Worship Guide
December 29, 2024
First Sunday after Christmas Day
Creating Disciples of Jesus who Transform the World
ENTRANCE WITH PRAISE
Greetings:
Minister: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
People: And also with you!
Special Music: “The Thrill of Hope” Stefanie
Centering Words:
May all God’s messengers praise the Lord!
*Call to Worship:
Leader: We gather this morning ready to listen.
People: Open our ears, Lord.
Leader: We gather this morning ready to learn.
People: Open our minds, Lord.
Leader: We gather this morning ready to love.
People: Open our hearts, Lord.
Leader: We gather this morning ready to worship.
People: Open our spirits to receive you, Lord.
Leader: We gather to praise the Lord Almighty as we pray.
ALL: Holy one, as we gather today, may we be like young Jesus and Samuel– eager to hear, eager to learn, and eager to minister to others. Meet us here in this sacred space. May our hearts and minds be open to your call, as we worship and praise your holy name. Amen
Hymn: “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen”
God rest you merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay,
for Jesus Christ, our Savior, was born upon this day,
to save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy;
O tidings of comfort and joy!
In Bethlehem in Judah this blessed babe was born,
and laid within a manger upon this blessed morn;
for which his mother Mary did nothing take in scorn.
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy;
O tidings of comfort and joy!
From God our heavenly Father a blessed angel came,
and unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same,
how that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name.
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy;
O tidings of comfort and joy!
The shepherds at these tidings rejoiced much in mind,
and left their flocks a-feeding in tempest, storm and wind,
and went to Bethlehem straightway, the blessed babe to find.
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy;
O tidings of comfort and joy!
Now to the Lord sing praises, all you within this place,
and with true love and brotherhood each other now embrace.
this holy tide of Christmas all others doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy;
O tidings of comfort and joy!
PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
Words of Assurance
When you feel like no one understands, sit at Christ’s feet.
Ask the hard questions and listen for the answers. God will speak.
You are not alone. You are loved.
Thanks be to God. Amen
Special Music: “Do You Hear What I Hear”
Stefanie & Charles
*Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
18 Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy wearing a linen ephod. 19 His mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year, when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “May the Lord repay you with children by this woman for the gift that she made to the Lord”; and then they would return to their home.
26 Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and with the people.
Leader: This is the Word of God for the people of God
People: Thanks be to God.
WORD AND RESPONSE
Time with Young Friends: “Jesus Loves Me”
Children’s Message: “And He Grew”
Hymn: “Sing We Now of Christmas”
Sing we now of Christmas Noel, sing we here!
Hear our grateful praises to the babe so dear
Sing we Noel, the King is born, Noel!
Sing we now of Christmas, sing we now Noel!
Angels called to shepherds "Leave your flocks at rest,
journey forth to Bethlehem find the child so blest."
Sing we Noel, the King is born, Noel!
Sing we now of Christmas, sing we now Noel!
In Bethlehem they found him Joseph and Mary mild,
seated by the manger watching the holy child.
Sing we Noel, the King is born, Noel!
Sing we now of Christmas, sing we now Noel!
From the eastern country came the kings afar,
bearing gifts to Bethlehem, guided by a star
Sing we Noel, the King is born, Noel!
Sing we now of Christmas, sing we now Noel!
Gold and myrrh they took there, gifts of greatest price;
there was never a stable so like paradise.
Sing we Noel, the King is born, Noel!
Sing we now of Christmas, sing we now Noel!
Sermon: “Home” Luke 2:15-21
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
21 After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Special Music: “Joseph’s Lullaby” Charles
Hymn: “The First Noel”
The first Noel the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds
in fields as they lay;
in fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
They looked up and saw a star
shining in the east, beyond them far;
and to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
And by the light of that same star
three Wise Men came from country far;
to seek for a king was their intent,
and to follow the star wherever it went.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
This star drew nigh to the northwest,
over Bethlehem it took its rest;
and there it did both stop and stay,
right over the place where Jesus lay.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
Then entered in those Wise Men three,
full reverently upon the knee,
and offered there, in his presence,
their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
Psalter: Psalm 148
1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens,
praise the Lord, in the heights!
2 Praise the Lord, all his angels,
praise the Lord, all his hosts!
3 Praise the Lord, sun and moon,
praise the Lord, all shining stars!
4 Praise the Lord, highest heavens,
and all waters above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
who commanded and they were created,
6 who established them for ever and ever,
and fixed their bounds which cannot be passed.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
sea monsters and all deeps,
8 fire and hail, snow and smoke,
stormy wind fulfilling God's command!
9 Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Beasts and all cattle,
creeping things and flying birds!
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and maidens together,
old men and children!
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
whose name alone is exalted,
whose glory is above earth and heaven.
14 God has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his faithful ones,
for the people of Israel who are near their God.
Praise the Lord!
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow
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
Special Music: “When Hope Came Down” Stefanie
Prayers of the People: Joys and concerns
Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer
SENDING FORTH
Hymn: “O Come All Ye Faithful”
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold him, born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal,
lo, he shuns not the Virgin’s womb;
Son of the Father, begotten, not created;
O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;
O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
See how the shepherds, summoned to his cradle,
Leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze;
we too will thither bend our joyful footsteps;
O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Benediction
Hymn: “Until Jesus Comes”
Until Jesus comes,
Until Jesus comes,
I’ll be watching and waiting
Until Jesus comes.
Until Jesus comes,
Until Jesus comes,
I’ll be watching and waiting
Until Jesus comes.
