Sunday, January 4, 2015 - Second Sunday After Christmas (Year B)

News and Announcements:

Lighting of Candles: #154MV (verse 1)

Deep in my heart, there is a common vision;

Deep in my heart, there is a common song;

Deep in my heart, there is a common story;

Telling creation that we are one.

Coming Together:

In the beginning was the Word.  The Word was with God.  The Word was God.

Life, indeed everything, came into being through the Word.

This life was the light of the people.

The light still shines.  We share the story of this light.

Let us pray...

God of life and light, we are grateful that your eternal word became flesh in Jesus.  Jesus’ life shined your great welcome and compassion.  We are pleased to be part of this on-going story.  Amen.

Singing:  #71VU      “The Huron Carol”

Sharing the Peace of Christ:

In a spirit of community and thanksgiving, reach out to those around you and share with each other the Peace of Christ, perhaps with the words "Peace be with you!", responding "And also with you!"

Readings from Scripture:

Sirach 24:^1-12              

John 1:^10-18                   NT pg 91

In ages past, disciples, prophets, priests and historians wrote down their faith.  This is a faithful witness of our ancestors.  Word of God for us today.

Thanks be to God.

Singing:  #74VU      “What Child is This”

Message:                   “Grace Upon Grace”

Giving Our Offerings:

Offering Song (#241VU) and Prayer:

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

praise God, all creatures high and low;

give thanks to God in love made known:

Creator, Word and Spirit, One.

Let us pray...

Creator of all-that-is: from you come all the gifts of life. The gifts we offer in return keep this circle in motion. Receive these tokens of our gratitude. May they be of use in the world in service of your love for all people. Amen.

Singing:  #81VU      “As With Gladness Men of Old”

(Sunday School participants return from their learning circle)

Sharing Communion:

Statement of Faith  #918   "A New Creed"

Prayer of Thanksgiving

May the God of all creation be with you!

And also with you.

Praise in Jesus’ name!

May the Spirit move in us all!

Loving God, we gather around the table of our Christ … into community - oneness - with each other and with you, O God.

This is a Table of welcome, of grace, and of covenant. This Table looks back to meals with Jesus, especially one particular meal, just before he gave up his life. This Table looks forward to the heavenly banquet, where the last are first and the greatest are the least.

And the Table lives in the present … they are to extend the widest possible invitation.

And so, we come to be fed!

Loving God, we pause in gratitude before this common loaf … “Take and eat,” he said, “This is my body.”

As we share today’s common loaf, we can imagine that we are part of one body in Christ. Thank you, generous God!

Loving God, we pause in gratitude before this common cup … “Take and drink,” he said, “This is a new covenant in my blood.”

As we share today’s common cup, we can imagine that we are give life in the promise of Christ. Thank you, generous God!

Send your Holy Spirit upon us … we pray to you, O God, who is our Mother who loves us and

Our Father,

who art in heaven, hallow-ed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day, our daily bread

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those that trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom

and the power and the glory

forever and ever,

Amen.

In the name of the … These are the gifts of God, for all of the people of God.

Thanks be to God! Amen!

Sharing the Loaf and Cup

Communion will be served at three stations at the front of the church. 

Gluten-free bread will be served by the piano. 

If you prefer not to come to a station, a team of servers will come down the aisle and serve communion to you in your seat.

Prayer After Communion

Gracious God, it is done - we are yours, and you are ours, even our broken bodies and our poured-out lives.  May we truly be your blessing, in all we do and are, because we are one in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Singing:  #87VU      “I Am the Light of the World”

Sending Out and  Sung Response:  #145VU (verse 2)

Draw the circle wide, draw it wider still.

Let this be our song, no one stands alone,

standing side by side.  Draw the circle wide.

Let our hearts touch far horizons,

so encompass great and small.

Let our loving know no borders,

faithful to God’s call.

Draw the circle wide, draw it wider still.

Let this be our song, no one stands alone,

standing side by side.  Draw the circle wide.