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.
December 28, 2025
First Sunday After Christmas
Henry Ossawa Tanner, Flight into Egypt, 1923
G ATHERING IN THE PRESENCE OF THE RISEN CHRIST
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
With you, O God, to guide me, I journey on the way. I know you are beside me all through the night and day. Within your hand you hold me; what do I have to fear? Your loving arms enfold me, your grace is always near. Amen.
Based on a prayer of Columba (c. 521-597)
RINGING OF THE CARILLON
SALUTATION
One: I will proclaim the gracious deeds of God; Many: the steadfast love of the Lord is great.
VOLUNTARY The Father’s Love Blooming Ruth Elaine Schram (Please use the opening voluntary as a time of silent meditation and preparation for worship.)
† CALL TO WORSHIP
One: We gather to worship the Word made flesh, who fled the wrath of human powers in Egypt.
Many: The God we worship was a refugee.
One: We remember the children, from the time of Christ to today, caught in the cross-fires of fear and greed.
Many: The God we worship was a refugee.
One: We gather to dream and build a better world, where all children grow up, and all exiles return home.
Many: For the God we worship was a refugee, but is one no longer.
† HYMN 113 Angels We Have Heard on High GLORIA
† Those able are invited to stand.
Bold text is read or sung by all
† 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.
† SILENCE FOR PERSONAL CONFESSION
† ASSURANCE OF PARDON
One: Christ came into the world for us: imperfect humans, perpetual sinners, trying, learning, and striving. He came to be tested, so that he might help us as we are tested, to forgive us all our sins.
Many: Praise be to our merciful and faithful high priest!
† KYRIE
† GLORIA
READING AND HEARING THE WORD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
† HYMN 145 What Child Is This GREENSLEEVES
SCRIPTURE LESSON Matthew 2:13-23 New Testament Page 2
One: The Word of the Lord.
Many: Thanks be to God.
† HYMN 147 The First Nowell THE FIRST NOWELL
REFLECTION “What We Share” The Rev. Seelman
† 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)
† HYMN 121 O Little Town of Bethlehem ST. LOUIS
† HYMN 122 Silent Night, Holy Nigh STILLE NACHT
† HYMN 123 It Came Upon the Midnight Clear CAROL
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: In your mercy, Many: Lord, hear our prayer.
… now 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.
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 134 Joy to the World ANTIOCH
BENEDICTION
† CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE O Little Town of Bethlehem ST. LOUIS O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin and enter in be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us; abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!
VOLUNTARY Ode to Joy! arr. Susan Staples Bell
L EADING IN W ORSHIP T ODAY
The Rev. Stuart Seelman, Pastor
Madelyn Felix, pianist
Pamela Bauer, Lector
Elyse Rogers, Liturgist
Thomas Ernst, acolyte
The Chancel Choir
Benjamin Krumreig, tenor
F LOWER D EDICATION
The flowers in the sanctuary are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of his parents Lear and Bert Zook by Ivan Zook and Angela Salvadia.
DATESFOR YOUR CALENDAR
Sunday,January4
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
11:30am- Lector/Liturgist Training
Sunday,January11
9:00 am- Café Conversations
9:00 am- Faith Formation
9:00 am- Chancel Choir Warm-up
10:00 am- Worship
11:30 am- Deacon Meeting
4pm- MAPS Concert (Pianist Talon Smith)
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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