Pine Street Presbyterian Church in
December 14, 2025
the City of Harrisburg
Pine Street is a Welcoming Church, Glorifying God through Worship, Fellowship and Service in the World.
Third Sunday of Advent
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
Subversive God, you revel in reversing human hierarchies. Inspire us to sing with teenage Mary of tyrants toppled, and the last made first. Ignite our hearts until we truly understand what this means. Embolden us to risk everything for the chance to serve as midwives to your new creation, so that, with Mary, our spirits will rejoice in God our Savior Jesus Christ her son and magnify Christ’s love in all we do. Amen.
G ATHERING IN THE PRESENCE OF THE RISEN CHRIST
RINGING OF THE CARILLON
SALUTATION
One: My soul magnifies the Lord; Many: my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
VOLUNTARY Intrada on “Conditor alme siderum” Howard Helvey (Please use the opening voluntary as a time of silent meditation and preparation for worship.)
† CALL TO WORSHIP
One: Hear the words from the Psalmist: When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
Many: Then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with shouts of joy.
One: Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”
† Those able are invited to stand.
Bold text is read or sung by all
Many: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
One: So hear these words from the Gospel according to John: All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.
Many: What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.
† HYMN 83 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus STUTTGART
ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING
One: We light the candle of Hope.
Many: Where fear narrows our vision, let this light widen our sight.
One: We light the candle of Peace:
Many: Peace that lives within us that is the promise of a liberation birthing, truth-telling God in flesh.
One: We light the candle of Joy.
Many: We will bring the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
One: You shall be called priests of the Lord, you shall be named ministers of our God.
Many: With prophets and apostles, and with all the saints, we rejoice in the Lord.
† PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Magnificent God, it is easy to rejoice at the wilderness bursting into bloom and the hungry being filled with good things. We may not want the powerful to be brought down or the rich to be sent away empty. We know that sometimes, we are the powerful. Sometimes, we are the rich, ignoring and harming those you would lift up. Forgive us, humble us, and refocus us, that we may follow your way of life and truth.
† ASSURANCE OF PARDON
One: There is nothing and no one that is too far gone for God to redeem. There is no land too parched that God cannot make streams of living water flow. Beloved, we are forgiven!
Many: Alleluia! Thanks be to God!
† GLORIA
READING AND HEARING THE WORD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
FIRST LESSON Isaiah 35:1-10
One: The Word of the Lord. Many: Thanks be to God.
Old Testament Page 663
† HYMN 806 I’ll Praise My Maker (PSALM 146) OLD 113TH
SECOND LESSON James 5:7-10
THIRD LESSON Matthew 11:2-11
New Testament Page 231
New Testament Page 11
SERMON “Fun, Fun, Fun on the Autobahn” 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 Magnificat
C. Villers Stanford
My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For He hath regarded the lowliness of His handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth, all generations shall call me, call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath magnified me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on them that fear Him throughout all generations; He hath shewed strength with His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent empty away. He, remembering His mercy, hath holpen His servant Israel, as He promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, forever, forever. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be; world without end, world without end. Amen, amen, amen.
† 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
I
NVITATION
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:
I
NTERCESSION
, SUPPLICATION, AND CONSECRATION
One: In your mercy, Many: Lord, hear our prayer.
… 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 107 Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn REJOICE, REJOICE
BENEDICTION † CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE God, Be the Love R. B. Colligan
VOLUNTARY Flourish on an English Carol Howard Helvey Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day
L EADING IN W ORSHIP T ODAY
The Rev. Stuart Seelman, Pastor
Joseph Garrison, Minister of Music and Worship
Debbie Gruver, Lector
Linda McLaughlin, Liturgist
Thomas 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 the December birthday of Marilyn J. Miller by Gerald L. Miller.
DATESFOR YOUR CALENDAR
Sunday,December14
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
4:00 pm- A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
Sunday,December21
9:00 am- Café Conversations
9:00 am- Faith Formation
9:00 am- Chancel Choir Warm-up
10:00 am- Worship
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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