09. Year C - Second Sunday after Christmas

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VERSION: 9 April 2002

SECOND SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS, YEARS A, B, C

In 2002: ----

In 2003: 5 Jan

In 2004: 4 Jan

In 2005: 2 Jan

In 2006: ----

In 2007: ----

In 2008: ----

In 2009: 4 Jan

In 2010: 3 Jan

In 2011: 2 Jan

In 2012: ----

In 2013: ----

In 2014: 5 Jan

In 2015: 4 Jan

In 2016: 3 Jan

- - -

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.

This Sunday may be celebrated as Epiphany Sunday, if the festival of Epiphany is not observed on 6 January.

LITURGY

SENTENCE

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

The Word became flesh and lived among us,

and we have seen his glory,

the glory of the Father's only Son,

full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 comp)

OR

The Lord says: I will turn your mourning into joy,

I will comfort you, and give you gladness for sorrow.

(based on Jer 31:13)

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)

As for First Sunday after Christmas

OR, traditional

Almighty God,

since you wonderfully created us in your own image,

and yet more wonderfully restored us:

Grant that, as your Son our Lord Jesus Christ

was made in our likeness,

so we may share in his divine nature;

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 God,

you wonderfully created us in your own image,

and even more wonderfully restored us.

As your Son our Lord Jesus Christ

was made in our likeness,

so let us share in his divine nature.

For he lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, alternative

(Let us pray that we may be light to the world. [silence])

Almighty and merciful God,

you gave your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ,

to be the light of the world.

Come to us in your word and sacraments,

and make us shine with his glory,

so that people throughout the world

may know, worship, and obey him.

For he lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, new

(Let us pray that the light of Christ shines in us. [silence])

Almighty and merciful God,

we thank you for sending to us the light for the world,

the Word who became a human being

and lived among us.

Make the light of faith shine within us

and be seen by those around us.

We ask this through your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

FIRST READING

Jeremiah 31:7-14 The Lord will gather Israel

PSALM

Psalm 147:12-15(16-18)19,20

Antiphon:

The Word became flesh and lived among us. (Alleluia.)

SECOND READING

Ephesians 1:3-14 Paul's thanksgiving and prayer

ALLELUIA VERSE (based on John 1:18)

Alleluia, alleluia.

No one has ever seen God,

but his only Son has made him known. Alleluia.

Alleluia.

GOSPEL

John 1:(1-9)10-18 We saw God's glory in Jesus

(If beginning at verse 10, begin: 'The Word was in the world . . .')

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 (, Light of the world).

Lord Jesus Christ,

thank you for coming with grace and truth.

Lead us to know God by knowing you.

Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER

Thank you, Lord, for sending your Son into the world

to become a human being and to show us your love.

Help us to praise your glory

in our words and in our lives,

by giving of ourselves in service

to you and to our fellow human beings.

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Call to prayer

By his birth as a human being, Jesus has made the Father known to us. Let us therefore pray to our Father in heaven.

The regular response, OR:

Father, hear our prayer,

through Jesus Christ, your only Son, our Lord.

Suggested petitions

Concluding prayer

Heavenly Father, you revealed yourself through your only Son, Jesus Christ. In his name, hear our prayer, for he 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). It may be modified as follows.

Almighty and merciful God,

you gave your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ

to be the light of the world.

As you have come to us in your word and sacrament,

make us shine with his glory,

so that people throughout the world

may know, worship, and obey him.

For he 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, as people who have seen the glory of the Father's only Son.

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 : Jeremiah 31:7-14

      God rest you merry (various sources, eg Together at Christmas 31)

LHS

AT

TIS

Second reading : Ephesians 1:3-14

LHS

AT

TIS

Gospel : John 1: (1-9) 10-18 (see Christmas Day Proper III)

LHS

AT

TIS

PSALM 147:12-15(16-18)19,20

For musical settings of Psalm 147:12-15(16-18)19,20, see Music Packages 1 and 4.

Below is a paraphrase by David Sch¸tz which may be sung to the tune Merton (LH 1, TIS 264), Laus Deo (LH 17, TIS 525), or Stuttgart (LH 42, TIS 291). It also fits the tune of John Bell's 'Sing to God with joy and gladness' (TIS 92, ATO 325), which is a paraphrase of the first part of Psalm 147. If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

Praise the Lord, you folk of Zion!

Praise your God, Jerusalem!

He has strengthened your defences,

blest your daughters and your sons.

He gives peace within your borders,

fills you with the finest wheat.

He sends heralds with his orders

to the world on running feet.

Who can stand the cold he sends us -

frost and hail and freezing snow?

He sends out his word to thaw them,

making frozen rivers flow.

He declares his word to Jacob,

gives his laws to Israel.

He has done this for no other.

Praise the Lord! His glories tell!

NOTES ON THE READINGS

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

JEREMIAH 31:7-14: The long-suffering God of Israel had finally scattered his rebellious people into humiliating and despairing captivity under other nations. Now through the prophet Jeremiah, he promises to gather them together with himself once again in the land given to their ancestors. The inclusion of even the handicapped shows this work to be purely by the work of God. The joy of return rests on their repentant weeping being replaced by their shepherd's own consolations and abiding protection. They would be provided with plenty once more to serve the Lord in overflowing gladness. Christmas reminds us of our return to the Father through his own wonderful redemption.

EPHESIANS 1:3-14: Paul outlines in majestic words the sweep of God's plan from eternity at its beginning to its consummation in the future, the final, eternal redemption that God wills for his people. The work of the Trinity is cited in a) the planning of God made first in his predestination and election, b) the cooperative redemption and adoption by which Jesus Christ has created us as God's blameless children, and c) the work of the Holy Spirit to seal these blessings to us through faith as empowered by the Holy Spirit. What glorious hope is ours through the counsel and will of our God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

JOHN 1:1-18: Jesus Christ is called here 'the Word' who existed and worked the words of God at creation. The light of truth and holiness exists perfectly only in God himself. John tells us that this light and truth came into the world in Jesus Christ. Those who receive him in faith become by his power God's children, born of God to receive from Christ's fullness grace which has no limit. This is the marvellous and mysterious miracle of Christmas.

VISUAL

VISUALS FOR THE READINGS

Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, the first reading could be accompanied by a picture of rejoicing, eg as in the TEV Bible for Jeremiah 31:13. The second reading could be accompanied by a picture of praising God, eg as in TEV for Ephesians1:12.

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 can be read by more than one person to make the dramatic meaning of the text clearer.

CHILDREN

CHILDREN AND THE READINGS

The children could be involved in making/displaying pictures for the readings - see above under 'Visuals for the readings'.