SECOND SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
Prayer
Psalms And Prayers For Congregational Participation
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, NOT FULL 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 A 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 A PART 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
The Lord has pleasure in those who fear him,
THOSE WHO AWAIT HIS GRACIOUS FAVOR.
Worship the Lord, O Jerusalem;
PRAISE YOUR GOD, O ZION;
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
HE HAS BLESSED YOUR CHILDREN WITHIN YOU.
He has established peace on your borders;
HE SATISFIES YOU WITH THE FINEST WHEAT.
He sends out his command to the earth,
AND HIS WORD RUNS VERY SWIFTLY.
He gives snow like wool;
HE SCATTERS HOARFROST LIKE ASHES.
He scatters hail like bread crumbs;
WHO CAN STAND AGAINST HIS COLD?
He sends forth his word and melts them;
HE BLOWS WITH HIS WIND, AND THE WATERS FLOW.
He declares his word to Jacob,
HIS STATUTES AND HIS JUDGMENTS TO ISRAEL.
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, NOT FULL 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 A 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 A PART 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
The Lord has pleasure in those who fear him,
THOSE WHO AWAIT HIS GRACIOUS FAVOR.
Worship the Lord, O Jerusalem;
PRAISE YOUR GOD, O ZION;
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
HE HAS BLESSED YOUR CHILDREN WITHIN YOU.
He has established peace on your borders;
HE SATISFIES YOU WITH THE FINEST WHEAT.
He sends out his command to the earth,
AND HIS WORD RUNS VERY SWIFTLY.
He gives snow like wool;
HE SCATTERS HOARFROST LIKE ASHES.
He scatters hail like bread crumbs;
WHO CAN STAND AGAINST HIS COLD?
He sends forth his word and melts them;
HE BLOWS WITH HIS WIND, AND THE WATERS FLOW.
He declares his word to Jacob,
HIS STATUTES AND HIS JUDGMENTS TO ISRAEL.
