The Paradox of Christmas (worship order)

Call to Worship

The prophet Isaiah describes our Lord:

For a child has been born to us, a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Come let us worship our coming Lord! (from Isaiah 9)

Opening Song: “Meekness and Majesty” Sing! A New Creation (SNC) 109

Opening Prayer: 

King of Glory, you are Kings of Kings and Lord of Lords. 
You rule the entire world. We praise you because you are so great. 
But you came to earth as one of us. 
You were tiny and weak; you were human. 
We praise and thank you that you became human,
suffered, died, and rose for us. 
To you every knee shall bow because you are Lord. 
We look forward to day when you will return 
as our Shepherd, the Lamb of God. 
In your name we pray, Amen. 

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Message: The Paradox of Christmas Rev. Kathy Smith

Anthem: “Christus Paradox” -arr. Fedak; text Dunstan [Congregational arrangement: “You, Lord, Are Both Lamb and Shepherd” SNC 182]

Prayer: 

Holy God, you have promised that your peace— 
the peace that passes all understanding— 
will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. 
We put our trust in that promise, and in your Son. 
As we celebrate his birth and await his second coming, we rest in your peace. 
We entrust to your shepherding care all those who wait with difficulty, 
with longing for an end to disease, an end to loneliness, an end to childlessness. 
And we look forward in great hope to the day when we will behold you face to face. 
For now we know in part, but then we shall know fully, even as we are fully known. 
May your kingdom come, Lord, 
and may your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Amen. 

Closing Hymn: “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” Psalter Hymnal 342:2, 5 

Benediction:

Now may the God of peace 
who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, 
the great Shepherd of the sheep,
by the blood of the eternal covenant, 
equip you with everything good
that you may do his will, 
and may he work in us what is pleasing in his sight, 
through Jesus Christ:
to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen
(Hebrews 13:19-21) 

Postlude