Home Worship Planning Seasons & Holidays Sing to the Lord a New Song: A 21st Century Africana Resource for Christmas Day

Sing to the Lord a New Song: A 21st Century Africana Resource for Christmas Day

Revised Common Lectionary Readings
Isaiah 52:7-10
Psalm 98 (UMH 818)
Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12)
John 1:1-14

Gathering Meditation
(Based on Isaiah 52:7-10)
Few of us claim to have "pretty feet,"
so we hide them inside expensive leather,
and decorate them with colored hose.

But beautiful feet need no covering; beautiful feet need to be known.

We call beautiful the feet of the messenger who announces peace,
From the rooftops overlooking troubled streets.
We call beautiful the feet of the one who brings good news,
To the sick and the forgotten.
We call beautiful the feet of the one who announces salvation . . .
To people in hopeless situations.
We call beautiful the feet of the one who says, "Your God Reigns":
No matter who thinks that they are in charge!

We see your beautiful feet,
and we sing 'til earth and heaven ring.'
We sense your return,
and we shout so the whole world will know.

We call beautiful the feet of the messenger who brings us good news!

Call to Worship
Congregation: Sing!
Sing to the Lord a new song.

Leader: For his mercies are new every morning.

Congregation: Sing!
Sing to the Lord a new song.

Leader: For "what the Lord has done for you!"

Congregation: Sing!
Sing to the Lord a new song.

Leader: For forgiving the sin that only you and God know about.

Congregation: Sing!
Sing to the Lord a new song.

Leader: For grace that is more than sufficient.

Congregation: Sing!
Sing to the Lord a new song.

ALL: Let heaven and nature sing. Let the sound of joy bells ring. Let everyone with breath sing of the birth of Christ our King!

Pastoral Prayer
Loving God, each year we are drawn by the wonder of Christmas. More than all of the giving and getting, the love of Jesus Christ compels us. Christmas is so special. Only a loving God would put on flesh and blood to live among us. Only a loving God would care about the unlovable. Only a loving God could compel us to approach Christmas with awe and wonder each year. This Christmas,, may we rediscover the Christ of Christmas, whose eternal love compels us to draw near. Amen.

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