"Giving Gifts Fit for a King"

Call to Worship  (adapted from Psalm 98) Make a joyful noise to the Lord! We’re ready to break into joyous song and sing praises. Not only people, but the sea, and all that fills it; let the floods clap their hands and the hills sing together. We sing a new song to the Lord, who has done marvelous things! God’s love made visible!

Opening Prayer

The celebration of Christmas has just begun. Even though many of us have gone through the gift giving and receiving, have feasted with family and friends, there is yet another gift which has been given. You, O Loving God, have wrapped the gift of your Son Jesus Christ around our lives. The light of your love through him is shining brightly. It is not a harsh light, but a multitude of bright colors that remind us of the wondrous ways you love us. Open our hearts and spirits as we hear the words of your holy scriptures, and the beautiful music. Bring us to you with such joy that it will seem as though our feet aren’t even touching ground. AMEN.

Moment for Stewardship  (inspired by John 1)

John’s Gospel opens with poetic words, familiar to many of us.

What does this mean:            “the Word became flesh…and we have seen his glory”?

We see, in Jesus, the love of God in human form.

When we see God’s generosity, sharing Jesus with the world, we know in our own spirit the desire to follow it.

So, today, our joy in the birth of Jesus and our gratitude for the gift of his life, gives us incentive to reflect that joy and gratitude in our own giving.

On this last Sunday of 2022, know your giving will allow us to do ministry in 2023.  And, it will encourage you to celebrate Jesus’ birthday with generosity and gratitude.

Let us share our Christmas Day gifts, giving thanks for the Word made flesh.

Prayer

Ever-loving God, we rejoice in the way your love is made visible in the birth of Jesus!  After all the preparation, the Christ Child is born once more into our hearts.  As we welcome this baby, renew our desire to follow your Beloved One into the highways and by-ways of each new day.  AMEN

Matthew 2:1-12 New International Version The Magi Visit the Messiah 1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.” 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Benediction:

Go now, bringing the joy of God’s love with you to all that you meet. Remember that God is with you in all you do. Rejoice, dear people, for God’s Light has come for the whole world. Go in peace and may God’s glorious peace always go with you. Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.