Birth of Jesus and Birth of the New Year
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle A Gospel Texts
The Community Acknowledges God's Presence
Invitation to the Celebration
In the name of the newborn one, welcome to the ____ day of Christmas, when my true love gave to me __________. Yes, folks, it's still Christmas, despite the fact that the mass media is preparing us for the next buying frenzy, called (you fill in the response). Welcome to the second Sunday of Christmas, and to the first Sunday of the New Year. We will consider both events today.
Pastor continues: For a few moments in silence, focus your attention on the Cross. (One minute.)
1. How do you compare your actual preparation and celebration with the central symbol of our faith, the empty Cross? (Silence.) Would anyone take the risk of sharing your thoughts? (Silence. Remain calm if no one responds; people will respond internally, one way or the other, if not externally.)
2. As we enter into this new year, what new decisions are you willing to make to keep the Cross central in your activities? Because, "all of life is holy ground, so watch where you're stepping."
(I take credit for this quote.) (Again, silence. Then, ask the people to share. If no one responds, offer your own decision.)
Pastor continues: Now, are you ready to celebrate the good news?
M: Yes, and no! Yes, we want to grow in our faith. No, we are fearful that we will not succeed.
P: The word "succeed" is a non-biblical word. The words "acceptance, confession, pardon, thanksgiving, commitment, beginning again" -- these are. It's okay not to be perfect.
M: What a relief! We begin this new year, and each day of the new year with the promise of God's Presence and Power directing our lives.
Response
With energy, believing that God wants our salvation and commitment more than we do: "Joy to the World!" Use all of the musical instruments available. Ask those who choose, to whistle, a lost art in worship. Remember, "Make a joyful noise to the Lord." God chose, at least here, not to define what that means.
The Community Examines Itself
The Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
On New Year's Day, how many of us made New Year's resolutions? Care to tell us what they were? (You may want to give one of your own.) By now, how many of us have broken them? Care to tell us? (You may want to give one of your broken ones, if not too embarrassing.) The confession provides our opportunity to begin again. So, I invite us to pray this prayer, slowly and deliberately, in silence. (Ask a musician -- organist, pianist, flautist -- to play during the silence.)
Holy God, we confess that we have tried to live our lives within the narrow, limited dimensions of our own wisdom and strength. We are painfully aware of our inadequacies: Our love is shallow and selfish; our feelings are often distorted and easily hurt; our patience has a short fuse, and our dispositions often reflect our inner tensions; our disappointment with life and people is reflected in our attitudes; our anxiety over society and world conditions exposes our lack of hope; and our fearful caution reveals how little we trust You. Therefore, we often order our lives around our own abilities and skills and miss the adventure of life that You have prepared for us. We confess to You all of the things that we dared not attempt -- the courageous deeds we considered but were afraid that we could not do; the gracious thoughts we had but never expressed; the forgiveness we felt, but never communicated. Forgive us, Lord, for forgetting that You are able to do in and through us what we could never do by ourselves, and then, settling for a life which is a mere shadow of what You had prepared for us. Now, in the quiet of this time of confession, which we hope is honest -- only time will tell -- plant in us the vivid picture of what you are able to do with lives such as ours, and give us the gift of a new excitement about living life by Your triumphant adequacy.
The Act of Receiving New Life
What difference will this act of confession make in your life? Write down one difference. (One minute of silence.)
Response
"I'll Never Be the Same" (words and music by Ruth S. Sandberg, from New Wine. See Appendix 1 for the address).
The Community Hears And Proclaims God's Truth
Message with the Children of All Ages
Develop the message around the theme of promises made and promises broken. What do the children do, and what do their parents do, and what does God do? Any similarities and differences?
Reading from the Newer Covenant
Read from different places in the sanctuary. Make certain that everyone can hear, especially if laypeople read.
Proclamation of the Good News
"Battle on a Small Planet" Filmstrip. (This was produced long ago by Richard Gilbert for the Division of Evangelism, United Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. You can check its availability through the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A, 100 Witherspoon St., Louisville, KY 40212-1396. I have one copy. Please send author $10 for borrowing it for a onetime use.)
Stewardship Challenge
What difference does our membership in, with, as the ecclesia, locally, nationally, internationally, make in our lives, toward family, neighbors, enemies, world? And, what happens to us, with us, and what do we do if our commitment to Christ and the church changes? Let the people digest those questions before receiving the offering.
Charge to the Congregation
When the shepherds arrive at the manger, W. H. Auden has them say, "O here and how, our endless journey begins."
Meditation
"A Christian is an 'alleluia' from head to foot" (Saint Augustine).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Christmas carols (see Christmas 1).
Hymns of Praise: Again, select several. Christmas season is the time to sing carols, rather than allowing the mass media to set the Christmas agenda, beginning back there in July.
Hymn of Commitment: "Lord of the Dance," Shaker tune. Sydney Carter, 1963. Teach this powerful hymn to the congregation; it incorporates the entire life and ministry of Jesus. Ask someone, well in advance, to present a liturgical dance of this hymn as the people sing it.
Consider this: Select music from your own tradition, denomination, and locale which will give a powerful ending to the Christmas season.
Invitation to the Celebration
In the name of the newborn one, welcome to the ____ day of Christmas, when my true love gave to me __________. Yes, folks, it's still Christmas, despite the fact that the mass media is preparing us for the next buying frenzy, called (you fill in the response). Welcome to the second Sunday of Christmas, and to the first Sunday of the New Year. We will consider both events today.
Pastor continues: For a few moments in silence, focus your attention on the Cross. (One minute.)
1. How do you compare your actual preparation and celebration with the central symbol of our faith, the empty Cross? (Silence.) Would anyone take the risk of sharing your thoughts? (Silence. Remain calm if no one responds; people will respond internally, one way or the other, if not externally.)
2. As we enter into this new year, what new decisions are you willing to make to keep the Cross central in your activities? Because, "all of life is holy ground, so watch where you're stepping."
(I take credit for this quote.) (Again, silence. Then, ask the people to share. If no one responds, offer your own decision.)
Pastor continues: Now, are you ready to celebrate the good news?
M: Yes, and no! Yes, we want to grow in our faith. No, we are fearful that we will not succeed.
P: The word "succeed" is a non-biblical word. The words "acceptance, confession, pardon, thanksgiving, commitment, beginning again" -- these are. It's okay not to be perfect.
M: What a relief! We begin this new year, and each day of the new year with the promise of God's Presence and Power directing our lives.
Response
With energy, believing that God wants our salvation and commitment more than we do: "Joy to the World!" Use all of the musical instruments available. Ask those who choose, to whistle, a lost art in worship. Remember, "Make a joyful noise to the Lord." God chose, at least here, not to define what that means.
The Community Examines Itself
The Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
On New Year's Day, how many of us made New Year's resolutions? Care to tell us what they were? (You may want to give one of your own.) By now, how many of us have broken them? Care to tell us? (You may want to give one of your broken ones, if not too embarrassing.) The confession provides our opportunity to begin again. So, I invite us to pray this prayer, slowly and deliberately, in silence. (Ask a musician -- organist, pianist, flautist -- to play during the silence.)
Holy God, we confess that we have tried to live our lives within the narrow, limited dimensions of our own wisdom and strength. We are painfully aware of our inadequacies: Our love is shallow and selfish; our feelings are often distorted and easily hurt; our patience has a short fuse, and our dispositions often reflect our inner tensions; our disappointment with life and people is reflected in our attitudes; our anxiety over society and world conditions exposes our lack of hope; and our fearful caution reveals how little we trust You. Therefore, we often order our lives around our own abilities and skills and miss the adventure of life that You have prepared for us. We confess to You all of the things that we dared not attempt -- the courageous deeds we considered but were afraid that we could not do; the gracious thoughts we had but never expressed; the forgiveness we felt, but never communicated. Forgive us, Lord, for forgetting that You are able to do in and through us what we could never do by ourselves, and then, settling for a life which is a mere shadow of what You had prepared for us. Now, in the quiet of this time of confession, which we hope is honest -- only time will tell -- plant in us the vivid picture of what you are able to do with lives such as ours, and give us the gift of a new excitement about living life by Your triumphant adequacy.
The Act of Receiving New Life
What difference will this act of confession make in your life? Write down one difference. (One minute of silence.)
Response
"I'll Never Be the Same" (words and music by Ruth S. Sandberg, from New Wine. See Appendix 1 for the address).
The Community Hears And Proclaims God's Truth
Message with the Children of All Ages
Develop the message around the theme of promises made and promises broken. What do the children do, and what do their parents do, and what does God do? Any similarities and differences?
Reading from the Newer Covenant
Read from different places in the sanctuary. Make certain that everyone can hear, especially if laypeople read.
Proclamation of the Good News
"Battle on a Small Planet" Filmstrip. (This was produced long ago by Richard Gilbert for the Division of Evangelism, United Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. You can check its availability through the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A, 100 Witherspoon St., Louisville, KY 40212-1396. I have one copy. Please send author $10 for borrowing it for a onetime use.)
Stewardship Challenge
What difference does our membership in, with, as the ecclesia, locally, nationally, internationally, make in our lives, toward family, neighbors, enemies, world? And, what happens to us, with us, and what do we do if our commitment to Christ and the church changes? Let the people digest those questions before receiving the offering.
Charge to the Congregation
When the shepherds arrive at the manger, W. H. Auden has them say, "O here and how, our endless journey begins."
Meditation
"A Christian is an 'alleluia' from head to foot" (Saint Augustine).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Christmas carols (see Christmas 1).
Hymns of Praise: Again, select several. Christmas season is the time to sing carols, rather than allowing the mass media to set the Christmas agenda, beginning back there in July.
Hymn of Commitment: "Lord of the Dance," Shaker tune. Sydney Carter, 1963. Teach this powerful hymn to the congregation; it incorporates the entire life and ministry of Jesus. Ask someone, well in advance, to present a liturgical dance of this hymn as the people sing it.
Consider this: Select music from your own tradition, denomination, and locale which will give a powerful ending to the Christmas season.
