SECOND SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series III, Cycle A
CALL TO WORSHIP
Sing out your praises and say, God has saved his people.
See how the Savior brings them from the end of the earth,
The blind and lame among them, Women with child
And women in labor, a great company.
Young men and old shall rejoice,
Then shall the girl show her joy in the dance.
God turns their mourning into gladness,
And gives them joy to outdo their sorrow.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
All-glorious God, paternal, fraternal, maternal, though we have faith in Jesus Christ, and love towards your people yet we are not without blemish in your sight, notfull of love, wisdom, and other spiritual blessings you still have available for us. Our love is not as inclusive as yours, and there is much we need to learn. Give us clearer vision of all that we are meant to be, so that by becoming fulfilled, we may increase the glory that is properly revealed in Jesus Christ, your beloved. Amen.
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! The liberator has come to free us from all proud pretenses. The Christ has come in Jesus of Nazareth to show us the undeserved favor of God. Friends, believe the Good News! In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
EXHORTATION
Accept the limitations of your own knowledge. Have reverence for the wisdom of the Creator. Be thankful for his love in Christ and for a humble place in his house.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Available God, whatever our age, whether married or single, make us sensitive to what you are doing and about to do, that we may not miss the excitement of being apart of the living history that you are writing, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
We give thanks, God of Job and Jeremiah, David's Lord, Anna's Christ, Luke's savior, that we have found your house in many places. We have found places of prayer with the swallows and the sparrows. We have sung your praise in a quiet circle under the stars. We have enjoyed the choir of many voices and the joyous sounds of musical instruments and found inspiration and refreshment. Along our pilgrim way you provide the cup that sustains both soul and body. We are happy when we trust in you. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
God of all places, many of us return to this place again and again, expecting spiritual refreshment and growth in grace. Bless all that we do to make this a place of renewal for all who will come to Jesus Christ. Amen.
PSALM 147:12-20
Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!
For he strengthens the bars of your gates;
he blesses your children within you.
He grants peace within your borders;
he fills you with the finest of wheat.
He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.
He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes.
He hurls down hail like crumbs - who can stand before his cold?
He sends out his word, and melts them;
he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow.
He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and ordinances to Israel.
He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
they do not know his ordinances.
Praise the LORD!
(or)
WISDOM 10:15-21
A holy people and blameless race wisdom delivered from a nation of oppressors.
She entered the soul of a servant of the Lord, and withstood dread kings with wonders and signs.
She gave to holy people the reward of their labors;
she guided them along a marvelous way,
and became a shelter to them by day,
and a starry flame through the night.
She brought them over the Red Sea, and led them through deep waters;
but she drowned their enemies, and cast them up from the depth of the sea.
Therefore the righteous plundered the ungodly;
they sang hymns, O Lord, to your holy name,
and praised with one accord your defending hand;
for wisdom opened the mouths of those who were mute,
and made the tongues of infants speak clearly.
Sing out your praises and say, God has saved his people.
See how the Savior brings them from the end of the earth,
The blind and lame among them, Women with child
And women in labor, a great company.
Young men and old shall rejoice,
Then shall the girl show her joy in the dance.
God turns their mourning into gladness,
And gives them joy to outdo their sorrow.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
All-glorious God, paternal, fraternal, maternal, though we have faith in Jesus Christ, and love towards your people yet we are not without blemish in your sight, notfull of love, wisdom, and other spiritual blessings you still have available for us. Our love is not as inclusive as yours, and there is much we need to learn. Give us clearer vision of all that we are meant to be, so that by becoming fulfilled, we may increase the glory that is properly revealed in Jesus Christ, your beloved. Amen.
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! The liberator has come to free us from all proud pretenses. The Christ has come in Jesus of Nazareth to show us the undeserved favor of God. Friends, believe the Good News! In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
EXHORTATION
Accept the limitations of your own knowledge. Have reverence for the wisdom of the Creator. Be thankful for his love in Christ and for a humble place in his house.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Available God, whatever our age, whether married or single, make us sensitive to what you are doing and about to do, that we may not miss the excitement of being apart of the living history that you are writing, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
We give thanks, God of Job and Jeremiah, David's Lord, Anna's Christ, Luke's savior, that we have found your house in many places. We have found places of prayer with the swallows and the sparrows. We have sung your praise in a quiet circle under the stars. We have enjoyed the choir of many voices and the joyous sounds of musical instruments and found inspiration and refreshment. Along our pilgrim way you provide the cup that sustains both soul and body. We are happy when we trust in you. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
God of all places, many of us return to this place again and again, expecting spiritual refreshment and growth in grace. Bless all that we do to make this a place of renewal for all who will come to Jesus Christ. Amen.
PSALM 147:12-20
Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!
For he strengthens the bars of your gates;
he blesses your children within you.
He grants peace within your borders;
he fills you with the finest of wheat.
He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.
He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes.
He hurls down hail like crumbs - who can stand before his cold?
He sends out his word, and melts them;
he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow.
He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and ordinances to Israel.
He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
they do not know his ordinances.
Praise the LORD!
(or)
WISDOM 10:15-21
A holy people and blameless race wisdom delivered from a nation of oppressors.
She entered the soul of a servant of the Lord, and withstood dread kings with wonders and signs.
She gave to holy people the reward of their labors;
she guided them along a marvelous way,
and became a shelter to them by day,
and a starry flame through the night.
She brought them over the Red Sea, and led them through deep waters;
but she drowned their enemies, and cast them up from the depth of the sea.
Therefore the righteous plundered the ungodly;
they sang hymns, O Lord, to your holy name,
and praised with one accord your defending hand;
for wisdom opened the mouths of those who were mute,
and made the tongues of infants speak clearly.
