worship
Jesus the Messiah: the son of David, the son of Abraham.
When the wise men saw the child with Mary his mother, they knelt down,
paid him homage, and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
On this first Sunday of Christmas, we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice,
holy and acceptable to you, O God.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all.
Glory to God in the highest heaven!
+ Hymn 152 - What Star is This, with Beams So Bright
+ Call to Confession
+ A Prayer of Confession
God of Christmas, we would never have thought to find your Savior in an innocent baby. We confess we would have expected a warrior with a great army. We would not have thought to find your kingdom to be one of service, obedience and humility. We confess we would have expected, maybe even wanted, a kingdom that reflected our own values and self-interests. Lord, forgive us when we quickly leave Christmas behind and neglect to live lives worthy of our calling as followers of our Lord, the Prince of Peace. By your Holy Spirit, help us turn to you and live according to the values of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
• Assurance of Pardon
• Response to Forgiveness: Hymn 581, (Gloria Patri)
Passing of the Peace
Children’s Message
Prayer for Openness
Almighty God, the gospel writer John tells us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us.” As we hear your Word read and proclaimed today, may we hear and see the glory of Jesus Christ and receive grace upon grace. Amen
Scripture Reading - Isaiah 63:7-9
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. For he said, “Surely they are my people, children who will not deal falsely”; and he became their savior in all their distress. It was no messenger or angel but his presence that saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
This is the written testimony to the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Anthem - Carol of the Birds, John Jacob Niles, Cindi Kupar and Stephanie Spencer
Scripture Reading - Hebrews 2:10-18
Sermon - Pondering and Anticipation - Ruling Elder Janet Lumpp
Responsive Reading - Songs of Mary and Zechariah (see insert)
Statement of Faith - From the Confession of 1967
In Jesus of Nazareth, true humanity was realized once for all. Jesus, a Palestinian Jew, lived among his own people and shared their needs, temptations, joys, and sorrows. He expressed the love of God in word and deed and became a brother to all kinds of sinful men and women. But his complete obedience led him into conflict with his people. His life and teaching judged their goodness, religious aspirations, and national hopes. Many rejected him and demanded his death. In giving himself freely for them, he took upon himself the judgment under which everyone stands convicted. God raised him from the dead, vindicating him as Messiah and Lord. The victim of sin became victor, and won the victory over sin and death for all.
+ HYMN 109 - Blest Be the God of Israel
Prayers of the People & THE LORD’s PRAYER
O Christ, our light, hear our prayer.
Offering
• INVITATION
• Offertory
• 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 143 - Angels from the Realms of Glory
Charge & Benediction
Benediction Response - Hymn 134, Joy to the World, verses 1 and 4
1 Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her king;
let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
4 He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love, and wonders, wonders of his love.
Postlude - Christmas Joy, Albin Whitworth