John 1:1-18, Psalm 130:5-8

Narrative Lectionary, Year 4, Week 15
Dec. 19, 2021
John 1:1-18, Psalm 130:5-8

Opening Prayer
Read Psalm 130:5-8
Merciful Lord,
With great anticipation, we continue to wait.  Christmas is almost upon us and truth be told, it makes many adults feel like children again with the anticipation of seeing what loved ones have chosen for us and seeing the excitement on their faces as they unbox the carefully curated Christmas packages we’ve wrapped up for them.  But, we also wait as your children with a greater anticipation for the day when your greatest gift, Jesus Christ returns with the glory of heaven around Him to give us a new heaven and earth and make all things once again new, giving His abundant redemption.  In His Holy Name, Amen.

Prayer of Preparation
Word of God, Light of Life, Fullness of Grace upon Grace:
Through you and what you share with us, we see the glory of God.  Enlighten the darkness of our minds now as we hear your message as we prepare for the celebration of your birth.
Amen.

Offering Prayer
Father God in Heaven:
We have not yet seen your glory, but we’ve been offered a glimpse of it because your Son shines light into the darkness.  As there are still some who have rejected Him in this world, we your church, want to share your message.  This is not something we can do without you.  Take these gifts and magnify them for your glory so that your light shines upon more people and they come to know you.  Amen.

Intercessory Prayer
Creator God,
With just a Word, you spoke all things into being.
With just a Word, you spoke life into a place void of it.
With just a Word, you spoke Light into a place with only darkness.
And we see from Scripture times when with just a Word, Your Son, The Word, spoke healing upon someone.
Today we pray to you, Lord Jesus, that you would speak a single Word of healing over all who need it.
May the Word of healing reach the infirm, the grief-stricken, the abused, the poor, the homeless, the mentally ill, the ones in anguish and pain, the marginalized, and all who need it.
May the Word of healing heal our hearts of sin, forgiving us, and making us righteous in your sight.
May the Word of healing shine light into the darkness and may we be agents of it as we continue to worship and magnify the name of God With Us, Emmanuel, Jesus Christ, with His prayer: Our Father… Amen.

Benediction
Forgiveness
Redemption
Life
Light
Healing
Mercy
Love
Any of these single words can describe God
But none of them fully
Yet our God, Father, Son, and Spirit
Is the Word-Made-Flesh
May He

Bless you and keep you

Make His face to shine upon you

Be gracious to you

Lift up His face to you

And give you peace

AMEN

2 Options for Advent Wreath:
Option 1
[turning to stockings] Mom: I wonder what presents might be in the stockings for us!
[getting up to retrieve them] Child: I’ll get them. [gives one each to parent and keeps one for self]
[all reaching into stockings and removing an item] All: Sunglasses!
Dad: this reminds me of how bright the light will be when we see the glory of God revealed in heaven.
Mom: Yes, didn’t John’s Gospel tell us about the glory of the light of Jesus coming into the world.

Option 2
Person 1: The days are getting so short and the nights so long.
Person 2: Yes, but in a few days, on Tuesday, Dec. 21, it will be the shortest day of the year and then the days will start to get longer and the nights shorter.
Person 1: Oh, I can’t wait until it stays light later into the evening.  I don’t drive at night anymore unless I absolutely have to.
Person 2: The same is true for me.  My aging eyes make it so difficult to see clearly when there are headlights from an oncoming car.
Person 1: Yes, if only it didn’t get dark at all, then we could go out for a later dinner and other social activities in the middle of winter.
Person 2: One day, when we’re all in God’s kingdom we won’t have to worry about any darkness at all because the Light of God will be so glorious it will shine all the time and there won’t be any darkness.
Person 1: Won’t that be something to see!
Person 2: In the meantime, let’s light these four Advent candles as a reminder to everyone that Jesus is the Light!