First Presbyterian Church of Niles

Morning Worship

Fourth Sunday of Advent

10:00 A.M.                                                                                  December 21, 2025 

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                                                (* = stand if you are able)

PRELUDE

REFLECTION TEXT                      Psalm 80:19

Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

ANNOUNCEMENTS                

Advent Wreath Lighting

Today, we come face to face with the scandal of Advent…

…God calling Mary and Joseph to faithfulness despite the fear of disgrace.

All: With Mary and Joseph, we choose to wait, watch, and listen for the way of Love instead of responding in fear to the world’s judgment.

We light this candle of love as a sign of our faithfulness as we seek, find, and follow Emmanuel, God with us. 

Light the fourth candle of the Advent wreath.

PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP            

     85 (Vs. 4)                Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah    TIF IN VELDELE

Light four candles to watch for Messiah: let the light banish darkness.

He is coming; tell the glad tidings. Let your lights be shining.

CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)                                               John

Prepare the way of the Lord!

    Lift every valley, lift every voice.

Prepare the way of the Lord!

    And all flesh shall see the salvation of our God.

OPENING PRAYER                                  

*HYMN 119                         Hark! The Herald Angels Sing MENDELSSOHN

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn king.

Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”

Joyful all ye nations, rise; join the triumph of the skies;
with the angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn king!”

Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come, offspring of the virgin’s womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail the incarnate deity,
pleased in flesh with us to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn king!”

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings.

Mild he lays his glory by, born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth.

 Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn king!”

CALL TO CONFESSION                         

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In Unison)                                            

Great God, as we behold the birth of Jesus again, we are mindful of how we have failed to receive the fullness of that gift. The story points us to your glory. Yet, we struggle to join in the song of praise and thanksgiving. We are distracted and confused, so focused on things that matter little that we overlook the good news of great joy that you have prepared. Tell us again that the Savior is born. Tell us again that we are forgiven. Tell us again that our lives can be abundant in faith, hope and love because of what you have given us in Jesus Christ. Amen.

MOMENT OF SILENT AND PERSONAL CONFESSION                 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Responsive)

The angel tells Joseph that the child forming in Mary’s womb is to be named Jesus. “Call him Jesus,” the angel says, “For he will save the people from their sins.” From his birth through his resurrection, from age to age, Jesus is about salvation. This is good news! In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!

    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                            Romans 1: 1-7    

SPECIAL MUSIC               Rejoice, Your Light Has Come MacDonald

                                                           Chancel Choir

Children, arise! Open your eyes! See heaven’s glory illumine the sky! Children rejoice! Lift up your voice! Darkness will turn to light! Hope is dawning, peace to the world; Christ will come and cheer, bringing joy and love to the world; the advent of Christ is here! Arise and shine, your light has come, the glory of the Lord is with you! O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, rejoice!

SECOND SCRIPTURE READING                          Matthew 1: 18-25   

MESSAGE                Do Not Respond in Fear         Rev. Christopher Mergener

*HYMN                 My Heart Sings Out with Joyful Praise     FOREST GREEN

My heart sings out with joyful praise to God who raises me,

Who came to me when I was low and changed my destiny.

The Holy One, the Living God, is always full of grace

To those who seek their Maker’s will in every time and place.

The arm of God is strong and just to scatter all the proud.

The tyrants tumble from their thrones and vanish like a cloud.

The hungry all are satisfied; the rich are sent away.

The poor of earth who suffer long will welcome God’s new day.

The promise made in ages past at last has come to be,

For God has come in power to save, to set all people free.

Remembering those who wait to see salvation’s dawning day,

Our Savior comes to all who weep to wipe their tears away.

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (In Unison)                                                 

Out of Israel, God in due time raised up Jesus. His faith and obedience were the response of the perfect child of God. He was the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel, the beginning of the new creation, and the pioneer of the new humanity. He gave history its meaning and direction and called the church to be his servant for the reconciliation of the world.

CALL FOR THE OFFERING                                                                 

    Offertory                       God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen             Arr. Tournquist

*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 & 3)    

                           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.

Come now and set us free, O God, our Savior.

Come, O Lord Jesus; reconcile all people.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (Responsive)                                        

Hear our prayers,

    Come, Lord Jesus.

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                                       Emmanuel, Emmanual                                MCGEE

Emmanuel, Emmanuel, his name is called Emmanuel.

God with us, revealed in us, his name is called Emmanuel.

*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION            

POSTLUDE

All music is reproduced under permission from ccli.com License #11146543.

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