First Sunday After Christmas/The Holy Family
Worship
Lectionary Worship Aids
Series VI, Cycle C
Theme: The Boy Samuel
Call To Worship
Leader: Praise the Lord, all peoples.
People: Praise the Lord, young women and young men, old people and children, too.
Leader: Let them all praise the name of the Lord!
People: His name is greater than all others; his glory is above earth and heaven.
All: Praise the Lord!
Collect
Heavenly Father, we thank you that Jesus was born into a family, and that like the parents of Samuel, Mary and Joseph dedicated their child to your service. Help us in our worship, we pray, once again to see the importance of the family and the responsibility of all parents to train their children in your ways. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Lord, where we have failed in our duties as parents, forgive us, and give to us new opportunities to demonstrate your love through the love and care we give our children. In Jesus'Êname. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
Lord God, as the parents of Samuel and Jesus regularly brought their offerings to the Temple, so we, too, present our gifts as symbols of our gratitude for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ. With these offerings we also present ourselves to be dedicated to your service. Amen.
Hymns
"O Sing A Song Of Bethlehem"
"Sing To The Great Jehovah's Praise"
"Angels We Have Heard On High"
First Sunday After Christmas/The Holy Family
Second Lesson: Colossians 3:12-17
Theme: The New Life In Christ
Call To Worship
Leader: You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for his own.
People: We come to worship our Lord who has forgiven our sins.
Leader: You have been raised to life with Christ. Come seeking that new life.
People: We come singing to God with thanksgiving in our hearts.
Collect
O God, the carol, "Joy To The World, The Lord Is Come," still echoes in our hearts as we face the reality of the world Mary and Joseph faced, and which confronts us, too. In our determination to live the new life in Christ, we need your help, Lord, and so as we gather to worship you and give thanks, we also come seeking the power of your Holy Spirit to enable us to live lives that will show the world we have truly found new life in Christ. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Lord, we strive to lead lives filled with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance, and forgiveness, but often we find that the most difficult of all is to do it all with love. Forgive our self-centeredness, we pray, and by your Holy Spirit enable us truly to let your love shine through us in all that we do. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
Lord, we know that there are limits to what we personally can do to show others your love, compassion, and kindness. We bring these gifts that they may be used to reach out to places near and far where we cannot go, and let them show forth your love for all humanity. Amen.
Hymns
"The First Noel"
"There's A Song In The Air"
"All Beautiful The March Of Days"
First Sunday After Christmas/The Holy Family
Gospel Lesson: Luke 2:41-52
Theme: The Boy Jesus
Call To Worship
We have paid homage to the infant Jesus as he lay in a manger. Now we must come to grips with the reality of his humanity as Jesus grew up. As we focus on his boyhood, let us give thanks for his parents.
Come, let us praise God who entered our humanity in the infant Jesus who grew to be a man!
Collect
Heavenly Father, we give you thanks today for the home in which Jesus grew from a baby to adulthood under the loving care of his parents, Mary and Joseph. Help us to see once again our responsibility as parents and grandparents to help our children grow both in body and wisdom, gaining favor with you and other people. In Jesus'Êname we pray. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Heavenly Father, it is so easy for us to misunderstand our children. Too often we cut them short when they are asking questions when we should be showing patience and helping them to develop searching minds. Let your Spirit show us the way, and grant us the wisdom to be worthy mentors for our children. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
Lord, may our faithfulness in presenting our offerings to you be an example for our children, that they, too, may learn to show their love for you by supporting the work of your Church. Amen.
Hymns
"That Boy-Child Of Mary"
"O Come, All Ye Faithful"
"Faith Of Our Fathers"
Call To Worship
Leader: Praise the Lord, all peoples.
People: Praise the Lord, young women and young men, old people and children, too.
Leader: Let them all praise the name of the Lord!
People: His name is greater than all others; his glory is above earth and heaven.
All: Praise the Lord!
Collect
Heavenly Father, we thank you that Jesus was born into a family, and that like the parents of Samuel, Mary and Joseph dedicated their child to your service. Help us in our worship, we pray, once again to see the importance of the family and the responsibility of all parents to train their children in your ways. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Lord, where we have failed in our duties as parents, forgive us, and give to us new opportunities to demonstrate your love through the love and care we give our children. In Jesus'Êname. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
Lord God, as the parents of Samuel and Jesus regularly brought their offerings to the Temple, so we, too, present our gifts as symbols of our gratitude for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ. With these offerings we also present ourselves to be dedicated to your service. Amen.
Hymns
"O Sing A Song Of Bethlehem"
"Sing To The Great Jehovah's Praise"
"Angels We Have Heard On High"
First Sunday After Christmas/The Holy Family
Second Lesson: Colossians 3:12-17
Theme: The New Life In Christ
Call To Worship
Leader: You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for his own.
People: We come to worship our Lord who has forgiven our sins.
Leader: You have been raised to life with Christ. Come seeking that new life.
People: We come singing to God with thanksgiving in our hearts.
Collect
O God, the carol, "Joy To The World, The Lord Is Come," still echoes in our hearts as we face the reality of the world Mary and Joseph faced, and which confronts us, too. In our determination to live the new life in Christ, we need your help, Lord, and so as we gather to worship you and give thanks, we also come seeking the power of your Holy Spirit to enable us to live lives that will show the world we have truly found new life in Christ. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Lord, we strive to lead lives filled with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance, and forgiveness, but often we find that the most difficult of all is to do it all with love. Forgive our self-centeredness, we pray, and by your Holy Spirit enable us truly to let your love shine through us in all that we do. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
Lord, we know that there are limits to what we personally can do to show others your love, compassion, and kindness. We bring these gifts that they may be used to reach out to places near and far where we cannot go, and let them show forth your love for all humanity. Amen.
Hymns
"The First Noel"
"There's A Song In The Air"
"All Beautiful The March Of Days"
First Sunday After Christmas/The Holy Family
Gospel Lesson: Luke 2:41-52
Theme: The Boy Jesus
Call To Worship
We have paid homage to the infant Jesus as he lay in a manger. Now we must come to grips with the reality of his humanity as Jesus grew up. As we focus on his boyhood, let us give thanks for his parents.
Come, let us praise God who entered our humanity in the infant Jesus who grew to be a man!
Collect
Heavenly Father, we give you thanks today for the home in which Jesus grew from a baby to adulthood under the loving care of his parents, Mary and Joseph. Help us to see once again our responsibility as parents and grandparents to help our children grow both in body and wisdom, gaining favor with you and other people. In Jesus'Êname we pray. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Heavenly Father, it is so easy for us to misunderstand our children. Too often we cut them short when they are asking questions when we should be showing patience and helping them to develop searching minds. Let your Spirit show us the way, and grant us the wisdom to be worthy mentors for our children. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
Lord, may our faithfulness in presenting our offerings to you be an example for our children, that they, too, may learn to show their love for you by supporting the work of your Church. Amen.
Hymns
"That Boy-Child Of Mary"
"O Come, All Ye Faithful"
"Faith Of Our Fathers"
