Christmastide 1994: Receiving the Gift of Life

 

 

THE SEEKERS CHURCH

A Christian Community

n the Tradition of the Church of the Saviour

 

Christmastide 1994

 

Receiving the Gift of Life

 

 

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.

                                                                                                        Tielhard de Chardin

 

PRELUDE

 

CALL TO WORSHIP  (Unison)

 

Thus says the Sovereign One:

"Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,

  and raise shouts for the chief of the nations;

Proclaim, give praise, and say,

  God has saved the people of the Covenant,

  the remnant of Israel."

 

INVOCATION

 

HYMN

 

WORD FOR THE CHILDREN

 

CHILDREN LEAVE FOR CLASSES

 

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:The Word was in the beginning with God,

  all things were made through the Word,

  and without the Word was not anything made

  that was made.

 

People:We know that words create ideas, arguments,

  values and agreements. 

What is this Word

  through which all things are made?

 

Leader:In the Word is life, and the life is the light of all.

 

People:We long for life and light…

  for hope and peace for all the world.

 

Unison:The light shines in the deepest night,

  AND THE NIGHT HAS NOT OVERCOME IT!

 

SILENCE

 

PRAYERS

 

CONFESSION  (Unison)

 

Holy God, who moves through all we know,

  creating all that is, we confess the smallness of our faith.  It is easy, these cold, grey days,

  to lose sight of hope reborn in Jesus Christ.

Our world is full of fear, and pain, and suffering. 

The light that shines despite the darkness

  is shrouded in fog. 

We do not see the possibilities

  that only You can bring to life. 

Forgive us for the limits of our faith.

 

INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

 

ASSURANCE  (Leader)

 

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,

  full of grace and truth;

  we have beheld the glory of the Word,

  glory as of the only Child of God.

And from the fullness of the Child have we all received,

  grace upon grace.

 

CONTINUING PRAYERS

 

HYMN

 

THE WORD

SCRIPTURE

SERMON

SILENT REFLECTION

OFFERING

OFFERTORY MUSIC

SHARED REFLECTIONS

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

BENEDICTION  (Leader)

 

God chose us in Christ,

  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.

Amen.