A Light for Revelation

Liturgical Resources

Call to Worship

Christmas people, today we join Simeon as he greets Jesus, a baby in his mother’s arms, with a sense of wonder and promise.
We welcome the Christ Child, the Light who reveals God’s glory in unexpected places.

Today, we join Anna as she greets Jesus, God Incarnate, with joy and celebration.
We rejoice in the arrival of the Christ Child, the Light who reveals God’s glory in unexpected places.

Today, we join with Mary and Joseph, two poor parents of a young infant, who receive the witness of Simeon and Anna that this baby is, indeed, the Messiah.
We open our hearts to the Christ Child, the Light who reveals God’s glory in unexpected places.

Today, we join in the story once again as witnesses for and with one another that the Savior of the world, God Incarnate, has come among us in the vulnerability of an infant.
We gather today in praise and thanksgiving for the coming of the Christ Child, the Light who reveals God’s glory in unexpected places. Thanks be to God! Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, August 2026.

Opening Prayer

Emmanuel, God with us,
Simeon saw your salvation in a little child,
A light for revelation to the Gentiles
And for glory to the people Israel.

We too long to see your salvation:
healing for broken spirits,
hope for broken lives,
light for those in the darkness of war,
warmth for those in the chill of fear.

We long to see the glory of angels
Peace on earth, good news for all
Harbingers of joy, glimpses of grace
On earth as it is in heaven.

Simeon saw your salvation in a little child
Radiant light, glory streaming down
Stretching across the centuries to us today.

We can see your salvation too:
healing for broken bodies,
hope for broken lives,
light for those in the darkness of war,
warmth for those in the chill of fear.

Open our hearts to receive the good news of peace today.
Open our minds to notice glimpses of your grace in enemy and friend.
Open our lips to sing with joy.
Open our lives to bear fruit for your reign, on earth as it is in heaven.

Like Simeon, we have seen your salvation
And his name is Jesus. Amen.

Adapted from Dr. Sheila Klassen-Wiebe, Associate Professor of New Testament at Canadian Mennonite Universityin Winnipeg, Manitoba. Reposted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2016/12/litany-luke-2-25-32.html.

Prayer of Confession

On this third day of Christmas,
as another year draws to a close,
we come together before God and with one another,
confessing 
the ways in which we have been caught up
in the frenzied spirit of the holidays
and turned away from Your Spirit of Peace; 
the times we have focused so much on our own lives and desires, 
 that we have neglected the voices of your children
who cry out for Justice; 
in our focus on making the season perfect, 
 we have turned away from the hurting people
and broken places in our world in need of Healing; 
in the times we have dismissed Christmas as a time only for children, 
and we have stubbornly closed our hearts to your amazing gift of Love.

O Holy Child of Bethlehem, Word Become Flesh,
our Savior and King, receive our humble prayer,

Cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon 

Receive the good news of Christmas:
In the Christ Child, God reveals to us the wonders of divine love. 
For unto us a Child is born;
unto us a Son is given.

His name shall be called Wonderful,

Counselor,
the Mighty God,
the Everlasting Father,
the Prince of Peace.

In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.

In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
Glory to God! Amen.

Adapted from Rev. Nancy J, on her blog, wonderings through life and other such nonsense. Reposted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/11/prayer-of-confession-after-christmas.html.

Benediction

May God bless you with the patience to watch and listen, so that, in the spirit of Simeon and Anna, we might pay attention and be ready to witness to the Light revealing God’s glory among us wherever we go. Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, August 2026.