First Sunday of Christmas - Dec 29 2024 - 1st Presbyterian Church of Hartford

First Sunday of Christmas - Sunday, December 29, 2024 First Presbyterian Church of Hartford - Rev. Nancy Baseel, Pastor GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME GATHERING MUSIC In the Bleak Midwinter, Gustav Holst WELCOME CALL TO WORSHIP One: We have named our joy out loud, and it is clear— Many: God is in our joy. One: God is in this room. Many: We have reason to celebrate. One: We have a reason to sing. Many: Thanks be to God for the bright hope of this day. HYMN #611 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee CALL TO CONFESSION A TIME OF UNSPOKEN PRAYER PRAYER OF CONFESSION One: You told us that in order to enter the kingdom of heaven, we must be like children. Many: Did you mean that like children, we must practice unhindered joy? Did you mean that like children, we should lean into laughter, release our cynicism, and open ourselves to delight? One: In a world as broken and battered as ours, we admit, Many: this often seems easier said than done. One: Forgive us, patient God, for the moments when we are so focused on the bad that we miss the good. Many: Forgive us for hearing the nativity story and staying in our seats instead of jumping for joy. One: We know that even now you are sowing delight in our lives. Many: Open our hearts up to it. With gratitude we pray, amen. ASSURANCE OF GRACE One: Friends, hear and believe the good news of the Gospel: Many: We are seen. We are loved. We are forgiven. One: That is news worth celebrating! That is news that should make us want to cheer, laugh, cry with relief, dance, and sing all at the same time! So in response to God’s goodness, I invite you to rise in body or spirit and join me in the sung response. Let us make a joyful noise for God’s abundant mercy. SONG OF COMMUNITY HYMN #113 Angels We Have Heard on High (refrain only) PROCLAIMING GOD’S WORD PRAYER for ILLUMINATION LESSON ONE: LISTEN FOR JOY Luke 2:10, Isaiah 9:2-3 SING WITH JOY HYMN #113 Angels We Have Heard on High PRACTICE JOY | Joy found in Scripture LESSON TWO: LISTEN FOR JOY Matthew 2:10, Psalm 148 SING WITH JOY HYMN #133 O Come, All Ye Faithful PRACTICE JOY | Joy Found in Community RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD LESSON THREE: LISTEN FOR JOY Psalm 126:1-3, Isaiah 55:12-13 SING WITH JOY HYMN #119 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing PRACTICE JOY | Joy Found in Prayer & Giving OFFERTORY ANTHEM Who Would Think that What was Needed, John L. Bell DOXOLOGY: Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Christ all creatures here below. Praise Holy Spirit, evermore. Praise Triune God whom we adore. Amen. GOING FORTH TO SERVE HYMN #80 The Trees of the Field BENEDICTION POSTLUDE Joy to the World, arr. P. Keveren Acknowledgements: Cover art: Let All Creation Dance, by Lisle Gwynn Garrity | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org. Licenses for music use: CCLI: 3783268 and OneLicense: A-719942 Advent Liturgy: Words for the Beginning written by Rev Sara (Are) Speed | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org.