Worship materials for December 24 to January 4 were contributed by the Student Circle at the Francis Sandy Theological Centre: Ron Brittain, Lee Claus, Aleace Davidson, Brenda Duckworth, Georgina Elliott, John Finlay, Norma General-Lickers, Phil Schuyler, and Angela Whitwell; and compiled by Kellie McComb.
Lectionary
Lectionary readings from Vanderbilt Divinity Library online (http://divinity.library.vanderbilt.edu/lectionary/BChristmas/index.htm)
Isaiah 9:2–7
A child has been born for us.
Psalm 96 (VU pg. 816)
Sing to God a new song.
Titus 2:11–14
Live a godly, upright life.
Luke 2:1–14, (15–20)
Jesus’ birth.
Spark
Have a large book positioned at the front of the church. As families come in to worship invite them to be “registered” (so they can be taxed?).
With Children
Have simple masks (possibly made by the children on an earlier Sunday) of various animals that may have been present the night Jesus was born (e.g., donkey, cow, sheep, cat, dove, dog, mouse, camel, goat). A couple with a real baby or a doll pretend to be Mary, Joseph, and Jesus and engage the children in a conversation about what the animals might have seen or heard on that first Christmas Eve.
Sermon Starter
Emperor Augustus had made a decree that all the world should be registered. Mary and Joseph travelled a long way to be registered in Bethlehem, because Joseph was descended from the house and family of David. Christmas is a time when we, like Mary and Joseph, travel near and far to be with family and friends. How many in the congregation have travelled a long way to be with loved ones? Christmas is a time of coming together and encountering and celebrating the awesomeness of God—the profound, holy, presence of God in the birth of a baby. This is a time of new beginning!
Hymns
Hebrew Scripture
VU 2 “Come, thou long-expected Jesus”
VU 16 “Mary, woman of the promise”
MV 124 “Glory to God in the highest”
Psalm
VU 241 “Oh, sing to our God”
VU 326 “O for a thousand tongues to sing”
VU 888 “Earth and all stars”
MV 51 “Yahweh be praised”
MV 180 “Sing, sing out!”
Epistle
VU 389 “God is here”
VU 427 “To show by touch and word”
MV 176 “Three things I promise”
Gospel
VU 46 “Gentle Mary laid her child”
VU 48 “Hark! the herald angels sing”
VU 56 “Jesus, our brother”
VU 59 “Joy to the world”
VU 64 “O little town of Bethlehem”
VU 67 “Silent night”
VU 69 “Away in a manger”
VU 75 “While shepherds watch”
Prayer of Assurance
Creator God, we take comfort in that you not only are able to hear our confessions but you also have the power to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. You also assure us that you are a faithful and just God. We thank you for the relationship that you have with your people, but most of all thank you for the gift of your son, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
-Phil Schuyler