Christ's unique superiority
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Come, celebrate the birth of Jesus, God's greatest revelation of himself.
People:
Of all that God has done, Jesus most fully illustrates the true nature of God.
Pastor:
We celebrate our Savior's birth, because through him, we are born into the glory of God.
People:
Praise be to God for the birth of his Son! Praise be to Jesus for our rebirth into God's kingdom!
Collect
Glorious God, who has uncovered the glory of your kingdom in the birth of your Son: Help us to see in Jesus the hope of our rebirth; that we may begin anew to live the life you have created us to live. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We praise your Son, O God, often because it is our ritual. But we want it to be because of our faith. Forgive us when we have sung praises with our lips which have not come from our hearts. Listen now to our hearts, and stir up within us true praise for the glorious gift of your Son, Jesus, our Savior. In his name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Angels from the Realms of Glory"
"Infant Holy, Infant Lowly"
"Love Came Down at Christmas"
"O God of Light, Thy Word, a Lamp"
CHRISTMAS EVE/DAY
(Third Option)
Gospel:
John 1:1-14
Theme:
God gives his people new birth
Call to Worship
Pastor: Jesus came into our world to give us knowledge of God, and to share God's gift of life, that we might beome God's children.
People:
Many people did not recognize Jesus as God's Son; and many still do not receive him as Lord.
Pastor:
But all who do receive him, God adopts as his children who are reborn by his divine love.
People:
We want to meet Jesus and begin a new life, reborn into God's family!
Collect
Almighty God, whose Word became flesh in Jesus your Son: May our hearts be receptive to him as Lord and Savior; that we may become your children, reborn by the power and love of your will. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
O God of love, you have revealed yourself in the life of your Son, Jesus. He is our light, our life, and our hope. But we are of this world; and this world is indifferent to your gift of love. We are among those to whom your Son comes, who are prevented by sin from recognizing him as Savior. Forgive us for our sins that deny our sonship. Restore us to your fellowship; that we may enjoy the blessings of being your children. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymns
"At the Name of Jesus"
"I Know Not How That Bethlehem's Babe"
"O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing"
"Where Shall My Wondering Soul Begin"
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
First Lesson Isaiah 63:7-9
Theme:
God gives his people mercy and love
Call to Worship
Pastor:
God has called us to be his children, offering forgiveness through his Son, Jesus.
People:
We are unworthy to be called his children, because through sin, we deny he is our Father.
Pastor:
God has not forgotten his people. By grace, he reclaims us as his children.
People:
God has made us his own through Christ! We are his people, and are called by his name.
Collect
O gracious Father, whose love and forgiveness is beyond measure: Fill our hearts to overflowing with joy and thanksgiving for your salvation; that all may see the blessings of those who take the name of Christ, our Lord and Savior, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We are at the threshold of a new year, Father; and all we can offer you is lives marred by sin. Our past prevents us from offering you any record of righteousness. Forgive us for our sin which denies us the right to be called followers of Christ. Direct our attention to the future and your forgiveness, confident that you are leading your children into a new experience of Christian growth and commitment. We pray through Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Hymns
"God of the Ages, by Whose Hand"
"Take the Name of Jesus with You"
"There's a Wideness in God's Mercy"
" 'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus"
Pastor:
Come, celebrate the birth of Jesus, God's greatest revelation of himself.
People:
Of all that God has done, Jesus most fully illustrates the true nature of God.
Pastor:
We celebrate our Savior's birth, because through him, we are born into the glory of God.
People:
Praise be to God for the birth of his Son! Praise be to Jesus for our rebirth into God's kingdom!
Collect
Glorious God, who has uncovered the glory of your kingdom in the birth of your Son: Help us to see in Jesus the hope of our rebirth; that we may begin anew to live the life you have created us to live. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We praise your Son, O God, often because it is our ritual. But we want it to be because of our faith. Forgive us when we have sung praises with our lips which have not come from our hearts. Listen now to our hearts, and stir up within us true praise for the glorious gift of your Son, Jesus, our Savior. In his name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Angels from the Realms of Glory"
"Infant Holy, Infant Lowly"
"Love Came Down at Christmas"
"O God of Light, Thy Word, a Lamp"
CHRISTMAS EVE/DAY
(Third Option)
Gospel:
John 1:1-14
Theme:
God gives his people new birth
Call to Worship
Pastor: Jesus came into our world to give us knowledge of God, and to share God's gift of life, that we might beome God's children.
People:
Many people did not recognize Jesus as God's Son; and many still do not receive him as Lord.
Pastor:
But all who do receive him, God adopts as his children who are reborn by his divine love.
People:
We want to meet Jesus and begin a new life, reborn into God's family!
Collect
Almighty God, whose Word became flesh in Jesus your Son: May our hearts be receptive to him as Lord and Savior; that we may become your children, reborn by the power and love of your will. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
O God of love, you have revealed yourself in the life of your Son, Jesus. He is our light, our life, and our hope. But we are of this world; and this world is indifferent to your gift of love. We are among those to whom your Son comes, who are prevented by sin from recognizing him as Savior. Forgive us for our sins that deny our sonship. Restore us to your fellowship; that we may enjoy the blessings of being your children. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymns
"At the Name of Jesus"
"I Know Not How That Bethlehem's Babe"
"O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing"
"Where Shall My Wondering Soul Begin"
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
First Lesson Isaiah 63:7-9
Theme:
God gives his people mercy and love
Call to Worship
Pastor:
God has called us to be his children, offering forgiveness through his Son, Jesus.
People:
We are unworthy to be called his children, because through sin, we deny he is our Father.
Pastor:
God has not forgotten his people. By grace, he reclaims us as his children.
People:
God has made us his own through Christ! We are his people, and are called by his name.
Collect
O gracious Father, whose love and forgiveness is beyond measure: Fill our hearts to overflowing with joy and thanksgiving for your salvation; that all may see the blessings of those who take the name of Christ, our Lord and Savior, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We are at the threshold of a new year, Father; and all we can offer you is lives marred by sin. Our past prevents us from offering you any record of righteousness. Forgive us for our sin which denies us the right to be called followers of Christ. Direct our attention to the future and your forgiveness, confident that you are leading your children into a new experience of Christian growth and commitment. We pray through Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Hymns
"God of the Ages, by Whose Hand"
"Take the Name of Jesus with You"
"There's a Wideness in God's Mercy"
" 'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus"
