In The Beginning was The Word
Worship
In the Beginning Was the Word
Scriptures For The Lectionary Speaking Choir, Cycle A
Suggestions:
Use as an anthem or before the pastoral prayer.
5 readers - women
Voices 2-5 read in the manner of a softer, explaining chorus yet with a strength that affirms the words of the lead reader.
Key:
1 = lead reader, one with a matter-of-fact voice
2-5 = lighter pitched voices
1: In the beginning was the Word,
2, 3, 4, 5: and the Word was with God,
2 and 3: and the Word was God.
1: He was in the beginning with God.
(1:) All things came into being through him,
2, 3, 4, 5: and without him not one thing came into being.
1: What has come into being in him was life,
2, 3, 4, 5: and the life was the light of all people.
2 and 3: The light shines in the darkness,
4 and 5: and the darkness did not overcome it.
(Read in storytelling fashion.)
1: 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.
2 and 3: He himself was not the light.
4 and 5: but he came to testify to the light.
1: The true light,
2, 3, 4, 5: which enlightens everyone,
1: was coming into the world.
(1:) He was in the world,
2, 3, 4, 5: and the world came into being through him;
1: yet the world did not know him.
(1:) He came to what was his own,
2, 3, 4, 5: and his own people did not accept him.
1: But to all who received him,
2, 3, 4, 5: who believed in his name,
1: he gave power to become children of God,
2 and 3: who were born, not of blood
3 and 4: or of the will of the flesh
4 and 5: or of the will of man,
2 and 3: but of God.
(1:) And the Word became flesh and lived among us,
2, 3, 4, 5: and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.
5: (John testified to him and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, "He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.' ")
1: From his fullness we have all received,
2, 3, 4, 5: grace upon grace.
2 and 3: The law indeed was given through Moses;
4 and 5: grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
1: No one has ever seen God.
2, 3, 4, 5: It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.
Use as an anthem or before the pastoral prayer.
5 readers - women
Voices 2-5 read in the manner of a softer, explaining chorus yet with a strength that affirms the words of the lead reader.
Key:
1 = lead reader, one with a matter-of-fact voice
2-5 = lighter pitched voices
1: In the beginning was the Word,
2, 3, 4, 5: and the Word was with God,
2 and 3: and the Word was God.
1: He was in the beginning with God.
(1:) All things came into being through him,
2, 3, 4, 5: and without him not one thing came into being.
1: What has come into being in him was life,
2, 3, 4, 5: and the life was the light of all people.
2 and 3: The light shines in the darkness,
4 and 5: and the darkness did not overcome it.
(Read in storytelling fashion.)
1: 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.
2 and 3: He himself was not the light.
4 and 5: but he came to testify to the light.
1: The true light,
2, 3, 4, 5: which enlightens everyone,
1: was coming into the world.
(1:) He was in the world,
2, 3, 4, 5: and the world came into being through him;
1: yet the world did not know him.
(1:) He came to what was his own,
2, 3, 4, 5: and his own people did not accept him.
1: But to all who received him,
2, 3, 4, 5: who believed in his name,
1: he gave power to become children of God,
2 and 3: who were born, not of blood
3 and 4: or of the will of the flesh
4 and 5: or of the will of man,
2 and 3: but of God.
(1:) And the Word became flesh and lived among us,
2, 3, 4, 5: and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.
5: (John testified to him and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, "He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.' ")
1: From his fullness we have all received,
2, 3, 4, 5: grace upon grace.
2 and 3: The law indeed was given through Moses;
4 and 5: grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
1: No one has ever seen God.
2, 3, 4, 5: It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.
