The Second Sunday of Christmas
REFLECTION
God chose brown flesh.
Covered himself in the glory of the marginalized and the poor.
Dressed fully as the naked and the broken.
United in the dust with the rejected and the dirty.
God abandoned his throne for the sake of the throne-less.
Jesus.
Advent.
Incarnation.
— Carlos A. Rodriquez
We do not walk alone among the shadows of earth because God is Immanu El, God with us. In our brokenness, in our fullness, God is with us. God is with us when the bullets are flying, when the ground is shaking, when the planes are crashing, when the waters are rising, when the ship is sinking, when the winds are howling, when death is knocking, when the shadow of death stretches out and touches even Christmas – God is with us! God is with us when we are falsely accused and unjustly imprisoned. God is with us when we are raped and tortured and murdered. God is with us when our children, our precious children, are stolen from us. God is with them in their fear and horror! God is with us in our rage and sorrow and grief! God is with us! God is with the suffering and the dying, comforting and accompanying through that valley of death that we cannot yet enter. This is the Gospel, not that we’re untouchable, not that we’re inviolable, for even the Son of God was violated. But that we are never alone, never forsaken, never absent from the Divine presence is the Gospel of light and life.
— The Rev. Wil Gafney, Ph.D.,
Professor of Hebrew Bible at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas
COLLECT
Lord, your wisdom echoes in the child’s question, the raw insight of youth: renew our curiosity and deepen our desire for a truth that lives and grows before you; through Jesus Christ, the Question and the Answer. Amen.
PRELUDE
GREETING
Rev. Jonathan Gundlach (he/him), Worship Leader
Leader: The Lord be with you.
ALL: And also with you.
PREPARATION
CALL TO WORSHIP
based on Isaiah 60
Arise, shine, for your light has come! The glory of the Lord has risen upon us.
Let us praise the Lord together.
The sun shall no longer be our light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on us,
for the Lord will be our light, and our God will be our glory.
The Lord will be our everlasting light, and our days of sorrow will end.
Come, let us sing to our light and salvation!
PRAYER OF ADORATION
PRAISE
SONGS
Hark the Herald
Charles Wesley, 1739 · Felix Mendelssohn, 1840
God With Us
Jason Ingram, Leslie Jordan, 2012
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH AND BAPTISM VOWS
Minister: Do you renounce sin and the power of evil in your life and in the world?
Parents: I renounce them.
Minister: Who is your Lord and Savior?
Parents: Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.
Minister: Do you promise to love, encourage, and support this family by teaching the gospel of God’s love, by being an example of Christian faith and character, and by giving the strong support of God’s family in fellowship, prayer, and service?
People: We do.
Minister: Let us affirm our faith together in the words of the Apostles’ creed: Do you believe in God the Father?
People: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
Minister: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
People: I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated on the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there He will come to judge the living and the dead.
Minister: Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
People: I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
THE BAPTISM
Kelsey and Julia Aipperspach, children of Ryan and Johanna Aipperspach
Minister: Do you promise to instruct this child in the truth of God’s Word, in the way of salvation through Jesus Christ; to pray for them, to teach them to pray; and to train them in Christ’s way by your example, through worship, and in the nurture of the church?
Parents: I will, and I ask God to help me.
BLESSING, DECLARATION AND WELCOME
PASSING THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
SONG
Be Our Peace
Karl Digerness, 2020
BLESSING OUR CHILDREN & YOUTH
Leader: People of God, what is our prayer for our children and youth?
People: May the Lord be with you.
Children: And also with you.
Leader: Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.” May the Lord fill you with the love of Christ, and may your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
All: Thanks be to God!
COMMITMENT
WORDS OF WELCOME
Rev. Fred Harrell (he/him)
SCRIPTURE
John 1:1-18, NRSV
Graham Dahl, Reader
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 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 the will of man, but of God. 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 testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
SERMON
Rev. Fred Harrell (he/him)
God Slips on Skin
OFFERING OURSELVES & OUR GIFTS
The offering is a way for Christians to support the mission and ministry of the church. Christians offer a sacrificial portion of their resources–time, talents, possessions–as an act of faith and gratitude in response to God’s grace. While many at City Church make their regular contributions through online giving and automated bill pay, offerings are a part of our worship service as an opportunity for the regular, proportionate and generous giving of the resources God has given us.
OFFERING PRAYER
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts. With them we offer ourselves to your service and dedicate our lives to the care and redemption of all that you have made, for the sake of him who gave himself for us–Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
MUSICAL OFFERING
Skating
Vince Guaraldi
RENEWAL
CALL TO CONFESSION
Isaiah 9:2
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Loving Christ, you were born through Mary’s labor; we look for answers that cost us nothing. Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy
You were greeted by shepherds and angels; we close our doors on those outside. Christ have mercy
Christ have mercy
You share our whole humanity and delight in your creation; we make your love too small and take your gift for granted. Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy. Amen.
SILENT CONFESSION
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
from Luke 2:10, NRSV
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” This is the good news.
Thanks be to God!
COMMUNION
Guidelines for Reception of Communion
Communion, also called The Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist, is the family meal of Christians. We invite all committed followers of Jesus Christ to partake of this sacrament: those who are baptized members of a congregation that proclaims the gospel, who are at peace with God and with their neighbor, and who seek strength to live more faithfully for Christ. If you are not a Christian, or if you are not prepared to share in this meal, we encourage you to spend this time in prayer. We hope that this time is helpful to you as you consider your relationship with Jesus Christ and with His people, the church.
INVITATION TO THE LORDS TABLE
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts!
We lift them up to the Lord!
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
SONG
Sanctus
Karl Digerness, ©2012
Together we proclaim the mystery of the faith:
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
Therefore let us keep the feast.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE BREAD & CUP
The Gifts of God for the People of God
COMMUNION PRAYER
We thank you that our hunger finds its rest
in the One who offers body and blood for the life of the waiting world:
ground our wandering spirits and show yourself to us
in the face of every other. Amen.
PASTORAL PRAYER
THE LORD'S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
SONG
How Great Our Joy
Traditional German Carol
BENEDICTION
May we who have been touched by the Word made flesh be his body for the world, his hands to bring blessing, his senses to glory, in the promise of creation restored, and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Amen.
DISMISSAL
Let us go forth to serve the world as those who love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Thanks be to God!
POSTLUDE
MUSICIANS
Jeff Marrs, drums
Jason Muscat, bass
Adam Shulman, piano
Lora Libby, vocals
Karl Digerness, guitar/vocal