Pine River United Methodist Church
December 28, 2025 10:30 a.m.
*please stand if you are able
SPECIAL MUSIC “Angels We Have Heard on High” Jody Wilson
RINGING OF THE BELL
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND JOYS AND CONCERNS
HYMN #240 Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
*Call to Worship
Leader: Beloved, we have waited, watched, and witnessed the coming of the Christ child. As we gather today on the other side of Christmas, we might be tempted to ask, “What now?”
All: We continue to wait and watch for the day that all the earth awaits.
Leader: In this season of Christmas, we remember that though Christ has come among us, the good news of freedom for captives, flourishing for the poor, and power returned to the disempowered does not reign in so many places.
All: We continue to wait and watch for the day that all the earth awaits.
Leader: With Mary and Joseph, we listen for God to show us how to protect and advocate for the vulnerable among us.
All: We continue to wait and watch for the day that all the earth awaits.
Leader: As we gather to worship today, may God bind us together in love, empowering us to live as followers of the Christ child who declare good news wherever we go.
ALL: We gather today as people who wait, watch, and work for the day that all the earth awaits. Thanks be to God! Amen.
*HYMN #89 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee verses 1,2
*Unison Prayer
Heavenly Father,
All creation sings of Your glory — the skies, the seas, the mountains, and the smallest creatures.
The sun rises to declare Your faithfulness, and the stars shine to tell of Your endless majesty.
I join with the heavens and the earth to lift my voice in gratitude.
You are the Maker of all things, the One whose power holds the universe together, and whose love reaches into the depths of my heart.
Let my life be a song of praise to You.
May my words, my actions, and my thoughts reflect Your goodness.
From this moment and forevermore, I will honor Your name, for You alone are worthy of all praise. Amen.
*HYMN #577 God of Grace and God of Glory
SCRIPTURE LESSONS:
Isaiah 63:7-9 page 657 in OT of Pew Bible
I will recount the gracious deeds of the Lord,
the praiseworthy acts of the Lord,
because of all that the Lord has done for us
and the great favor to the house of Israel
that he has shown them according to his mercy,
according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
8 For he said, “Surely they are my people,
children who will not act deceitfully,”
and he became their savior
9 in all their distress.
It was no messenger or angel
but his presence that saved them;
in his love and pity it was he who redeemed them;
he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
Psalm 148 page 558 in OT of Pew Bible
1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
2 Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his host!
3 Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars!
4 Praise him, you highest heavens
and you waters above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for he commanded and they were created.
6 He established them forever and ever;
he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
you sea monsters and all deeps,
8 fire and hail, snow and frost,
stormy wind fulfilling his command!
9 Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Wild animals and all cattle,
creeping things and flying birds!
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and women alike,
old and young together!
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his glory is above earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his faithful,
for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the Lord!
Matthew 2:13-23 page 8 in NT of Pew Bible
13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”
16 When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the magi. 17 Then what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,
wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.”
19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 20 “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.” 21 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. 23 There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He will be called a Nazarene.”
Leader: The word of God for the people of God.
People: Praise be to God.
MESSAGE “And now, still, we wait” Pastor Jen Matthees
SPECIAL MUSIC: “Little Drummer Boy” Jody Wilson
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
SILENT PRAYER
THE 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
*HYMN #246 Joy to the World
*BENEDICTION
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Sunday, January 4: 10:00 a.m. Coffee Fellowship
10:30 a.m. Worship
Church Office Hours for this Holiday week:
Tuesday 8:00 – Noon, 1:00 –3:00 p.m.
Wednesday and Friday 8:00 – 12:30 p.m
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For prayer requests please contact the church office: prmethodist@gmail.com OR 218-587-4091.
The beginning of each month we will be starting a new prayer list. If you want continued prayers for a loved one, please contact church office.
GOD HEARS AND ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS
I will tell of the Lord’s unfailing love.
I will praise the Lord for all he has done. Isaiah 63:7a
*Our services can now be viewed on YouTube during worship service or at any other time of the day or week. There may be a delay in the streaming so be patient and the service WILL begin. Copy and Paste the link below to watch our Services.
https://www.youtube.com/@pineriverunitedmethodist2574/streams