SERVICE FOR
THE LORD’S DAY
December 7, 2025
The Second Sunday of Advent
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE
Liturgist, John Lange
CALL TO WORSHIP — based on Psalm 85:7-13
Leader: Show us your unfailing love, O God, our Savior,
People: and grant us your salvation.
Leader: Listen to what the Lord our God says:
People: He promises peace to his people,
who are his beloved saints.
Leader: The Lord will indeed give what is good.
People: Righteousness goes before him
and prepares the way for his steps.
Leader: May the Lord make his holy face to shine upon us
in this time of Advent worship.
May we see God’s face and so know peace.
People: Amen.
*OPENING HYMN #142 Long Ago, Prophets Knew
*OPENING PRAYER
*PRAISE SONG Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Unison)
While we ask, Lord, for the most meaningful Advent season ever, we sadly confess having done so little with so much. Forgive us Lord, for not bending the knee, for not reading your Word, for not searching our hearts, for not facing our sins. Forgive us according to your tender mercies, O God! Grant that when Christmas morning breaks for us this year, we may have a fresh sense of your presence and a renewed resolve to live to the praise of Christ’s glory. Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH — Westminster Larger Catechism Q.36
Leader: Who is the mediator of the covenant of grace?
People: The only mediator of the covenant of grace is the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the eternal Son of God, of one substance and equal with the Father. In the fullness of time he became human, and so he was and continues to be God and man, in two complete and distinct natures, but one person, forever. Amen.
LIGHTING OF THE SECOND ADVENT CANDLE The May Family
SPECIAL MUSIC
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
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Isaiah 7:10-17
NEW TESTAMENT READING: Matthew 1:17-2:2
Pastor: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
SERMON: Rev. David Garrison
THE KING IS COMING
Series: Behold: The King is Coming
“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?”
— Matthew 2:2
SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Words of Introduction, Invitation, Institution
Partaking of the Communion Elements
Closing
*CLOSING HYMN #133 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
*BENEDICTION
*POSTLUDE
WELCOME TO NORTHMINSTER EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1:17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.
18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.”
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
— Matthew 1:17-2:2 (NIV)
