FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
Prayer
Psalms And Prayers For Congregational Participation
CALL TO WORSHIP
Give thanks to our Sovereign with your whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, in the company of the entire congregation.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
AGELESS GOD. FORGIVE US IF WE HAVE KEPT THE YOUNG FROM WORSHIPING WITH US BY OUR INSISTENCE ON OLD WAYS OF WORSHIP AND OUR REFUSAL TO ACCEPT NEW WORDS AND NEW MUSIC THAT CAN INVOLVE CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH US IN OUR GATHERING. EXCUSE OUR DEMANDS FOR STILLNESS AND SILENCE THAT IGNORE YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF CHILDREN IN THEIR SIMPLICITY AND SINCERITY. BY THE EXAMPLES OF SAMUEL AND JESUS. OPEN OUR MINDS TO THE SERVICE THAT CAN BE RENDERED TO YOU BY THE YOUNG IN YEARS AND THE YOUNG IN HEART. AMEN
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! God has forgiven you so let the peace of Christ abide in your heart. Friends, believe the Good News! IN JESUS CHRIST. WE ARE FORGIVEN.
EXHORTATION
As you have been forgiven, be forgiving, compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient, preserving the unity of the church as the body of Christ.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
CHILD OF GOD AND CHILD WITH HUMAN PARENTS, TEACH US TO GROW IN WISDOM, BOTH BY LISTENING AND BY ASKING QUESTIONS. HELP US TO KEEP IN PROPER BALANCE OUR DUTIES TO THE CHURCH FAMILY AND OUR OWN HOUSEHOLDS THAT WE TOO MAY INCREASE IN FAVOR WITH GOD AND OUR PEERS. AMEN
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
MIND BEYOND OUR KNOWING, WE PRAISE YOU FOR REVEALING WHAT WE SHOULD KNOW IN JESUS CHRIST. TREASURE BEYOND OUR POSSESSING, WE GIVE THANKS THAT FOR THE SAKE OF OUR ENRICHMENT, CHRIST SHARED HUMAN POVERTY TO PUT DIVINE WEALTH WITHIN OUR REACH. MAKER OF HISTORY, WHO CAN TRACE YOUR PURPOSES? WE MARVEL AT YOUR WAYS WITH MANKIND AND LIVE IN SUSPENSE AS TO THE FUTURE YOU POINT TO IN JESUS CHRIST. CHILD OF HISTORY, CHILD OF ETERNITY. AMEN
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
WE ARE NOT SO FOOLISH, WISE GOD, AS TO BELIEVE THAT WE CAN BUY YOUR FAVOR WITH THESE GIFTS WE MAKE OUR OFFERING AND PRESENT OURSELVES A LIVING SACRIFICE, THAT YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IN HEAVEN. AMEN
PSALM 111
Hallelujah!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE UPRIGHT, IN THE CONGREGATION.
Great are the deeds of the Lord!
THEY ARE STUDIED BY ALL WHO DELIGHT IN THEM.
His work is full of majesty and splendor,
AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER.
He makes his marvelous works to be remembered,
THE LORD IS GRACIOUS AND FULL OF COMPASSION.
He gives food to those who fear him;
HE IS EVER MINDFUL OF HIS COVENANT.
He has shown his people the power of his works
in giving them the lands of the nations.
THE WORKS OF HIS HANDS ARE FAITHFULNESS AND JUSTICE:
All his commandments are sure.
THEY STAND FAST FOR EVER AND EVER,
(ALL) BECAUSE THEY ARE DONE IN TRUTH AND EQUITY.
He sent redemption to his people;
HE COMMANDED HIS COVENANT FOR EVER:
(ALL) HOLY AND AWESOME IS HIS NAME.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
THOSE WHO ACT ACCORDINGLY HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING:
(ALL) HIS PRAISE ENDURES FOREVER.
Behold our defender, O God;
AND LOOK UPON THE FACE OF YOUR ANOINTED.
For one day in your courts is better than a thousand in my own room
AND TO STAND AT THE THRESHOLD OF THE HOUSE OF MY GOD THAN TO DWELL IN THE TENTS OF THE WICKED.
For the Lord God is both sun and shield;
HE WILL GIVE GRACE AND GLORY:
No good thing will the Lord withhold from those who walk with integrity
O LORD OF HOSTS,
HAPPY ARE THEY WHO PUT THEIR TRUST IN YOU.
Give thanks to our Sovereign with your whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, in the company of the entire congregation.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
AGELESS GOD. FORGIVE US IF WE HAVE KEPT THE YOUNG FROM WORSHIPING WITH US BY OUR INSISTENCE ON OLD WAYS OF WORSHIP AND OUR REFUSAL TO ACCEPT NEW WORDS AND NEW MUSIC THAT CAN INVOLVE CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH US IN OUR GATHERING. EXCUSE OUR DEMANDS FOR STILLNESS AND SILENCE THAT IGNORE YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF CHILDREN IN THEIR SIMPLICITY AND SINCERITY. BY THE EXAMPLES OF SAMUEL AND JESUS. OPEN OUR MINDS TO THE SERVICE THAT CAN BE RENDERED TO YOU BY THE YOUNG IN YEARS AND THE YOUNG IN HEART. AMEN
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! God has forgiven you so let the peace of Christ abide in your heart. Friends, believe the Good News! IN JESUS CHRIST. WE ARE FORGIVEN.
EXHORTATION
As you have been forgiven, be forgiving, compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient, preserving the unity of the church as the body of Christ.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
CHILD OF GOD AND CHILD WITH HUMAN PARENTS, TEACH US TO GROW IN WISDOM, BOTH BY LISTENING AND BY ASKING QUESTIONS. HELP US TO KEEP IN PROPER BALANCE OUR DUTIES TO THE CHURCH FAMILY AND OUR OWN HOUSEHOLDS THAT WE TOO MAY INCREASE IN FAVOR WITH GOD AND OUR PEERS. AMEN
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
MIND BEYOND OUR KNOWING, WE PRAISE YOU FOR REVEALING WHAT WE SHOULD KNOW IN JESUS CHRIST. TREASURE BEYOND OUR POSSESSING, WE GIVE THANKS THAT FOR THE SAKE OF OUR ENRICHMENT, CHRIST SHARED HUMAN POVERTY TO PUT DIVINE WEALTH WITHIN OUR REACH. MAKER OF HISTORY, WHO CAN TRACE YOUR PURPOSES? WE MARVEL AT YOUR WAYS WITH MANKIND AND LIVE IN SUSPENSE AS TO THE FUTURE YOU POINT TO IN JESUS CHRIST. CHILD OF HISTORY, CHILD OF ETERNITY. AMEN
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
WE ARE NOT SO FOOLISH, WISE GOD, AS TO BELIEVE THAT WE CAN BUY YOUR FAVOR WITH THESE GIFTS WE MAKE OUR OFFERING AND PRESENT OURSELVES A LIVING SACRIFICE, THAT YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IN HEAVEN. AMEN
PSALM 111
Hallelujah!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE UPRIGHT, IN THE CONGREGATION.
Great are the deeds of the Lord!
THEY ARE STUDIED BY ALL WHO DELIGHT IN THEM.
His work is full of majesty and splendor,
AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER.
He makes his marvelous works to be remembered,
THE LORD IS GRACIOUS AND FULL OF COMPASSION.
He gives food to those who fear him;
HE IS EVER MINDFUL OF HIS COVENANT.
He has shown his people the power of his works
in giving them the lands of the nations.
THE WORKS OF HIS HANDS ARE FAITHFULNESS AND JUSTICE:
All his commandments are sure.
THEY STAND FAST FOR EVER AND EVER,
(ALL) BECAUSE THEY ARE DONE IN TRUTH AND EQUITY.
He sent redemption to his people;
HE COMMANDED HIS COVENANT FOR EVER:
(ALL) HOLY AND AWESOME IS HIS NAME.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
THOSE WHO ACT ACCORDINGLY HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING:
(ALL) HIS PRAISE ENDURES FOREVER.
Behold our defender, O God;
AND LOOK UPON THE FACE OF YOUR ANOINTED.
For one day in your courts is better than a thousand in my own room
AND TO STAND AT THE THRESHOLD OF THE HOUSE OF MY GOD THAN TO DWELL IN THE TENTS OF THE WICKED.
For the Lord God is both sun and shield;
HE WILL GIVE GRACE AND GLORY:
No good thing will the Lord withhold from those who walk with integrity
O LORD OF HOSTS,
HAPPY ARE THEY WHO PUT THEIR TRUST IN YOU.
