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The Celebration of the Gospel
December, 28 2014 — First Sunday after Christmas Day
Rembrandt, Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
They brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.
— Luke 2.22
________ We Gather as The Body of Christ ______
GREETING
PRELUDE He Is Born, the Holy Child French carol, arr. Alice Jordan
[As we listen to the music we quiet our minds and bodies,
listen for our hearts’ deepest desires,
and become present to the Holy One who is lovingly present for us.]
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Wonder of wonders! Christ is born!
All: 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!
* SONG He Is Born Blue hymnal #228
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
_________ We Attend to the Word _______
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG
One Small Child David Meece (Beth Bennett, soloist)
PRAYER OF THE DAY
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.
NEW TESTAMENT Galatians 4.4-7
[When the time was right God sent a son, born as our human brother, so that with him we could be children of God, and inherit God’s Spirit.]
When the fullness of time had come, God sent the Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of the Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
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GOSPEL Luke 2.22-40
[Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the temple to be circumcised. There are two people, Simeon and the prophet Anna, who are deeply mindful of God’s promises, and who are waiting for the Messiah. They both see in the child the presence of God’s powerful action in our lives.]
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.”
And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.” There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
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SERMON
SONG Anna and Simeon’s Song Steve G-H
THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Blue hymnal. Page 39
Josie Chmielewski
OLD TESTAMENT Isaiah 61.10-62.3
[ Rejoice! It’s as if God has dressed us up for something special like a wedding. As God causes things to grow out of the ground, God’s goodness grows out of human history. God’s people will be light for the world.]
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
my whole being shall exult in my God;
for God has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
God has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations.
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest,
until her vindication shines out like the dawn,
and her salvation like a burning torch.
The nations shall see your vindication,
and all the kings your glory;
And you shall be called by a new name
that the mouth of the Lord will give.
You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,
and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
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SONG Joseph, Dearest, Joseph Mine Black hymnal # 2099, vv. 1-2
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer concern at the microphone.]
PASSING THE PEACE
____ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World___
OFFERING OUR GIFTS
Go, Tell It On the Mountain Traditional spiritual arr. Mark Hayes
* OFFERING SONG The Friendly Beasts Blue hymnal #227, vv. 1,2,3,6
* OFFERING PRAYER
Gracious God, 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.
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG Infant Holy Blue hymnal #229
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE Please stand and sing to your neighbors:
God bless you, friends; may the light of Christ
shine down upon you from above.
Now go in peace. May your light increase,
as you shine with the light of God’s love.
Grace, grace be yours this day,
and fill your hearts as you go your way.
Love, love shall guide your path,
as you shine with the light of God’s presence.
POSTLUDE
Improvisation on “Joy to the World” Lowell Mason, arr. Robert J. Powell
[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the corners.]