John's version of the Christmas story - The Word
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Planning Ideas And Resources For The Entire Church Year
Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration
Suggestion:
Begin, In the Name of the Word, the Word made flesh, welcome to this Christmas celebration. God continues to present the Gift, we continue to receive, relieved of the Christmas rush and busyness.
Continue with a litany of John 1 , using either the J. B. Phillipps' translation or Clarence Jordan's Cotton Patch Translation.
The Act of Recognizing our Humanness and The Act of Receiving New Life
Suggestion:
Begin,
"We'll never be good enough to merit God's unconditional acceptance." My theology professor in seminary said he doubted more than five percent of us Presbyterians believed in the grace of God. Most of us are trying to earn our salvation by what we do.
People sit in worship for years and never integrate the message of Christmas, Easter, Pentecost.
Ask, "what would I need to say to you today for you to accept and integrate the good news into your daily behavior, your church participation?"
Have the people write on a piece of paper their response. Perhaps a few would share verbally.
Conclude: "We'll never be bad enough not to merit God's unconditional acceptance."
After several moments of silence, offer a prayer of forgiveness. As the people pray, ask those who live by grace to raise their hands. Then ask those who do not understand grace if they would like to meet with the pastor and church officers. Provide a time and place after worship to which they could come.
Message with the Children of All Ages
Try this:
Bring some sand, toss it all over the chancel, and ask the children to collect it. Insist that they collect it. Ask them what sand has to do with the message. If they don't know, talk about the words we speak, how we toss them around, talk without thinking - and can never take them back once they get out. Talk about our words, lightly spoken often, and God's Word, spoken and lived. Make certain they understand how, in God's economy, those two things go together.
Proclamation of the Good News
One pastor did this:
Begin:
Careless words, courteous words, caustic words, dirty words, derogatory words, delightful words, thankful words, truthful words, tactful words. We use them to consecrate/condemn, heal/hurt, develop/destroy.
John Meister, in a sermon title, "When God Speaks," offers the following outline:
I. Words reveal personality.
II. Words release power.
III. Words refract light.
Stewardship Challenge
Suggestion:
Consider your stewardship of words. In what way do you speak, how loudly or softly; what do your words reveal, release, refract?
Charge to the Congregation
One pastor did this:
Summarize the sermon outline. Then, conclude, "God calls us, you and me, to be the continuing word of the Risen Christ to others - friends, neighbors, enemies."
Planning for Your Congregation
Suggestions
Your Situation
I. Other Scriptures
Liturgist:
Psalm 147:12-20
Jeremiah 31:7-14
Isaiah 61:10--62:3
Sirach 24:1-4, 8-12
II. Suggested Hymns
Coordinator:
In addition to the traditional carols, consider these:
"Savior of the Nations, Come" Attr. to Ambrose of Milan (c 340-397)
Para. by Martin Luther, 1524 Trans. by William M. Reynolds, 1850; alt.
"The True Light That Enlightens Man" Based on John 1:9-17
John Ylvisaker, 1964
(Perhaps someone would revise the sexist language.)
III. Other Music Possibilities
Organist/Choir director:
Music for Preparation
from the "Christmas Oratorio"
Bach
Response to the Scripture
"A Boy Is Born"
Elis Pehkonen
Response to the Stewardship Challenge (Offertory)
"Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring"
Response to the Benediction
"I'm Gonna Sing When the Spirit Says Sing" Traditional
IV. Bulletin Cover
Church secretary:
V. Bulletin Symbols
VI. Miscellaneous Details (Assignments:)
Ushers
Candlelighters
Hosts/Hostesses
Banners
Flowers
Greeters
Posters
Name-tags
Others
Suggestion:
Begin, In the Name of the Word, the Word made flesh, welcome to this Christmas celebration. God continues to present the Gift, we continue to receive, relieved of the Christmas rush and busyness.
Continue with a litany of John 1 , using either the J. B. Phillipps' translation or Clarence Jordan's Cotton Patch Translation.
The Act of Recognizing our Humanness and The Act of Receiving New Life
Suggestion:
Begin,
"We'll never be good enough to merit God's unconditional acceptance." My theology professor in seminary said he doubted more than five percent of us Presbyterians believed in the grace of God. Most of us are trying to earn our salvation by what we do.
People sit in worship for years and never integrate the message of Christmas, Easter, Pentecost.
Ask, "what would I need to say to you today for you to accept and integrate the good news into your daily behavior, your church participation?"
Have the people write on a piece of paper their response. Perhaps a few would share verbally.
Conclude: "We'll never be bad enough not to merit God's unconditional acceptance."
After several moments of silence, offer a prayer of forgiveness. As the people pray, ask those who live by grace to raise their hands. Then ask those who do not understand grace if they would like to meet with the pastor and church officers. Provide a time and place after worship to which they could come.
Message with the Children of All Ages
Try this:
Bring some sand, toss it all over the chancel, and ask the children to collect it. Insist that they collect it. Ask them what sand has to do with the message. If they don't know, talk about the words we speak, how we toss them around, talk without thinking - and can never take them back once they get out. Talk about our words, lightly spoken often, and God's Word, spoken and lived. Make certain they understand how, in God's economy, those two things go together.
Proclamation of the Good News
One pastor did this:
Begin:
Careless words, courteous words, caustic words, dirty words, derogatory words, delightful words, thankful words, truthful words, tactful words. We use them to consecrate/condemn, heal/hurt, develop/destroy.
John Meister, in a sermon title, "When God Speaks," offers the following outline:
I. Words reveal personality.
II. Words release power.
III. Words refract light.
Stewardship Challenge
Suggestion:
Consider your stewardship of words. In what way do you speak, how loudly or softly; what do your words reveal, release, refract?
Charge to the Congregation
One pastor did this:
Summarize the sermon outline. Then, conclude, "God calls us, you and me, to be the continuing word of the Risen Christ to others - friends, neighbors, enemies."
Planning for Your Congregation
Suggestions
Your Situation
I. Other Scriptures
Liturgist:
Psalm 147:12-20
Jeremiah 31:7-14
Isaiah 61:10--62:3
Sirach 24:1-4, 8-12
II. Suggested Hymns
Coordinator:
In addition to the traditional carols, consider these:
"Savior of the Nations, Come" Attr. to Ambrose of Milan (c 340-397)
Para. by Martin Luther, 1524 Trans. by William M. Reynolds, 1850; alt.
"The True Light That Enlightens Man" Based on John 1:9-17
John Ylvisaker, 1964
(Perhaps someone would revise the sexist language.)
III. Other Music Possibilities
Organist/Choir director:
Music for Preparation
from the "Christmas Oratorio"
Bach
Response to the Scripture
"A Boy Is Born"
Elis Pehkonen
Response to the Stewardship Challenge (Offertory)
"Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring"
Response to the Benediction
"I'm Gonna Sing When the Spirit Says Sing" Traditional
IV. Bulletin Cover
Church secretary:
V. Bulletin Symbols
VI. Miscellaneous Details (Assignments:)
Ushers
Candlelighters
Hosts/Hostesses
Banners
Flowers
Greeters
Posters
Name-tags
Others
