Monday, December 21, 2015

An Ordo for the First Sunday after Christmas (27 December 2015)

First Sunday after christmas
27 December 2015

The Gathering of the Community

Prelude

Processional Hymn

‘Good Christians All, Rejoice’  Common Praise #153

Introductory Responses

Blessed are you, O Christ, Son of God,
you were before time began
and came into the world to save us.
Blessed are you, Sun of righteousness;
you shine with the Father’s love
and illumine the whole universe.
Blessed are you, Son of Mary;
born a child, you shared our humanity.
Let heaven and earth shout their praise.

With all the voices of heaven
we celebrate the coming of our Saviour.
Let heaven and earth shout their praise.

With all the creatures on earth
we sing and dance at his birth.
Praise and honour and glory to you, O Lord most high.

Hymn of Praise

Gloria in Excelsis [i]

Collect

Let us pray.

O God,
you have known us from our mother’s womb.
You call us to follow you through all our days
and seek us even when we wander.
Clothe us with your love,
so that we may grow in grace
and find favour in your sight;
through Jesus Christ.  Amen. [ii]


The Proclamation of the Word

First Reading

A Reading from the First Book of Samuel (2.18-20, 26)

            Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy wearing a linen ephod. 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.  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.

            Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favour with the Lord and with the people.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
Thanks be to God.

The Psalm

Psalm 148 with the refrain from Songs for the Holy One

Refrain (sung twice):  We join the whole world to praise the Holy One.

1 Hallelujah! 
Praise the Lord from the heavens; *
            praise God in the heights.
2 Praise the Lord all you angels; *
            sing praises, all you host of heaven.
3 Praise the Lord, sun and moon; *
            sing praises, all you shining stars.
4 Praise the Lord, heaven of heavens, *
            sing praises, you waters above the heavens.

Refrain:  We join the whole world to praise the Holy One.

5 Let them praise the name of the Lord; *
            who gave the command and they were created,
6 who made them stand fast for ever and ever, *
            who gave them a law which shall not pass away.

Refrain:  We join the whole world to praise the Holy One.

7 Praise the Lord from the earth, *
            you sea-monsters and all deeps;
8 fire and hail, snow and fog, *
            tempestuous wind, doing God’s will;
9 mountains and all hills, *
            fruit trees and all cedars;
10 wild beasts and all cattle, *
            creeping things and wingèd birds;
11 sovereigns of the earth and all peoples, *
            princes and all rulers of the world;
12 young men and young women, *
            old and young together.

Refrain:  We join the whole world to praise the Holy One.

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord, *
            whose name only is exalted,
            whose splendour is over earth and heaven.
14 The Lord has raised up strength for this people *
            and praise for all loyal servants, *
the children of Israel, *
            a people who are near to the Lord. 
            Hallelujah!

Refrain:  We join the whole world to praise the Holy One.

Second Reading

A Reading from the Letter to the Colossians (3.12-17).

            As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.  Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body.  And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
Thanks be to God.

The Gradual Hymn

‘The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy’  Common Praise #128

The Gospel

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke (2.41-52).
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

            Now every year [Jesus’] parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover.  And when [Jesus] was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival.  When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.  Assuming that he was in the group of travellers, they went a day’s journey.  Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends.  When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.  After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.  And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.  When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this?  Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.”  He said to them, “Why were you searching for me?  Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”  But they did not understand what he said to them.  Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them.  His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

            And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favour.

The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

The Sermon

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father,
who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.  Amen. [iii]

The Prayers of the Community

Intercessions, Petitions and Thanksgivings

The Exchange of the Peace

May the peace of Christ be always with you.
And also with you.

The Holy Communion

The Offertory Hymn

‘Good King Wenceslas’  Common Praise #145

Prayer over the Gifts

Let us pray.

Good and loving God,
we rejoice in the birth of Jesus,
who came among the poor
to bring the riches of your grace.
As you have blessed us with your gifts,
let them be a blessing for others.
With the trees of the field,
with all earth and heaven,
we shout for joy at the coming of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. [iv]

Thanksgiving at the Table

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,
that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you,
almighty and merciful God, through our Saviour Jesus Christ. 
In the wonder and mystery of the Word made flesh
you have opened the eyes of faith to a new and radiant vision of your glory,
so that beholding the God made visible,
we may be drawn to love the God whom we cannot see. 
And so, with all the choirs of angels,
with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest. [v]

Holy One, the beginning and the end, the giver of life:
Blessed are you for the birth of creation.
Blessed are you in the darkness and in the light.
Blessed are you for your promise to your people.
Blessed are you for the prophets’ hopes and dreams.
Blessed are you for Mary’s openness to your will.
Blessed are you for your Son, Jesus, the Word made flesh.

In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.

[Therefore let] us proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.

With this bread and cup we remember
your Word dwelling among us, full of grace and truth.
We remember our new birth in his death and resurrection.
We look with hope for his coming.
Come, Lord Jesus.

Holy God, we long for your Spirit.
Come among us.  Bless this meal.
May your Word take flesh in us.
Awaken your people.  Fill us with your light.
Bring the gift of peace on earth.
Come, Holy Spirit.

All praise and glory are yours, Holy One of Israel,
Word of God incarnate, Power of the Most High,
one God, now and for ever.  Amen.[vi]

The Lord’s Prayer

As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,
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.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever.  Amen. [vii]

The Breaking of the Bread

We break the bread of life,
and that life is the light of the world
God here among us,
light in the midst of us,
bring us to light and life.

The gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.

The Communion

The Hymn after Communion

‘Love Came Down at Christmas’  Common Praise #131

The Sending Forth of the Community

Prayer after Communion

Let us pray.

Radiant God,
with our eyes we have seen your salvation,
and in this meal we have feasted on your grace.
May your Word take flesh in us,
so that we may be your holy people,
revealing your glory made known to us
in Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  Amen. [viii]

Glory to God,
whose power, working in us,
can do infinitely more
than we can ask or imagine.
Glory to God from generation to generation,
in the Church and in Christ Jesus,
for ever and ever.  Amen.

Blessing

May the God of infinite goodness
scatter the darkness of sin
and brighten your hearts with holiness;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Lover of creation, the Beloved of God
and the Love that unites them,
be among you and remain with you always.  Amen.

Closing Hymn

‘Joy to the World’  Common Praise #154

Dismissal

Go forth in love to proclaim the birth of Christ.
Thanks be to God.



[i] Lang Carol Mass.

[ii] Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects and Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion for Year C:  Advent 1 through Epiphany 6,’ 6.

[iii] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), p. 104.

[iv] Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects and Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion for Year C:  Advent 1 through Epiphany 6,’ 13.

[v] Lang ‘Carol Mass’.

[vi] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), p. 110.

[vii] Common Worship #744.

[viii] Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects and Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion for Year C:  Advent 1 through Epiphany 6,’ 13.


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