CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT WORSHIP

WELCOME TO NORTHMINSTER EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

¹⁷ And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. ¹⁸ And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

— Luke 2:1-8, 17-20 (ESV)

SERVICE FOR
THE LORD’S DAY

December 28, 2025

The First Sunday of Christmas

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE

Liturgist, John Lange

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: Arise, shine, for your light has come,

People: And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

Leader: The sun shall be no more your light by day,

People: Nor for brightness shall the moon give you light;

Leader: But the Lord will be your everlasting light,

People: And your God will be your glory.

*OPENING CAROL #152 Angels We Have Heard on High

*OPENING PRAYER

*CAROL #170 It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Unison)

Most Gracious Heavenly Father: In this Christmas season, we remember the love you showed in sending your only Son to be our Savior and the Light of the world. We also remember and confess the times we chosen to walk in the darkness rather than the light. We repent of those occasions where we have loved the darkness more than the light. We ask your healing for the blind spots we have willfully left in our lives. O God, restore our sight and our sense of purpose. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH — from the Nicene Creed

And we believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.  Amen.

HYMN OF RESPONSE #174 Angels From the Realms of Glory

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND 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.

WORSHIPING GOD WITH OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS

       Offertory 

       *Offertory Response — #126, O Come Let Us Adore Him

O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.

       *Prayer of Dedication

NEW TESTAMENT READING: John 1:1-10

Pastor:  The Word of the Lord

People:  Thanks be to God

SERMON: Rev. Bob Mills

LIGHT OF LIGHT

The light shines in the darkness… – John 1:5

*CLOSING CAROL #181 As With Gladness, Men of Old

*BENEDICTION  

*POSTLUDE

WELCOME TO NORTHMINSTER EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

⁶   There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. ⁸ He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

⁹   The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

— John 1:1-10 (ESV)

SERVICE FOR
THE LORD’S DAY

January 4, 2026

The Second Sunday of Christmas

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE

Liturgist, Debbie Irvine

CALL TO WORSHIP – from Isaiah 6

Leader: In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up;

People: And the train of his robe filled the temple.

Leader: Above him stood the seraphim.
And one called to another and said:

People: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”

Leader: And I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
“Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”

People: Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

*OPENING CAROL #171 Hark, the Herald Angels Sing

*OPENING PRAYER

*CAROL #156 Gentle Mary Laid Her Child

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Unison)

Most Holy God: How often we have seen the Babe of Bethlehem and yet overlooked who he is. How often we have heard your words spoken by the Word made flesh, and yet not grasped their significance. How many times we have sensed your presence and yet acted as though you didn’t exist. For these and other sins, O Lord, forgive us. Refocus our vision, restore our hearing, and prick our conscience yet again so that as we follow you more nearly, others may follow us along the straight and narrow path into your glory. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH — from the Nicene Creed

And we believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.  Amen.

HYMN OF RESPONSE #768 I Come With Joy

WORSHIPING GOD WITH OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS

       Offertory 

       *Offertory Response — #126, O Come Let Us Adore Him

O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.

       *Prayer of Dedication

NEW TESTAMENT READING: John 1:19-28

Pastor:  The Word of the Lord

People:  Thanks be to God

SERMON: Rev. Bob Mills

A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS

“…Among you stands one you do not know.” –John 1:26

SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

Words of Introduction, Invitation, Institution

Partaking of the Communion Elements

Closing

*CLOSING CAROL #192 O Sing a Song of Bethlehem

*BENEDICTION

*POSTLUDE

WELCOME TO NORTHMINSTER EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

¹⁹   And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” ²⁰ He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” ²¹ And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” ²² So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” ²³ He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

²⁴   (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) ²⁵ They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” ²⁶ John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, ²⁷ even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” ²⁸ These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

— John 1:19-28 (ESV)