The Celebration of the Gospel
December 29 , 2019 — Sunday after Christmas
When Herod saw he had been tricked by the magi
he was furious.
— Matthew 2.16
GREETING
PRELUDE
* CALL TO WORSHIP
Praise the Holy One, sun, moon and shining stars!
Praise God, earth and sea and all its monsters, fire and snow, hail and frost!
Mountains and hills, fruit trees and cedars, wild animals and birds, praise!
Rulers and peoples, men and women, young and old, praise!
For God has raised up a ruler for all people,
a gift for God’s faithful, for those who are dear to God. Praise the Holy One!
* SONG – Angels from the Realm of Glory – Blue hymnal #220, v. 1-2
CHILDREN’S TIME
SONG – Rock-a-Bye My dear Little Boy – # 235
PRAYER
Leader: Let us pray. God of love, you have come among us in the flesh, sharing the dangers and fragility of the flesh. Among those who fear and hate you have come as a child, defenseless and tender. Speak to us now, and give us courage, that in a world of hardness we may be children of peace. Amen.
HEBREW BIBLE – Isaiah 63.7-9
I will recount the gracious deeds of the Lord,
the praiseworthy acts of the Holy One,
because of all that the Lord has done for us,
the wonderful things God has done for us,
that God has shown us according to God’s mercy,
according to the abundance of God’s steadfast love.
For God said, “Surely they are my people,
children who will not deal falsely”;
and you became their savior in all their distress.
It was not merely a messenger or an angel
but your presence that saved us;
in your love and in pity you redeemed us;
you lifted us up and carried us all the days of old.
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SONG – Joseph, Dearest, Joseph Mine – Black hymnal # 2099
NEW TESTAMENT – Hebrews 2.10-18
It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, saying, “I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.” And again, “I will put my trust in God.” And again, “Here am I and the children whom God has given me.”
Since the children of God are flesh and blood, Jesus likewise shared the same things, so that in dying he destroys the power of death—and the devil who exercises that power— and frees those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. For it is clear that Jesus did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Sarah and Abraham. Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
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GOSPEL – Matthew 2.13-18
Now after the magi had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”
When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.”
When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He will be called a Nazorean.”
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SONG – Coventry Carol
SERMON SONG – He Is Born – Blue hymnal # 228
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
OFFERING
OFFERING SONG – Infant Holy – Blue hymnal # 229
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG Good Christian Friends, Rejoice – Blue hymnal #224 v 1-2
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE
POSTLUDE