Bulletin – Sunday, December 31, 2023 – 1st Sunday after Christmas
Sunday, December 31, 2023
1st Sunday after Christmas
Approach
Welcome
Lighting the Christ Candle
Call to Worship
One: Good news! For all who are afraid:
All: Jesus is born to end our fear.
One: Good news! For all who are discouraged:
All: Jesus is born; hope is alive.
One: Good news! For all who are lonely and despairing:
All: Jesus is born; God is with us.
One: Good news! For all who are disillusioned and feeling sad:
All: Jesus is born; hearts will be mended.
One: Good news! Good news!
All: Jesus is born; joy is in the air.
Hymn – “Before the Marvel of This Night” (VU #40)
Before the marvel of this night
Adoring, fold your wings and bow,
Then tear the sky apart with light
And with your news the world endow.
Proclaim the birth of Christ and peace,
That fear and death and sorrow cease:
Sing peace, sing peace, sing gift of peace,
Sing peace, sing gift of peace.
Awake the sleeping world with song,
This is the day the Lord has made;
Assemble here, celestial throng,
In royal splendour come arrayed.
Give earth a glimpse of heavenly bliss,
A teasing taste of what they miss:
Sing bliss, sing bliss, sing endless bliss,
Sing bliss, sing endless bliss.
The love that we have always known,
Our constant joy and endless light,
Now to the loveless world be shown,
Now break upon its deathly night.
Into one song compress the love
That rules our universe above:
Sing love, sing love, sing God is love,
Sing love, sing God is love.
Prayer of Confession
Another year has come and gone, Lord Jesus, and the world is still far from the image of your kingdom. We acknowledge that the work of this transformation is your work, but we know we have a role to play. We recognize the barriers of sin placed on this transformation: sin in the world and sin in our hearts.
In this holy season, may we, with quiet humility, reflect upon our own thoughts, words, and actions.
A time of silent prayer
We pray in the name of the one whose birth we celebrate this day. May we prepare him room in our lives. Amen.
Words of Assurance
Receive these words of scripture: “This Spirit poured out o us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Receive the grace of Christ’s forgiveness and love.
Hymn – “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” (VU #61)
Of the Father’s love begotten
Ere the worlds began to be,
Christ is Alpha and Omega,
Christ the source, the ending he,
Of the things that are and have been,
And that future years shall see,
Evermore and evermore.
At his word the worlds were framed.
He commanded, it was done:
Heaven and earth and depths of ocean
In their threefold order one;
All that grows beneath the shining
Of the moon and burning sun,
Evermore and evermore.
O that birth for ever blessed!
When the Virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving,
Promised in their faithful word;
And the babe, the world’s redeemer,
First revealed his sacred face,
Evermore and evermore.
This is he whom seers in old time
Chanted of with one accord,
Whom the voices of the prophets
Promised in their faithful word;
Now he shines, the long expected,
Let creation praise its Lord,
Evermore and evermore.
O ye heights of heaven, adore him;
Angel hosts, his praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before him,
And extol our God and King;
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert ring,
Evermore and evermore.
Christ, to thee, with God most blessed,
And, O Holy Ghost, to thee,
Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving
And unwearied praises be,
Honour, glory, and dominion
And Eternal victory,
Evermore and evermore.
The Word
Scripture Reading: Psalm 148 (VU #871)
One: God from the heavens; give praise in the heights! Give praise, all you angels; praise God, all you hosts!
All: Praise God, sun and moon; give praise, stars and lights! Praise God, farthest heavens, and all waters beyond heaven!
Sung Refrain: Let the whole creation cry, “Glory be to God on high.”
One: Let all things praise the Holy One at whose command they were created, who established them for all time, setting bounds which cannot be passed.
All: Praise God from earth, great sea creatures and ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and frost, gales that obey God’s decree,
One: All mountains and hills, all fruit trees and cedars, wild animals and cattle, creatures winged and earth-bound,
All: Sovereigns who rule earth and its people, all who govern and judge this world, young men and women alike, old people and children together!
Sung Refrain: Let the whole creation cry, “Glory be to God on high.”
One: Let all things praise the name of God, the name above every other, whose splendour covers heaven and earth.
All: You give strength to your people, songs of praise to your faithful, to Israel, the people dear to your heart.
Sung Refrain: Let the whole creation cry, “Glory be to God on high.”
Scripture Reading: Luke 2:22-40
22 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 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
25 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. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 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, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word, 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 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 35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul, too.”
36 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, 37 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. 38 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.
39 When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God!
Hymn – “Down to Earth, as a Dove” (VU #42)
Down to earth, as a dove, came to dwell holy love:
Jesus Christ from above brining great salvation
Meant for every nation.
Let us sing, sing, sing, dance and spring, spring, spring;
Christ is here, ever near! Gloria in excelsis.
This is love come to light, now is fear put to flight.
God defeats darkest night, giving for our sorrows
Hope of new tomorrows
Let us sing, sing, sing, dance and spring, spring, spring;
Christ is here, ever near! Gloria in excelsis.
Christ the Lord comes to feed hungry souls in their need;
In the house there is bread: Jesus in a stable,
In the church a table.
Let us sing, sing, sing, dance and spring, spring, spring;
Christ is here, ever near! Gloria in excelsis.
Sermon – “That Good Night”
Offering
Offering Response – “May the Spirit of the Christ Child”
May the Spirit of the Christ Child show us how to love to live
For the joy and peace of Christmas is for us to share and give.
May the story of God’s coming, God with us – Emmanuel,
Fill the world with light of Christmas as in awe we do God’s will.
The Response
Prayers of the People
Hymn – “Once in Royal David’s City” (VU #62)
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, with God, is over all,
And his shelter was a stable, and his cradle was a stall.
There among the poor and lowly lived on earth our Saviour holy.
For he is our lifelong pattern; daily when on earth he grew,
He was tempted, scorned, rejected, tears and smiles like us he knew.
Thus 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 who seemed so helpless is our Lord in heaven above;
And he leads his children on to the place where he is gone.
Benediction
Response – “Go Now in Peace, Guided by the Light” (MV #211)
Go now in peace, guided by the light of Christ,
So you may be nourished by the Word of Life.
