Christmas Day - The First Sunday of Christmas
COLLECT
Hidden God, who made the face of Moses shine with the gift of your friendship: teach us the law of love, carried by breath of spirit and planted in hearts of flesh that we might be children again and the world restored to you; through Jesus Christ, the Glory of God. Amen.
PRELUDE
GREETING
Rev. Jay Wilson (he/him)
Leader: The Lord be with you.
ALL: And also with you.
PREPARATION
CALL TO WORSHIP
based on Isaiah 9:2, NIV
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
On those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.
Jesus Christ is our life and light.
In his name and in his power, let us worship God!
SONG
Go Tell It
Go, tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain,
That Jesus Christ is born.
While shepherds kept their watching
O’er silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light.
Go, tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain,
That Jesus Christ is born.
The shepherds feared and trembled,
When lo! above the earth,
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Savior’s birth.
Go, tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain,
That Jesus Christ is born.
Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born
And brought us God’s salvation
That blessèd Christmas morn.
Go, tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain,
That Jesus Christ is born.
Words: John W. Work, Jr., 1907
Music: Traditional Spiritual
SONG
Once in Royal David’s City
Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed,
where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed:
Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.
He came down to earth from heaven, who is God and Lord of all,
and his shelter was a stable, and his cradle was a stall;
with the poor, and meek, and lowly, lived on earth our Savior holy.
Jesus is our childhood’s pattern; day by day, like us he grew;
he was little, weak and helpless, tears and smiles like us he knew;
and he feels for all our sadness, and he shares in all our gladness.
And our eyes at last shall see him, through his own redeeming love,
for that child so dear and gentle is our Lord in heaven above,
and he leads his children on to the place where he has gone.
music: Henry J. Gauntlett, 1849
text: Cecil F. Alexander, 1848
PASSING THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
Song of Peace
Be Our Peace
On those who walked in darknes on us a light has shined.
The peace that we've been waiting for for all this time.
We cannot be silent, raise our voices loud and clear.
For the Prince of Peace is with us, oh his day is here.
Grant us peace Emanuel, Emanuel, Emanuel.
by Karl Digerness, 2020
COMMITMENT
WORDS OF WELCOME
Rev. Emily McGinley
SCRIPTURE
John 1:1-14, CEB - Janet Harris, reader
In the beginning was the Word
and the Word was with God
and the Word was God.
The Word was with God in the beginning.
Everything came into being through the Word,
and without the Word
nothing came into being.
What came into being
through the Word was life,
and the life was the light for all people.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.
A man named John was sent from God. He came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him everyone would believe in the light. He himself wasn’t the light, but his mission was to testify concerning the light.
The true light that shines on all people
was coming into the world.
The light was in the world,
and the world came into being through the light,
but the world didn’t recognize the light.
The light came to his own people,
and his own people didn’t welcome him.
But those who did welcome him,
those who believed in his name,
he authorized to become God’s children,
born not from blood
nor from human desire or passion,
but born from God.
The Word became flesh
and made his home among us.
We have seen his glory,
glory like that of a father’s only son,
full of grace and truth.
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
SERMON SERIES - Jesus’ Chosen Family
Rev. Emily McGinley (she/her)
Jesus’ Chosen Family: God’s Choice
QUIET REFLECTION
OFFERING OURSELVES & OUR GIFTS
Todays offering will go to the Deacon Fund.
God of wonder, we offer you these humble gifts, signs of your goodness and mercy. Receive them with our gratitude, that through us all people may know the riches of your love in the Word-made-flesh. Amen.
MUSICAL OFFERING
Jesus Born on This Day
Today a child is born on earth
Today the glory of God shines everywhere
For all the world
Oh Jesus born on this day
He is our light and salvation
Oh Jesus born on this day
He is the King of all nations
Behold the lamb of God has come
Behold the Savior is born
Sing of His love to everyone
Oh Jesus born on this day
Heavenly child in a manger
Oh Jesus born on this day
He is our Lord and Savior
Today our hearts rejoice in Him
Today the light of His birth
Fills us with hope and brings peace on earth
Oh Jesus born on this day
He is our light and salvation
Oh Jesus born on this day
He is the King of all nations
Today a child is born on earth
He is light, He is love, He is grace
Born on Christmas Day
words and music by Walter Afanasieff & Mariah Carey
PASTORAL PRAYER
THE LORDS 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.
Joy to the World
Joy to the world! the Lord is come; let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns: let all their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found,
far as,far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness,
and wonders of his love, and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.
music: George Frederick Handel, 1742
text: Isaac Watts, 1719
BENEDICTION
May the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds,
the perseverance of the magi, the obedience of Joseph and Mary,
and the peace of the Christ child be yours this Christmas;
and the blessing of God Almighty, Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.
DISMISSAL
Let us go forth to serve the world as those who love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Thanks be to God!
Go, in God’s Peace
POSTLUDE
MUSICIANS
Minna Choi, vocals
Keith Watts, vocals
Amy Foote, vocals
Maria Long, vocals
Jason Slota, vibraphone
Adam Shulman, piano