CHRISTMAS DAY
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series III, Cycle A
CALL TO WORSHIP
Receive Jesus Christ, who is the WORD made flesh, and who has come to dwell among us, full of grace and truth.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
True God, Gracious God, we are still enticed to idolatry. We are fascinated by glamorous stars. We are taken in by false propaganda. We are frightened by the threats of the politically and economically powerful. We lose confidence in your pledge to preserve the lives of your saints. We forget that you love those who hate evil and resist it. Forgive our misplaced confidence, our faith in the wrong powers. Restore our joy in the gentle qualities of truth and grace made personal in Jesus Christ. Amen.
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! In Christ our release is secured and our sins are forgiven through the shedding of his blood. In receiving God's only Son, you have been received as a child of God. Friends, believe the Good News! In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
EXHORTATION
Bear witness to the light of grace and truth that you have seen in Jesus Christ. There are others who have not yet recognized him as the real light that enlightens everyone coming into the world.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Mender of our broken world, enable us as members of your family to be cooperative agents in the restoration of the unity of all things in Christ, all things in heaven and earth. Then will all the earth be glad and the stars sing for joy. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
We hail your coming, invisible Sovereign, incarnate Prince, powerful Spirit. We rejoice with apostles who lived in the historic days of Jesus Christ, your Son, and with prophets who anticipated that day. With all your earthly realm we join our voices in praise of the glory revealed in Jesus Christ. We run with the good news of the reunification of all things around your beloved. We praise you for all the spiritual blessings that you give us, here and hereafter. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
We renew our allegiance to you, God's Child, acknowledging our adoption as your brothers and sisters. We pledge our resources and ourselves, that the light shall shine on and the darkness never overwhelm it. Amen.
PSALM 98
O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.
The LORD has made known his victory;
he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD.
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who live in it.
Let the floods clap their hands;
let the hills sing together for joy
at the presence of the LORD,
for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.
Receive Jesus Christ, who is the WORD made flesh, and who has come to dwell among us, full of grace and truth.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
True God, Gracious God, we are still enticed to idolatry. We are fascinated by glamorous stars. We are taken in by false propaganda. We are frightened by the threats of the politically and economically powerful. We lose confidence in your pledge to preserve the lives of your saints. We forget that you love those who hate evil and resist it. Forgive our misplaced confidence, our faith in the wrong powers. Restore our joy in the gentle qualities of truth and grace made personal in Jesus Christ. Amen.
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! In Christ our release is secured and our sins are forgiven through the shedding of his blood. In receiving God's only Son, you have been received as a child of God. Friends, believe the Good News! In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
EXHORTATION
Bear witness to the light of grace and truth that you have seen in Jesus Christ. There are others who have not yet recognized him as the real light that enlightens everyone coming into the world.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Mender of our broken world, enable us as members of your family to be cooperative agents in the restoration of the unity of all things in Christ, all things in heaven and earth. Then will all the earth be glad and the stars sing for joy. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
We hail your coming, invisible Sovereign, incarnate Prince, powerful Spirit. We rejoice with apostles who lived in the historic days of Jesus Christ, your Son, and with prophets who anticipated that day. With all your earthly realm we join our voices in praise of the glory revealed in Jesus Christ. We run with the good news of the reunification of all things around your beloved. We praise you for all the spiritual blessings that you give us, here and hereafter. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
We renew our allegiance to you, God's Child, acknowledging our adoption as your brothers and sisters. We pledge our resources and ourselves, that the light shall shine on and the darkness never overwhelm it. Amen.
PSALM 98
O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.
The LORD has made known his victory;
he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD.
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who live in it.
Let the floods clap their hands;
let the hills sing together for joy
at the presence of the LORD,
for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.
