Here are worship materials for the 1st Sunday of Christmastide.
Call to Worship Isiah 61:1-10 Adapted
One: I will greatly rejoice in the Lord.
All: My whole being shall exult in my God.
One: For he has clothed me with the garments of salvation.
All: He has covered us with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
One: As the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
All: The anointed one has come!
One: For his sake I will not keep silent, and for the good news’ sake I will not rest—
All: Not until vindication shines out like the dawn, and salvation like a burning torch.
One: The nations shall see the vindication of God, and all the kings His glory. All: There shall be a new people brought into the house of God,
newly named as children of God by the mouth of the Lord.
One: These shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord.
All: This shall be a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
One: This ever-enlarging embrace of God will mean peace for all people,
which we enact now in greeting one another, “The peace of the Lord be with you.”
All: And also with you.
Prayer of Invocation St. Ephraim the Syrian (AD 306-373) In unison
The feast day of your birth resembles You, Lord Because it brings joy to all humanity. Old people and infants alike enjoy your day. Your day is celebrated from generation to generation. Kings and emperors may pass away, And the festivals to commemorate them soon lapse. But your festival will be remembered until the end of time. Your day is a means and a pledge of peace. At Your birth heaven and earth were reconciled, Since you came from heaven to earth on that day You op’ed a way for us to You. You gave us so many gifts on the day of your birth: A treasure chest of spiritual medicines for the sick; Spiritual light for the blind; The cup of salvation for the thirsty; The bread of life for the hungry. In the winter when trees are bare, You give us the most succulent spiritual fruit. In the frost when the earth is barren, You bring new hope to our souls. In December when seeds are hidden in the soil, The staff of life springs forth from the virgin womb Scripture & sermon audio.