"His Presence That Saved Them"

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
Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone’s face? Did I offer words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come.
~Henri Nouwen

PRELUDE

*CALL TO CONTINUING WORSHIP
Praise God!
With the angels and hosts, we praise!
With the sun and moon, we praise!
With the fire and hail, we praise!
With the frost and snow, we praise!
 
With the mountains and valleys, we praise!
With the skies and the seas, we praise! Praise God!

*HYMN 119 ||| Hark! The Herald Angels Sing ||| Mendelssohn

CALL TO CONFESSION
Even in a season of celebration and joy, there is grief and pain. Even as we celebrate God’s goodness, we know that we have not always lived it. Even in all of this, Christ comes.

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Ever-present God, you became our Savior in all our distress. In all the ways we hurt, and all the ways we hurt others, in all the ways we feel neglected and all the ways we neglect others, in all the ways we cry out and all the ways we cause others to cry, you are with us, comforting us and holding us to account. In your love, redeem us once again. Lift us up and grant us your mercy, as you have throughout the generations.
(silent prayer)
Amen.

*DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
Christ came into this world for us: imperfect humans, perpetual sinners, trying, learning, striving. He came to be tested, so that he might help us as we are tested, to forgive us all our sins.
Praise be to our merciful and faithful high priest!

*THE GLORIA 581

MOMENT WITH OUR CHILDREN ||| Rev. Matt Lang

WELCOME AND CHURCH COMMUNICATIONS

 
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

FIRST SCRIPTURE READING ||| Isaiah 63:7-9
7I 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. 8For he said, “Surely they are my people, children who will not deal falsely”; and he became their savior 9in 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.

SPECIAL MUSIC

SECOND SCRIPTURE READING ||| Matthew 2:13-23
13Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.” 16When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. 17Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: 18“A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.” 19When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 20“Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead.” 21Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. 23There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He will be called a Nazorean.”
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God!

SERMON ||| "His Presence That Saved Them" ||| Rev. Matt Lang

WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

*HYMN 145 ||| What Child Is This ||| Greensleeves

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH ||| The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen. 
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS

INVITATION TO OFFERING ||| Season of Christmas
From the fullness of God we have all received grace upon grace. Let us offer our lives to the Lord.

OFFERTORY

*DOXOLOGY 606 ||| Old Hundredth
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
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.

SEALING OF THE WORD

INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE

GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

THE LORD'S PRAYER
…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.

WORDS OF INSTITUTION ||| SHARING OF THE MEAL
All who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord, regardless of age or denomination, are invited to partake in the Sacrament of Communion. Please come forward down the side aisle. Take a piece of the bread and a cup and eat. Please dispose of the cups in the waste baskets by the table. We have gluten free bread available. Return to your seat by the center aisle.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Season of Christmas
God of shepherds and sheep, we give you thanks that you have gathered us here, revealed to us your glory, and fed us with your mercy. Now send us out with good news for all—for us a child is born: Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

WE GO IN GOD’S NAME

*HYMN 134 ||| Joy to the World ||| Antioch

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: Phil Dillman
Web Techs: Shirley Armistead, Nancy Beaudoin, Phil Dillman, Kathie Hazlett
 
WELCOME –.In the name of Christ Jesus, welcome! Here at First Presbyterian Church of Homewood, we recognize one another as forgiven sinners, we honor one another as children of God, and we seek to serve one another as fellow travelers through life. We are so pleased you are here to offer your worship and praise to the God who loves us all. Come again soon…and often!

SCRIPTURES IN WORSHIP – Next Sunday we will be reading Isaiah 60:1-6 and Matthew 2:1-12.

PRAYER CHAIN – If you want prayer requests included on the prayer chain, contact Shirley Armistead at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..