First United Methodist Church of Schenectady
Worship for the First Sunday of Christmas

December 26, 2021

Getting Centered

It may help to center yourself into worship by lighting a candle, as a symbol of God’s presence with you during the time of worship. You may also want to pay attention to lighting, the position of your body, and the availability of distractions.

Breath Prayer

“God who is with us, center us.”
Breath prayers involve breathing in the first phrase, and breathing out the second.
You may wish to simply pray for a moment before starting, or you may wish to pray while listening to the prelude.

Prelude

“Celebration!” by David Paxton

Call to Worship

One: Welcome, dear ones, it is Christmas!
Many: We celebrate God with us!
One: May your hearts find peace in worshipping together.
Many: We celebrate new life and new hope!
One: May your spirits seek the Divine and learn to trust God!
Many: We celebrate God’s trustworthy love!

Hymn #239: Silent Night, Holy Night

Connecting in Prayer

Shared Prayer

O Holy One,
In this season of in-breaking,
we bring our attention to how you are with us.
As we hear the story of Jesus as a young child,
we see the holiness in children,
and the sacredness of all.
As we savor the stories of angels and shepherds,
a young mother and an uncertain father,
a terrified King and faithful foreigners,
help us find its meaning for us today.
Let new life be birthed among us, too.
Amen

Silent Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father (Creator) who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Word and Reflection

Hymn #217: Away in a Manger

Scripture Reading: Psalm 148

Children’s Time

Passing of the Peace

If you are worshiping with others, please pass the Peace of Christ.
Whether you are alone or with others, please take a moment to find God’s peace within, and then to share it with the world. You may want to reach out to speak peace to another during this week.

Scripture Reading – Luke 2:41-52

Sermon: “The Narrow Way” – Rev. Sara Baron

Responding

Christmas Prayer

God who is always arriving, it is still Christmas, with all its wonders and complications.
There is joy, and love, peace and hope, sounds, and smells, and tastes of delight.
We are still filled with the story of birth, and now too with the twelve-year-old Jesus left at the Temple.
Sometimes, we too, don’t want to leave the peace of being with you and yours.
Yet, we leave this place to continue to share your love in the world, and we give our gifts to you out of our commitment to your kindom.
May Mary and Joseph’s journeys to Bethlehem and Jerusalem continue in our journey to the places you next lead us.
Amen

Offering

Photo by Larry McArthur
If you wish, you are welcome to use this time to make a donation to the church online, or to put a check in the mail.
The time of offering is not only about our financial gifts to the church, it is about offering our lives to God and the building of the kindom. This is a time for reflection: What is being asked of us? What is being given to us? What are we able to offer? What do we need?

Hymn #246: “Joy to the World”

Benediction

May God help you find your way, even now, even from here. Amen

Postlude

“Praise Ye the Father” by Charles Gounod (arr. Dorothy Wells)