|
Worship Order for
Sunday
|
Call to
Worship
One: Arise! Shine! For your light has come.
The glory of the Lord has been revealed
and all people shall see it together.
All: We come to see for ourselves what God has done.
We come to know the One for whom the angels sing.
One: Come! Worship the everlasting God, the creator of the
universe,
who strengthens the powerless and brings forth justice for all
people.
All: We long for God’s presence and power among us.
We hope for God’s just and loving reign.
One: Come! Receive the gift of life offered to us in Jesus Christ
and offer your own gifts of wonder and praise.
All: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth,
peace among all with whom God is pleased!
by Dawn Ottoni Wilhelm, ©2004.
from the 2004
national Christmas Eve broadcast on CBS
©2004 Church of the Brethren General Board
|
|
Opening
Prayer
Holy and loving God,
your coming is the hope of the world
and a light to the nations.
You came as an infant to show us love that is born of humility.
You came amid times of conflict and crisis
to show us love that pursues peace and the well-being of all people.
Come to us now, Lord Jesus Christ.
Come to us as we gather to hear the story of your birth
and the good news of your love alive among us.
Come to us as you did to Mary and Joseph,
and startle us with the announcement of your coming
so that we may receive your gifts of life
and make room for you in our lives and in our world.
Come to us as you did to the shepherds,
and awaken us in the midst of our daily routines
so we may hear your new song and sing it with joy to others.
Come to us as the prophet Isaiah foretold,
and empower us to be your people
and to respond to your goodness among us.
In the name of Jesus Christ we pray.
And all your people say, amen.
by Dawn Ottoni Wilhelm, ©2004
from the 2004
national Christmas Eve broadcast on CBS
©2004 Church of the Brethren General Board
|
|
A
Christmas Confession
(congregation reads regular print, worship leader reads words
in italics)
We were heavy with sorrow, but joy interrupted.
We were deep in the night, but a star appeared.
We were silent with sadness, but the heavens rang.
And the splendor shone around them
When the time had fully come.
We were hardened by conflict, but love intervened.
We were frightened by shadows, but light took them away.
We were haunted by fears, but a child brought us hope.
And she laid him in a manger
When the time had fully come.
We were dismal and defeated, but faith set us on fire.
We were weary and complaining, but our hearts discovered praise.
We were doubtful and confused, but a door to life was opened.
And the guiding star went before them
When the time had fully come.
We were arrogant and angry, but his innocence disarmed us.
We were cruel, crude, and clumsy, but his grace made all things
new.
We were selfish, narrow, greedy, but his joy we had to share.
And they offered him their treasured gifts
When the time had fully come.
We were sheep who had lost their way, but the shepherd knew our
names.
We were strangers without a country, but our kingdom came to us.
We were children far from home, but God sent his Son to guide.
And the Word was flesh among us
When the time had fully come.
written by the late Kenneth I
Morse,
taken from In Straw and Story, by Joyce Miller,
©1977, Brethren Press, p. 80.
|
|
Unison
Prayer
Savior of the earth’s children,
you came as a
little child
to lead us to
wisdom and love.
When you grew up,
you welcomed the
children
and told us the
kingdom belongs to them.
Call us to a child’s tenderness,
humility, energy,
and love,
for Jesus’
sake. AMEN
Hymnal #734, adapted from All the
Seasons of Mercy,
©1987, Diane Karay, Wetsminster/John Knox Press
|
|
Returning
our Tithes and Offerings
Read Psalm 148
Please pray with me:
Gracious God, we
have seen you as you truly are in the birth, life, death, and
resurrection of Jesus Christ. We know your name. Give us the grace
to praise your name with all that we have and are. Amen.
Will the ushers now come forward to receive our
offerings?
prayer by Bob
W. Dell, pastor
Codorus (Loganville, PA) Church of the Brethren
Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085, "The Living Word
Series"
|
|
Benediction
May the gift of God’s love
in the light of Christ’s life
shine brightly around you,
warmly within you,
and boldly beyond you
today and forever. Amen.
by Dawn Ottoni Wilhelm, ©2004,
adapted.
from the 2004
national Christmas Eve broadcast on CBS
©2004 Church of the Brethren General Board
|
|