Call to Worship
We gather wondering,
'Where will we find the Babe
born in Bethlehem?'We will find the Babe
in the laughter of children,
in the wisdom of grandparents.
We gather asking,
'where will we find
the Child of Christmas?'We will find the Child
where the needy are gifted with hope,
where the oppressed are set free.
We gather wanting to know,
'where will we find the Christ
who has come for us?'We will find our Hope
where fear is overwhelmed by grace,
where hatred is overwhelmed by love,
where all people are overwhelmed by joy.
Prayer of the Day
We have heard
of your grace,
Shaper of stars;
from those set free
from injustice;
from our children
who whisper of your joy;
from greeters
of dawn's fresh start;
from late risers
who listen to the stories
of the needy.
We have heard
of your Light,
Bright Star of the morning:
which can illumine
the shadows of our lives;
which can show
the path to God's heart;
which can point the way
to where we become
servants of the gospel.
We have heard
of your promised peace,
Wisdom's Radiance:
that peace
which can end war,
as well as heal our hearts;
that peace
which can conquer our fears,
and flood us with faith;
that peace which can enter our lives
and overwhelm us with hope.
We have heard of you,
God in Community, Holy in One,
and will proclaim your glory to all,
even as we pray, saying,
(The Lord’s Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
Why do we huddle in the shadowed corners of life, rather than running to the Light of life? Why do we love the wrong we do rather than grasping the good news offered to us? As we struggle with such questions, let us speak to God of all we have failed to do, seeking hope and grace as we pray,
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
We search for your light, Star Caster, but too often end up settling for the dimness of temptation. Our motives for seeking to find Christ are not always pure, for we expect him to fulfill our desires, rather than your hopes for us. We want the gifts of wealth, health, success, fulfillment, rather than those of servanthood, of compassion, of peace. Forgive us, Shaper of our lives, that we are so foolish to put our needs ahead of your grace. Help us to be like those wise people of so long ago, who found hope, instead of a destination; who found grace, instead of gratitude; who found salvation, instead of a sign. As we journey with your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, fill us with the light of your joy and love.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
Up, on your feet! Grace has been poured into our hearts, love has flooded our souls, the light of hope shines in us.
This is the light which has come to all, the light we will carry and give to everyone we meet. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication/Offering
May the gifts we offer bring food to the hungry, healing to the broken, community to the lonely, and hope to those who live in the shadows of our time. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
People of Advent: the Lord be with you!
And also with you!
People of Christmas, lift up your hearts.
We lift our hearts overwhelmed with grace to the One who was born for us.
People of the Star, offer your songs of joy and thanksgiving to God.
We will sing our praises to the One
who has revealed glory and hope in the Babe of Bethlehem.
In that first moment, you spoke,
Radiant God,
and the light of creation
dispelled the thick darkness of chaos.
You whispered,
and your glory filled the skies.
You sang,
and the dust of the earth
was shaped into your image,
as you breathed life into us.
We could have lived
in grace and peace with you
for as long as the sun endures,
for as long as the moon hangs in the night sky.
But we were tempted
by the sweet taste of sin,
and overwhelmed with temptation's
wealth of cheap gifts and thrills.
The prophets were sent
to tell of your gifts of joy and peace,
but we listened to the world's news
of success, power, achievement.
Finally, in that dark time of despair,
you sent Jesus,
your servant of salvation.
Therefore, we will join our voices
with the wise ones, as well as the foolish,
of every time and place
who forever sing of your grace:
Holy, holy, holy, God of bright dawns!
All creation renders tributes of praise to you.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who saves the lives of the needy.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, God of redemption,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Overwhelmed with compassion,
he left the glory of heaven,
to become a prisoner of sin,
so we could be set free.
Overwhelmed with hope,
he entered death's house,
to break its dark power forever.
Overwhelmed with love,
he travelled another road,
walking to Calvary,
so we might run with joy
into your waiting arms.
So, as we remember his birth,
as we prepare to journey with him this year,
we speak of that mystery called faith,
which is revealed to us through Christ:
Christ came, the morning star of love;
Christ died, the night star of salvation;
Christ was raised, the radiant star of resurrection;
Christ will come again, the constellation of hope.
Holy One of stars and sinners,
send down your Spirit of hope
upon those gathered around this Table,
and on the gifts of the bread and the cup,
that they might make us
your faithful and loving children.
Feed us with the bread of hope,
so when we leave,
we will travel another road,
to defend the weak,
to speak for the voiceless,
to assist those cast aside.
Refresh us with the sweet nectar of grace,
so we, overwhelmed with joy,
would go forth
to enter the houses
of the strangers in our midst;
to enter the despair
of the lonely and forgotten;
to enter the hearts
of everyone we meet.
And when eternity's time begins
and we are gathered around your Table,
with friends and family we loved,
with those we ignored and mistreated,
with all our sisters and brothers of grace,
we will lift our songs of glad joy to you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending
Now, God sends us out by a different road.
So we may find those who have been left by the side of the world.
Now, Jesus walks with us down a different road.
So we may serve those who are lonely and frightened.
Now, the Spirit illumines a different road.
So we may take our sisters and brothers by the hand
to walk in wonder and grace.
(c) Thom M. Shuman
