Pine Street Presbyterian Church
in the City of Harrisburg
Pine Street is a Welcoming Church, Glorifying God through Worship, Fellowship and Service in the World.
November 30, 2025
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
First Sunday of Advent
God of justice, God of peace, even now you are breaking into our weary world. Make your presence known to those who wait and watch for you. Send your Spirit of justice rolling over the earth; sweep away all war and suffering so that all of your creation can glorify you in peace the kingdom that Jesus promised us come down to earth at last. Amen.
G ATHERING IN THE PRESENCE OF THE RISEN CHRIST
RINGING OF THE CARILLON
VOLUNTARY Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers Robert J. Powell (Please use the opening voluntary as a time of silent meditation and preparation for worship.)
SALUTATION Linda McLaughlin
One: Awake from your sleep: salvation is near! Many: The night is far gone; the day is at hand. † HYMN 82 Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
† Those able are invited to stand Bold text is read or sung by all
† CALL TO WORSHIP
One: Hear from the prophet: when systems calcify and distances harden, we pray, “disrupt what separates us; make your peace unmistakable among us.”
Many: Restore us, O God, let your radiance be known among us, that we may be saved.
One: From the Gospel, we receive the fig tree’s wisdom: attend to tender shoots; read the nearness of God in small renewals and ordinary days.
Many: We wait awake, alert to unveiling, attuned to mercy.
One: And with Mary we confess: God has remembered mercy and fulfilled promises.
Many: Holy is God’s name.
† CANTICLE OF HOPE Come, Come Emmanuel COME, COME EMMANUEL
ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING
One: We light the first candle of Hope, as witness to God’s faithful nearness and promise-fulfilling love.
Many: Where fear narows our vision, let this light widen our sight.
One: Make in us a spacious hope: watchful, courageous, and for the common good.
Many: The One who calls us is trustworthy; our hope will not be put to shame.
† PRAYER OF CONFESSION
O God, we are steeped in a world of violence. We learn to accept war, and we let it work its way into our lives. Your promises of peace sound like impossible dreams, and we become accustomed to cruelty. Forgive us and give us hope. Wrest the weapons from our hands, and show us how beautiful life can be when you forge them into instruments of peace.
† SILENCE FOR PERSONAL CONFESSION † KYRIE
† ASSURANCE OF PARDON
One: Beloved, know this: the God of Peace hears our prayers and gives us power to love.
Many: Through Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God!
READING AND HEARING THE WORD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
FIRST LESSON Isaiah 2:1-5
Old Testament Page 630 One: The Word of the Lord. Many: Thanks be to God.
† HYMN 400 I Rejoiced When I Heard Them Say ENGLAND
SECOND LESSON Romans 13:11-14 New Testament Page 162
THIRD LESSON Matthew 24:36-44 New Testament Page 27
SERMON “Winning Daylight” The Rev. Seelman
† AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The Apostle’s Creed 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 at 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.
† THE PEACE
One: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Many: And also with you.
WELCOME AND PARISH LIFE (Please sign the Friendship Register)
THE OFFERING OF TITHES AND GIFTS TO GOD
ANTHEM
† PRESENTATION OF THE GIFTS
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise Christ, all people here below; Praise Holy Spirit evermore; praise triune God, whom we adore. Amen.
† PRAYER OF DEDICATION
SEALINGTHE WORD
SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
INVITATION TO THE TABLE
GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
One: The Lord be with you.
Many: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts.
Many: We lift them to the Lord.
One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
Many: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
… of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
The prayer continues. … as we share this joyful feast:
INTERCESSION, SUPPLICATION, AND CONSECRATION
One: Many:
… now and forever.
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.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE BREAD AND CUP
One: The gifts of God for the people of God. Many: Let us keep the feast.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
BEARING AND FOLLOWING THE WORD OF GOD INTO THE WORLD
HYMN 772 Live into Hope
BENEDICTION † CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE God, Be the Love R. B. Colligan
VOLUNTARY People, Look East! Kristina Langlois
TRURO
L EADING IN W ORSHIP T ODAY
The Rev. Stuart Seelman, Pastor
Joseph Garrison, Minister of Music and Worship
Thomas Ernst, Lector
Michael Buffington, Liturgist
Amelia Ernst, Acolyte
The Chancel Choir
F LOWER D EDICATION
The flowers in the sanctuary are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Douglas Humphrey by his wife Carolyn and daughter Lydia.
DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR
Sunday,November30
9:00 am- Café Conversations
8:30 am- Advent Breakfast
9:00 am- Faith Formation
9:00 am- Chancel Choir Warm-up
10:00 am- Worship
Sunday,December7
9:00 am- Café Conversations
9:00 am- Faith Formation
9:00 am- Chancel Choir Warm-up
10:00 am- Worship
11:30 am- Stephen Ministry
Supervision
C OPYRIGHT N OTICE
Music in the bulletin is used with permission under OneLicense.net # A-743343. All rights reserved. Liturgy was reprinted and adapted with permission from Westminster John Knox Press from Feasting on the Word® Worship Companion copyright 2013, and from the Book of Common Worship, © 2018 Westminster John Knox Press. All rights reserved.
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