Traditional Services

WESLEY METHODIST CHURCH

TRADITIONAL SERVICES

Wesley Sanctuary 7.30am | 9.30am (Live-streamed) | 11.30am | 5.00pm

28 December 2025 | FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS DAY

Liturgical Colour: White, Gold

Lectionary (Year A): Isaiah 63:7–9, Psalm 148,
Hebrews 2:10–18, Matthew 2:13–23

Songs:My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout
Once in Royal David’s City (UMH 250)
Resurrection Hymn
This Little Light of Mine (UMH 585)

Sermon: The Prayer Before He Leaves (John 17) 

I.  GATHERING

We gather in the Lord’s name weekly to be renewed in our hearts and minds. Our worship of God is a response to his revelation as he reveals his truth to us through Scripture, sermon, prayers and songs 

PREPARATION PRAYER

All: Lord Jesus, you were a refugee in Egypt
when your family fled for fear of death.
Move us by your Spirit to welcome the stranger
who seeks a safe shelter in our midst,
that our church may be filled with your justice and peace,
and no one in need may be denied.
Prepare our hearts to encounter you afresh today, we pray.
Amen.

MEDITATION VERSES

I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD,
the deeds for which he is to be praised,
according to all the LORD has done for us—
yes, the many good things 
he has done for Israel,
according to his compassion and many kindnesses.
Isaiah 63:7 

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity
so that by his death he might break the power of him
who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—
and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
Hebrews 2:14–15 

Because he himself suffered when he was tempted,
he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Hebrews 2:18 

PRELUDE 

GREETING

PRAYER OF CONFESSION 

All: Gracious God,
we would like to be among those who saw the coming of the Christ Child,
those who dropped all that they were doing
and travelled to worship the coming of God's love into this world. 

We would like to be those who cared for God in infant vulnerability;
who tickled and cuddled and comforted the growing child,
that he might know love and safety. 

And yet, merciful God,
we must recognize all the times we are more like Herod. 

• Whenever we, in our actions or in our inactions,
  find our own need for control more compelling
  than the needs of others for health and safety. 

• Whenever we cling to the security of our privilege,
  rather than advocating for the rights of the oppressed.

• Whenever we are complicit in the harming of innocents
  for the sake of profit, or power,
  or because we fear to know, and to change,
  the injustices of this world. 

Loving God,
we confess our sins against you and one another,
and pray that you will fill us with your light,
that we may live our lives as true disciples in your name,
without counting the cost.

In the name of Christ,
the one who showed us the way, we pray. Amen. 

WORDS OF ASSURANCE
L: God's light is present in this world.
Present in the Christ Child, born to lead us out of darkness.
Present in the star, in all that guides us to love. 

All: God's light is in the world, and the darkness did not overcome it.
God's grace is in the world, and our missteps will not overcome it.
We are loved, we are forgiven. Alleluia! Amen. 

CALL TO WORSHIP *by Dr. Lisa Hancock, 2025

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?”
We continue to wait and watch for the day that all the earth awaits. 

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.
We continue to wait and watch for the day that all the earth awaits. 

With Mary and Joseph, we listen for God to show us how to protect and advocate for the vulnerable among us. 

We continue to wait and watch for the day that all the earth awaits. 

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. 

OPENING HYMN *
My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout
Words: Rory Cooney (b, 1952), based on the Magnificat
Music: Irish traditional; arr. Rory Cooney © 1990 GIA Publications, Inc. 

1. My soul cries out with a joyful shout
   that the God of my heart is great,
   and my spirit sings of the wondrous things
   that you bring to the one who wait.
   You fixed your sight on your servant's plight,
   and my weakness you did not spurn,
   so from east to west shall my name be blest.
   Could the world be about to turn?
   
   Refrain
   My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
   Let the fires of your justice burn.
   Wipe away all tears,
   for the dawn draws near,
   and the world is about to turn!
   
   
2. Though I am small, my God, my all,
   you work great things in me,
   and your mercy will last from the depths of the past
   to the end of the age to be.
   Your very name puts the proud to shame,
   and to those who would for you yearn,
   you will show your might, put the strong to flight,
   for the world is about to turn.     (Refrain)
   
   
3. From the halls of power to the fortress tower,
   not a stone will be left on stone.
   Let the king beware for your justice tears
   every tyrant from his throne.
   The hungry poor shall weep no more
   for the food they can never earn; 
   there are tables spread, every mouth be fed,
   for the world is about to turn. (Refrain)
   
   
4. Though the nations rage from age to age,
   we remember who holds us fast:
   God's mercy must deliver us
   from the conqueror's crushing grasp.
   This saving word that our forebears heard
   is the promise that holds us bound,
   'Til the spear and rod be crushed by God,
   who is turning the world around.     (Refrain) 

GOSPEL READING *Matthew 2:13–23

PRAYER HYMN
Once in Royal David’s CityUMH 250

SILENT PRAYER

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATIONUMH 182, St. 1
All: Word of God, come down on earth,
living rain from heaven descending;
touch our hearts and bring to birth
faith and hope and love unending.
Word almighty, we revere you;
Word made flesh, we long to hear you.
Speak, O Lord. Amen.

MUSICAL INTERLUDE

II.   SERMON

III.   WE RESPOND IN PRAYER, SHARING AND GIVING

We respond to God’s Word through (a) praying for the church and the world, (b) sharing of God’s peace with one another (2 Cor 13:11, Gal 5:13) after having received the peace of Christ, and after made peace with one another, (c) offer to God our tithes and gifts (Matt 5:24), as a response to Christ’s sacrificial offering (Eph 5:2, 1 Pet 2:5). 

PRAYER

Prayers of the People 

God of life,
we pray to you for all people: 

for all people who are oppressed and abused,
for all people whose freedom and dignity are denied by systems and authorities,
Have mercy on them.
Give us grace to become instruments of your grace,
and channels of your love. 

for all those who are driven away from their houses and their homes,
for all those who are in search of the meaning of their life,
for all those who have to labour too hard for too small a salary,
Have mercy on them.
Give us grace to become instruments of your grace,
and channels of your love. 

for those many desperate women and men who are at the mercy of the rich and the powerful,
for all women who have been excluded from a full-fledged life for the only reason that it has been always like that, 
Have mercy on them.
Give us grace to become instruments of your grace, and channels of your love. 

We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

The Lord’s Prayer (ASAS) 

PEACE

Welcome

Sharing of God’s Peace * 
Dona Nobis Pacem (Grant us peace)UMH 376 

FAMILY NEWS

GIVING

Offertory Prayer

Tithes and Gifts to God
Resurrection HymnCongregation
Words and Music: Stuart Townend and Keith Getty
© 2003 Thankyou Music 

Doxology * 
Advent Doxology
Tune: OLD 100TH

Praise God for gifts of hope and peace.
Praise God for gifts of joy and love.
Praise God for sending Christ to dwell.
On earth for us – Emmanuel.
Amen.

IV.   SENDING FORTH

Having encountered God through worship, we are to (a) serve one another through acts of service, (b) participate in the programs of the church to continue growing in our Christian discipleship, and (c) to go forth into the world as Christ’s hands and feet in the ministry of reconciliation. 

CLOSING HYMN *
This Little Light of MineUMH 585

BENEDICTION *

Family of Christ,
go now into the world in the blessing and power of the Triune God
to resist the misuse of power in our world,
to point to the signs of good news all around us,
and to work for the empowerment and flourishing of all people,
especially the vulnerable among us.
Amen. 

POSTLUDE

Prayer Ministry at the Altar
If you need someone to pray with you, please proceed to the inner rails of the altar area. If you wish to pray alone, please use the outer rails.

* Congregation may stand.