First Sunday after Christmas Day: January 1 - January 5, 2017

snowytop right christmas 2016 17

 

Sunday, January 1, 2017: Feast Day - Holy Name of Jesus/New Years Day

  • 1 Today'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
  • FEAST DAY - Theme for Holy Name of Jesus and New Year's Day:
    The End of the Curse

    Rev. 21.1-6a

    In his apocalyptic vision of the end, John beheld a new heaven and a new earth, for the first earth had passed away. He saw our resting place, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. A loud voice from the throne said, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” God will wipe all tears from their eyes, death will end, and mourning, crying, and pain will cease, for all the former things will cease forever. In the time to come, Jesus will complete the work he began in his passion and resurrection, and all effects of the curse, the result of the fall, will come to an end.

    Theme for the Week:
    Our High Priest and Brother

    Hebrews 2.10-18

    Because we as the offspring of God share in flesh and blood, so Jesus our Lord also shared with the same nature in order that he through his own death might destroy the devil, the very one who possessed the power of death. Through his death Jesus delivers those who through their fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery to him. Jesus was made in every respect like his brothers and sisters that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in God’s service, as he who made atonement for the sins of the people. Since Jesus himself suffered when he was tempted, so he is able to help those who are being tempted today. He is both our high priest, and our brother.

  • Invocation: Our Prayer of Acclamation
    FEAST DAY - Holy Name of Jesus/New Year's Day

    O Lord God, who for our sakes hast made Thy blessed Son, our Savior, subject to the Law, and caused Him to endure the circumcision of the flesh, grant us the true circumcision of the Spirit, that our hearts may be pure from all sinful desires and lusts, through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

    ~ Lindemann, p. 106


    Invocation: Our Prayer of Acclamation
    Theme for the Week

    Almighty and everlasting God, direct our actions according to Thy good pleasure, that in the name of Thy beloved Son, we may be made to abound in good works; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

    ~ Lindemann, p. 96

    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

    Sunday: Exodus 13-15

    Lectionary Readings for FEAST DAY Holy Name of Jesus/New Year's Day

    Psalm: Psalm 8
    OT: Eccles. 3.1-13
    Gospel: Matt. 25.31-46
    NT: Rev. 21.1-6a

    (Click here for all readings)


    Lectionary Readings for This Week

    Psalm: Psalm 148
    OT: Isa. 63.7-9
    Gospel: Matt. 2.13-23
    NT: Hebrews 2.10-18

    (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.

  • FEAST DAY - Holy Name of Jesus/New Year's Day

    Benediction  
    Eternal Father, you gave to your incarnate Son the holy name of Jesus to be the sign of our salvation: Plant in every heart, we pray, the love of him who is the Savior of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

    ~ The Episcopal Church in the United States of America
    (The Episcopal Church, p. 213)

    Affirmation from the Psalms
    On the holy mount stands the city he founded; [2] the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. [3] Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God.

    ~ Psalm 87.1-3

    Pray without Ceasing - Flash Prayer for the Day
    Even so, come Lord Jesus, and bring your people to the city you have made for us, where the curse is broken forever.

    This Week's Theme

    Benediction  
    Almighty God, you wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored the dignity of human nature. In your mercy, let us share the divine life of Jesus Christ who came to share our humanity, and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

    ~ Book of Common Worship, No. 162. p. 188 (Geffen, p. 71)

    Affirmation from the Psalms
    In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, [11] in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? [12] I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you. [13] For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

    ~ Psalm 56.10-13

    Pray without Ceasing - Flash Prayer for the Day
    I thank you, Father, for in sending us your Son, our high priest and brother, you have rescued us from the power of death.

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