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December 28, 2025
1st Sunday After Christmas
TRADITIONAL Service
Union—Congregational Church

Gathering Music                                
Welcome and Announcements               

Sharing the Peace of Christ

Call to Worship
One: I bring you good news of great joy, for unto you is born a savior, who is Christ the Lord.
All: Alleluia! Christ, holy child, bearer of the light of heaven among us, we greet you with glad and humble hearts.
 

One: Jesus, the pioneer of our faith, who saves us and makes us holy, is not ashamed to call us siblings.
All: Alleluia! Jesus, our brother and our teacher, we praise you and we open our hearts to you.
 

One: Christ shares our flesh and blood, and shares our suffering, so that we might be set free from our fear of death.
All: Alleluia! Christ our savior, free us from our fears and attachments, and save us from sin and death. Living among us, transform us by your Spirit and fill us with your glory. Alleluia!

Opening Prayer (unison)
Living God, Christ Mystery, Spirit of New Beginnings, we give you thanks for this commitment to help one another. As we take in the renewed life you offer, may we be a reflection of your light, expanding the sacred doing of our community to the alleviation of suffering wherever it is found. Amen.

Opening Hymn: #179 Joy to the World! (verses 1,2,4)

Reading of Scripture
Before reading, please say: We’ve looked through the lens of the sacred and have experienced time, people, places, others, and ourselves as God’s holy love reflected and incarnate in the world. Because of the experience of God’s action of love toward us, we are called also to act, the “sacred doing” of alleviating suffering wherever it is found. We dedicate ourselves in this New Year to sacred acts of justice and mercy, bringing grace to a hurting world, reflecting the sacred in all we do. Hear this first reading:

Isaiah 63: 7-9
7 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.
 

Matthew 2: 13-23
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.”

After reading, please say, “Here ends the readings for today. May God bless us as we learn from these holy words. Amen.”

Message: What Should We Do Now? 
 

Hymn: #185 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Prayers of the People
Time for Silent Prayer
Joys and Concerns 
After each prayer petition, Jacob will say, “God in your mercy”, and the congregation is invited to respond: “Receive our prayer.” 
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer (unison)

We Offer Our Gifts

*Doxology

Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Wise God, we present these offerings to you and dedicate our time, talents, and treasures for your kin-dom. May your will be done, our siblings’ needs be met, and your name be known through what we share in praise and thanksgiving for all you have given to us in time, talent, and treasure. Amen.

Closing Hymn: #350 The Summons 1,2,4

Benediction

Sending Music                                     

Call to Worship by Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Opening Prayer, Benediction, and theme by Dr. Marcia McFee, Worship Design Studio
Prayer of Dedication by Rev. Dr. Cheryl Lindsay for UCC Worship Ways