Christmas Day: December 25 - December 31, 2016

snowytop right christmas 2016 17

 

Monday, December 26, 2016

  • 1 This Week's Theme
  • 2 Preparing Our Hearts
  • 3 Praising Our God
  • 4 Listening to His Voice
  • 5 Responding in Faith
  • 6 Departing to Serve
  • 7 For Your Weekly Journey
  • The Word Has Become Incarnate, and Has Dwelt among Us

    John 1.1-14

    The Word of God, who was in the beginning with God and was God, has become flesh. In a wonderful mystery testified by the apostle John, the Scriptures affirm that the divine Word became flesh and actually dwelt among us human beings. John proclaimed that his matchless glory has been seen by witnesses on earth, the very same glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

    With the birth of Jesus into the world, we know and declare that the Son of the living God has come to earth, becoming incarnate as a human being, displaying the very likeness and glory of the Father God himself. From his fullness have all who believed experienced deepening levels of love and mercy, receiving grace upon grace, for as the Law was given through Moses, so the wonderful grace and truth of the Father came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever beheld God, and yet, the only begotten God, who is at the Father’s side, our Lord Jesus, he has revealed the Father’s glory to the world.

  • Invocation: Our Prayer of Acclamation

    O God, who hast given us grace at this time to celebrate the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ: We laud and magnify thy glorious Name for the countless blessings which he hath brought unto us, and we beseech thee to grant that we may ever set forth thy praise in joyful obedience to thy will; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

    ~ Scottish Prayer Book (Suter, p. 79)

    Call to Worship  

    Blessed are you, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And blessed is your Kingdom, both now and forever, Amen.

  • Te Deum Laudamus

    You are God: we praise you; you are the Lord; we acclaim you; you are the eternal Father: All creation worships you. To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.

    The glorious company of apostles praise you. The noble fellowship of prophets praise you. The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you; Father, of majesty unbounded, your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

    You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father. When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin’s womb. You overcame the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God’s right hand in glory. We believe that you will come and be our judge. Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting.

    Praise and Thanksgiving (songs and prayers)

    Gloria Patri

    Glory be to the Father, And to the Son and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, Is now, and ever shall be, World without end. Amen, amen. 

  • Chronological Reading for the Day

    Monday: Job 38-39

    Lectionary Readings

    Psalm: Psalm 98
    OT: Isa. 52.7-10
    Gospel: John 1.1-14
    NT: Hebrews 1.1-12

    (Click here for all readings)

  • The Apostles' Creed

    I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he arose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
    I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

    *In the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, the term catholic refers to the Church’s universality, through all ages and times, of all languages and peoples. It refers to no particular tradition or denominational expression (e.g., as in Roman Catholic).

    Prayers of Confession
    Let us now confess our sins to God and receive mercy and grace to help in our time of need.

    Assurance of Pardon
    Having faithfully confessed and renounced your sin, Christ also has been faithful to forgive your sins and to purify you from all unrighteousness. It is certain, that there is One who has spoken to the Father in your defense, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One who is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and for the sins of the whole world. His grace and peace are with you now. Amen.

    Petitions and Supplications, Ending with The Lord's Prayer
    Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

    --Matthew 6.9-13 (KJV)

    Doxology (and/or closing song)
    Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
    Praise Him all creatures here below;
    Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
    Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

  • Benediction  
    Almighty God who has given us thine only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and at this time to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that we being regenerate and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by the Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, ever one God world without end.

    ~ 1549, in The Book of English Collects, No. 168. (Geffen, p. 71)

    Affirmation from the Psalms
    Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. [9] He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. [10] “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” [11] The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah.

    ~ Psalm 46.8-11

    Pray without Ceasing - Flash Prayer for the Day
    Thank you, O living Word, that you have come to the world and dwelt among us.

side feat b christmas 2016 17


      Church Year Overview
      Season of Christmas Description
      2016-2017 Annual Resources
      Return to Annual Index Page

Joomla! Debug Console

Session

Profile Information

Memory Usage

Database Queries