Second Sunday After Christmas
Worship
A Call To Worship
Worship Aids, Lectionary Year B
Unison Call To Worship (John 1:1-14)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.
Unison Prayer
Lord, we have experienced the very human drama of Christmas, but today your word through the Evangelist John draws us into the central mystery -- we praise you because in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. This is still so. The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. We know you are not just a Word that speaks, but a Word that can do. You are not just thought, but action, thought put into action. How powerful is your word that is spoken and comes into being. You made worlds, you made our world, you made us. We are not frightened, but heartened. Bless us today in our gathering, fill us with the awe of your incarnation, shelter us from that which is beyond our comprehension. Save us. Amen.
Morning Prayer
Lord Jesus, we hear the music of your word today. We hear the echo of that music in our sharing, in our prayers for each other, in the cries of our children, in the sighs of those who restlessly wait for your return. Hear our prayers. Send us clear answers. Amen.
Offering Prayer
Just as your word was made flesh and dwelt among us, we pray that our offerings, Lord, will take shape and live in your world, witnessing to the power of your word. Accept what we give in the spirit in which it is given. Amen.
Children's Benediction
And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.
Unison Prayer
Lord, we have experienced the very human drama of Christmas, but today your word through the Evangelist John draws us into the central mystery -- we praise you because in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. This is still so. The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. We know you are not just a Word that speaks, but a Word that can do. You are not just thought, but action, thought put into action. How powerful is your word that is spoken and comes into being. You made worlds, you made our world, you made us. We are not frightened, but heartened. Bless us today in our gathering, fill us with the awe of your incarnation, shelter us from that which is beyond our comprehension. Save us. Amen.
Morning Prayer
Lord Jesus, we hear the music of your word today. We hear the echo of that music in our sharing, in our prayers for each other, in the cries of our children, in the sighs of those who restlessly wait for your return. Hear our prayers. Send us clear answers. Amen.
Offering Prayer
Just as your word was made flesh and dwelt among us, we pray that our offerings, Lord, will take shape and live in your world, witnessing to the power of your word. Accept what we give in the spirit in which it is given. Amen.
Children's Benediction
And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.
