First Presbyterian Church of Weedsport
December 29, 2024
First Sunday After Christmas
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Liturgist
PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive) Liturgist
Praise the Lord, all of creation!
God is exalted in heaven and earth.
In sun and moon and shining stars,
God is exalted in heaven and earth.
In sea creatures, land beasts, and flying birds,
God is exalted in heaven and earth.
From young to old, from princes to peasants,
God is exalted in heaven and earth.
Raise up your horns, lift up your voice,
for God is exalted in heaven and earth! Hallelujah!
The Story Behind “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen”
HYMN: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
CALL TO CONFESSION Liturgist
In faith and in hope,
we trust that God is merciful and just
and receives our prayers with grace.
In humility and with meekness,
let us confess our sin together.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Unison) Liturgist
Holy God,
though we are in awe of the dawn
of your light in Jesus Christ,
we remain self-centered
and cling to the sin of the world.
We celebrate the birth of our savior,
yet we struggle in our commitment to follow him.
We are called to pursue justice,
love kindness, and walk humbly with you;
yet we are content to seek our own comfort
and conveniently ignore the cries
of those in need.
By the light of the Christ child,
lead us on a path of goodness and righteousness,
as we seek to love all of your bountiful creation. Amen.
SILENT PRAYERS OF CONFESSION MAY BE OFFERED
DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS Liturgist
We are God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved.
The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting.
Know that you are forgiven and be at peace. Amen.
The Story Behind “Mary Did You Know”
SPECIAL MUSIC: “Mary Did You Know”
CHILDREN’S TIME (Children may leave to go to Sunday School.)
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION (Unison) Liturgist
O God,
through your mighty acts
we receive grace upon grace.
From your fullness,
feed us with your life-giving Word,
that our lives, like bread,
may feed a hungry world. Amen.
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 148 Liturgist
Praise for God’s Universal Glory
1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
2 Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his host!
3 Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars!
4 Praise him, you highest heavens
and you waters above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for he commanded and they were created.
6 He established them forever and ever;
he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.[a]
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
you sea monsters and all deeps,
8 fire and hail, snow and frost,
stormy wind fulfilling his command!
9 Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Wild animals and all cattle,
creeping things and flying birds!
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and women alike,
old and young together!
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his glory is above earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his faithful,
for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the Lord!
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING: John 18:33-37 Dan Thomas
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord[f] has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ[g] rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ[h] dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.[i] 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Story Behind “I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day”
HYMN: “I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day”
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Responsive)
The one sufficient revelation of God
is Jesus Christ,
the Word of God incarnate,
to whom the Holy Spirit
bears unique and authoritative witness
through the Holy Scriptures,
which are received and obeyed
as the word of God written.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967,
JOYS AND CONCERNS
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING (Offering plates are on the front and back tables. Offering plates are not passed.)
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING (Unison)
Remembering that all things come from you, we humbly offer this prayer of thanksgiving along with our gifts for all that you are and all that you give us. We are grateful for our lives, our livelihoods, and the ability to bless others through our offerings to you, our great Redeemer. Amen.
The Story Behind “Do You Hear What I Hear”
HYMN: “Do You Hear What I Hear”
CHARGE AND BLESSING
POSTLUDE
Reminders:
Help is needed at the Clothes Closet, Tues. 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Thurs. 3-5:30 p.m.
Mary, Did You Know?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy
Would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy
Would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy
Has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered
Will soon deliver you.
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy
Will give sight to the blind man?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy
Would calm a storm with His hand?
Did you know
That your baby boy
Has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby
You've kissed the face of God?
Mary, did you know?
Oo, Mary, did you know?
The blind will see
The deaf will hear;
The dead will live again!
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb!
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy
Is the Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy
Will one day rule the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy
Was heaven's perfect Lamb?
And the sleeping Child you're holdin'
Is the Great I Am!
Do You Hear What I Hear
Said the night wind to the little lamb,
do you see what I see
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
do you see what I see
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite
Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
do you hear what I hear
Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy,
do you hear what I hear
A song, a song, high above the trees
With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the sea
Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,
do you know what I know
In your palace warm, mighty king,
do you know what I know
A Child, a Child shivers in the cold
Let us bring Him silver and gold
Let us bring Him silver and gold
Said the king to the people everywhere,
listen to what I say
Pray for peace, people everywhere!
listen to what I say
The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light
