Call to Worship
Augustus and Quirinius -- these are ancient names that seem odd to a post-modern world. Nazareth and Bethlehem -- these are distant towns we know little about.
Yet, still, we gather together to hear once more a story so ancient and yet so current, so distant and yet so near.
We come to hear the story of God coming to us to make us whole…to make us wonder…to set all creatures free from the bonds of hate, mediocrity, and carelessness.
So, let us worship the One who yearns that we serve as peacemakers in the world.
The one who came to set us free from ourselves.
The One who calls us to be the salt and light of the world on his behalf.
Amen.
Offertory
Come sisters and brothers and let us adore the Holy One. Let us once again hear the voices of angels declaring to shepherds the good news of the Christ-Child. Let us once again share of our treasures with God just like the wise people of old. For as we share we do so as a proclamation that everything belongs to God. As a declaration that Christ is a revolution of love for all. As an announcement to the whole world that the Savior has come, is here, and will come again. So, let us give unreservedly in honor of him. Amen.
Service December 18th
Scripture Lesson
Matthew 1:18-25 NIV
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[c] because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[d] (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.