First Presbyterian Church of Niles
Morning Worship
First Sunday of Advent
10:00 A.M. November 30, 2025
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(* = stand if you are able)
PRELUDE
REFLECTION TEXT Psalm 122: 6-7
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls and security within your towers.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Advent Wreath Lighting
The prophet Isaiah calls to us from the past to imagine the future when God’s reign will be fully realized and recognized throughout creation. When that time comes, God “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 anymore” (Isaiah 2:4).
Today, we choose to live in hope, believing that the time of God’s reign has come and is coming among us.
We light this candle of hope as a sign of our promise to follow the Light as we answer God’s call to transform our hope into reality today and in the days to come.
Light the first candle of the Advent wreath.
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP Advent Candle 85 (Vs. 1)
Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah TIF IN VELDELE
Light one candle to watch for Messiah: let the light banish darkness.
He shall bring salvation to Israel, God fulfills the promise.
CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)
Keep awake. Be ready.
For the Son of Man is coming.
We will worship and prepare.
Thanks be to God!
OPENING PRAYER
*HYMN 107 Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn REJOICE REJOICE
Awake! Awake, and greet the new morn, for angels herald its dawning.
Sing out your joy, for soon he is born, behold! the child of our longing.
Come as a baby weak and poor, to bring all hearts together,
he opens wide the heavenly door and lives now inside us forever.
To us, to all in sorrow and fear, Emmanual comes a-singing;
his humble song is quiet and near, yet fills the earth with its ringing;
music to heal the broken souls and hymns of loving kindness,
the thunder of his anthems rolls to shatter all hatred and violence.
In darkest night his coming shall be, when all the world is despairing,
as morning light so quiet and free, so warm and gentle and caring,
then shall the mute break forth in song, the lame shall leap in wonder,
the weak be raised above the strong, and weapons be broken asunder.
Rejoice, rejoice, take heart in the night. Though dark the winter and cheerless, the rising sun shall crown you with light; Be strong and loving and fearless.
Love be our song and love our prayer and love our endless story;
may God fill every day we share and bring us at last into glory.
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In Unison)
Prince of Peace, the wars and rumors of wars betray our addiction to violence, our destructive and dehumanizing ways. We deserve your judgement and condemnation. Yet, you remain faithful, a steadfast source of peace amid our warring madness. Holy God, turn us from evil. Return us to Christ and his path of peace. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
MOMENT OF SILENT AND PERSONAL CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Responsive)
“Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old life has gone; a new life has begun.” Know that you are forgiven and be at peace.
Thanks be to God.
PASSING THE PEACE
As God has forgiven us in Christ let us also forgive one another.
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
Please share the sign of peace with one another.
The sharing of Christ’s peace.
RESPONSE Peace is Flowing Like a River TRADITIONAL
Peace is flowing like a river, flowing out to you and me.
Flowing out into the desert, setting all the captives free.
His love is flowing like a river, flowing out to you and me.
Flowing out into the desert, setting all the captives free.
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING Isaiah 2:1-5
SPECIAL MUSIC Listen Here Althouse
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING Matthew 24: 36-44
MESSAGE Will You Be Ready Rev. Christopher Mergener
*HYMN 86 (Vs. 1, 4, 5) The People Who Walked in Darkness ISAIAH 9
The people who walked in darkness awaken to see a great light.
The people who dwelt in the land of the shadow rise to a star shining bright.
Refrain: His name in Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God, Father forever, Prince of Peace. (Repeat Refrain)
For us now a child is given, for all the despised and forlorn.
The rule of compassion shall rest on his shoulder. God’s own Messiah is born! Refrain (2x)
How vast is our God’s dominion! How far truth and mercy extend.
The zeal of the Lord will accomplish its purpose: justice shall reign without end. Refrain (2x)
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (In Unison)
We believe there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus; for we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to God’s purpose. We are convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
Offertory Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus Arr. Carter
*DOXOLOGY 144 (Vs 4) What Can I Give Him? CRANHAM
What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man, I would do my part; yet what I can I give him: give my heart.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
PREPARATION FOR PRAYERS 103 (Vs. 1)
Come, Now, O Prince of Peace O-SO-SO
Come now, O Prince of Peace; make us one body.
Come, O Lord Jesus; reconcile all people.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (Responsive)
God of our salvation,
hear our prayers.
THE LORD’S PRAYER (In Unison)
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.
*HYMN 377(Vs. 1, 2) I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light HOUSTON
I want to walk as a child of the light. I want to follow Jesus.
God set the stars to give light to the world. The star of my life is Jesus.
Refrain: In him there is no darkness at all. The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God. Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.
I want to see the brightness of God. I want to look at Jesus.
Clear Sun of righteousness, shine on my path, and show me the way to the Father. Refrain
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
All music is reproduced under permission from ccli.com License #11146543.
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