First Sunday After Christmas | December 28, 2025

Our worship service at Ebenezer as well on Zoom was led, Diane McLean, Julian Munro for pulpit supply, and Margaret Tribe for musical accompaniment, Susan Ryman for the slides, and Jamie Tribe and Doug Mark for our audiovisual and broadcast support. WE GATHER TO WORSHIP *Please stand or adopt any posture that is comfortable for you. ♫ Prelude “All Who Are Thirsty” by Brown and Robertson MV4 Words of Welcome & Announcements Chimes Lighting of the Candles Call to Worship (Interactive) One: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace and goodwill toward all. All: For out of God’s own being, Jesus has come to bring light and love to all people. One: Jesus is Emmanuel, God-with-us, come to gather our tears and laughter, our work and our play, into God’s loving embrace. All: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace and goodwill toward all. ♫ *Hymn VU 48 “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” Opening Prayer Mysterious God, You come to us this season softly as a mother’s sigh, as startling as the cry of a newborn child. Come into our hearts, we pray, that we might be cradled in your love and stirred by your glory. We pray in the name of the One whose coming we celebrate, Jesus Christ, the Bethlehem baby. Amen. Words of Assurance God comes in Jesus, child of Mary, to show us Love incarnate. In Christ, God forgives us, encourages us, and frees us to love others. Thanks be to God! Sharing of Peace Let us turn to our neighbours, and share the peace of Christ with one another, saying: May the peace of Christ be with you, and in response: And also with you. WE LISTEN AND SHARE GOD’S WORD Prayer of Illumination Let us pray: All: Gracious and merciful God, lend yourself so we may have humble, teachable hearts, that we may receive what you are to reveal to us and follow your way. Amen. Scripture Readings: Isaiah 63: 7-9 God’s Mercy Remembered Matthew 2: 13-23 The Escape to Egypt Message by Julian Munro Listen When God Speaks ♫ *Hymn MV 158 “Dream a Dream” WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD Stewardship Seconds (copyright 2025 The United Church of Canada/L’Eglise Unie du Canada. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike Licence.) Your generosity to Mission and Service helps refugees to find safety and live in peace. Invitation to the Offering O God, you birth abundant life! We thank you for the birth we celebrate today. In response to your great labour of love, we offer our gifts. As we open ourselves to you, May your love be born in us this Christmastide. Offering Our Gifts (Our Offerings will now be received) ♫ *Offertory Hymn VU 540 “Grant Us, God, the Grace” *Offertory Prayer May these gifts open others to the blessings you give this Christmas: the gift of childlike wonder; the gift of radiant hope; the gift of peace which passes all understanding; the gift of joy which knows no bounds. With these gifts, we bring ourselves, O God, in response to the greatest gift of all- The Babe of Bethlehem. Prayers of the People Gracious God, we pray this day for all who have come with us to Bethlehem. We pray for all who are poor and cold and hungry like the shepherds, that they may hear good news. We pray for all who are wandering and searching like the magi, that they may find the place to leave their gifts and their burdens. We pray for all who are busy, hurried, preoccupied like the innkeeper, that they may know the peace that comes from genuine acts of hospitality. We pray for all like Herod who have power, that they may use it with good will. We pray for ourselves- we who need comfort, peace and joy, even in this starlit season, and all the days of our lives. Amen. (Prayers of the People binder requests) WE GO INTO GOD’S WORLD ♫ *Hymn MV 182 “Grateful” Commissioning & Blessing May the eagerness of the shepherds, the joy of the angels, the perseverance of the Magi, the faithfulness of Joseph and Mary, and the peace of the Christ child be yours this Christmas. Amen. ♫ *Sung Blessing MV 214 “May God’s Sheltering Wings” ♫ Postlude “Child in the Manger” traditional Gaelic melody, arranged by Cindy Berry Ebenezer United Church Markham, Ontario Canada https://ebenezeronline.ca/ Mission Statement As disciples of Jesus Christ, we celebrate God’s presence through worship, seeking justice, and serving our community with compassion. Vision Statement Making a difference by supporting our members, connecting with our community, and serving our world. Subscribe to our Ebenezer United Church - eNews https://us10.list-manage.com/subscrib...