The power of God's presence
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series II
Exegetical note: This joyous coronation anthem probably celebrated the enthronement rather than the actual birth of a new Davidic King of Judah (perhaps Hezekiah) and expressed the messianic hope that this would at last be the one to restore both prosperity and security to God's people. That this hymn takes the extraordinary license of addressing this new king as "Mighty God" indicates that the people saw in this quasi-birth event the power of God's very presence. As applied in Christian retrospect to Jesus' actual birth, the poem provides a Hebrew-historical (rather than a Greek-metaphysical) understanding of the newborn's divinity.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 96)
Leader:
O sing a new song to God all the earth!
People:
LET ALL THE WORLD SING BLESSINGS FOR GOD'S SALVATION!
Leader:
Declare God's glory among the nations!
People:
LET US PROCLAIM GOD'S POWERFUL ACTS TO ALL PEOPLES!
Collect
God of might, you have shared with us the power of your presence in one lowly-born this day. Prepare our spirits to receive this great gift again: that, behind the sweet new humanity of this special child, we may see and sense your very divinity, and may declare with the first Christians "God with us!" In his name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of mercy, we confess that we have often conceived of the divinity of the Christ-child in ways that have distanced him from us instead of bringing you close. Forgive us, we pray, and help us to use this day as an opportunity to feel anew your power and presence, your glory and grace, your divinity and humanity. In the name of the Christ-child we pray. Amen
Christmas, First Proper
(Christmas Eve/Day)
Second Lesson: Titus 2:11-14
Theme:
The consequences of Christmas
Exegetical note: In this brief doctrinal incursion into an otherwise largely hortatory letter, "the grace of God" refers to the first coming of the Christ, and "the glory of God" to the second. The author, almost certainly not Paul and very probably not even Jewish, at least manages to capture one dynamic of his namesake's theology in his assertion that godly lives and eagerness to do good deeds are practical consequences of such theophanies and the salvation that they bring, and are not themselves the source of redemption.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 96)
Leader:
Great is our God, and greatly to be praised!
People:
FOR ALL OTHER GODS ARE MERE IDOLS!
Leader:
Honor and majesty belong to our God!
People: STRENGTH AND BEAUTY GRACE GOD'S SANCTUARY!
Collect
God of glory, you have graced us this day with your honor and majesty hidden in the humility and modesty of a stable manger. Fill us again with the wonder of this event: that, moved once more by the fullness of your gift in the newborn Christ, we may live godly lives of good works. In his name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of grace, we know and regret that we have failed miserably to express the consequences of the Christmas event with lives that reflect the salvation that it brings. Forgive us, we pray, and empower us with your Holy Spirit, to the end that our words and our works, our attitudes and our actions may reflect the purity and perfection of the blessed baby whose birth we celebrate this day. Amen
Christmas, First Proper
(Christmas Eve/Day)
Gospel:
Luke 2:1-20
Theme:
God's gracious good will
Exegetical note: Luke's nativity narrative is rich, picturesque, imaginative, and (above all) symbolic. Among the many explorable details is an often misunderstood phrase, which comes as a part of the angelic multitude's hymn, namely, the declaration of peace among "men," either those "of good will" or those "with whom God is pleased." The latter probably comes closer to the original intent of the idiomatic text, and makes the sound theological point that the benefits of this whole event derive from God's gracious good will, not from human merit.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 96)
Leader:
Let the heavens be glad! Let the earth rejoice!
People:
LET THE SEA ROAR, AND ALL THAT ARE IN IT!
Leader:
Let the fields celebrate, and all that inhabit it!
People:
FOR GOD COMES TO REIGN! HALLELUJAH!
Collect
Most high God, you sent angels with a message of peace for humanity through your good will. Make us attentive to that proclamation: that, hearing in it a declaration of your gracious love and forgiveness, we may become the men and women of good will that you would have us to be. In gratitude for the Christ child we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of loving kindness, we acknowledge with deep sorrow our regrettable and selfish tendency to mis-hear the glad tidings of great joy, and to think that the good news is ours because we are people of good will. Forgive us, we pray, and convince us once and for all that the good will that brings the message of peace is yours, and that it is intended for all. Make us truly benevolent by your grace. In the name of Emmanuel, who comes this day, we pray. Amen
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 96)
Leader:
O sing a new song to God all the earth!
People:
LET ALL THE WORLD SING BLESSINGS FOR GOD'S SALVATION!
Leader:
Declare God's glory among the nations!
People:
LET US PROCLAIM GOD'S POWERFUL ACTS TO ALL PEOPLES!
Collect
God of might, you have shared with us the power of your presence in one lowly-born this day. Prepare our spirits to receive this great gift again: that, behind the sweet new humanity of this special child, we may see and sense your very divinity, and may declare with the first Christians "God with us!" In his name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of mercy, we confess that we have often conceived of the divinity of the Christ-child in ways that have distanced him from us instead of bringing you close. Forgive us, we pray, and help us to use this day as an opportunity to feel anew your power and presence, your glory and grace, your divinity and humanity. In the name of the Christ-child we pray. Amen
Christmas, First Proper
(Christmas Eve/Day)
Second Lesson: Titus 2:11-14
Theme:
The consequences of Christmas
Exegetical note: In this brief doctrinal incursion into an otherwise largely hortatory letter, "the grace of God" refers to the first coming of the Christ, and "the glory of God" to the second. The author, almost certainly not Paul and very probably not even Jewish, at least manages to capture one dynamic of his namesake's theology in his assertion that godly lives and eagerness to do good deeds are practical consequences of such theophanies and the salvation that they bring, and are not themselves the source of redemption.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 96)
Leader:
Great is our God, and greatly to be praised!
People:
FOR ALL OTHER GODS ARE MERE IDOLS!
Leader:
Honor and majesty belong to our God!
People: STRENGTH AND BEAUTY GRACE GOD'S SANCTUARY!
Collect
God of glory, you have graced us this day with your honor and majesty hidden in the humility and modesty of a stable manger. Fill us again with the wonder of this event: that, moved once more by the fullness of your gift in the newborn Christ, we may live godly lives of good works. In his name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of grace, we know and regret that we have failed miserably to express the consequences of the Christmas event with lives that reflect the salvation that it brings. Forgive us, we pray, and empower us with your Holy Spirit, to the end that our words and our works, our attitudes and our actions may reflect the purity and perfection of the blessed baby whose birth we celebrate this day. Amen
Christmas, First Proper
(Christmas Eve/Day)
Gospel:
Luke 2:1-20
Theme:
God's gracious good will
Exegetical note: Luke's nativity narrative is rich, picturesque, imaginative, and (above all) symbolic. Among the many explorable details is an often misunderstood phrase, which comes as a part of the angelic multitude's hymn, namely, the declaration of peace among "men," either those "of good will" or those "with whom God is pleased." The latter probably comes closer to the original intent of the idiomatic text, and makes the sound theological point that the benefits of this whole event derive from God's gracious good will, not from human merit.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 96)
Leader:
Let the heavens be glad! Let the earth rejoice!
People:
LET THE SEA ROAR, AND ALL THAT ARE IN IT!
Leader:
Let the fields celebrate, and all that inhabit it!
People:
FOR GOD COMES TO REIGN! HALLELUJAH!
Collect
Most high God, you sent angels with a message of peace for humanity through your good will. Make us attentive to that proclamation: that, hearing in it a declaration of your gracious love and forgiveness, we may become the men and women of good will that you would have us to be. In gratitude for the Christ child we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of loving kindness, we acknowledge with deep sorrow our regrettable and selfish tendency to mis-hear the glad tidings of great joy, and to think that the good news is ours because we are people of good will. Forgive us, we pray, and convince us once and for all that the good will that brings the message of peace is yours, and that it is intended for all. Make us truly benevolent by your grace. In the name of Emmanuel, who comes this day, we pray. Amen
