Christmas Day - Morning - Christian Worship Tools

(December 25^th)

“THE WORD BECAME FLESH”

John 1:1-14

GREETING

Holiness! Holiness! Holiness!

That’s what we see in Bethlehem’s manger.

That’s what we hear from angels above.

That’s what we know of stars in heaven.

Holiness! Holiness! Holiness!

The arms of Mary and Joseph cradle him.

Word of God now kissed by human family,

from the beginning, and now among us.

We cry out “Holy, holy, holy!”

We bow down to the One from above.

Our hearts drink from your saving life.

Renew our minds with your new light.

Holy are you, Child of Heaven!

LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE

(Optional – light all the Advent candles, including the white candle. You might want to start humming the following hymn as you light the candles, and when finished, break into full song.)

HYMN 246 “Joy to the World”

PSALM 98:4-9

PRAYER

(Consider some of the following concerns of people for prayers of thanksgiving, intercession, and petition. Follow with your personal prayer list.)

Thanks that God loves the world enough to send the Son We declare our love for Christ

Thanks that the Son loves us enough to come For help loving Christ as he deserves

Thanks that the Son loves each of us, including me That our families receive Christ

Thanks that the Son has already come That our community receives Christ

Thanks that the Son came in such a humble way That our nation receives Christ

Welcome Christ into my heart and life That our world receives Christ

Welcome Christ into our family That our church faithfully worships

Welcome Christ into our church That our church faithfully serves

Welcome Christ into our community That our church faithfully witnesses

Welcome Christ into our nation That our church glorify Christ daily

Welcome Christ into our world For those who turn from Christ

Thanks for God’s greatest gift For those who attack Christ

Thanks that we always have gifts to dedicate to God ____________________________

Thanks that we always have gifts to give others ____________________________

Thanks for the love in gifts others give to us ____________________________

THE LORD'S PRAYER

SCRIPTURE LESSON

(Choose a passage of scripture to read. It can be a chapter, a paragraph, or a particular story. Daily lectionaries are available online or in print that assign a lesson each day from the gospels, epistles, Old Testament and psalms on a three-year cycle. Or you can create a plan to read a book of the Bible, or the whole Bible. Then follow the steps below.)

Read a passage of scripture. Read it out loud, very slowly and carefully as if for the first time. Continue reading until a word, phrase or sentence captures your attention. Stop there to repeat the word, phrase or sentence over and over, listening to it deeply in your heart.

Reflect on why the passage got your attention. Consider the area of your life to which this may apply. Is God saying something to you in this passage? Take time to listen carefully to whatever God may be saying to you.

Respond to God in prayer (or with journaling, music, art or whatever you choose) about what you have heard. Ask questions. Open yourself to God’s will for you.

Rest in God’s company. Be still and quiet. Move beyond thinking, practicing interior silence. Let yourself be open to God’s presence. Savor this moment with God.

PRAYER

Today, Jesus, we peer over your manger’s edge,

and we gaze upon the very face of God our creator.

So much beauty we see, so much peace and love.

How can one so small, be full of so much wisdom?

Are you the tiny singularity before the big bang,

the beginning of time that explodes into universe?

Are you the One who comes to end sin and death,

the One to provide an eternity of life beyond time?

We always imagined you larger than the universe,

but in the manger you seem so small and vulnerable.

Can those tiny hands hold the nails that save us?

Can your baby heart hold the loving grace we need?

You call no angel army, strike no heavy blows;

yet the power of your love explodes across the earth.

In you we see gentleness, kindness, and humility

melt the coldest, meanest hearts fighting against you.

We see forgiveness and grace erase horrible sins,

and your love healing those most broken among us.

So much promise in such a tiny, fragile package,

our mouths stand agape, wondering at all you will do.

We cannot help but kneel before your manger,

There is no way we can resist loving you in return.

We are yours, heart and soul, mind and body.

Jesus, we joyfully yield all to your every command. Amen.

SILENCE AND COMMITMENT

(Pause to reflect and listen. Work to push out of your mind any distracting or irrelevant thoughts. Concentrate your thoughts on the words of the hymns and choruses you have sung, the prayers you have spoken and the scriptures you have read. Be aware of what you are feeling. Listen for anything that God might be saying to you in this time you have spent together. As God responds to your prayer-time, seek guidance for how you can best respond to God’s will. Then commit to serving God’s will for you.)

HYMN 232 “When Christmas Morn Is Dawning”

CLOSING PRAYER

Father, thank you for the awesome gift of Jesus, the Holy Child.

In him your company comforts, shapes, builds, emboldens.

In him your Word calls, forgives, points, and commissions.

In him your love amazes, resurrects, models and empowers.

Your gift of Jesus is everything, new life and new creation.

Father, in Jesus Christ we go forth to emulate your gift-giving. Amen.