Christmas 2005

New Beginnings

 

A Christian Community

In the Tradition of the Church of the Saviour

CHRISTMASTIDE

New Beginnings

REFLECTION

Teilhard de Chardin

PRELUDE

CALL TO WORSHIP

full of grace and truth, Christ lives among us.

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.

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,

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,

All: Amen.