First Sunday of Christmas/College & Career Sunday

St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
FIRST SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS / College and Career Student
Sunday
12-28-2025 10:00AM Worship (in person and online)
+ GATHERING +

OPENING SONG: “ANGELS, FROM THE REALMS OF GLORY” Green #50
THE OPENING RITE:
L Good news of great joy, light and life, grace and peace be with each and all!
C And also with you.
L Long ago a voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and lamenting loudly:
it was Rachel, arising from years of silence in her grave,
C weeping for her children’s children being led into exile,
refusing to be comforted because they were no more.
L Many years later, Rachel sobbed and lamented once more,
joining the weeping and wailing fathers and mothers of the little town Bethlehem…
C They were grieving for children born in the wrong time and place,
slaughtered by Herod’s anxious sword.
L Oh, so many have wept before and after Ramah, so many have wept before and after Bethlehem,
so many are weeping in our world today for the innocent, suffering, and slaughtered children…
C and tears still fall for the suffering and dying children, for lives that have not been given
L What kind of world is this we live in,
where children are hurt and hated, neglected and abused, maimed and murdered, for no good reason?
C It is the kind of world – evil and unjust – God has chosen to save by moving into our human skin.
L For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given!
C He is the Son of God and the Savior of the world!
L He is the Word-made-flesh and the Lord of our lives!
C His name is Jesus and He makes all the difference in our living and dying!
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY (together):
Lord God, You sent Jesus to live among us and to embrace us with a love that will never be defeated.
Give us the courage and hope to grow in his love, and to travel in faith as his servant people, giving
comfort, protection, and life to all of God’s “holy innocents” who suffer unjustly. Amen.

+ HOLY WORD +

FIRST READING: Isaiah 63:7-9
[The mercy of God – He redeemed them in his love and pity.]
SECOND READING: Hebrews 2:10-18
[The humanity of Jesus – He came to share in our suffering and to die for us.]
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
BRIEF WORDS FROM OUR COLLEGE AND CAREER STUDENTS
[We hope to hear from some of our St. Peter’s students who are continuing their educational journey past
high school in colleges and career training schools. Students, this continues to be a challenging time in
your life and our world. We pray for your good health and safety through these days, for peace and
sleep, for sanity and wisdom, for continued opportunities and the inspiration to stay on the path. And
we encourage and challenge you to continue to connect your unfolding life with God’s creative and

redeeming love!]
INTRODUCTION OF OUR GUEST PREACHER
SONG BEFORE THE GOSPEL: “HE CAME DOWN” Brown #37
(1) He came down that we may have love;
He came down that we may have love;
He came down that we may have love;
Hallelujah forevermore!
[2] He came down that we may have light…
[3] He came down that we may have peace…
[4] He came down that we may have joy…
GOSPEL READING: Matthew 2:13-23
[The mission of Jesus – He was born to die, but not yet.]
THE SERMON: Mr. Christian Hicks (Pastoral staff, Christ’s Church of the Valley, Royersford, PA)
SONG RESPONSE: “WHAT CHILD IS THIS? Green #40
THE PRAYERS… We pray that the good news and great joy of JESUS CHRIST will touch all lives and transform the world!
We pray this knowing that many innocent children and adults are still being oppressed, persecuted, and murdered by
immoral, hostile, and greedy leaders. We pray this remembering that JESUS was a refugee immigrant on the run as a
child, a rejected teacher and healer during his ministry, and a crucified “criminal” at the end of his life.

+ Holy Meal +

TITHES (10% giving) AND GIFTS… We have been blessed by GRACE to be a blessing of GRATEFUL GENEROSITY!
We’re at the end of a year of giving, of responding with our time, abilities, and possessions.
Those in the Sanctuary can put their offering in the offering plate to share their gratitude and
generosity in response to Christ’s love. Those who are farther away might: mail a check or
money order to St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2169 74th Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
19138… contribute online through bit.ly/stpetersgiving and set up a one-time donation or a
recurring weekly gift to selected categories… or text Give+ at 833-914-0896 and follow the
instructions to register and record your contribution. God has blessed us to be a blessing!
This will be the last Sunday for 2025 offerings. Then we start again.
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
OFFERING SONG: “ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH” Green #71
(1) Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply, echoing their joyous strains.

Glo — — — — ia in excelsis Deo;
Glo — — — — ia in excelsis Deo.

(2) Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heav’nly song?
(3) Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn king.
OFFERING PRAYER by the Communion Assistant:
Good news! Great Joy! Loving God, if light has dawned on us, we want to share it. And if there is joy
to tell, we can’t help but proclaim it. O how we thank you for the gift of new and eternal life in Jesus
Christ! As we celebrate his birth, guide us to be bearers of light, makers of peace, and heralds of
good news to all the world. AMEN.

THE PREFACE:
L Christ is born among us! The Lord be with you. C AND ALSO WITH YOU!
L Hope and promise are alive! Lift up your hearts! C WE LIFT THEM UP IN LOVE FOR GOD!
L Jesus is our Redeemer! Let us give thanks to our God! C IT IS RIGHT TO GIVE GOD THANKS AND PRAISE
L Gracious God, we gather together in celebration of all the signs of your love in our lives, too many to count.
But especially we thank you this Christmas Season for speaking your Word, Jesus Christ, to us. You could
have shown no greater love than by sharing what you treasured most, your only Son, your Word of love,
your peace on earth, the light that comforts us, the hope to which we cling. He was born to give us new life,
and he died to deliver us from grave and from hell. We join with heaven and earth in singing our praises…
C (sing) JESUS… JESUS… OH, WHAT A WONDERFUIL CHILD!
JESUS… JESUS… SO HOLY, MEEK, AND MILD!
NEW LIFE, NEW HOPE, TO ALL HE BRINGS;
LISTEN TO THE ANGELS SING,
“GLORY, GLORY, GLO-RY TO THE NEW BORN KING!”

THE EUCHARISTIC WORDS by the Celebrant, who recalls and re-enacts Jesus’ Holy Meal.
THE LORD’S PRAYER (spoken)
COMMUNION AND BLESSINGS… All believers in Christ are welcome at the Lord’s Table! We will have “continuous
distribution” with wafers and either wine or grape juice. CHRIST COMES TO US IN BREAD AND WINE AND BLESSING,
BRINGING US PEACE, UNITY, STRENGTH, AND HOPE!
COMMUNION SONGS: “WHAT CHILD IS THIS?” Green #40
“AWAY IN A MANGER” Green #67

THE COMMUNION BLESSING by the Celebrant after all have communed.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER by the Communion Assistant:
O Lord, with our own eyes we have seen the joy of your salvation, and with our own lips we have tasted
of your Kingdom. We celebrate the birth of your Son among us! Shine out through us to a hurting world
that knows the night and needs the light. Amen.

+ SENDING +

THE BENEDICTION by the Pastor… God sends us TO SHINE with the Light of Jesus Christ in a shadowy world!
CLOSING SONG: “IT CAME UPON THE MIDNIGHT CLEAR” Green #54