New Beginnings
SEEKERS CHURCH
A Christian Community
In the Tradition of the Church of the Saviour
CHRISTMASTIDE
New Beginnings
REFLECTION
Something is afoot in the universe; a result is working out which can best be compared to gestation and birth: the birth of a new spiritual reality formed by souls and the matter they draw after them.
Teilhard de Chardin
PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: The Word is made flesh;
full of grace and truth, Christ lives among us.
From Christ’s fullness, we receive
gift upon gift of God’s love. Alleluia!
People: Amen! Alleluia!
Leader: God speaks!
with excitement!
with enthusiasm!
with new life!
All: God is present!
God is with us!
Nothing can separate us from the love of God!
INVOCATION
HYMN
WORD FOR THE CHILDREN
SILENCE
LITANY OF NEW BEGINNINGS
Leader: In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
People: We heard the Word as children,
when it was only sound,
before we knew that words had power to create.
Leader: All things were made through the Word.
People: Our words create ideas,
arguments, values and agreements.
Leader: What is this Word through which all things are made?
People: In the Word is life, and the life is the light of all.
Leader: We long for life and light …
for hope and peace for all the world.
All: The light shines in the deepest night,
Christ is the light of the world.
SILENCE
PRAYERS
CONFESSION
Leader: Holy God,
who moves through all we know creating all that is,
we confess the smallness of our faith.
People: It is easy, these short, dark days,
to lose sight of hope reborn in Jesus Christ.
Leader: Our world is full of fear, and pain, and suffering.
The light that shines despite the darkness
is shrouded in fog.
All: We do not see the possibilities
that only You can bring to life.
Forgive us for the limits of our faith.
INDIVIDUAL CONFESSIONS
ASSURANCE
Leader: And the Word becomes flesh and dwells among us,
full of grace and truth;
we behold the glory of the Word,
glory as of the only Child of God.
And from the fullness of the Child
we all receive, grace upon grace.
All: Amen.
CONTINUING PRAYERS
JESUS PRAYER
All: Eternal One, Father and Mother of us all,
Holy is your name.
Let justice and mercy fill all Creation
and let us recognize
that every thought and thing belongs to you.
Feed us with the bread we need for today.
Forgive our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Stand with us in trial and temptation.
Free us from the grip of all that is evil.
For you alone are creating our universe,
now and forever.
Amen.
HYMN
THE WORD
Scripture
Sermon
Silent Reflection
OFFERING
The first Sunday of each month we switch to a Communion Liturgy here.
REFLECTIONS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
BENEDICTION
Leader: God chose us before the foundation of the world,
to be God’s children through Jesus Christ,
according to the purpose of God’s will.
Go forth in joy to be part of God’s unfolding mystery.
All: Amen.
