08. Year A - First Sunday After Christmas

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VERSION: 9 April 2002

FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS, YEAR A

In 2001: 30 Dec

In 2004: 26 Dec

In 2007: 30 Dec

In 2010: 26 Dec

In 2013: 29 Dec

- - -

In some traditions, this Sunday is called 'The Festival of the Holy Family'. The gospel reading for the day reflects something of Jesus' own family. For this reason, it may be appropriate to observe a family emphasis on this day, especially in the intercessions.

Note: For explanations and suggestions on the various resources provided, see the documents 'General notes and resources' and 'Christmas season' in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

LITURGY

SENTENCE

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder for suggestions on using a Sentence.

In all our distress, the presence of the Lord saved us.

In his love and mercy he redeemed us;

he lifted us up

and carried us all the days of old. (Isa 63:9 NIV alt)

OR, use the standard Christmas Sentence in the document 'Christmas season', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

OR, use one of the general Sentences in the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)

Tradiitonal

Almighty and eternal God,

direct our actions according to your good pleasure,

that in the name of your beloved Son

we may be made to abound in good works;

through your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, modernised traditional

Almighty and eternal God,

direct our actions according to your good pleasure.

Make us rich in good works,

in the name of your dear Son,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, alternative

(Let us pray that we may love one another as God has loved us. [silence])

Lord, help us,

in all our dealings with one another,

to be subject to you, the Father of all.

May we follow the pattern of your Son, Jesus Christ,

who was obedient to your will,

and gave up his life for us.

For he lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, new

(Let us pray that through Jesus we share in God's nature. [silence])

Almighty and merciful God,

we thank you for sending your Son

to become human like us,

so that we might become your children.

Make us who trust in Jesus

to be more and more like him.

For he lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, one of the collects for Christmas Day

FIRST READING

Isaiah 63:7-9 The kindness of the Lord

PSALM

Psalm 148

Antiphon:

The glory of the Lord is above earth and heaven. (Alleluia.)

(Ps 148:13b)

If the psalm is to be spoken, this responsive version may be used:

Praise the Lord from the heavens;

praise him in the heights!

Praise the Lord!

All his angels; all his host!

Praise the Lord!

Sun and moon; and all you shining stars!

Praise the Lord!

You highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!

Praise the Lord!

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.

Praise the Lord!

You sea monsters and all deeps!

Praise the Lord!

Fire and hail, snow and frost,

stormy wind fulfilling his command!

Praise the Lord!

Mountains and all hills,

fruit trees and all cedars!

Praise the Lord!

Wild animals and all cattle,

creeping things and flying birds!

Praise the Lord!

Kings of the earth and all peoples,

princes and all rulers of the earth!

Praise the Lord!

Young men and women alike,

old and young together!

Praise the Lord!

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven. He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the people of Israel who are close to him.

Praise the Lord!

SECOND READING

Hebrews 2:10-18 Jesus, our brother, pioneer of salvation

ALLELUIA VERSE (Matt 2:15 alt)

Alleluia, alleluia.

God's word through the prophet has been fulfilled,

'Out of Egypt I have called my son.' Alleluia.

Alleluia.

GOSPEL

Matthew 2:13-23 The escape into Egypt

(Begin: 'After the wise men had left . . .')

The words 'Light of the world' could be added to the gospel acclamations, giving:

Glory to you, O Lord, Light of the world.

Praise to you, O Christ, Light of the world.

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL

This is the gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ (, the light of the world).

Lord Jesus, thank you for becoming a human being

and living among danger and hardship for us.

Be with us in all our troubles.

Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER

Our protecting Father,

thank you for making us your children

and taking care of us.

Help us to respond in thankfulness

by giving ourselves in service

to you and to other people.

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Call to prayer

God's Son grew up knowing the joy and pain of a human family. Let us pray to our Father in heaven that he would enrich our families and every family on earth.

The regular response, OR:

Heavenly Father,

hear the prayers of your children.

Suggested petitions

Concluding prayer

Father, unite your whole family, here on earth, and in the world to come, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

SEASONAL PREFACE

It is indeed right and good,

Lord God, holy Father,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks to you,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

You have revealed your glorious presence to us

in a new way

through the mystery of the Word made flesh,

so that as we see you in your Son,

we are drawn to love you

whom we cannot see.

And so, with angels and archangels,

and with all the company of heaven,

we adore and praise your glorious name:

COMMUNION INVITATION

Jesus says: 'I am the living bread

that came down from heaven.

The bread that I will give you is my flesh,

which I give so that the world may live.'

(Thanks be to God.)

Come, everything is ready.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

For a Christmas post-communion prayer, see the document 'Christmas season', under 'Prayer after communion', in the 'General and seasonal' folder. Alternatively, use the third prayer of the day (as listed above) at this point. It may be modified as follows.

Lord, as we have received

the body and blood of your Son

in this sacrament,

help us to be subject to you,

the Father of all,

and follow the pattern of Christ,

who, in obedience to your will,

gave up his life for us,

yet lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

SEASONAL BLESSING

This seasonal blessing is used together with (ie before) the usual blessing in the order of service.

Christ the Son of God give you joy and peace by his presence with you; . . .

DISMISSAL

Go in peace. You are brothers and sisters of Jesus.

Thanks be to God. OR In the name of Christ. Amen.

HYMNS AND SONGS

FOR THE READINGS

Please note:        * =        Modernised version available

      G3, G4 . . . =        Guitar chords available in the Music Package 3, 4 . . .

      GS =        Guitar chords in the Supplement to LH

First reading: Isaiah 63:7-9

LHS

AT

TIS

Second reading: Hebrews 2:10-18

LHS

AT

TIS

Gospel: Matthew 2:13-23

LHS

AT

TIS

PSALM 148

For musical settings of Psalm 148, see Music Packages 1, 4, 7 and 8.

A paraphrased version of Psalm 148 from the Iona Community may be found in John L Bell, Psalms of patience, protest and praise on page 57 (also available in TIS 94). Another song version is 'Great in power', ATW 426.

There are also two hymns based partly on this psalm: 'O praise ye the Lord', LH 468 / 'Sing praise to the Lord', TIS 96; and 'Praise the Lord, ye/you heavens adore him', sung to Austria (LH 458, TIS 93). However, the second verse of the latter is not a paraphrase of the psalm. The Psalter (1912) gives two extra verses that are true paraphrases of the psalm, which are provided here in a modernised form. The first verse below is the modernised text from TIS.

Praise the Lord, you heavens adore him;

praise him, angels in the height;

sun and moon, rejoice before him,

praise him, all you stars and light.

Praise the Lord, for he has spoken,

worlds his mighty voice obeyed:

laws, that never shall be broken,

for their guidance he has made.

On the earth let all things praise him:

seas and all that they contain,

stormy winds that do his bidding,

hail and lightning, snow and rain.

Hills and mountains, praise your Maker;

praise him, all you flocks and herds.

Fields and orchards, sing his glory;

praise him, creeping things and birds.

All you nations, come before him:

earthly rulers and all kings,

men and women, parents, children,

join with all created things.

Praise the God of our salvation,

who restores from sin and shame.

Heaven and earth and all creation,

praise and glorify his name.

FAMILY HYMNS AND SONGS

As today is sometimes celebrated as a day of special emphasis on families, the following hymns and songs are also appropriate.

LHS

AT

TIS

COVENTRY CAROL

The medieval Coventry Carol ('Lullay, thou little tiny child') is well suited for singing on this day. The text is as follows, and the tune may be found in Together at Christmas (LPH 1987), the Oxford Book of Carols, or a similar Christmas carol book.

      by by, lully, lullay.

      Lullay, thou little tiny child,

      by by, lully, lullay.

      for to preserve this day -

      this poor youngling, for whom we sing,

      by by, lully, lullay.

      charged he hath this day

      his men of might, in his own sight,

      all children young to slay.

      And ever morn and day,

      for thy parting nor say nor sing

      by by, lully, lullay.

NOTES ON THE READINGS

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Notes on the readings', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

ISAIAH 63:7-9: When God's people returned to Jerusalem after seventy years of exile in heathen Babylon, they were met by disheartening and threatening conditions. The prophet here reminds them of God's past saving hand in the exodus some eight hundred years before. He also points them to God's continued protecting grace because of the covenant he made with them at Sinai. His pride in his children and his hopes for them were accompanied by confidence in their loyal response to his saving hand. We have a similar reminder in the events of Christmas that God here entered into our life in his Son to ensure our standing as those he will carry and never forsake.

HEBREWS 2:10-18: By his humanity, becoming 'like one of us' to the extent of our being described as his 'brothers and sisters', Jesus fulfilled conditions of his Father which enable our salvation. In dying he conquered death and the power of Satan. Being in human form, he could offer himself as the priestly sacrifice for human sin. Through fully experiencing temptation, he is able to understand our struggles and to offer help.

MATTHEW 2:13-23: After the glorious attestations to the Christchild's divine mission at his birth, the holy family has to flee. God's children, despite their high calling, have lived amid physical dangers. God's Son no less also, in the words of the second reading, 'himself likewise shared the same things'. Just as God had 'called His Son' (Israel) out of captivity in Egypt, so his Son, the second Israel, is called to his messiahship out of Egypt.

VISUAL

VISUALS FOR THE READINGS

Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, the gospel could be accompanied by a picture of the holy family going into Egypt, eg Mary and Jesus on a donkey, Joseph walking alongside with a staff, a background of palm trees and a pyramid.

DRAMA

'MEGA DRAMA'

See a drama for the day in Mega Drama resources (Openbook Publishers), originally included in these worship resources when they were released on disks.

DRAMATISING THE READINGS

The readings could be read by more than one person to make the dramatic meaning of the text clearer. For instance, the first reading could be read by two readers: narrator, the Lord; and the gospel by three readers: narrator (the pastor), angel, prophet (in vv 15, 18, 23).

BLESSING OF FAMILIES

If there is a family emphasis on this day, and families are prayed for, families in the congregation may also be blessed. Depending on the size of the congregation and how many families there are, it might be better to restrict the blessing to families with children or those with babies. Note the suggestions (and the cautions about the possibility of unintentionally causing hurt) in the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Blessings of people', in the 'General and seasonal' folder. Before or after the prayer of the church, familes could be invited up, and after a suitable word of God and a brief prayer, a blessing such as the following could be said as hands are briefly laid on each family, or at least on the children: 'I bless you, the N family, in all you do, in the name of the Father and of the Son+ and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.'

CHILDREN

CHILDREN AND THE READINGS

The children could be involved in creating/displaying a picture of the holy family going into Egypt (see above under 'Visuals for the readings').

FAMILY EMPHASIS

If there is a family emphasis on this day, make sure the children are particularly included - eg by reference, special song, special activity, blessing.

'COME AND SEE JESUS'

The Come and See Jesus curriculum published by Openbook Publishers has a wealth of material and ideas that may be adapted for use in worship. Please note that a new edition of this material is now available for the Revised Common Lectionary.

This week's story is 'The escape to Egypt (Matt 2:13-23)'. Material for this story may be found in

Original Edition, 1 Christmas, year A (in 3rd Series C book)

OR

Revised RCL Edition, same