Year B
Sunday, 9.15am Holy Communion see also Readings
Lectionary
The full text of the readings for Sunday are available in our Sunday's Readings section.
Other Resources
Textweek The Text This Week - Revised Common Lectionary, Scripture Study and Worship Links
Online Revised Common Lectionary Vanderbilt Divinity Library
Earlier Thoughts Year B 0506 Year C 0607 Year A 0708
Sunday, 9.15am Holy Communion
LITURGICAL NOTE
From the start of Advent we follow the YEAR B readings in the three year lectionary cycle.
Before entering the sanctuary or the vestry…
Please allow the Choir to complete the ‘postlude’ and any additional songs that are part of our offering in worship – Our holding the sacred space is part of our common union - our being together in communion
The Lord’s Prayer
To give us the opportunity to reflect on this prayer, the prayer will be ‘restated’ by the Liturgical Assistant after we have joined together in sharing the prayer during the service. It also provides us with a reminder (or with permission) to revisit our traditional understandings… and to see the ancient wisdom of our tradition in a contemporary context.
First Sunday after Christmas 28 December 2008
You shall be a crown of beauty
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You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD
How great for us to be told this as we contemplate the mystery of Christmas….. ‘Me’, a crown of beauty…. In the hand of the Lord…….
But then… do we always [ever] listen to what we are told……
As we move toward the unfolding of a new calendar year… we have a chance to look again at the direction in which we move… to look again at our unfolding…
For Christ the orientation was always born out of ‘giving’…. It starts we hear from the offerings of those who loved him…. ‘two turtle doves” and it unfolded into the giving of his wholeness into the Divine hand……
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
So too us
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May the blessing of light be upon you,
light without and light within.
May the blessed sunlight shine upon you
and warm your heart
till it glows like a great fire
and strangers may warm themselves,
as well as friends.
And may the light shine out of the eyes of you,
like a candle set in the window of a house,
bidding the wanderer to come in
out of the storm
(Celtic Blessing)
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I would love to live
like a river flows,
Carried by the surprise
of its own unfolding.
John O’Donohue
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We participate in the birth of tomorrow: not just in the day after today but in the birth of every tomorrow
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The Man at the Gate
I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year,
“Give me a light that I may
Tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied, “Go out into the darkness
and put your hand into the hand of God
That shall be to you better than the light
And safer than a known way!”
So I went forth and finding the hand of God.
Trod gladly into the light. (M. Louise Haskins)
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2009 New Year’s Resolutions
Some biblical resolutions worth considering:
(Deu 30:19) “Choose life, so that you and your children may live"
(Job 42:6) "Repent in dust and ashes.""
(Psa 37:7) "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently”
(Mic 6:8) Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God."
(Mat 3:8) "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance."
(Mat 6:33) "Seek first the kingdom and God’s righteousness.”
(Mat 22:37-39) “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, Love your neighbour as yourself."
(Mat 28:19) "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"
(Mark 13:34-35) "Keep watch.”
(Rom 12:1) "Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and
acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship”
(Rom 12:2)“.Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God--what is good and acceptable and perfect."
(2Cor 13:11)Put things in order agree with one another, live in peace.
(Phil 1:27)Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ,
(James 3:18) "Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of
righteousness."
(James 4:8) "Come near to God and he will come near to you. ..and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
(2 Pet 3:11-12) "Live holy and godly lives as you look forward to
the day of God and speed its coming.”
(Rev 22:17) "Take the water of life as a gift."
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January 6th Epiphany
Epiphany comes from the Greek word which means appear, it also means be revealed and give light. As we move into the New Year as a community we seek to make Christ present.
Our appearance, as we reveal our identity, our truth, and our being will enable us to give light for we are THE BODY OF CHRIST.
Epiphany - Chalking the door
The custom of chalking the door, which seems to be familiar in some parts of Europe is reported as follows:. On Epiphany, children dress as the three kings and go door to door, sometimes singing a carol, and collecting donations for a good cause. On each house that welcomes them they write in chalk on the lintel over the front door the year and the initials of the 3 kings:
20 C M B 09
C,M,B stand for Caspar, Melchior & Balthasar of course, however these initials have also been interpreted as the latin phrase "Christus mansionem benedicat" ("May Christ bless this house").
The ‘chalking” is left on all year.. and therefore serves as a reminder to those within of the constant presence and indwelling of Christ, and also to visitors that this home is a place where Christ may be found
Those who wish to chalk their doors this year may like to do so with the following prayer, and make it an Epiphany ritual on Thursday 6th January
May Christ bless this house
May all who come to our home this year rejoice to find
Christ living among us;
and may we seek and serve, in everyone we meet,
that same Jesus who is Lord for ever and ever. Amen.
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Blessings for 2009
The Church began a new liturgical year on the First Sunday of Advent, The world begins a new year on January 1st - Thank God that we got a head start.
2009…. A year that opens a new bracket………. If you mistype it!
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We participate in the birth of tomorrow: not just in the day after today but in the birth of every tomorrow
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