Christmas 2

GOD WELCOMES US

The Word became flesh and lived among us,

and we have seen his glory,

the glory of the Father's only Son,

full of grace and truth.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

Amen.

We sing a hymn/song

We pray Psalm 147

Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem!Praise your God, O Zion! For he strengthens the bars of your gates;he blesses your children within you. He grants peace within your borders;he fills you with the finest of wheat. He sends out his command to the earth;his word runs swiftly.

The Word became flesh and lived among us.

He declares his word to Jacob,his statutes and ordinances to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any other nation;they do not know his ordinances.Praise the LORD!  The Word became flesh and lived among us.

We pray

The Lord be with you

And also with you.

Let us pray that through Jesus we share in God's nature.

Almighty God, you wonderfully created us in your own image, and even more wonderfully restored us. As your Son our Lord Jesus Christ was made in our likeness,

so let us share in his divine nature. For he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

GOD SPEAKS TO US Old Testament Reading – Jeremiah 31:7-14

(after the reading)This is the word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

Epistle Reading - Ephesians 1:3-14

(after the reading)This is the word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

Alleluia! No one has ever seen God,

But his only Son has made him known. Alleluia!

Gospel Reading – John 1:1-18

(after the gospel)This is the gospel of the Lord

Praise be to you, O Christ

Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for coming with grace and truth.Lead us to know God by knowing you.

Amen.

We sing a hymn/song

We listen to the address

We confess our faith

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 rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father almighty, from thence he will come to judge the living 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.

* ‘catholic’ here meaning 'universal'

GOD RECEIVES OUR OFFERING We sing a hymn/song as our offering is received

Let us pray.

Heavenly Father,you are the giver of all good gifts.In this season of giving,we offer you these gifts as we thank you for the greatest gift of all, your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.Amen.

We pray for ourselves and the world

Prayer response:

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yoursnow and forever. Amen.

Let us praise the Lord.Thanks be to God. May God the Father show us the light of his glory in the face of his Son, so that we shine as a light in the world. And the blessing of almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with us always.

Amen.

We sing a hymn/song