Front Royal Presbyterian Church
December 28, 2025, 10:30 am
Leading Us in Worship Today
Minister of Word and Sacrament – Rev. Jaci Smith Patman
Liturgist – Zach Logan
Organist/Director of Music – Dr. Heather Ankerbrand
Prelude Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
Alte catholische gestlich Kirchengesänge/Johannes Brahms
Welcome and Announcements
Opening Prayer & Gathering #99 My Soul Gives Glory to My God, vs. 1
Call to Worship
Christ came into this world for us:
imperfect humans, perpetual sinners,
trying, learning, striving.
He came to be tested,
so that he might help us as we are tested,
to forgive us all our sins.
Praise be to our merciful and faithful high priest!
Opening Hymn #133 O Come, All Ye Faithful
Call to Confession
Even in a season of celebration and joy,
there is grief and pain.
Even as we celebrate God’s goodness,
we know that we have not always lived it.
Even in all of this, Christ comes.
Prayer of Confession
Ever-present God,
you became our Savior in all our distress.
In all the ways we hurt,
and all the ways we hurt others,
in all the ways we feel neglected
and all the ways we neglect others,
in all the ways we cry out
and all the ways we cause others to cry,
you are with us, comforting us and holding us to account.
In your love, redeem us once again.
Lift us up and grant us your mercy,
as you have throughout the generations.
Assurance of Forgiveness and Exchange of Peace
Christ came into this world for us:
imperfect humans, perpetual sinners,
trying, learning, striving.
He came to be tested,
so that he might help us as we are tested,
to forgive us all our sins.
Praise be to our merciful and faithful high priest!
Sung Response #109 Blest Be the God of Israel, vs. 3
Time with FaithBuilders’
Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world
Every color, every height; we are precious in his slight –
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
Prayers of Intercession (Today’s Prayer is from the Presbyterian Association of Musician’s Call to Worship liturgical resource, and is used by permission.)
Call to Offering
Offertory Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming, var. 3 Alte catholische gestlich Kirchengesänge/Gerald Near
Sung Response #143 Angels, from the Realms of Glory, vs. 4
All creation, join in praising God the Father, Spirit, Son
evermore your voices raising to th'eternal Three in One:
come and worship, come and worship,
worship Christ, the newborn king!
Prayer of Dedication
Hymn #140 Once in Royal David's City
Scripture Reading Hosea 11:1-12 (NRSV)
Anthem #138 Who Would Think That What Was Needed
Sermon Jesus Changes Everything: You Can Trust Him - He’s Legit!
Matthew 2:13-23 (NRSV)
Affirmation of Faith - The Apostles’ Creed (Traditional)
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
Closing Hymn #134 Joy to the World
Benediction
Postlude Go Tell It on the Mountain Spiritual/Paul Manz
