Worship - December 30, 2012

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
December 30, 2012
Worship 10:00 am Sunday School 11:10am

First Sunday after Christmas

“And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

Beginning with Praise (9:50 am) "To us a child of hope is born" 189
Announcements
Prelude

Call to Worship

*Hymn "Good Christian friends, rejoice" 210

*Opening and Lord’s Prayer

Scripture Colossians 3:12-21

Sharing a joy, a concern, a word of testimony or praise
(please be brief, and aware of God's listening presence)

Hymn "I heard the bells on Christmas day" (insert)

Pastoral Prayer

Scripture Luke 2:22-40

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

Offertory (Please sign the attendance pad and pass it on)

Scripture John 1:1-18

Message "What’s a ‘pair of ducks’?" (includes mp3)

*Hymn "The first Noel, the angel did say" 199

*Benediction

*Postlude

*Rise in body or in spirit

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Call to Worship

All: Stars glittering with grace, humpback whales singing of hope:
all praise our God!

One: Praise God! Praise the Lord, all you people!

All: 12-year-olds, and 80 plus, wise and those learning to walk:
all praise our God!

One: Praise God! Praise the Lord, in every moment, in every place!

All: In church, or relaxing at home; in a class and at the doctor's office:
we will praise our God!

by Thom M. Shuman, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
from Lectionary Liturgies.

Opening and Lord's Prayer

Wonder of wonders,
God of creation:
you choose us
to be your people,
continuing to clothe
us in holiness,
even when we drag
the garment through
the mud of our lives;
you call us 'Beloved',
even while
we speak words about others
that would make
the Evil One blush.

Wonder of wonders,
Humble Jesus:
you ask questions
about our so-called wisdom,
revealing how foolish we are;
you wear your heart
on your sleeve
as you reach out
to embrace us
with your compassion.

Wonder of wonders,
Spirit of the old and the new:
every year
you take the old, stained clothes
of our silly lives,
and dress us in
kindness, humility,
patience, and meekness,
that we might be grow
in your love and grace.

May everything we do,
and everything we say,
be in your name,
God in Community, Holy in One,
even as we pray as we have been taught,
Our Father . . .

by Thom M. Shuman, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

from Lectionary Liturgies.

Pastoral Prayer

written closer to the time (if not at the moment)

Scripture Reading
Luke 2:22-40

1 -	In the middle of the twelve days of Christmas, we listen further to the Christmas story as we have received it in the Bible. On this day we read of Joseph and Mary bringing their newborn baby, Jesus, to dedicate him in the Temple in Jerusalem. In the Contemporary English Version of the Bible, we hear these words:
2 -	The time came for Mary and Joseph to do what the Law of Moses says a mother is supposed to do after her baby is born. They took Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem and presented him to the LORD, just as the Law of the LORD says, "Each first-born baby boy belongs to the LORD." The Law of the LORD also says that parents have to offer a sacrifice, giving at least a pair of doves or two young pigeons. So that is what Mary and Joseph did.
1 -	At this time a man named Simeon was living in Jerusalem. Simeon was a good man. He loved God and was waiting for God to save the people of Israel. God’s Spirit came to him and told him that he would not die until he had seen Christ the LORD.
2 -	When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to do what the Law of Moses says should be done for a new baby, the Spirit told Simeon to go into the temple. Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God,
3 -	"LORD, I am your servant, and now I can die in peace, because you have kept your promise to me. With my own eyes I have seen what you have done to save your people, and foreign nations will also see this. Your mighty power is a light for all nations, and it will bring honor to your people Israel."
2 -	Jesus’ parents were surprised at what Simeon had said. Then he blessed them and told Mary,
3 -	"This child of yours will cause many people in Israel to fall and others to stand. The child will be like a warning sign. Many people will reject him, and you, Mary, will suffer as though you had been stabbed by a dagger. But all this will show what people are really thinking."
4 -	The prophet Anna was also there in the temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. In her youth she had been married for seven years, but her husband died. And now she was eighty-four years old. Night and day she served God in the temple by praying and often going without eating. At that time Anna came in and praised God. She spoke about the child Jesus to everyone who hoped for Jerusalem to be set free.
2 -	After Joseph and Mary had done everything that the Law of the LORD commands, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. The child Jesus grew. He became strong and wise, and God blessed him.

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

May we who have hopefully also grown strong and wise, take time now to return our blessing to the One to whom we belong. Before our ushers come forward to receive what we have to give, let’s join in prayer.

O God, may we go forward into the coming year confident of your guidance and your love binding us together. Receive these gifts, and the service of our lives as signs of our gratitude for the gift of Jesus, our Savior and Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen

Ushers?

prayer by Bruce Prewer, Uniting Church in Australia
from Resources: Based on the Revised Common Lectionary.

Benediction

Allow me to extend the paradox of the incarnation one step further. In the words of Teresa of Avila (1515–1582):

Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.

So, move on out into your neighborhood
and be the body of Christ,
blessed and blessing,
loved and loving.
Amen!