December 28, 2025

Dec 26

Written By Heath Nettles

First Sunday after Christmas Day

December 28, 2025 Livestream Worship Online Bulletin

Bringing in the Light of Christ
Chiming of the Trinity

Prelude

Of the Father’s Love Begotten arr. Thomas Berdos

Welcome

Call to Worship

Today we stand at the turning of the year, looking back with gratitude and forward with hope.

For the God who has carried us this far will be faithful still.

God clothes us with garments of salvation and wraps us in robes of righteousness.

God renews our strength and restores our joy.

Our light is rising like the dawn, for God delights in God’s people.

We are not forsaken. We are God’s beloved, called by a new name.

Let us worship the One who makes all things new.

With open hearts and expectant spirits, we come to worship God.

Hymn

O Come, All Ye Faithful UMH#234
Please sing stanzas 1, 2, 3, 6

A Reading from the Old Testament

Isaiah 61:10–62:3

Responsive Psalm

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 UMH pp. 801 & 802

Solo

A Lute Caroll Mary E. Caldwell
Alison Gripentrop

A Reading from the Epistles

Philippians 1:3-6

Sermon

A Good Work Still Unfolding | Rev. Kelly Dotson

Concerns and Prayers with the Lord’s Prayer for Advent

Holy One,

Maker of the dawn and Keeper of every waiting heart,
your presence draws near in ways gentle and surprising.
Your kin-dom comes among us like light that grows,
like hope that refuses to be extinguished.

Let your dreams for the world take root in us—
dreams of justice, mercy, and shared bread;
dreams where every child is cherished,
and every elder is honored; where the hungry are filled,
and the weary can finally rest.

Give us what we need for this day—
enough courage to show up with honesty,
enough compassion to love our neighbor,
enough strength to take the next faithful step.

Forgive us when fear closes our fists or hardens our hearts;
heal the harm we’ve done,
and soften us to offer grace to those who wound us,
as freely as you have offered grace to us.

Guide our feet away from the paths
that lead to despair, violence, or indifference.
Make straight the highways of our hearts
that Christ may enter in.
Deliver us from all that steals our joy
and all that dims your light within us.

For your kin-dom is breaking in—
a kin-dom of hope, peace, joy, and love—
now and forever.
Amen.

Blessing of the Tithes and Offerings

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.

Hymn

Angels We Have Heard on High UMH#238

Blessing and Sharing of Christ’s Light

Postlude

Hymn of Promise