Month: April 2023

January 7, 2024

Lectionary Texts

Genesis 1.1-5 God’s Spirit broods over the waters of Creation and God brings forth light.

Psalm 29 God’s voice thunders over the waters of Creation, the voice that creates everything, changes everything, and evokes praise from everything.

Acts 19. 1-7 Paul in Ephesus. John’s baptism, a ritual of repentance, is not baptism in the name of Jesus, which promises the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Mark 1.4-11 Jesus’ baptism.

Preaching Thoughts

       As we both celebrate Jesus’ baptism and look to a new year, this is a good day for baptismal renewal. Here is a more thorough reflection on Baptism, and here is a baptismal liturgy.
       The waters of baptism are the primordial waters where God creates. In Confirmation classes I would tell kids to think of everything they know about water, what it does, and how we experience it, and how it shows up in the Bible. They’d list a few: Jesus washed the disciples’ feet; crossing the Red Sea; Noah’s flood… Water exists in different forms; we need water to live; water washes things; it rains. When they’d run out of ideas I’d announce that every single thing we know about water can be a lesson about baptism. Baptism symbolizes how God gives us life and washes us clean and sets us free, how grace just rains down on us, how God we encounter God in different forms, how we’re called to serve, washing others’ feet … I’d repeat that everything about water can tell us something about baptism. Every single thing. That would spur them on to play one of my favorite games, Stump The Pastor: think of something about water that has nothing to say about baptism. They’d hit on erosion! (Yes, I’d say, grace strips some stuff away from us)… “Drowning!” (Yes, we die and are born again. In the early church you descended into a tomb-shaped pool, were pronounced dead, then rose up out of the water as a new person with a new name! And speaking of being born again, baptismal water is God’s water breaking.)… “Tears.” Yes, God shares our pain. The junior high boys would get more adventuresome. “Sweat!” Yes, Baptism promises the Holy Spirit will be in you to do the hard work of loving your neighbor as yourself and loving God with all your heart, mind, soul and muscles. Finally they would get to the good stuff. “Pee!” they would announce triumphantly. Yes, I’d say, aren’t you glad you can? Isn’t it cool God made us so we can absorb the good stuff from life and flush the rest? That’s how grace works. Play with the imagery. Water can tell us many, many things about baptism.
       Baptism isn’t a badge of honor for Christians, or a membership token. It’s an experience of transformation, of death and re-birth, re-creation. It’s not a profession of faith; that would be more like John’s baptism, a gesture of repentance. It’s not anything we do, it’s something we receive from God. It’s a symbol of how we drown in God’s grace, and lose our old self-enclosed selves, and then God’s water breaks and God births us to a new life. Our little individual self-enclosed “self” dies; and we are reborn as a part of the Body of Christ. This is a never-ending process, so it’s good to remember our baptism, and to renew our baptismal vows regularly.

       At Jesus’ baptism the “heavens are torn open.” Like the curtain in the temple being torn in two at his crucifixion, the moment speaks of the destruction of the boundary between the daily and the divine. Baptism suggests that the realm of God is right here in this person being baptized. The descent of the Holy Spirit reinforces that. God is present in this person.
      Most Christians need to refine their theology of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is not a bird or ghost that comes and goes. It’s God. It’s always here. And it’s not confined to Christians. It’s in everybody. Despite the way it’s worded in Acts— “the Holy Spirit came upon them”—you don’t “get” the Holy Spirit at baptism. It’s always there. Baptism is a symbol, a representation, of the Spirit that is always there. What changes is that we accept it, we receive it. Baptism is an invitation to allow the Spirit to guide us, to control our lives.
      Jesus hears the promise of God’s love and blessing. “You are my son, my Beloved” quotes Psalm 2, referring to the Messiah. “With whom I am well pleased” quotes Isaiah 42, referring to God’s suffering servant. Until Jesus’ followers thought about it no one had ever imagined that one person might fulfill both roles of suffering and Messiah; but they realized Jesus was a suffering Messiah! The blessing is not only a “naming” of Jesus. It’s also a claiming. God is saying, “You are mine. No matter what.” My children are mine and always will be no matter what evil they suffer or evil they do. Just so, we are God’s beloved, God’s children, no matter what evil we may suffer or what evil we may do. Baptism announces God’s blessing for us, and God’s claim on us. We all need to hear these words often. Baptismal renewal is a way to accomplish that.

Call to Worship

1.
Leader: As your rivers, O God, flow around us,
All: we come to be washed by your grace.
Your voice calls us to the water,
and we immerse ourselves in your love.
Your Word descends upon us,
and you kindle in us the fire of your Spirit.
You speak to us: You are my Beloved, my own,
and I am so delighted in you.”
By your grace we receive your blessing,
we accept your claim upon us,
and we worship you with awe and gratitude. Alleluia!.

2.
Leader: Light of the world, you have come to us in human form.
All: We rejoice in gratitude.
Light of Bethlehem’s star, you led magi to the holy child.
We worship in awe.
God of light, you baptized Jesus in your love.
We immerse ourselves in your grace. Alleluia!

3.
Leader: Leader: Creator God, the river of your grace flows about us.
All: We enter into its flow, deep in wonder, swimming in your grace.
Rabbi Jesus, you were baptized by John in the Jordan.
We come with you to be washed in the grace of God,
to be immersed in the glory of the Beloved.
Holy Spirit, you came to Jesus at his baptism like a dove.
Come to us, and fill us with the joy of your presence,
the song of your power, the feathers of delight.
Give us wings to do your will, and to be your people.
Alleluia! Come, Spirit of Life, and transform us by your grace. Alleluia!

4.
Creator God, when Jesus was baptized he descended into the water:
the waters of Creation, the Red Sea of liberation, the healing flow of your grace.
We immerse ourselves in your creative Spirit, in your Word, in your Presence.
Risen Christ, at the Jordan River God proclaimed you God’s Beloved.
We sink into your love. We soak up your grace. We are held in your hands.
Holy Spirit, at Jesus’ baptism you descended as a dove.
Fill us: be our life and strength, our purpose and confidence.
Baptize us in your light, O God, and make us new in the womb of your grace.
Alleluia! Come, Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit, and transform us by your grace. Alleluia!

5.
Leader: Creator God, giver of life and light, we praise you.
All: As you spoke to Jesus at his baptism, speak to us now
with your Word, your command, your delight.
Beloved Christ, you call us to share in the baptism of your death and resurrection.
In your baptism you draw all believers to you.
Draw us to you now, and make us one with you.
Holy Spirit, you who brooded over the waters of Creation, create us anew.
Pour out your power upon us, fill us with your delight,
and transform us according to your grace. Amen.

6.
Leader: Eternal God, giver of life, you are our Creator; we are your creatures.
All: We come from you. We belong to you. We bear your image. Alleluia!
Loving Christ, sharer of life, you are our companion; we are your lovers.
You accompany us. You heal and forgive us. You lead us. Alleluia!
Holy Spirit, power of life, you are our breath; we are your vessels.
Alleluia! Come, Holy Spirit, sweep us way in your love, drown us in your grace,
and birth us anew in the waters of your womb.
Spirit of death and resurrection, baptize us in your life-giving grace. Alleluia!

Collect / Prayer of the Day

1.
Gracious God, deep river of blessing, as Jesus went into the waters of the Jordan, we come now to be immersed in your Word. Speak your Good News to us, and transform our hearts, that we may live new lives for your sake and the sake of your Gospel. Amen.

2.
God of love, in the birth of Jesus you poured yourself out into the world. In his baptism you poured out your Spirit upon him. In our worship now pour out yourself into us, that in love we may pour ourselves into the world in love, in the name and Spirit of Christ. Amen.

3.
Gracious God, at Jesus’ baptism you spoke blessing. As your Spirit hovers over the waters of our re-creation, speak your Word to us, that we may be born again of your grace, shaped by your love, and sent to serve in the gracious power of your Spirit and the name of Jesus, our brother, our teacher, our healer. Amen.

4.
Eternal and loving God, as you claimed Jesus as your beloved at his baptism, and called him into ministry, so claim and call us now. Grant that all who are baptized in his name may keep the covenant they have made and boldly proclaim his love. Strengthen your holy church in our common baptismal life, and fill us with your light. Bless us, in the reading of your scriptures and the proclaiming of your good news, that we may hear your Word to us. Amen.

5.
Gracious God, at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan you proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit. With him, we are your children, with whom you are well pleased. Grant us grace to receive your blessing. Journey with us in life in the presence of Christ, and lead us by the power of your Holy Spirit to live lives that glorify you. Amen.

6.
Gracious God, Breath of life, you enter us and give us life; you strengthen us and empower us to speak your Word and sing your glory. Enter us now, breath of God, and renew us. You are the spring of eternal life welling up within us. Flow in us, and change us. Wash us clean, fill us with your grace, and carry us into the world to serve you in the name and the Spirit of Christ. Speak to us, God; bless us, renew us, and make us yours. Amen.

Listening Prayer

(suitable as a Collect, preparation for hearing scriptures, or invitation to prayer)
We come to the river of your presence.
We sink deep in the water of your love.
In the silence, your grace holds us.
In the mystery, your love washes us.
In the water of your womb we are birthed anew.
Give us life, O God, give us life.

Prayer of Confession

1.
Eternal God,
you have created us in your image, but like stones in a muddy stream
we are covered with the leavings of what we have done
and what others have done to us.
Wash us clean in your grace, forgive our sin, heal our hearts,
and restore in us the image of your glory,
in the name and the Spirit of your Son, Jesus,
the revealer of our salvation. Amen.

2.
God of love, we confess
we are dominated by our little self-enclosed “selves,”
separate from you and from others.
In the deep water of your grace
let that little, flesh-bound self drown,
and birth us from the waters of your womb
as members of the Body of Christ,
one with you and with our neighbors.
Forgive us, wash us clean, and birth us anew
in the baptism of your Spirit. Amen.

Response / Creed / Affirmation

Pastor: Beloved of God, your baptism promises
that God shall rain blessings upon you.
All: With God’s help, we devote ourselves
to receive God’s grace in all things.
Beloved of God, your baptism promises that Christ shall be your companion.
With God’s help, we devote ourselves
to follow Christ in life, in death, and in resurrection.
Beloved of God, your baptism promises that the Holy Spirit works within you.
With God’s help, we devote ourselves
to proclaim the Gospel in word and deed,
to live lives of compassion and forgiveness
to resist evil, injustice and oppression,
and to pursue mercy and justice in the name of Christ. Amen.

Eucharistic Prayer

[After the introduction, the body of the prayer may be read responsively with the presiding leader(s) and congregation, or by the leader(s) alone.]

God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Holy One, our God.
It is good and beautiful to give God our praise.

We give you thanks, God, for in the beginning
your Spirit brooded over the waters and you brought forth light.
Through the waters of the Red Sea you brought your children to freedom.
By the baptism of water and the word you created your church.
All the rivers of the world praise you, and the oceans sing your glory.
Your grace rains down on us and brings forth life.
Therefore with all Creation we sing your praise:

            [Sanctus, spoken or sung:]
        Holy, holy, holy One, God of power and might,
        heaven and earth are full of your glory.
        Hosanna in the highest.
        Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
        Hosanna in the highest.
               [or alternate version]

Blessed are all who come in your name,
and blessed is Jesus, your Christ,
baptized in the river Jordan,
immersed in your grace, afloat on your love.
He washes our feet; he dries our tears;
he gives us living water when we thirst for life.
His grace washes us clean, and births us anew.
In his love we hear your blessing to us:
“You are my Beloved, my own,
with whom I am delighted.”
Baptized into his death, we are raised with him to new life.

     (The Blessing and Covenant)
As long as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection, until he comes again.
Therefore, remembering these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves as a living and holy sacrifice,
in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:

             [Memorial Acclamation, spoken or sung:]
        Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
                     —or—
        Dying, Christ destroyed our death. Rising, Christ restores our life.
        Christ will come again in glory.
             [or alternative]

Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup,
that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
As you poured out your Spirit on Jesus at the river,
pour out your Spirit on us,
that we may be for the world the Body of Christ,
one with Christ in death and resurrection,
one in the Spirit, one in the Body of Christ,
moved and empowered by your Spirit
to bear your love into this world,
in the name of Christ.

     [Spoken or sung]
Amen.

____________
* The Blessing and Covenant
[I usually don’t print the words. I want people to be looking at the bread, not their bulletins.]

On the night in which he gave himself for us
Jesus took bread, blessed it,. broke it, and gave it to his disciples,saying,
“Take and eat; this is my body.”
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup,
blessed it with thanks and gave it to them, saying,
“Drink of this, all of you. This is my blood,
poured out for you and for many, in a new Covenant,
which is the forgiveness of sin.”
As long as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection, until he comes again.

Prayer of Dedication / Sending / after Communion

[Adapt as needed.]
Gracious God, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.) Our little self-enclosed selves have drowned in your love, and you have raised us up as members of the Body of Christ. May your eternal life flow through us with the power of your Spirit, by the grace of Christ, to your glory. Amen.

Suggested Songs

(Click on titles to view, and hear an audio clip, on the Music page)

Light for the World      (An Epiphany “Theme Song”)
A dialogue between cantor and congregation. May be used throughout the Epiphany season. one or two verses per week. The cantor’s words reflect lectionary texts; the congregation’s refrain is the same throughout.

Lyrics for Baptism of Jesus:

Congregation, Refrain:
Love, may we live by your light.
Let us be light for the world.

Cantor, Verses:
3. “You are my servant in whom I delight, a light unto the nations.”
Shine for the ones who dwell in the dark, with comfort and justice.

4. God said, “Let light shine out of the dark,” and shines with that glory in Jesus.And when we turn our faces to Christ, God shines in our own heart.

See all songs with Baptism tag, especially these:


God, We Rise to Serve You       
           (Tune: Sing We Now of Christmas / Now the Green Blade Rises]

God, we rise to serve you, baptized in your love
as your Holy Spirit hovers like a dove.
We, your Beloved, whom you bless with grace,
offer you our gifts with love and joy and peace.

God, your Spirit in us, dove with wings unfurled,
gives us pow’r to bring forth justice to the world.
Baptized in Christ, we serve with mercy’s grace,
bringing to the world your love and joy and peace.


Immersed in Blessing       (Tune: Joyful, Joyful)

Baptized in your grace with Jesus, loving God, we sing your praise.
Echoing your own delight, with joy and thanks our song we raise.
Your beloved children, birthed anew and rising from your womb,
God, we bear your love through all our living, and beyond the tomb.

God you heal, forgive and nourish, and revive us breath by breath;
you restore our broken trust and save us from our fear of death.
Like a dry and withered plant revived by water at its root,
we are saved by streams of grace, for flourishing and bearing fruit.

Bathed in grace, immersed in blessing, joined with your Beloved Son,
how can we not love each other?— for your Spirit makes us One.
Carried on a stream of mercy, springs beneath and rain above,
may we flow with peace and in your Spirit flood the world with love.


Spirit Feast (Tune: Cradle Song)

With hearts that are baptized in mercy and grace,
we enter the mystery of this time and place
to feast on your mercy in light from above,
receiving your Spirit, made one in your love.

The cup that we drink from flows deep with your love,
the water of blessing, descent of the dove.
“My Chosen, Beloved, in whim I am pleased,”
we’re sent by your Spirit to shine with your light.

With blest, grateful hearts, God, we come to this feast,
and pray that your Spirit in us be released.
This sharing, this joy and this justice you share
is ours now to bring to the word everywhere.

We Are Your Body      (Tune: Be Thou My Vision)

God of all holiness, baptized in you,
we are your Body: your presence shines through.
We, poor in spirit, are blessed with your own.
May our lives shine forth with your grace alone.

We who with Jesus do mourn with the world
shall see your banners of deep joy unfurled.
We who are hungry for love freely shared
feast at the banquet that you have prepared.

May we be merciful and pure in heart,
your gentle peacemakers, doing our part.
Dying and rising, we fear no great loss,
sealed with your Spirit and marked with your cross.


When Jesus Was Baptized (Tune: Cradle Song)

When Jesus was baptized, John said to repent,
and follow the Righteous One whom God had sent.
So wash us, dear God, and create us anew,
born fresh from your grace, living wholly in you.

When Jesus was baptized in waters that flow,
he sank in the Source of what makes all things grow.
So, held in Creation, renewed and made one,
we swim in the grace of your life-giving Son.

When Jesus was baptized in light, like a dove
your Spirit came down and you filled him with love.
So give us your Spirit: let all that we do
be you living in us, as we live in you.

When Jesus was baptized you spoke from above,
saying “This is my servant, my son, whom I love.”
So help us to hear you speak love when you call,
and as your Beloved, share freely with all.


You Are My Delight (Tune: Londonderry Air, “Oh, Danny Boy”)

We come with you, dear Jesus, through the desert hills,
down to the river, flowing gently by,
where through the rocks and valleys, deepening, it spills,
and flows into the sea, the earth, the sky.
    As we sink down and rise up from the water
    a dove descends, a voice speaks, clear and bright:
    “Know you are my beloved son, my daughter,
    my spirit is in you and you are my delight.

We go our way, and in our daily living
we follow you, and scatter rays of love
in deeds of caring, healing grace and giving,
for still we hear that voice and see the dove:
    “No river can undo you, for with you I go.
    I give my heart to you, and give you light.
    For you are mine, I hold you and I love you so.
   All water says, ‘Remember you are my delight.’”


          OFFERING SONGS
                       (Can be found in Offering Songs)

(Tune: Fairest Lord Jesus)

Blessed by your Spirit, God, and immersed in deepest grace,
baptized in love, in love we live.
In us your mercy grows; love like a river flows;
and so our finest gifts we give.

—or—

Baptized in love, O God, washed, renewed and risen, new,
in your Spirit we are one.
Yours are the gifts we give; yours are the lives we live,
bright shining as the morning sun.


             (Tune: Old 100th,
or Gift of Love (“The Water Is Wide”), or
               or Tallis’ Canon)

To You, O God, our praise we give,
For baptized into Christ, we live.
Thus may your Holy Spirit be
Our life and breath eternally! Amen.

               (Tune: Morning Has Broken)

Baptized, anointed, filled with your Spirit,
we are appointed bearers of light:
for liberation, servants of justice,
bringing the nations joy and delight.

Gladly we praise you, God our Creator,
joyfully raise our hearts up in prayer.
Humbly we give you thanks, Holy Spirit,
help us to live your Word everywhere.

—or—

Great holy giver of life and wonder,
deep like a river your blessings flow.
Gladly we give you praise and thanksgiving:
gifts we will give wherever we go.

—or—

Washed in your waters, baptized with Jesus,
your sons and daughters, risen anew,
each day we live we freely surrender,
our lives we give, God, gladly to you.


                (Tune: Be Thou My Vision)

God, we are raised to new life with your Son,
filled with your Spirit and baptized as one.
Branches of one vine, your fruits we will bear,
going to all the world, your great love to share.

December 31, 2023

Lectionary Texts

Isaiah 60.1-6. “Rise shine; your light has come.” God’s people will be light for the whole world, and people will come, bearing gifts and honors, praising God.

Psalm 72. A prayer for God’s guidance and support for a new king We pray for justice, which is that the poor receive what they need.

Ephesians 3.1-12. God blesses the Gentiles just as the Jews, and wants this good news spread to all people, and to all the powers in the universe.

Matthew 2. 1-12. Magi come to honor Jesus as king.

Preaching Thoughts

The 7^th day. Merry Christmas! Christmas is not the 27 days from Nov. 28 – Dec. 24, but the twelve days from Dec 25 – Jan. 5. Twelve days. December 31 is the the 7^th day of Christmas. It’s not over till Epiphany day, January 6, Epiphany. So though we’ll observe Epiphany on this Sunday, it’s still Christmas! Let the liturgical rhythm help us get out of the commercialized, consumerist, materialism of our culture, and really observe the Christmas season as the Feast of the Nativity of Christ. So it’s still appropriate to sing Christmas songs this week, and not just We Three Kings!

Light
       “Epiphany,” meaning “revealing,” is all about light. We celebrate Christ as the light of the world. The season begins with the light of the star that leads the magi to Jesus, and ends in the Transfiguration, with Jesus shining (even before his death!) with the light of resurrection. Along the way we hear a lot about light. Watch for it each week. (The song Light for the World, below, highlights those references.) The light of Christ’s love illumines our path and guides our way. We look at life in the light of God’s love, and that changes how we see the world. And the light of that love shines in us, so that our own lives become lights for others: streetlamps that offer guidance and safety, lighthouses that warn of danger, a new dawn that signals hope and beauty. Even when the scriptures aren’t literally talking about light, they describe how God’s love changes the world like light changes the darkness.

Light and dark
       But be thoughtful in your use of the image of light and darkness. Sometimes when we speak of darkness we mean not knowing (“I’m in the dark”), or gloomy, or evil, or sad, or… lots of things. And sometimes it’s better to say that than to simply call it “dark.” Watch out especially for the binary thought that light=good and dark=bad. We live in a culture that is chronically distorted by racism that judges people by how light or dark their skin is. So we judge dark people as bad and lighter people as good. It’s not just semantics. It’s instinctive, even among dark-skinned people. Sometimes when we reinforce the binary idea that light = good and dark = bad we reinforce its racist overtones. We don’t mean to—but we do. So watch out for this.
       All symbols are limited. Sometimes dark is good. God dwells in darkness… Creation begins, life is conceived and seeds sprout in the dark…darkness allows sleep and Sabbath rest….some people like their coffee black.. black people are learning to contradict the good/bad binary and appreciate the beauty of their dark skin… And sometimes light is bad: we wear sunglasses… light pollution prevents our seeing the stars… driving in too much glare or a winter whiteout can be deadly. The light can still shine in the darkness, and the darkness is unable to overcome it, but be wary of simplistic binaries. Be careful to define your terms and attend to your context. Let’s be clear what we mean (and don’t mean) by light or darkness.

Light and justice
The theme of this season is that Jesus is the light of the world. The season begins with the light of a star and ends on transfiguration Sunday with Jesus shining with divine light on a mountain top. Along the way we hear a lot about light. Watch for it each week. (The song Light for the World, below, highlights those references.) The light of Christ’s love illumines our path and guides our way. We look at life in the light of God’s love, and that changes how we see the world. And the light of that love shines in us, so that our own lives become lights for others: streetlamps that offer guidance and safety, lighthouses that warn of danger, a new dawn that signals hope and beauty. Even when the scriptures aren’t literally talking about light, they describe how God’s love changes the world like light changes the darkness.

Isaiah
       Obviously the crafters of the lectionary chose this passage for Epiphany because it says “they shall bring gold and frankincense.” But it’s not just about that. It’s a message of hope and restoration, and in fact mission. We are called to “see and be radiant.” We’re to be light for the world.Ultimately this is not about what we shall receive but what we shall give.
        Remember the prophet says “Rise, shine, your light has come” to a weak, humiliated, discouraged, exiled people. It’s easy for privileged folks to go off on some “aren’t we special?” path. Don’t. This is a message of restoration for people who are broken. “Nations shall come to your light” is not about superiority, but the restoration of dignity. What is there in a message to exiled people that speaks to us today? Who among us is this actually speaking to? What part of ourselves—our souls, or our church— is exiled and needing encouragement?

Matthew
       Like every scripture, this is a symbolic story, not a historical account. The word “magi” that Matthew uses suggests Zoroastrian astrologers: not quite philosophers, and certainly not kings. Nothing scriptural suggests there were three, just because there were three gifts. (The gifts are an allusion to Isaiah 60.6: “They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of God.” Matthew, foreshadowing the cross, adds myrrh.) Nor should we insist the magi were men, though we might assume so. So there could have been dozens of them, or maybe just a couple of old women. But that’s not what Matthew is likely to have had in mind, since this is a purely symbolic story: what matters is that they represent people from outside the Jewish faith. The point is not how or whether it happened but what it’s about. So don’t go off counting magi, or learning about Zoroastrians, astronomy or Middle Eastern geography. Matthew made this up. It’s a story. What’s it about?
       It’s about Jesus as “’king.” What does it mean for Jesus to rule in your heart?
      It’s about Jesus as sovereign over more than Christians. Matthew is creating a bookend at the beginning of his gospel, matched by the Great Commission at the end, about Jesus’ relevance for “all nations.” Avoiding evangelistic conquest and Christian colonialism, what might it mean for us to be part of a movement that is intended for the well-being of the whole world, not just us Christians?
      It’s about revealing. How might Christ be revealed—particularly in us— to others, especially those outside the Church?
      It’s about the witness of foreigners. How do we relate to outsiders, strangers, foreigners, people of other religions? Do we acknowledge their quest for the holy even if it doesn’t match ours? Are we willing to listen to them, hear their stories, learn from them, honor them?
      It’s about about seeking, and being guided. How willing are we to acknowledge truth beyond what we know? To seek God in mystery? What are the stars that guide you, and you follow? Where do you seek Christ? (Even in foreign, unexpected or “improper”places?)
      It’s about light that leads the way. The star guided the magi. What are the guiding stars in your life? How are you and your way of living a guiding star for others to find hope and love?
      It’s about pilgrimage. (Matthew mentions “two years.” hHs the magi’s journey taken that long?) What kind of journey might you be on? How does God go with you, guide you, help you get directions? What might it be like to maintain the discipline of a long pilgrimage, without quitting, without diversion?
      It’s about going by “another road.” What old ways are you/we being invited to abandon, to accept new ways of going? Note that it’s not exploring new frontiers, but going home.
      It’s about resistance. We can expect to encounter our Herods who oppose us or want to co-opt our faith; we will have to be ready to resist, to refuse to cooperate with the Powers. Are you ready?
      It’s about imperial power and violence, and our non-cooperation. It’s about state-sponsored terrorism. This story is a shadow of the crucifixion. Jesus is a “wanted “person. He did not safely escape the slaughter in Bethlehem. He died in all those children. We often slide over this part. Such a nasty thing to include in our Christmas stories! But this is why we need Jesus. We’re neck deep in a culture of violence and we need a different kind of power in our lives. Imperial power in our world takes form in capitalism, consumerism, white supremacy, patriarchy, nationalism, and systems of power, privilege and exclusion. Empire preserves its power, even at the expense of slaughter. The “slaughter of the innocents” may appear in our world as executions, mass shootings, poor health care, mass incarceration, environmental threat, and dangers that disproportionately affect the poor and people of color. Empire is in the business of death. But God is in the business of life even in the face of brutality. Herod is threatened by the young “king’s” power, and wants to use the magi to destroy the child, but with God’s guidance the magi do not cooperate with Herod. Like Herod trying to use the magi for his own purposes, do you see other powers trying to co-opt Christianity? Where do you see that in our world? How do we practice resistance? How do we practice life in the face of death?

For additional Epiphany resources see Epiphany Sunday, Year A or Year C. (The lecitonary readings are the same all three years.)

Call to Worship

1.
Leader: Star of love, lead us!
All: Light of love, guide us!
Holy Child, help us honor you.
King of love, we offer you our gifts.
Jesus, on this journey of mystery, help us seek you.
On this pilgrimage of faith, help us serve you.
God, in awe and wonder we worship you. Alleluia!

2.
Leader: Star of God, you bless us with your beauty.
All: Light of Christ, you draw us near to God.
Star of wisdom, guide us with your grace.
Light of God, lead us by your love.

3.
Leader: A new year begins. A morning star shines.
All: A new day dawns. A new light rises.
God of love, be our morning light.
Christ, our sovereign, be our guiding star.
Holy Spirit, lead us on our journey.
Loving God, by your grace we go into a new year,
by a new road, into new lives.
We worship you with open hearts. Amen.

4.
Leader: God of Creation, your light shines in the stars.
All: May your light lead us to life.
Your light shines in the heart of those who wander in search of you.
May your light lead us to wonder.
Your light shines in the Christ child, revealed as the light of the world.
May your light lead us to love.
Holy Spirit, light of God, shine in us, that we may be light for the world.
Alleluia! Come, Spirit of Life, and transform us by your grace. Alleluia!

5.
Leader: Creator God, maker of the universe, of stars and all the heavens,
of humans and all our wonders—we praise you.
All: Blessed Christ, we have seen the light of your rising,
and have come to pay you homage.
Holy Spirit, you guide us in the dark, and lead us by your light
Glory be to you, O God!
May your light shine ever upon us.
Ruler of the heavens and sovereign of earth, rule over us in love.
Alleluia! Come, Emmanuel, and transform us by your grace. Alleluia!

6.
Leader: Christmas star, shining in the darkness, you led magi to the Christ child
All: Light of Christ, chase away all darkness, illumine our path,
and lead us to the heart of God.
Morning sun, rising on a new year, you grant us new life.
Light of God, forgive our sin and set us free from all that has bound us;
grant that we may begin anew in this new year with grace and blessing.
Spirit of life, gleaming in our eyes, you make us your beautiful children.
Holy Spirit, transform us by your grace,
that we may shine with the light of your love,
for the sake of the blessing of all Creation. Amen.

7. [Isa. 60.1, 5]
Leader: Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of God has risen upon you.
All: We shall see and be radiant;
our heart shall thrill and rejoice.
We worship in reverence and joy.

Collect / Prayer of the Day

1.
God of Truth, as the light of your star led wise ones to the Christ child, may the light of your word lead us to Christ, who is present among us. Fill us with the light of your grace, that we may be light for the world, in the name and the Spirit of Christ. Amen.

2.
O God, in the magi’s visit to the Christ child you revealed yourself to the nations. We come to honor you and to give our gifts. Speak to us and reveal yourself to us, that we may go from this place by a new way. Amen.

3.
God of light, you shone in the darkness to lead magi to the Christ child. And you shine in our lives to guide us and bless us. Shine now in the reading and hearing of your Word: lead us in your ways, and guide our feet in the way of peace, in the Spirit and the presence of Christ. Amen.

4.
Gracious God, you led magi to the Christ child by a star. Lead us to Christ now by your Word. Bless us with open hearts and minds, that as the scriptures are read and your good news proclaimed we may hear with joy what you are saying to us today. Amen.

5.
Miraculous star, lead us to Christ.
Star of light, lead us to follow.
Light of the Word, lead us to love.
Word of faith, lead us on the long road. Amen.

Listening Prayer

(suitable as a Collect, preparation for hearing scriptures, or invitation to prayer)

Star of the Christ child,
shine in our hearts.
Lead us to love.
Help us to listen,
help us to follow. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

Pastor: The grace of God be with you.
All: And also with you
Trusting in God’s grace, let us confess our sin to God with one another.
Eternal God, your Word of grace is a light for our path. We thank you.
We recall those moments when the star of your love shone for us,
and we followed on a good path… [silence...]
We recall those times when we did not see the star,
when we were not on a good path… [silence]
In all things, God, we trust your grace.
Forgive our sin, heal our hearts,
open our eyes to the light of your love,
and help us to follow faithfully,
in the name of Christ,
for the sake of the healing of the world. Amen.

Response / Creed / Affirmation

1.
      We trust in God, Creator of all that is, whose light guides us and whose grace extends to all people of the world.
      We follow Jesus, the Christ of God, Light of the world, who is the ruler of our hearts, before whom we bow in adoration and reverence, to whom we offer the gifts of our hands and hearts. Jesus loved people and healed them, and taught the way of true wisdom. Though many would make him king, he was not a ruler of a nation but the Prince of Peace. Earthly kings were threatened by him, and crucified him, but he was raised from the dead, sovereign even over life itself.
     We live by the Holy Spirit, whose light is a star that guides us, whose grace gives us gifts to offer the world, whose companionship makes us one with peoples of all nations, tribes and traditions. In the power of that Spirit we devote ourselves to love and justice, for the sake of Christ, the sovereign of our hearts.

2.
Leader: The grace of the Beloved, Jesus Christ, be with you.
All: And also with you.
Pastor: The splendor of Christ shines upon us.
The light of Christ guides us.
A star of grace and hope shines on our horizon.
We will follow.
The light of love will lead us to the Christ child.
We will honor him and offer our gifts.
The powers of this world will try to use love for greedy purposes.
We will learn to go by another road,
to live by another way, the way of mercy and justice.
Lead us, O Christ, by the light of your love. Amen.

Eucharistic Prayer

[See Eucharistic responses to the tune of “We Three Kings” in Advent Eucharistic Responses.]

[After the introduction, the body of the prayer may be read responsively with the presiding leader(s) and congregation, or by the leader(s) alone.]

——— #1 ———

God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your heart.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Holy One, our God.
It is good and beautiful to give God our praise.

We thank you and praise you, Divine Mystery,
Creator of all that is and all that shall be.
Stars of your making sparkle above us,
and to those who are wise and attentive they reveal your presence.
With starlight and pillars of fire you have led us out of darkness and into light;
through prophets and poets you have led us in wonder and love.
And you have given us gifts, that we may live fully and richly in grace.
As magi knelt before the Christ child and offered their gifts
we kneel in humble gratitude and offer you gifts,
in one voice with all creation singing your praise.

             [Sanctus, spoken or sung:]
        Holy, holy, holy One, God of power and might,
        heaven and earth are full of your glory.
        Hosanna in the highest.
        Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
        Hosanna in the highest.
               [or alternate]

        [Alternate version : this and and following responses sung to the tune of “We Three Kings”]
        Holy, Holy, Holy One, God whose love is bright as the sun,
        all Creation sings your praise! Hosanna we sing as one!
        O, Blessed is the one who comes in your name, O Holy One.
        Praise! Hosanna in the highest! Peace on earth, to everyone.

Blessed are all who come in your name, and blessed is Jesus, your Christ.
He bore your love to all people, including those of foreign lands and religions.
He offered us gifts from the treasure chest of his faith:
he forgave and taught; he fed the hungry and healed the broken;
he proclaimed a new Realm of grace and justice.
The rulers of Empire sought him and killed him,
but you raised him from the dead.
This is the wisdom that leads us, the star that lights our way.

[The Blessing and Covenant …]

Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.”
As often as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection until he comes again.
Remembering these, your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a living and holy sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim mystery at the heart of our faith:

        Memorial Acclamation
                [Sung version:]
        Dying, Christ destroyed our death. Rising, Christ restores our life.
        Christ will come again in glory, leading us all to life.
        O, God of mercy, God of light, God whose love in us burns bright,
        lead us, guide us, walk beside us, fill us with your gentle light.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup,
that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us,
that we may be for the world the Body of Christ.
Open up your treasure chest in us,
that we may be a royal priesthood of your love.
Guide us by the light of your love to do justice, to practice mercy,
to kneel humbly before you in every child of yours.
“And you, children, will be called prophets of the Most High,
for you will go before God to prepare God’s ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to God’s people by the forgiveness of their sins.”
By your tender mercy may your dawn from on high break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Great Amen
[Sung version:]
        Amen! Your will be done. Amen, O Holy One.
        Make us now the living Body of Christ, our Love, your Son.
        O, praise be yours, and glory be all throughout eternity!
        Alleluia! Alleluia! Thanks and praise we sing to thee.

——— #2 ———

God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your heart.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Holy One, our God.
It is good and beautiful to give God our praise.

God of light, you blessed the darkness with Creation.
You fashioned us in the light of your love.
In the night of our bondage
you broke the power of oppression and set us free,
leading your children by a pillar of light.
You call us always to follow your light,
even the faintest star of love and justice and mercy.
Therefore with those who come from afar to honor you,
and with all Creation, we sing your praise.

            [Sanctus, spoken or sung:]
        Holy, holy, holy One, God of power and might,
        heaven and earth are full of your glory.
        Hosanna in the highest.
        Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
        Hosanna in the highest.
               [or alternate version]

Blessed are all who come in your name,
and blessed is Jesus, your Christ, light of the world.
He loved and healed, and showed to many your light shining in them.
He showed us the light of love
and taught us to forsake all that glitters and follow that light alone.
By oppression he was crucified,
but by grace you have raised him from the dead,
still coming among us to renew your covenant to be with us in love.

[The Blessing and Covenant…]

Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.”
As often as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection until he comes again.
Remembering these, your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a living and holy sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:

             [Memorial Acclamation, spoken or sung:]
        Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
                     —or—
        Dying, Christ destroyed our death. Rising, Christ restores our life.
        Christ will come again in glory.
             [or alternative]

Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup,
that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us,
that we may be for the world the Body of Christ,
your Word made flesh in our daily lives,
light for the world, in the name of Christ. .

                [Spoken or sung]
        Amen

———— #3 ———


God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your heart.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Holy One, our God.
It is good and beautiful to give God our praise.

Blessed are you, O God, Creator of all things,
and ruler of all that is to come.
In the beginning was your Word, which is the light of life,
through which you have made all things.
Though we turn from your light, still you shine upon us and within us,
and lead us to seek your presence, guided by the light of wonder.
Therefore, in company with those who bring you frankincense,
we honor you with our obedience and our praise:

            [Sanctus, spoken or sung:]
        Holy, holy, holy One, God of power and might,
        heaven and earth are full of your glory.
        Hosanna in the highest.
        Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
        Hosanna in the highest.
               [or alternate version]

Blessed are all who come in your name,
and blessed is Jesus, your Christ.
Child of Mary, Light of the World and Prince of Peace.
He has brought us the light of hope and healing,
and embodied your Covenant to be with us in love and blessing.
[... The Blessing and Covenant…]

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it:
for you have raised your Crucified Christ from death.
Therefore in company with those who bring you myrrh
we offer you our life unto death,
as we proclaim the mystery of our faith.

             [Memorial Acclamation, spoken or sung:]
        Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
                     —or—
        Dying, Christ destroyed our death. Rising, Christ restores our life.
        Christ will come again in glory.
             [or alternative]

Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup,
that they may be for us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Pour out your Spirit on is, that we may be the Body of Christ for the world.
In company with those who bring you gold
we offer you our gifts, our prayers, our worship and our service.
Unite us with you, with one another, and with Christ, in service to others.
Grant that by these gifts at work in us we may be light for the world
in the love of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.

               [Spoken or sung]
       Amen.

———— #4 —————

God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Holy One, our God.
It is good and beautiful to give God our praise.

Gracious God, creator of all peoples,
ruler of all the nations, we thank you.
From the beginning,
wen you called light itself into existence
you have made known your will and made real your love.
In the darkness you cried, “Let there be light!”
and Creation shone with your glory.
You cried, “Let there be light!”
and there were your creatures, bright with life.
You cried, “Let there be light!”
and there were your children, humanity
shining with your love.
Even amidst the darkness of the nations
your prophets have pointed to your light as it shone among us,
and have brought to light the Truth
from which we would hide our eyes.
For the light shines, and the darkness has not overcome it,
and all things reveal your wisdom.
Therefore we join with all your creatures in praising you.

            [Sanctus, spoken or sung:]
        Holy, holy, holy One, God of power and might,
        heaven and earth are full of your glory.
        Hosanna in the highest.
        Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
        Hosanna in the highest.
               [or alternate version]

Blessed are all who come in your name,
and blessed is Jesus, your Christ,
for in the darkness of our sin your cried, “Let there be light!”
and your Christ came among us, the Light of the World.
Through Jesus, who at his birth
was honored by magi yet hunted by armies,
you revealed your Word to the nations.
Jesus spoke the truth to the powers that be,
he revealed your grace in all he did,
he illumined the lives of the poor,
he shed light in the darkness of our sin and our sadness.
Even as the darkness of death closed about him
he shone with the light of hope and compassion.

     (The Blessing and Covenant)

Yet when Jesus had been crucified
and the darkness of the tomb enwrapped him,
you once again cried, “Let there be light!”
You raised Christ from the dead to be our light and our life.
As long as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection, until he comes again.
Therefore, remembering these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves as a living and holy sacrifice,
in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:

             [Memorial Acclamation, spoken or sung:]
        Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
                     —or—
        Dying, Christ destroyed our death. Rising, Christ restores our life.
        Christ will come again in glory.
             [or alternative]

Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup,
that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Pour out your Spirit on us, that we may be for the world the Body of Christ,
a light for the world, a star in the darkness, a revelation of your grace.
     [Spoken or sung]
Amen.

—————— #5 —————
God be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your heart.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Holy One, our God.
It is good and beautiful to give God our praise.

Blessed are you, O God:
you create all things by your Word,
and fill them with your light.
On all who sit in darkness a great light has shone,
in your redeeming grace, embodied in Christ.
By the light of a star you led magi to honor him,
and revealed him to the nations.
Therefore with them and all Creation we sing as one voice:

            [Sanctus, spoken or sung:]
        Holy, holy, holy One, God of power and might,
        heaven and earth are full of your glory.
        Hosanna in the highest.
        Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
        Hosanna in the highest.
               [or alternate version]

Blessed are all who come in your name,
and blessed is Jesus, your Christ, light of the world.
He healed and taught, he bound up the brokenhearted
and established your reign of mercy and justice.
Christ is our guiding star, who leads us to you,
through his ministry and his death and his resurrection.
His is the light that gives us life.

[… The Blessing and Covenant …]

Christ is the morning star,
whose rising proclaims your gift of eternal life.

             [Memorial Acclamation, spoken or sung:]
        Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
                     —or—
        Dying, Christ destroyed our death. Rising, Christ restores our life.
        Christ will come again in glory.
             [or alternative]

Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup,
that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Pour out your Spirit on us, that we may be for the world the Body of Christ,
that we may shine as light for the world,
and that we may be a blessing in the name of Christ
for those who stumble in darkness,
those who seek your presence,
and those who bear gifts into this world.

     [Spoken or sung]
Amen.

____________
* The Blessing and Covenant
[I usually don’t print the words. I want people to be looking at the bread, not their bulletins.]

On the night in which he gave himself for us
Jesus took bread, blessed it,. broke it, and gave it to his disciples,saying,
“Take and eat; this is my body.”
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup,
blessed it with thanks and gave it to them, saying,
“Drink of this, all of you. This is my blood,
poured out for you and for many, in a new Covenant,
which is the forgiveness of sin.”
As long as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection, until he comes again.

Prayer of Dedication / Sending / after Communion

[Adapt as needed.]
1.
Gracious God, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.) May we follow your light. May we honor you as our sovereign. May we offer our gifts for you. May we find new roads toward justice despite the rule of greed and power, May we live always in wonder, willingness and compassion, for the sake of the healing of the world, in the name of Christ. Amen.

2.
Gracious God, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.) May the light of this grace shine in our hearts and lead us throughout our lives to seek your presence, to honor you with our lives, and to do your will in mercy and justice all of our days. Send us into the world in the name and the light of Christ. Amen.

Suggested Songs

(Click on titles to view, and hear an audio clip, on the Music page)

Light for the World    (Original song)    – [Epiphany “Theme song”]
A dialogue between soloist and congregation. Nineteen verses are supplied, appropriate for Epiphany Sunday, Transfiguration Sunday, and Sundays after the Epiphany in Year A, some of which can be appropriate for this year as well.

Congregation
Love, may we live by your light.
Let us be light for the world.

Cantor:
Magi who followed the light of your star offered their gifts to your glory.
May we shine brightly wherever we are. Our love will tell your story.

May we be guided by love alone, the star shining bright in our darkness.
For when we follow the leading of love, we’re nearer to you, God.


Guiding Star         (Tune: Of the Father’s Love Begotten)

Christ we search for you with longing, but we need not travel far.
In the darkness shines a mystery; in the night a radiant star.
For your love appears before us, gleaming right where we are,
evermore and evermore.

So we bring our gifts to honor you, and we come on bended knee,
offering our hearts and living, that to you the glory be.
May your light adorn and guide us, now and in eternity,
evermore and evermore.

Christ, you are the star that guides us; your love is the way we know.
Keep us faithful in our seeking: may we take the path you show.
May the light of your love shine in us, here and everywhere we go,
evermore and evermore. Amen.

Advent to Epiphany – the Story
(Solo. Tune: Hallelujah, Leonard Cohen)

In the darkest time of year,
a time of hope, and a time of fear,
the prophet says that God is coming to you.
And so we turn from greed and hate,
still learning to pray and watch and wait,
and sing our fragile, hopeful hallelujah.
      Hallelujah…

Young Mary said her “Yes” to him,
and Jesus was born in Bethlehem,
and laid him in a manger, that’ll do you.
The light of love shone in the night.
The shepherds came to see the sight,
and angels sang a glorious Hallelujah.
      Hallelujah…

Some wise men traveled from afar,
just following such a tiny star,
as if its simple light could shine right though you.
They gave their treasures to the king,
who makes you want to serve and sing,
who tells you you can be his Hallelujah.
      Hallelujah…

SERVICE MUSIC:

      Offering Song (Included in Offering Songs)

Gifts (Tune: Of The Father’s Love Begotten)

God, we bring our gifts to honor you, and we come on bended knee,
offering our hearts and living, that to you the glory be.
May your light adorn and guide us, now and in eternity,
evermore and evermore. Amen.


        Invitation to Communion (Both are in Advent Table Songs)

Lovely Jesus (Tune: Rocking)
Lovely Jesus, light divine, light divine,
light of the world and light of mine.
I will follow, follow, follow you.
Lead me in what love will dare to do.
Here I bring my gifts to you.
Use them as your love will do.

Gentle Jesus, friend and guide, friend and guide,
now you call us to your side.
Here you give yourself as living food,
and we feast in joy and gratitude.
Gentle Jesus, make us one;
may your will in love be done.


Your Light (Tune: What Child Is This)

O God, your light now fills our sight;
your song now fills our hearing.
Our gifts we bring, and your praise we sing,
as we feast at Christ’s appearing.
Christ, Christ, Emmanuel,
your love we share, your grace we tell.
Christ, Light of the World, we come!
O fill us, Love, with your brightness!


       Blessing Songs (All are in Advent Blessing Songs)

Light of Christ (Tune: Away in a Manger)

My friends, may the star over Bethlehem’s skies
now give you God’s peace, make you gentle and wise,
and lead you, as though by a light from above:
the light of dear Christ in you, shining with love.


The Star (Tune: What Child Is This)

O God, may all your Church make flesh
the Word that you are giving;
the love of Christ and the Spirit’s power
make holy all of our living.
Love, love shall be the light
by which we live: so bless our sight.
Love, love shall be the star
by which you guide our living.


Walk Beside You (Tune: We Three Kings)

Go in peace, and take from this place
our dear love and God’s deep grace.
Serving, healing, Christ revealing, be God’s human face.
Oh, God of wonder, God of light,
shining with a love so bright,
bless you, guide, you, walk beside you,
fill you with God’s gentle light.

December 31, 2023

Lectionary Texts

Isaiah 61.10-62.3 God has dressed us up for something special like a wedding. As God causes living things to grow out of the ground, God’s goodness grows out of human history. God’s people will be light for the world.

Psalm 148 A hymn of praise that every part of Creation sings.

Galatians 4. 4-7 When the time was right God sent a child, born as our human sibling, so that together we could be children of God, and inherit God’s Spirit.

Luke 2. 22-40 Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the temple. Simeon and Anna see in the child the fulfillment of God’s promises.

Preaching Thoughts

     This is often a “light-weight” Sunday. People are home with family, all “Holidayed out,” and less likely to attend worship. And this year it’s also New Year’s Eve. Sheesh. In 40 years of ministry I never cancelled a service because I thought people wouldn’t come. (Though there was once when we canceled because they couldn’t come, when the snow was up over the doors, and a few times we expected only those who could ski or snowshoe in.) There’s always exhausted families, but there’s also someone who doesn’t have family, isn’t into partying, and really wants their church community—so think of them, too.
      People may be tired of Christmas tunes, having heard Christmas themed Muzak for the last 6 weeks—but this is only the 7^th day of Christmas! (Yes, the carol is right: there are 12 days.) Let it still be Christmas. Today is a great chance to use all those “B Side” carols they haven’t heard much of:
“He Is Born,” “Cold December Flies Away,” “On Christmas Night,” “Rocking,” “Sing We Now of Christmas,” you know, those.

Anna and Simeon
       It’s a common mistake to think the story of Anna and Simeon occurs when Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to be circumcised, eight days after his birth, in Lk. 2.21 But Luke 2.22 is a jump ahead to “the time for their purification” (specifically Mary’s purification) which would be at least 40 days after the birth. Not that it matters much, but do get the story straight.
       In some ways Anna and Simeon offer us something like those “God moments” people share in worship or small groups: times when they saw God’s grace or presence in a particular experience. Anna and Simeon’s joy is not only about this wonderful little baby, but how he fits into their deep hopes for God’s people. Simeon is “looking forward to the consolation of Israel;” Anna spoke of the child to “all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.” Simeon says, “OK God, you can let me die now: I’ve seen what I was waiting for.” The birth of Christ is not about a cute little baby. It’s about God’s intent for humanity, God’s hope—and how God is unfolding the healing of the world in our midst. The birth of the holy child, like any little event in our lives, can reveal not just the warm sentimental glow of a God who wants nice things to happen to us, but the intent of a God who wants to change human history and bring healing to a deeply wounded world. And the means God chooses are always humble, ordinary people.
      On the 7^th Day of Christmas it can seem like the Christmas message is old. Time to move on. But Anna and Simeon remind us that faith is a long haul. They’ve been working their hope for a lot longer than seven days. Anna is 84, and never leaves the temple, fasting and praying night and day; we can assume Simeon is also old, and thinking of death. Christmas is not about a lovely night, or even a 12-day holiday, but a lifetime of faith, of prayer and service and hope, with our eyes on the big picture, the long road.
       Simeon says “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed.”Note he says falling and rising, not rise and fall. First we die, then we rise. And this is no sweet little Christmas tableau: the fate Simeon predicts for this little baby is opposition. Simeon, the realist. He says to Mary “A sword shall pierce your heart.” Many have said this refers to the pain of her witnessing his crucifixion. But Luke doesn’t say Mary was there. More likely Simeon (Luke) is referring to the sword of discernment that divides true from false: even Mary will have to make a choice about following Jesus.
       Simeon’s prayer, the Nunc Dimittis (“Now dismiss me” in Latin), is the basis for ancient prayers and chants, often used in evening worship and prayer services as God “dismisses” us to sleep. You’ll recognize it in some of my prayers.

Call to Worship

1.         [ Luke 2.30-32]
Holy One, you gather your people in peace, according to your word;
       for our eyes have seen your salvation,
       which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples.
a light for revelation to the people of the world.
and glory to those who bear your light.
       Bless us as we worship, that we may see the light of your glory,
       wonder at the mystery of your presence.
       and bear your light faithfully into the world.
Eternal God, Living Word, and Spirit of Life,
we rejoice at your birth among us.
       Holy child, come to us now, and make us holy by your presence.

2.
Wonder of wonders! Christ is born!
The Child of God has come to dwell with us.
The Word is made flesh.
The Divine is with us, and among us.
Earth is blessed.
All life is holy.
We worship in awe, in joy, and in love. Alleluia!

3.             [from John 1.14-18]
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was present to God, and the Word was God.
In the Word was life, and the life was the light of all people.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us,
and we have seen the glory of the Word,
the delight and attention given an only child,
full of grace, full of truth.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.

4.
Love is infinite, enveloping all that is.
Love is as invisible as gravity, and just as strong.
Love is the seed of the universe, the the womb of life.
Love is God, eternal and perfect.
And yet love is also made flesh, right here and now.
Love has been born among us, and within us.
Christ is born! Alleluia!

5.
Light of God, calling all Creation into being, awaken us to new life this holy day.
By your creating light, renew all Creation with the glory of your grace.
Light of Christ, born among us, illumine our hearts.
By your life-giving light, create us anew in your image.
Light of the Spirit, rising in our hearts, chase away all darkness.
By your ever-present light, make us one with you,
that with your angels we may sing your good news to all the world.

6.
Leader: Alleluia! Christ is born
All: Alleluia! Grace is in our midst; love is among us!
Let us live in the light of the Holy Child.
Alleluia! Let us worship in the spirit of Christ. Alleluia!

Collect / Prayer of the Day

1.
God, you have come among us as a child. Give us grace to attend. Give us hearts to see and to wonder. Give us courage to follow. Speak to us, who long for the fulfillment of your desire. Amen.

2.
God of miracles,
in the hard labor of a mother, your love is revealed.
In the quiet support of a patient father your presence is revealed.
In the tender face of a newborn child your glory is revealed.
In the worship of your devoted people your grace is revealed.
May we witness, your love in our worship.
May we bear witness to your love in our lives. Amen.

3.
Loving God, you have poured your Spirit into us so that we are your children. We rejoice in your love for us. We listen for your voice, as an infant listening to the voice of its mother. Speak to us, and fill us with your light. Amen.

4.
Loving God, your Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we have beheld his glory. Bring your Word to life in us now, as we hear and reflect on your scriptures. O Come, Emmanuel, and be born in us. Amen.

5.
God of Grace, when Anna and Simeon saw Jesus in the temple, they knew that you were present. As we gather in this church, open our eyes to see your presence here. Be with us and bless us with a spirit of prayerfulness and mindfulness, in our worship and throughout our lives. We pray in the name and the spirit and the presence of Christ. Amen.

6.
Eternal God, we give thanks that you choose to come to us and live with us. By the birth of Christ you have revealed to us our salvation, and set us free from the power of sin and death. Bless us this holy day, that we may receive the holy child with faith, serve him in tenderness of heart, and walk with him in ministry all of our days, in the grace of your Spirit. Amen.

7.
God of love, the Christ child is born among us. Give us faith to honor him, in all the ways he appears among us. Give us grace to tend to all who are small, tender, and vulnerable, for Christ is among them. Give us wisdom to tend to the small child within us, the infant Divine, who grows and strengthens, who blesses us from within. Open our eyes, God, to your presence. Amen.

8.
God of all majesty, we thank you, for you have revealed your glory and your tender compassion in Jesus. We who long for the redemption of the world rejoice, for we have seen your salvation. Bless us as we hear and reflect on your scripture, and throughout our lives, that we may behold Jesus’ presence, and shine with his light. Amen.

9.
Womb of Love, you have given birth to Jesus, who is not only our Chief and our Leader, our Teacher and Savior, but also our brother. In awe we celebrate. In gratitude we thank you. In wonder we worship. Alleluia! Amen.

10.
God of all majesty, we thank you, for you have revealed your glory and your tender compassion in Jesus. We who long for the redemption of the world rejoice, for we have seen your salvation. Bless us as we hear and reflect on your scripture, and throughout our lives, that we may behold Jesus’ presence, and shine with his light. Amen.

Listening Prayer

(suitable as a Collect, preparation for hearing scriptures, or invitation to prayer)

Newborn Christ, Infant of God,
we take you in our arms.
We behold your light, our salvation,
your promise fulfilled.
We wonder, We praise.
We hold you.

Prayer for a New Year

God of love, we stand on the threshold of a new year.
All that we have done this year, we have done;
and what we have not done remains undone.
We let it go, and place it in your hands.
Bless the seeds of love we have sown;
forgive all in which we have failed your love;
and set us free to begin anew.
As you give us the gift of a new year
we receive it with humble joy,
and we covenant to spend it according to your will.
Guide us, use us, that by your Holy Spirit
Christ may be born in us. Amen.

Response / Creed / Affirmation

1. [Lk. 2.30-32]
      We believe in God, Creator of all that is and all that is to come, whose promises are sure and whose will is love and blessing.
      We follow Christ: born of Mary, fully human and fully divine, our brother and our Savior, God’s presence among us, our salvation, which God has prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the world and for glory to God’s people. In his human life we see all of God’s promises fulfilled, all of God’s love embodied, and all of God’s power hidden. He loved and served; he was crucified and raised from the dead; he is with us still, if we open our hearts to see him.
     We trust in the Holy Spirit, who leads us; the church, the body of Christ, who accompanies us; the communion of saints, who surround us, the forgiveness of sin, which frees us; the resurrection, which gives us courage; and the mystery of eternal life, which is God’s life hidden in this world. Amen.

2. [from John 1.1-18]
       In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. What has come into being in the Word was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
       The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of human will, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of parents’ only child, full of grace and truth.
       From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Begotten, who is close to God’s heart, who has made God known.

3. [based on John 1.1-5, 14]
Leader: “In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was present to God, and the Word was God.”
All: The Word is love, and it is love we honor and love we live.
“In the Word was life, and the life was the light of all people.”
Love has blessed us; love has birthed us and brought us to this day.
“And the Word became flesh and lived among us,
and we have seen the glory of the Word,
the delight and attention given an only child,
full of grace, full of truth.”
In Jesus we have seen God’s love.
It is that love we give ourselves to, to receive from,
to learn from, and to practice.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it. “
As shepherds returned to their fields telling of the good news,
we go into the fields of our daily lives, proclaiming in words and deeds,
in devotion and in justice, the new birth of God’s love among us. Alleluia!

Poetry

         
           Christmas Blessing

May the coming of Christ
deepen your wonder
and widen your gratitude.

May the helpless child
bring forth your tenderness
and strengthen your love.

May the gentle mother
give you courage to embrace the holy
and find the divine in yourself.

May the child who shares our death
bring light into your darkness,
and hope to your weariness.

May the holy family in the stable
open your heart to the poor,
the homeless, the refugee.

May the child sought by soldiers
embolden you to cry out
and empower you to resist injustice.

May the angels who sing above you
awaken your heart
and surround you with beauty.

May the One Who Comes
remind you of your belovedness
and fill you with kindness and mercy,
and give you joy.

Eucharistic Prayer

See Eucharistic Prayers and Responses (Sanctus, Acclamation and Amen) set to familiar Christmas tunes).

[After the introduction, the body of the prayer may be read responsively with the presiding leader(s) and congregation, or by the leader(s) alone.]

1.
God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Holy One, our God.
It is good and beautiful to give God our praise.

Creator God, from the beginning
you have made all things through your Word,
in which is life, and the light of all people.
The light shines in the darkness
and the darkness cannot overcome it.
Therefore we sing your praise:

            [Sanctus, spoken or sung:]
        Holy, holy, holy One, God of power and might,
        heaven and earth are full of your glory.
        Hosanna in the highest.
        Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
        Hosanna in the highest.
               [or alternate version]

The true light that enlightens everyone
was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made through him,
yet the world did not know him.
For to all who receive Christ
God gives power to become children of God,
born not of the flesh nor of human will,
but born of God.

[ The Blessing and Covenant ]

As long as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection, until he comes again.
Therefore, remembering these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves as a living and holy sacrifice,
in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:

             [Memorial Acclamation, spoken or sung:]
        Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
                     —or—
        Dying, Christ destroyed our death. Rising, Christ restores our life.
        Christ will come again in glory.
             [or alternative]

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
full of grace and truth; and we have beheld his glory;
and from this glory we all receive, grace upon grace.
No one has ever seen God; Christ makes God known.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts, O God,
that they may be for us the Body and Blood of Christ.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us,
that we may be for the world the Body of Christ,
prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the world
and for glory to you.

     [Spoken or sung]
Amen.

_____________________

2.
God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Holy One, our God.
It is good and beautiful to give God our praise.

Creator God, we bless you in peace,
for according to your word our eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the world and for glory to your people Israel.
For your Word is made flesh, your love embodied among us.
For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so you have caused righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations.
In the fulness of time you sent a Son, born of a woman,
so that we might receive adoption as your children.
Therefore with all Creation we sing your praise:


            [Sanctus, spoken or sung:]
        Holy, holy, holy One, God of power and might,
        heaven and earth are full of your glory.
        Hosanna in the highest.
        Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
        Hosanna in the highest.
               [or alternate version]

Blessed are all who come in your name,
and blessed is Jesus, your Christ, born of a woman,
who brings your love to our side,
in whom we hold your presence in our arms.
In him your promises are fulfilled
In his love is the healing of the world.
Source of the dying and rising of many,
he was a sign that was opposed.
He was crucified and yet you raised him from the dead.

     (The Blessing and Covenant)
As long as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection, until he comes again.
Therefore, remembering these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves as a living and holy sacrifice,
in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:

             [Memorial Acclamation, spoken or sung:]
        Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
                     —or—
        Dying, Christ destroyed our death. Rising, Christ restores our life.
        Christ will come again in glory.
             [or alternative]

Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup,
that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Pour out your Spirit on us,
that we may be for the world the Body of Christ,
a crown of beauty in the hand of the Holy One,
and a royal diadem in the hand of God.
As a child Christ evokes our love;
so in his life and teaching he calls forth our love.
Send us now in love, in service to this child,
and to all the children of the world,
in the name of Christ and the power of your Holy Spirit.

     [Spoken or sung]
Amen.

____________
* The Blessing and Covenant
[I usually don’t print the words. I want people to be looking at the bread, not their bulletins.]

On the night in which he gave himself for us
Jesus took bread, blessed it,. broke it, and gave it to his disciples,saying,
“Take and eat; this is my body.”
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup,
blessed it with thanks and gave it to them, saying,
“Drink of this, all of you. This is my blood,
poured out for you and for many, in a new Covenant,
which is the forgiveness of sin.”
As long as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection, until he comes again.

Prayer of Dedication / Sending / after Communion

[Adapt as needed.]
1.
Gracious God, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.) Your Word was made flesh, and has dwelt among us. Your light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.

2.
Gracious God, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.) We give you our lives, symbolized in these gifts. Receive them with love, bless them with grace and use them according to your will. Send us into the new year as new people, people of hope, your children for the sake of the healing of the world, in the name of Christ. Amen.

3.
Gracious God, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.) You have given us the gift of Jesus, the gift of your life with us. Therefore in gratitude and joy we give you the gift of our lives with you. Receive these gifts as symbols of our lives, and use them according to your delight for the sake of the healing of the world, in the name of Christ. Amen.

4.
Gracious God, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.) For the incarnation of your Word in Christ, in this meal, in our hearts, in the Church, and in the world, we give you thanks. Send us into the world to be your Word made flesh, with the Christ child alive in us, by the power of your loving Spirit. Amen.

5.
God of light and healing, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.) Grant that in this new year Christ may be born in our hearts, dwell with us all our days, and guide us in all things. Send us into the world to embody your love, to proclaim your good news, and to serve you without fear all the days of our lives. Amen.

Suggested Songs

(Click on titles to view, and hear an audio clip, on the Music page)

Anna and Simeon’s Song        (Original song)

Today I held in my trembling hands such a child so pure:
a gift of grace, God’s human face, love so tenderly given.
Wonder! Wonder! How God’s promise is sure!
Fears cease in hope and peace: earth has now become heaven.

Today I saw with my wondering eyes such a child divine!
My heart sang out for all about shone the light of the Near One.
Wonder! Wonder! That this joy could be mine.
Jesus has come to us, the Beloved, the Dear one.

Today you’ll meet in a simply way such a Presence, a Friend:
the Gentle One refuses none with God’s tender salvation.
Wonder! Wonder! Miracle without end!
Praise, pray and everyday bow in deep adoration.


Drawn by Your Light (Tune: Away in a Manger)

In darkness we gather, God, drawn by your light,
your glorious presence that blesses the night,
the light and the deep peace that Jesus imparts,
the Spirit’s bright radiance that burns in our hearts.

The light of Creation that made the first dawn,
the pillar of fire that led Israel on,
the star that led magi to where Jesus was
now draws us to worship with alleluias.

Your light shines so even the darkness is blessed
this night as we wait for the coming of Christ.
God, shine your light warmly in us by your grace,
that we may bear healing and justice and peace.


Emmanuel       (Original song)

How dark is the night and how cold is the home
we have made in our pain and our sin!
How could it be that a savior would come
to be with us? Please enter in!
Welcome, Emmanuel! Welcome in!
Welcome, Emmanuel! Welcome in!

Are we alone in our failure and terror,
struggling, confused in the night?
We cannot save ourselves, weary from error,
Who will bring us the light? Welcome…

Closing our doors to the wind of Creation,
alone, we are living in fear.
Emmanuel comes now, our healing salvation,
to dwell with us, bringing love here. Welcome…

Wait, though, dear Jesus, this life will be trying:
you’ll die in sorrow and scorn.
“Yes, but I’ll bless all your living and dying.
See, in the manger I’m born.” Welcome…


Peace, Peace, Peace         (Tune: Still, Still, Still)

Peace, peace, peace. God grant you peace, my friends.
The Christ child comes, so sweet and tender.
Greet him with your trust and wonder.
Peace, peace, peace, God be with you, my friends.

Love, love, love, love light your way, my friends.
Here at the manger humbly kneeling;
gladly going, serving, healing.
Love, love, love, love light your way, my friends.

Advent to Epiphany – the Story
A solo. Congregation may join in on final chorus.
(Tune: Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah)

In the darkest time of year,
a time of hope, and a time of fear,
the prophet says that God is coming to you.
And so we turn from greed and hate,
still learning to pray and watch and wait,
and sing our fragile, hopeful hallelujah.
     Hallelujah…    

Young Mary said her “Yes” to him,
and Jesus was born in Bethlehem,
and laid him in a manger, that’ll do you.
The light of love shone in the night.
The shepherds came to see the sight,
and angels sang a glorious Hallelujah.
     Hallelujah…

Some wise men traveled from afar,
just following such a tiny star,
as if its simple light could shine right though you.
They gave their treasures to the king,
who makes you want to serve and sing,
who tells you you can be his Hallelujah.
     Hallelujah…

Lectionary Texts

In 2 Samuel 7. 1-11, 16 David wants to build a temple but God says, “I will make you a house.”

Luke 1.47-55 The Magnificat. “My soul magnifies (praises) God, who has regarded me in my low status.” God has brought the mighty down and lifted up the lowly.

Romans 16. 25-27 God is able to strengthen you through the gospel to bring about faith.

Luke 1.26-38 The annunciation. Gabriel tells Mary she will have a special child., and she consents.

Preaching Thoughts

Still Advent? Seriously??
       Well, yes. This Sunday is the 4^th Sunday of Advent. Liturgically it isn’t Christmas Eve till tonight. In the secular 21^st Century, it is sadly true that for most folks Christmas is not a religious holiday. So they wouldn’t think of going to church twice on this day, in the morning for Advent 4 and in the evening for a Christmas Eve service. You’ll have to make a judgment call about how you handle that in your setting, and to what degree you allow this Sunday morning to slide out of Advent and into Christmas. Seek a way for liturgical integrity to dialogue with people’s desires and expectations.

2 Samuel
        When God says, “I will make you a house,” it can mean both “I will make a house for you” and also “I will make you yourself into a house (for me).” God provides for us, partly by providing in us. Our Advent preparations are mindful of this double blessing: that we await the coming of Christ for us, and prepare for Christ’s birth in us. For you God will make a house for Jesus to be born in, and God will make you a house for Jesus to be born in.

Luke 1.47-55— The Magnificat
       In the chronology of Luke’s gospel, this passage comes after the following one, of the Annunciation. (It’s the song Mary bursts forth with when she visits Elizabeth.) But in todays’ liturgy it comes earlier, serving as a Psalm— because it is one. It’s a song of praise for God’s grace specifically addressing our need: Mary’s “low estate,” paralleled by the state of the poor and hungry. Historically it has been an act of blatant denial for the church to ignore the obviously revolutionary sense of Mary’s song. Not only does God “lift up the lowly” (how sweet!) but also also “brings down the powerful” (how disturbing!) This isn’t a wish for the poor to be on top instead of the rich. (How many “revolution”s have we seen in which the formerly powerless become the ruthless despots?) This is not a zero-sum vision, that there’s only so much wealth or power to go around. It is a critique of all hierarchies, power structures, and systems of privilege and exclusion. It’s not that the levels of the political or economic ladder are reversed: they’re abolished. There’s no ladder. God brings everyone to the same level. Jesus preaches the same radical concept: not a ladder of status or a pyramid of power, but a circle in which the last is first and the first last. In a circle the last doesn’t become a new first: they, and everyone else, remain always both last and first.
      But. It sure feels like zero-sum to the folks who have to be brought down. To the privileged, justice feels unfair. This is the hard edge of the gospel: we want to hang onto our privilege, whatever it is. Time after time, with pharisee and tax collector in prayer, with prostitutes entering heaven before the rabbis, with laborers all paid a full day’s wage, Jesus keeps hammering it home: there’s no privilege with God. No superiority, no “better than.” No such thing as good enough, or not good enough, or deserving at all. Only God’s grace. This is the “mercy according to the promise God made to our ancestors” that Mary sings about.

Luke 1.26-38 – The Annunciation
       The “Virgin Birth.” Luke, for good reason, has misunderstood Isaiah 7:14 that says “A young maiden is with child and shall bear a son.” The word “virgin” means sexually chaste, but the Hebrew word simply means a young woman. In Isaiah there’s no reason to assume she’s a virgin, or not married, or even that this is her first child. There’s no prophecy of a virgin birth! If you want to be strictly literal, Gabriel does not say “This moment you shall conceive…” but “Now then, you shall.” It’s a prophecy about the future. Like, when she gets married. Mary’s response isn’t necessarily about her virginity. She’s just saying, “What are you talking about, having a royal baby? I’m just an ordinary girl! I’m not even married yet!” Gabriel’s response isn’t about the absence of sex in this child’s conception, but the Spirit’s presence. There’s no need to “create” a virgin birth. But of course Luke intends just that. Legends of virgin births were popular in Jesus’ day among important people: Caesar claimed one. So both Matthew and Luke follow the tradition. We can’t pretend that Luke doesn’t describe a virgin birth. So that’s the story, even if we don’t have to take it as literal truth.
       So what? What if the story of a virgin birth is not true? Nothing, that’s what. It doesn’t change a thing. Jesus is who he is, does what he does, sets us free from the power of our fear and selfishness, inaugurates a new Realm of Grace, and calls us to follow, independent of Mary’s sex life. And—look how God can do amazing things, even through ordinary people! And what if the story is true? Then look how God can do amazing things, even through ordinary people! (And look at the power of a woman who doesn’t need a man to fulfill her calling!) Remember, this is a story, the point of which is not how it happened, but what it’s about. And this is a story about God acting decisively in human history… about a way to think of Jesus as being “of God,” and God acting intentionally in Jesus, who is “sent” by God, and represents God… about God using ordinary people… about God’s promises and fulfillment…… about saying “yes” to God… about a lot of things other than sex. (By the way we know Mary did eventually have sex, since Jesus had at least four brothers and three sisters [Mt. 13.55]—unless they were all born of virgin births!) All of this, this story is about, regardless of Mary’s experience.
      Gabriel’s message, God’s prayer. Fussing about whether Mary had sex or not is a tragic diversion from the real impact of this story. Imagine it as God’s message to you —God’s prayer: that God favors you, that you have the power to conceive love in this world, not by your own accomplishment—“how can this be!?”—but by God’s grace—“for the Holy Spirit will come upon you.” The love you conceive will be great, and will last forever. And if you don’t believe this, look around at others who no one thought could bear love into the world and see: nothing is impossible with God.
       Maybe the best part of the story, the real part people should be obsessed with, is Mary’s response. “Here I am, willing to serve God. May it be for me according to your word.” Do we dare say that to God? Do we say that to God’s promise that we will bring great love into the world? Maybe we need Mary’s prayer as much as we need the Lord’s prayer.

Call to Worship

1. See Advent candle lighting prayers, Advent Wreath Prayers and music resources here.

2. [Also suitable as a prayer or response later in the service.]
Greetings, favored ones! God is with you.
Our soul magnifies the Holy One,
and our spirit rejoices in God, our savior.
You have found favor with God.
You shall conceive in your hearts
and bear God’s love into the world.
God has looked with favor on us in our lowliness,
for God has done mighty things for us.
The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
so your love will be of God.
God has brought down the powerful and lifted up the lowly,
filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.
Look about you and see the fruitfulness of God’s love.
Fro nothing is impossible with God.
Here we are, in service to God.
May it be for us according to your word. Amen.

3.
God of love, we yearn for your presence.
Our hearts ache for your light.
Christ, bearer of miracles, we look to your coming,
for the dawning of your new day.
We look for the light that leads us to life.
Spirit of light, arise in us and guide us,
Our hearts are open mangers,
ready for the birth of the holy child
in our love and hope and gentleness.
Come, O light, and dawn upon is.
Come, O Light, and unfold your beauty within us.

Collect / Prayer of the Day

1.
God of love, your angel spoke to Mary, telling her of great things you were doing in her. Speak to us now. Let us hear the good news of your desire for us, and for all Creation, unfolding in us. Here are we, the servants of your love. May it be for us according to your Word. Amen.

2.
Great God, Loving Mystery, as your angel Gabriel came to Mary, come to us now and speak to us. May your Holy Spirit come upon us, and the power of your love overwhelm us, so that what is in our hearts may be holy. Conceive in us your love, your grace, your breathing presence. We are in your service. May it be for us according to your Word. Amen.

3.
Gracious God, Creator of all things, you are still creating.
Receive our deepest longings with tenderness, and nourish them,
that we may plead for your coming in hope.
Gentle Christ, you who have come among us in love, you are still coming.
Open our hearts, that we may prepare for you with lives of love.
Spirit of Life, you shone in the darkness, and still you shine.
Shine in us, that we may proclaim your coming in lives of joy and justice,
Incarnate God, you entered into Mary, and she bore you into the world.
Bless us, that we may participate in your coming with deep and life-giving peace.
Amen.

Listening Prayer

(suitable as a Collect, preparation for hearing scriptures, or invitation to prayer)

1.
Beloved, we have found favor with you.
May your Holy Spirit come upon us,
your love overwhelm us,
that what is conceived in our hearts be holy.
Here we are, in service to you.
May it be for us according to your word.


2.
God,
Let it sink into me.
Let me conceive this:
that you choose to come into this world
through me.
May it be for me
according to your word.

Poetry

Annunciation
Greetings, favored one. The Holy One is with you.
Do not be afraid: you have found favor with God.
And now, you will contain within yourself the body
of God, the flesh of love, the glory of heaven.
There stirs in you the mystery and power
of God’s great plan, God’s hope for humanity:
the salvation of the world in your hands, in your words.
The cosmic and the personal are one
in your womb, in your love, in your labor.
In you lies the seed of the whole garden.
Of the dominion of your love there will be no end.
The little things you do will burn with the energy
of heaven, the grace that turns galaxies and parts the sea;
that brings down the powerful and raises up the lowly,
feeds the hungry and sends the rich to find a new way.
And now, your kinswoman Mary in her courage
has also conceived this love, and has consented.
She in her compassion and wisdom has shown you
that nothing is impossible with God.


Annunciation
      

An ordinary life you have,
like baked bread, the aroma of love,
like old wood, edges worn from kindness.

In a moment’s pause, a small step aside
from the rush, the proof—
the abyss opens. Heaven inhales.

Deep, wordless, you sense
wings, breathing, Presence.
Silence speaks.

Sunlight on a plain rock,
music of a flower not usual
for this season: You are Beloved.

The Infinite names you, adores,
finds in you, in your flesh, your voice,
your hands, a place to live.

What is within you is holy.
What is of you is of God, Mystery
spiraling out from you like a nebula, a child.

You will not cease being ordinary,
nor feel different. You will bear
the Divine made infant into the world

if only moment
by moment you say
Yes.

Response / Creed / Affirmation

[See Call to worship #3 above.]

Eucharistic Prayer

For prayers set to familiar Christmas tunes see:
Advent Table Songs (preparation for communion),
Eucharistic responses,
whole Eucharistic prayers, and
Songs of blessing.

[After the introduction, the body of the prayer may be read responsively with the presiding leader(s) and congregation, or by the leader(s) alone.]

God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Holy One, our God.
It is good and beautiful to give God our praise.

Our spirits rejoice in you O God,
for you have done great things.
You have looked with favor on your humblest people
and blessed us with mercy through all generations.
You have condemned the powers of oppression,
brought down the powerful, and set free your people.
You have fed the poor with good things.
Therefore with all Creation we sing your praise:

            [Sanctus, spoken or sung:]
        Holy, holy, holy One, God of power and might,
        heaven and earth are full of your glory.
        Hosanna in the highest.
        Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
        Hosanna in the highest.
               [or alternate version]Blessed is the one who comes in your name,
Jesus, your Christ, in whom you dwelt among us.
In love he fed the hungry, lifted up the lowly,
and confronted the illusions of the powerful.
With the despised he was crucified, but you raised him up with power.
For with you nothing is impossible.

[The Blessing and Covenant…]

As long as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection, until he comes again.
Therefore, remembering these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves as a living and holy sacrifice,
in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:

             [Memorial Acclamation, spoken or sung:]
        Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
                     —or—
        Dying, Christ destroyed our death. Rising, Christ restores our life.
        Christ will come again in glory.
             [or alternative]

Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup,
that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
May your Holy Spirit come upon us,
the power of the Most High overshadow us,
so that what is conceived in us will be holy.
May your love rule in our hearts,
and of its reign may there be no end.
Here we are, Lord, your humble servants.
May it be for us according to your Word.

     [Spoken or sung]
Amen.

_____________________

* The Blessing and Covenant
[I usually don’t print the words. I want people to be looking at the bread, not their bulletins.]

On the night in which he gave himself for us
Jesus took bread, blessed it,. broke it, and gave it to his disciples,saying,
“Take and eat; this is my body.”
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup,
blessed it with thanks and gave it to them, saying,
“Drink of this, all of you. This is my blood,
poured out for you and for many, in a new Covenant,
which is the forgiveness of sin.”
As long as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection, until he comes again.

Prayer of Dedication / Sending / after Communion

[Adapt as needed.]
1.
Gracious God, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.) As the bread works within us to become flesh, so may your love become flesh in us, for the sake of the world, in the power of your Spirit and the name of Christ, who is coming. Amen.

2.
Gracious God, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.) You come to us in bread and cup, in human life, in love made real. By the grace of this meal may Christ be born in us. May we, by your Spirit in us, bear your divine, loving presence into the world for the sake of its redemption, to your glory. Amen.

3.
Gracious God, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.) You have extended your favor to us,,and you have conceived your love in our hearts. Your Holy Spirit has come over us, and your Christ has been given flesh in our body and our soul. May your grace grow within us; may we embody your love. God of our salvation, may it be for us according to your Word. Amen.

4.
Gracious God, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.)
By the power of your Spirit, with the grace of these gifts,
in the company of Jesus, send us into the world as the Body of Christ,
to love as Jesus loved, to be light in the darkness
and signs of hope for the healing of the world,
to your eternal glory. Amen.

Suggested Songs

(Click on titles to view, and hear an audio clip, on the Music page)

For prayers set to familiar Christmas tunes see:
Advent Table Songs (preparation for communion)
Eucharistic responses
whole Eucharistic prayers
Songs of blessing

Come, Bring Your Light and Shepherd of Israel are weekly litanies, one verse per week; suitable for a call to worship, introduction or response to scripture, response to sermon, or other places in worship:

Come, Bring Your Light (Original song)
A dialogue between solo cantor and congregation.
The Cantor’s lyrics reflect the day’s lectionary texts; the congregational response is the same throughout Advent.)
Week 4:
Cantor:
My soul magnifies the Holy One, and rejoices in God my savior.
For God has looked kindly on me in my lowliness.

God has brought down the powerful and lifted up the lowly,
filled the hungry and sent the rich away empty handed.

        Congregation:
        O Come to us, O come, Emmanuel,
        and bring your light into our darkened world.

Blessed are you, for you have found favor with our God.
The Holy Spirit shall conceive a child, God’s Only Begotten One.

Noting is impossible with our God.
Here we are, your servants, God. Let it be for us according to your word.

        Congregation:
        O Come to us, O come, Emmanuel,
        and bring your light into our darkened world.


Shepherd of Israel (Original song)
A dialogue between solo cantor and congregation.
The Cantor’s lyrics reflect the day’s lectionary texts; the congregational response is the same throughout Advent.)

Congregation:
Kyrie Eleison. Christe Eleison. Kyrie Eleison.
Come to us, and grant your peace.

Cantor:
Week 1. Shepherd of Israel, come, restore your people.
Shine your face on us and save us, God.    … Kyrie…

Week 2. Comfort, speak tenderly. Gently lead your people.
God, forgive our sins and make us new.    … Kyrie…

Week 3. Pour out your Spirit, God, Heal the brokenhearted.
Love, prepare our hearts to see your light.    … Kyrie…

Week 4. Grant us your mercy, God. Fill the poor with good things.
Guide our feet into your way of peace.    … Kyrie…

Blessed Child (Original song)

Blessed child of Bethlehem, waiting to be born,
some will bring you incense, and some a crown of thorns.
yet you bear so gently all our joys and harms.
How I long to greet you, and hold you in my arms.

Blessed child of heaven, waiting to e born,
joy of all Creation, delight of those who mourn:
teach us how to worship, teach us how to love,
living in the presence of angels from above.

Blessed child among us waiting to be born,
in whom all are healed, and all our sorrows borne,
help us live in love, in peace and reconciled.
By your birth in us, everyone’s a holy child.

Blessed child within me, waiting to be born,
bringing gifts and wonders with the light of morn,
heaven springing in me, new life yet to grow:
child of holy promise, oh how I love you so!


The Magnificat (Tune: What Child Is This)

My soul sings out in joy to God, who’s favored me, so lowly.
The Mighty One has kindly done great things, for God is holy.
This, this is grace outlaid, God’s mercy in the promise made,
Praise, praise, the Faithful One, and magnify our savior!

God brings the powerful down from thrones while lifting up the lowly.
God feeds the poor, and the rich no more receive, but the hungry solely.
Praise! Praise the Mighty one for all the things that God has done
Love, love will honor God, who promises mercy forever.

December 17, 2023

Lectionary Texts

Isaiah 61.1-11. The Spirit has anointed me to do God’s justice: to care for the poor and powerless and set people free. God says “I love justice.” God will cause righteousness to spring up like growing shoots.

Psalm 126 Thanks for recovery from disappointment. “May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. Those who go out weeping shall come home with shouts of joy.”

1 Thessalonians 5. 16-24 “Rejoice always.” In all circumstances rejoice and pray, be thankful, and hold fast to what is good as we await the coming of Christ.

John 1. 6-8, 19-28 John the baptizer is not the light, but bears witness to the light: “among you stands one who is coming.”

       See Advent Resources including Advent Candle Lighting Prayers,
       Advent Wreath prayers, and music including Eucharistic prayers
       and responses and weekly litanies, and more.

Preaching Thoughts

Isaiah
       “Good news for the poor” seems to be Jesus’ mission statement, as he announces in Luke 4. There are certainly echoes here of last weeks’ Isaiah reading: “Comfort, comfort my people….” But there are also the seeds of discomfort. Good news to the oppressed, liberty to captives and release to prisoners will not be good news for the prisons, oppressors and systems that support them. Both sides of justice are evident. So Advent comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable. Our preaching needs to do the same. As much as we expect people to want warm, comforting Christmas sermons in Advent, what scripture gives us is more transformative—hence, unsettling. Advent invites us to gently shepherd our listeners to be prepared to be unsettled, which is how you enter the new “way” God is preparing. The justice Isaiah anticipates here is a new world whose advent requires that we let go of the old one.

1 Thessalonians
       To “rejoice always” can sound sappy, and if misunderstood can encourage us to minimize our grief, ignore the real suffering others endure, and overlook the anguish caused by the injustice in which we are complicit. Happiness that is numb to the evil we suffer and the evil we cause is simply denial. But when we’re aware of the suffering hope and joy can be revolutionary and even subversive. Part of the power of oppressive systems is their capacity to instill resentment, despair and hopelessness in the oppressed. To rejoice in the face of suffering and to be at peace in the face of threats robs the oppressor of power. We are neither numb to evil or suffering, nor willing to let them define our response. Hope in the face of oppression is an act of resistance.
       It’s hard to “rejoice always” when we’re suffering. It’s also hard to remain sensitive to the suffering of others. So many of the shootings in America are committed by men who can’t bear the feeling of being wronged, threatened, or even merely inconvenienced, while other people’s suffering means nothing. This is an extreme example, but part of the nature of not knowing how to rejoice always and give thanks in all circumstances. Advent invites us into the paradox of holding fast to what is good even as we face what is evil, rejoicing even as we work against injustice ,and giving thanks even as we suffer. Our hope is not wishful thinking, but trust that the Coming One is already here at work.

John
       Religious authorities react against John’s message because it subverts religious power structures, but they’re also uncomfortable with John himself because he doesn’t fit their established categories. They don’t know what to make of him. We all have ways to judge and categorize people. The more entrenched our categories are, the more discomforted we are by people who don’t fit them. They threaten ours sense that we know what’s what. Witness people’s emotional reactions to trans people, drag queens and strong women. John represents a crumbling of our established stereotypes. Advent reminds us that God’s justice will require the dismantling of a lot of our judgments, stereotypes and power structures. Jesus won’t fit any of our expectations—not the warrior Messiah his contemporaries expected; not the nice, meek shampoo model we see posted in our Sunday Schools; not the defiant, muscled, gun-toting manly man white Christian nationalists wish for… Nope, he’s Something Else. Advent invites us to allow Jesus to be a new person, to come in a new way, and to initiate a new world. We long for confirmation of our beliefs. But God promises transformation of ourselves, our faith, our minds, and our world. Advent is a time of preparation through repentance.

Call to Worship

1.
See Advent Candle Lighting Prayers here.

2.
See Advent Wreath Prayers here.

3.
In the beginning was the Word.
The Word was the light of all people.
Prophets bore witness to the light.
We ourselves are given the light.
As we worship, God, kindle your light in us.
May we shine in this world as signs of your coming. Amen.

4.
Gentle Christ, you who have come among us in love, you are still coming.
Open our hearts, that we may prepare for you with lives of love.
Spirit of Life, you shone in the darkness, and still you shine.
Shine in us, that we may proclaim your coming in lives of joy and justice.
Incarnate God, in love and mercy you are continually coming into the world.
Bless us, that we may participate in your coming with deep and life-giving peace. Amen.

Collect / Prayer of the Day

1.
Loving God, you who are coming, you who are here: we await the coming of Christ, the ruler of the world and of our hearts. Prepare a way: give us courage to be a voice in the wilderness crying out for your desire. Lead us in the ways of justice. Open our hearts to the coming of Christ and his Reign of mercy and justice. Amen.

2.
God of life, as your prophet cries in the wilderness, we prepare a way in our hearts for your coming. We open ourselves to your presence, to your transforming Word, to your power in this world. Be our light in the darkness, our song in the silence, our star in the night, so that we might be your people in this world. Amen.

3.
Gracious God, you sent John the Baptizer to call people to repentance and to prepare the way for Christ. By your spirit, speak your Word to our hearts, and help us to repent of all our ways that injure life, so that we might bear your justice into this world, and bear your healing to those who are hurting, in the name of Christ. Amen.

4.
Gracious God, Creator of all things, you are still creating.
Receive our deepest longings with tenderness, and nourish them,
that we may plead for your coming in hope. Amen.

5.
Gracious and ever-present God, your prophets promised the coming of your reign of mercy and justice, and the healing of the world. We still our hearts and minds before you now, to listen for your Word, that this mighty transformation may begin in our own hearing. Bless us, that as your Scriptures are read and your good news proclaimed, we may hear, and our hearts may be healed, our lives changed. Amen.

6.
Gracious God, we bless you, for you hear our prayers and come to us, bringing light into the darkness of our hearts. Grant us, your people, the wisdom to see your purposes today and the opening to hear your will, that in our lives we may bear witness to Christ¹s coming and so prepare his way. This we pray, in the name and the spirit of Christ. Amen.

Listening Prayer

(suitable as a Collect, preparation for hearing scriptures, or invitation to prayer)

Loving God, you bid us to pray without ceasing.
May our listening be prayer,
our breathing be praise.
God of peace, sanctify us entirely.
We are yours.

Prayer of Confession

Gentle God: to rejoice always, to pray without ceasing, to give thanks in all things, to abstain from every form of evil, these have been hard for us. Forgive us, heal our hearts, and renew your Spirit in us, that we may faithfully hold fast to what is good. May Christ be born in us, that we may become new people. Amen.

Eucharistic Prayer

See Advent Eucharistic Responses (Sanctus, Acclamation, and Amen set to familiar Christmas tunes.)
And see Advent Eucharistic Prayers, entire prayer set to familiar Christmas tunes.

[After the introduction, the body of the prayer may be read responsively with the presiding leader(s) and congregation, or by the leader(s) alone.]

God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Holy One, our God.
It is good and beautiful to give God our praise.

It is always our delight to sing your praise, O God,
for when all was darkness and chaos, you brought forth light.
You made us in your image, with your light already within us.When we were lost and enslaved you came to us;
you condemned and overthrew the powers of oppression and set us free.You have spoken to us through the prophets and walked with us in love.Even in the darkest times you hid your light within us and your hope among us,your promise already given, the dawn already on its way.
Therefore we rejoice, and sing your praise with all creation:

            [Sanctus, spoken or sung:]
        Holy, holy, holy One, God of power and might,
        heaven and earth are full of your glory.
        Hosanna in the highest.
        Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
        Hosanna in the highest.
               [or alternate version]

Blessed are all who come in your name, and blessed is Jesus, your Christ.
Born in a rough stable, hunted by death squads, refugee to Egypt,
he walked with us in our darkest passages.
He brought good news to the poor, release to the captives and sight to the blind.Healing and teaching, gathering a community and crying out for justice,
he embodied your love.Crucified and buried, Christ bore the burden of human suffering.Raised from the dead, Christ embodied your overpowering grace.Christ lived as your promise among us, your hope given flesh,
the new world beginning even now.
This is our hope, our joy and our trust.

[…The Blessing and Covenant…]As long as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection, until he comes again.
Therefore, remembering these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves as a living and holy sacrifice,
in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:

             [Memorial Acclamation, spoken or sung:]
        Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
                     —or—
        Dying, Christ destroyed our death. Rising, Christ restores our life.
        Christ will come again in glory.
             [or alternative]

Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup,
that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Pour out your Spirit on us, that we may be for the world the Body of Christ.
May we live your promise with faith, giving thanks in all things.
May we be your light in this darkness.
May our lives be good news to the poor and proclaim release to the captives.
By your grace may Christ be born in us,
that we may be living signs of your coming.

     [Spoken or sung]
Amen.

____________
* The Blessing and Covenant
[I usually don’t print the words. I want people to be looking at the bread, not their bulletins.]

On the night in which he gave himself for us
Jesus took bread, blessed it,. broke it, and gave it to his disciples,saying,
“Take and eat; this is my body.”
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup,
blessed it with thanks and gave it to them, saying,
“Drink of this, all of you. This is my blood,
poured out for you and for many, in a new Covenant,
which is the forgiveness of sin.”
As long as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection, until he comes again.

Prayer of Dedication / Sending / after Communion

[Adapt as needed.]
1.
Gracious God, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.) Christ has prepared a way for you, in this meal and in this community. Changed by this grace, may we go out and do the work of justice, to prepare the way for your Empire of Love, in the name and spirit of Christ. Amen.

2.
Gracious God, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.) Loving God, born in our hearts and enfleshed in our community, be our hope our courage and our joy. Send us out as your light, in the name of Christ and the power of your Spirit, for the sake of the healing of the world. Amen.

3.
Gracious God, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.) You have fed the hungry; now send us into the world to share your justice, to bring your good news to the poor, and to shine your light in this world to make a way for your coming, in the name and the Spirit of Christ. Amen.

4.
Gracious God, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.) Blessed, transformed, and sustained by these gifts, we go into the world in your name to bring good news to the poor, to set the captives free, and to proclaim your grace. Send us in the power of your Spirit, with the blessing and the company of your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, who even now is coming. Amen.

Suggested Songs

(Click on titles to view, and hear an audio clip, on the Music page)

Advent Table Songs, invitation to communion set to familiar Christmas tunes.

Two Weekly litanies, one verse per week; suitable for a call to worship, introduction or response to scripture, response to sermon, or other places in worship: Come, Bring your Light, and Shepherd of Israel

Come, Bring Your Light (Original song)
A dialogue between solo cantor and congregation.
The Cantor’s lyrics reflect the day’s lectionary texts; the congregational response is the same throughout Advent.)
Week 3:
Cantor:
The spirit of God is upon me,
for the Holy One has anointed me.

God has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
and to bind up the broken-hearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,
to declare the time of God’s favor and comfort those who mourn.

         Congregation:
        O Come to us, O come, Emmanuel,
         and bring your light into our darkened world.

The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world,
the Only Begotten, who is close to God’s heart, has made God known.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all things.
The God of peace will sanctify you and keep you
until the coming of the beloved, Jesus Christ.

         Congregation:
        O Come to us, O come, Emmanuel,
         and bring your light into our darkened world.


Shepherd of Israel (Original Song)
A dialogue between solo cantor and congregation.
The Cantor’s lyrics reflect the day’s lectionary texts; the congregational response is the same throughout Advent.)

Congregation:
Kyrie Eleison. Christe Eleison. Kyrie Eleison.
Come to us, and grant your peace.

Cantor:
1. Shepherd of Israel, come, restore your people.
Shine your face on us and save us, God.    … Kyrie…

2. Comfort, speak tenderly. Gently lead your people.
God, forgive our sins and make us new.    … Kyrie…

3. Pour out your Spirit, God, Heal the brokenhearted.
Love, prepare our hearts to see your light.    … Kyrie…

4. Grant us your mercy, God. Fill the poor with good things.
Guide our feet into your way of peace.     … Kyrie…


Child of Promise (Original song)

Child of promise, oh, child of hope, prophets spoke of you:
visions treasured but unfulfilled. Shall our dreams come true?
Help us wait for you.

Child of woman, oh, child of God, birthing us anew,
make a room, oh, make a womb, in our hearts for you.
Help us wait for you.

Child of patience, oh, child of pain, suffering ills we do,
heal, forgive and help us be gentle child, like you.
Help us wait for you.

Child of wonder, oh, child of joy, you make all things new.
Re-create us, come again like the morning dew.
Help us wait for you.


Prepare Your Way In Me (Original song)

Prepare your way in me, God, prepare your way in me.

1. Make my rough places smooth, the crooked make straight, my God.
2. Lay your hand at my root, that I may bear fruit, my God.
3. Come and empty my heart of all things but you, my God.
4. Guide my feet in your Way. Fill me with your peace, my God.


Isaiah 61 (Tune: O Little Town of Bethlehem)

The Spirit of the Lord our God is strong in us and sure,
sent in God’s grace to be God’s face with good news for the poor,
to heal the brokenhearted, and set the captives free,
and to proclaim in God’s own name their deep new liberty.

We shall provide for those who mourn and broken lives repair,
for God demands that in our hands God’s justice we shall bear.
As earth brings forth new green things, our God will cause to rise
the righteousness that all shall bless, the dawn that greets our eyes.

December 10, 2023

Lectionary Texts

Isaiah 40. 1-11. Comfort, comfort my people. Prepare a way in the wilderness for God’s people to come home. God is coming with power to save and lovingly shepherd the people.

Psalm 85. Thanks for God’s grace and forgiveness, and a plea for God’s continued grace. “Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss.”

2 Peter 3. 8-15. God is not slow to keep their promise. The Day will come like a thief. How shall we prepare? By leading lives of holiness and godliness. We wait for new heavens and a new earth.

Mark 1. 1-8. Like Isaiah’s cry, “Prepare a way,” John the Baptist preaches repentance in preparation for “one more powerful” who is yet to come, who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.

Preaching Thoughts

Isaiah
      The pre-exilic prophets warned Israel they were about to suffer the consequences of their unfaithfulness. During the exile, the prophets had a different message: not warning but assurance— that God was still with them, and would bring them home again. The Gospel preaches both messages to us these days: warning that we’re reaping the harvest of our greed, violence, and oppression; and also comfort that God is with us to redeem, not to punish.
       Exile is a powerful image: people feel alienated, isolated and imprisoned, or at least not free. People on both sides of the political spectrum may feel exiled from their safe homeland, whether they see that as White America or a just society. Of course God’s longing is for the latter, not the former. Our anticipation of the coming of Christ is rooted in that longing for a safe home. But it’s not nostalgia. Think of the exiles who anticipated “returning” to Israel. Most of them had probably never actually been there. It was their parents more than a generation ago who had been sent into exile. So the “return” was a return to something new. So it is with God’s promise for us. To return from exile will be to enter a land where we’ve never actually lived—we’ve only seen far-off glimpses. (That’s what the church is supposed to be.) That’s why it matters that we prepare a way.

2 Peter
       This letter was written a couple generations after Jesus’ death, to people who thought Jesus would have returned by then, and he hadn’t. It assured them God was giving them more time to be ready. As dated as that concern sounds, we also might feel some despair that God hasn’t intervened in the evil of the world. We wonder: will God ever straighten things out? I think we can dismiss the idea that Jesus is going to “come on the clouds,” that at some historical moment God will bring about The Apocalypse. It’s been 2000 years. There’s no reason to think it won’t be another 2000. But the point of 2 Peter isn’t about the timetable: it’s the way we live. It’s the thought that by living lives of love and justice we bring about the world we hope for. I punctuate verses 11-12 differently than our translations: “Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be? Lead lives of holiness and godliness; waiting like this, we hasten the coming of the day of God.”

Mark
       John the Baptist echoes the call to prepare a way by leading lives of holiness and godliness. We “Way” means different things to different speakers. For Isaiah it’s a way for God to come into the world and enact God’s decisive will in freeing the exiles. And it suggests a way for the exiles to return home, a straight, smooth highway instead of the bumpy road they’ve been on. It also implies making a way for God’s will in our world, doing justice so God’s will is enacted. For Mark, John is preparing a way for Jesus. And for John the way is a reformed life of righteousness. All of that—the coming of God, the return of exiles, the doing of justice, the coming of Christ, and our preparations in our own hearts—is part of the Advent message. God, Cyrus, John, Jesus and we are all making a ways for grace to move in our lives and our world. Advent is a time to make space in our lives in which something new can enter, not unlike clearing a space in a room for a new piece of furniture. (And likely some old stuff has to go!) Mary & Joseph ended up in a stable “because there was no room for them in the inn.” Imagine what needed to be moved out of the stable to make room for them even there; what had to be cleared out of the manger to allow for the baby Jesus. What do you need to clear out to make room for grace in your life? What are barriers to grace that need to be leveled to allow it in? Prepare a way.

Call to Worship

1.
See advent candle lighting prayers here.

3.
See Advent wreath prayers here.

3.
In the darkness there is a light.
       In the wilderness there is a voice.
Your love, O God, leads us to you.
       Your wisdom leads us to life.
Gracious God, be our guiding star.
      Be our rising dawn.
      Prepare your way in us,
      that we may worship and serve in love. Amen.

4.
Light of God, rising in the wilderness, awaken us to your glory.
By your revealing light, may we see ourselves clearly, and repent.
Light of Christ, making level the uneven ground, awaken us to your way.
By your guiding light, may we free ourselves of all fear and hatred.
Spirit’s light, rising in our hearts, awaken us to the gift of love.
By your transforming light, baptize us with your Holy Spirit,
that we may prepare for your coming
with hearts full of love and lives of compassion.
Come, dear Jesus, come! Amen.

Collect / Prayer of the Day

1.
God of grace and mercy, you prepare a way to come into this world, many ways that we do not see. Prepare a way to enter our hearts now. In word and silence, in song and prayer and meal, make your way into our hearts and make within us and among us a new heaven and earth, in the Spirit and the Body of Christ. Amen.

2.
God of love, as we wait in the darkness, speak to us. Comfort us, make gentle what is rough in our lives, grant us your promise, and direct us in living out your good news. We pray in the spirit and company of Christ, who is here, and who is coming. Amen.

3.
God of the new dawn,
we gather, mindful of those who live in darkness.
Our hearts ache for your comfort.
Our sorrows cry for your healing.
Christ, O Patient One, you who are coming,
prepare your way in us.
Make our hearts patient, still and receptive;
that we may repent and love one another,
that we may go before you all our days.
O Holy Spirit, strengthen our hearts, that we may live in hope.
By your tender mercy, O God, may your dawn from on high break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace. Amen.

4.
In our darkness we look for your light, for a star in the night, for a candle in a window, for the rising of your dawn. In our weariness we long for your comfort, for an easy chair, for tender, loving arms. In our busyness we search for your grace, for a place to rest, for a promise of hope. In the presence of Christ and of one another, we have gathered to listen for your Word and to receive your grace. In the name of the One who is coming, speak to us; reach out to us, come to us. Amen.

5.
Eternal God, your prophet cries out to make a way for you in the desert. In the barren land of our wayward ways, lead us to life. Across the wasteland of our injustice, selfishness and fear, guide us in the way of peace and the path of justice. Through the dark valleys of our broken hearts, show us the way to your heart. Prepare your way in us, O God. Amen.

6.
Gracious God, you sent your prophets to prepare a way for your peace and justice. You sent Jesus to transform us into your faithful people. Send your Word now to us, prepare a way in our hearts for your presence, baptize us in your Holy Spirit, and guide our feet into the way of peace. Amen.

7.
Gracious God, Creator of all things, you are still creating.
Receive our deepest longings with tenderness, and nourish them,
that we may plead for your coming in hope.
Gentle Christ, you who have come among us in love, you are still coming.
Open our hearts, that we may prepare for you with lives of love.
Spirit of Life, you shone in the darkness, and still you shine.
Shine in us, that we may proclaim your coming in lives of joy and justice,
Incarnate God, you entered into Mary, and she bore you into the world.
Bless us, that we may participate in your coming with deep and life-giving peace. Amen.

8.
God, you who speak promises to us, you who are coming, we gather with you in silence and awe. Speak to us your Word, instill your promises in our hearts, and transform us by your Spirit. By Christ’s birth in our hearts, and the baptism of you Spirit, make us signs of your coming, by which the world me see, and rejoice. Amen.

9.
Gracious God, through all our doubt and despair prepare a way for hope.
Through our selfishness and fear, prepare a way for love.
Through our resistance and control, prepare a way for grace.
Through our anger and enmity, prepare a way for peace.
O You Who Are Coming, prepare your way in us.

Listening Prayer

(suitable as a Collect, preparation for hearing scriptures, or invitation to prayer)

In the wilderness of the world,
in the wilderness of our hearts,
in the wilderness of this silence,
prepare a way, O God,
and move into our hearts.

Poetry

        Prepare Your Way

Holy One,
prepare your way in me.

Give me faith, like the stable,
to know your presence within me.

Give me courage, like Mary,
to let your life overwhelm mine.

Give me strength, like Joseph,
to protect what is holy, tender and growing.

Give me patience, like the shepherds,
to be still and listen.

Give me humility, like the magi,
to kneel before your presence.

Give me trust, like the child,
to let myself be borne into a new world.

Give me joy, like the angels,
to bring good news to the poor.

Give me love, like the manger
to hold Christ within.

Holy One,
prepare your way in me.

Eucharistic Prayer

See musical Eucharistic prayers set to Christmas tunes.
See Eucharistic prayer responses (Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen) set to Christmas tunes.
                   •

[After the introduction, the body of the prayer may be read responsively with the presiding leader(s) and congregation, or by the leader(s) alone.]

God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Holy One, our God.
It is good and beautiful to give God our praise.

We thank you, God, for in the beginning
you made a way for light in the darkness.
You made a way for the Hebrews through the sea,
and a way for exiles to return.
You make a way for justice in this world,
condemning oppression and demanding freedom for the oppressed.
You have showed us a way through your prophets,
the way of faithfulness and mercy.
You have opened a way for us in Jesus,
the way of love and life that cannot die.
And still in Christ you make your way into the world,
always a new coming, in a new way.
Here at this table you make a way for us to love each other,
a way for you to enter our hearts.
Therefore we sing your praise with all the faithful:

            [Sanctus, spoken or sung:]
        Holy, holy, holy One, God of power and might,
        heaven and earth are full of your glory.
        Hosanna in the highest.
        Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
        Hosanna in the highest.
               [or alternate version]

Blessed are all who come in your name,
and blessed is Jesus, your Christ,
who prepared the way for your empire of grace.
Jesus is the way for those who are hoping,
and comfort for those who are weary.
His love makes smooth what is rough in our lives,
and straightens what is crooked.
In his death and resurrection is the Way of life eternal,
a grace that transforms our lives from death to life.

     (The Blessing and Covenant)

As long as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection, until he comes again.
Therefore, remembering these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves as a living and holy sacrifice,
in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:

             [Memorial Acclamation, spoken or sung:]
        Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
                     —or—
        Dying, Christ destroyed our death. Rising, Christ restores our life.
        Christ will come again in glory.
             [or alternative]


Prepare the way of your Holy Spirit in these gifts of bread and cup,
that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Prepare the way of your Holy Spirit in us,
that we may be for the world the Body of Christ.
In this meal you have prepared a way to enter us;
and through us, to enter into the world.
Baptize us in your Holy Spirit,
that we may be made new.
May we make smooth the rough places.
May we bring comfort
to those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
that by your grace, through our faith, your glory will be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together.

     [Spoken or sung]
Amen.

____________
* The Blessing and Covenant
[I usually don’t print the words. I want people to be looking at the bread, not their bulletins.]

On the night in which he gave himself for us
Jesus took bread, blessed it,. broke it, and gave it to his disciples,saying,
“Take and eat; this is my body.”
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup,
blessed it with thanks and gave it to them, saying,
“Drink of this, all of you. This is my blood,
poured out for you and for many, in a new Covenant,
which is the forgiveness of sin.”
As long as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection, until he comes again.

Prayer of Dedication / Sending / after Communion

[Adapt as needed.]
1.
Gracious God, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.) In this meal you have made us new, and fashioned us as living promises of the world to come. Send us into the world to prepare a way for you in love and justice. May we be the way you enter the world, in the power of your Spirit and the loving presence of the Beloved, Jesus Christ. Amen.

2.
Gracious God, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.) You who are coming, baptize us in your Holy Spirit. Lead us in a new way of living, by the light of your Spirit in and among us, for the sake of the renewal of the world, in the name of Christ. Amen.

3.
Gracious God, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.) Send us now to go before you to prepare a way, to give the people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sin. By your tender mercy, may your dawn from on high break upon us, to guide our feet in the way of peace. Amen.

4.
Gracious God, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.) In this holy meal the light of your new dawn begins to rise in our hearts. Send us into the world to prepare your way and to give knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of people’s sins. By your tender mercy, may your dawn from on high break upon us, that we may bring light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. By your grace, guide our feet in the way of peace. Amen.

5.
Gracious God, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.) Send us into the world to bless without reserve, to love without fear, to serve without holding anything back. Our beloved chief, Jesus, you have come to us in the sharing of this meal. In our lives of love, come again, O Jesus, come! Amen.

6.
God of promise, we offer these gifts as symbols of our lives, given in gratitude for your grace and in preparation for your coming. Bless the gifts that through them your will may be done; and bless us that through our giving we may become living signs of your coming. We pray in the spirit of Christ. Amen.

Suggested Songs

(Click on titles to view, and hear an audio clip, on the Music page)

See Advent table songs (preparation for communion), Eucharistic responses, whole Eucharistic prayers, and songs of blessing. All set to traditional Christmas tunes.

Come, Bring Your Light and Shepherd of Israel are two weekly litanies, one verse per week; suitable for a call to worship, introduction or response to scripture, response to sermon, affirmation, or other places in worship. The Cantor’s lyrics reflect the day’s lectionary texts; the congregational response is the same throughout Advent.

Come, Bring Your Light (Original song)
A weekly litany. A dialogue between solo cantor and congregation.

Week 2:
Comfort, comfort my people, says our God.
Speak tenderly to them that their suffering is at an end.

In the wilderness prepare a way for God.
Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

        Congregation:
       O Come to us, O come, Emmanuel,
        and bring your light into our darkened world.

The uneven ground shall become a level path,
and the rough places will be made smooth.

Then the glory of God shall be revealed.
For one is coming who will baptize you with fire.

        Congregation:
       O Come to us, O come, Emmanuel,
        and bring your light into our darkened world.

Shepherd of Israel         (Original song)
A weekly litany. A dialogue between solo cantor and congregation.

Week 2:
Congregation:
Kyrie Eleison. Christe Eleison. Kyrie Eleison.
Come to us, and grant your peace.

Cantor:
Comfort, speak tenderly. Gently lead your people.
God, forgive our sins and make us new.
             Kyrie…


Child of Promise        (Original song)
Child of promise, oh, child of hope, prophets spoke of you:
visions treasured but unfulfilled. Shall our dreams come true?
Help us wait for you.

Child of woman, oh, child of God, birthing us anew,
make a room, oh, make a womb, in our hearts for you.
Help us wait for you.

Child of patience, oh, child of pain, suffering ills we do,
heal, forgive and help us be gentle child, like you.
Help us wait for you.

Child of wonder, oh, child of joy, you make all things new.
Re-create us, come again like the morning dew.
Help us wait for you.

Comfort, Comfort              (Original song)
Isaiah 40.1-11. A dialogue between cantor and congregation.

Cantor:
Comfort, comfort my people,
speak tenderly to my beloved:
from your imprisonment, from your despair
you shall be released.
Congregation:
Prepare the way in the wilderness.
Prepare the way.
Prepare the way in the wilderness.
prepare the way.

Build up, build up a new way,
the rough and the crooked make even.
Build up a way where God’s justice may come.
Open up a way.
Prepare the way in the wilderness….

Cry, cry out the mystery,
for we are like flowers and grasses,
growing then fading when winter winds blow.
But God’s love endures.
Prepare the way in the wilderness….

Raise up, raise up your voices,
rejoice for your savior is coming.
God like a shepherd will gather us in,
guide us on in love.
Prepare the way in the wilderness….



Prepare Your Way In Me (Original song)

Prepare your way in me, God, prepare your way in me.

1. Make my rough places smooth, the crooked make straight, my God.
2. Lay your hand at my root, that I may bear fruit, my God.
3. Come and empty my heart of all things but you, my God.
4. Guide my feet in your Way. Fill me with your peace, my God.