Second Sunday After Christmas
Worship
Lectionary Worship Aids
Series VI, Cycle A
Object:
Words Of Assurance
May Almighty God, who caused light to shine out of darkness, shine in our hearts, cleansing us from all our sins, and restoring us to the light of the knowledge of his glory in the face of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
Eternal God, our Father, as once you came to us in the majestic humility of Bethlehem, come now in the mystery of your Spirit to inspire our gratitude and trust. We bless you for all those influences of grace which have nurtured and sustained us through the seasons of our life. For precious memories, vital hope, the joy which you have set before us, and the challenges which beckon us to new insight and wisdom in our time, we give you thanks and praise. Draw us in our celebration to higher understanding and deeper faith in your way of costly love, that at each step of our journey we may know and feel your care and gracious leading.
As we remember with thanksgiving your coming among us as one of us, so also we seek your guidance to become ever more like you in word and thought and action. Keep alive in us a sense of novelty in your ways with us, so that we shall uncover something of the beauty and mystery of Christmas each day, finding you nearer than we expected and equal to every need. So may our new year mark a fresh beginning for us and a new venture for your work in us and through the fellowship of our faith.
Gracious Lord, you know the secret prayers and yearnings of our spirits. Help us to baptize these emotions in an ever-broadening concern for your world and all who share the way of our pilgrimage in it. We pray the healing of your spiritual grace on those ill in body, mind, or attitude. For those who are prisoners of their conscience and those who are imprisoned for conscience's sake in many lands, we pray the courage of a strong sense of your companionship and inner guidance. We lift up to you especially those whose needs for friendship and care have been unmet in this holiday season. Enlighten our perception and fire our will to serve them and each other with compassion and a graceful love.
Bind us together through the coming days, O Lord, in the fellowship of faith and love, teaching us to serve you with a glad and honest heart, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Benediction
The Lord who in mercy forgives the past, and in hope sends us into the future, now grants us the assurance of his abiding presence. Go in peace, and the blessing of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit go with you. Amen.
May Almighty God, who caused light to shine out of darkness, shine in our hearts, cleansing us from all our sins, and restoring us to the light of the knowledge of his glory in the face of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
Eternal God, our Father, as once you came to us in the majestic humility of Bethlehem, come now in the mystery of your Spirit to inspire our gratitude and trust. We bless you for all those influences of grace which have nurtured and sustained us through the seasons of our life. For precious memories, vital hope, the joy which you have set before us, and the challenges which beckon us to new insight and wisdom in our time, we give you thanks and praise. Draw us in our celebration to higher understanding and deeper faith in your way of costly love, that at each step of our journey we may know and feel your care and gracious leading.
As we remember with thanksgiving your coming among us as one of us, so also we seek your guidance to become ever more like you in word and thought and action. Keep alive in us a sense of novelty in your ways with us, so that we shall uncover something of the beauty and mystery of Christmas each day, finding you nearer than we expected and equal to every need. So may our new year mark a fresh beginning for us and a new venture for your work in us and through the fellowship of our faith.
Gracious Lord, you know the secret prayers and yearnings of our spirits. Help us to baptize these emotions in an ever-broadening concern for your world and all who share the way of our pilgrimage in it. We pray the healing of your spiritual grace on those ill in body, mind, or attitude. For those who are prisoners of their conscience and those who are imprisoned for conscience's sake in many lands, we pray the courage of a strong sense of your companionship and inner guidance. We lift up to you especially those whose needs for friendship and care have been unmet in this holiday season. Enlighten our perception and fire our will to serve them and each other with compassion and a graceful love.
Bind us together through the coming days, O Lord, in the fellowship of faith and love, teaching us to serve you with a glad and honest heart, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Benediction
The Lord who in mercy forgives the past, and in hope sends us into the future, now grants us the assurance of his abiding presence. Go in peace, and the blessing of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit go with you. Amen.
