{"id":2482,"date":"2021-12-26T00:51:41","date_gmt":"2021-12-26T00:51:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/?p=2482"},"modified":"2021-12-26T00:51:45","modified_gmt":"2021-12-26T00:51:45","slug":"worship-for-the-first-sunday-of-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/2021\/12\/26\/worship-for-the-first-sunday-of-christmas\/","title":{"rendered":"Worship for the First Sunday of Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>First United Methodist Church of Schenectady<br \/>\nWorship for the First Sunday of Christmas<\/h1>\n<h2>December 26, 2021<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/image-000-1-rotated.jpg\"><\/p>\n<h2>Getting Centered<\/h2>\n<p>It may help to center yourself into worship by lighting a candle, as a symbol of God&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<h3>Breath Prayer<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cGod who is with us, center us.\u201d<br \/>\n<em>Breath prayers involve breathing in the first phrase, and breathing out the second.<br \/>\nYou may wish to simply pray for a moment before starting, or you may wish to pray while listening to the prelude.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Prelude<\/h3>\n<p><strong>\u201cCelebration!\u201d by David Paxton<\/strong><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Celebration!\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ISAVKQQUfVs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Call to Worship<\/h3>\n<p>One: Welcome, dear ones, it is Christmas!<br \/>\n<strong>Many: We celebrate God with us!<\/strong><br \/>\nOne: May your hearts find peace in worshipping together.<br \/>\n<strong>Many: We celebrate new life and new hope!<\/strong><br \/>\nOne: May your spirits seek the Divine and learn to trust God!<br \/>\n<strong>Many: We celebrate God&#8217;s trustworthy love!<\/strong><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/image-001-2-e1640478782471.jpg\"><\/p>\n<h3>Hymn #239: Silent Night, Holy Night<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Hymn 239: Silent Night (with Peace on Earth)\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0jeQWdxfYT4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hymnary.org\/page\/fetch\/CH1995\/141\/low\"><\/p>\n<h2>Connecting in Prayer<\/h2>\n<h3>Shared Prayer<\/h3>\n<p><strong><br \/>\nO Holy One,<br \/>\nIn this season of in-breaking,<br \/>\nwe bring our attention to how you are with us.<br \/>\nAs we hear the story of Jesus as a young child,<br \/>\nwe see the holiness in children,<br \/>\nand the sacredness of all.<br \/>\nAs we savor the stories of angels and shepherds,<br \/>\na young mother and an uncertain father,<br \/>\na terrified King and faithful foreigners,<br \/>\nhelp us find its meaning for us today.<br \/>\nLet new life be birthed among us, too.<br \/>\nAmen<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>Silent Prayer<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/image-002-2-e1640478744636.jpg\"><\/p>\n<h3>The Lord&#8217;s Prayer<\/h3>\n<blockquote><p>\n<strong>Our Father (Creator) who art in heaven,<br \/>\nHallowed be thy name.<br \/>\nThy kingdom come.<br \/>\nThy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.<br \/>\nGive us this day our daily bread.<br \/>\nAnd forgive us our trespasses,<br \/>\nas we forgive those who trespass against us.<br \/>\nAnd lead us not into temptation,<br \/>\nbut deliver us from evil:<br \/>\nFor thine is the kingdom, and the power,<br \/>\nand the glory, for ever. Amen.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2>Word and Reflection<\/h2>\n<h3>Hymn #217: Away in a Manger<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Hymn 217: Away in a Manger\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9bfWE0mw1dI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hymnary.org\/page\/fetch\/UMH\/217\/low\/217\"><\/p>\n<h3>Scripture Reading: Psalm 148<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Psalm 148\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LoTUnmGm-Tw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Children&#8217;s Time<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Merry Christmas (Time with Young People)\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bZg_MHr7V9k?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Passing of the Peace<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Page-5-Image-6-2-e1630096883671.png\"><br \/>\n<em>If you are worshiping with others, please pass the Peace of Christ.<br \/>\nWhether you are alone or with others, please take a moment to find God&#8217;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.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Scripture Reading &#8211; Luke 2:41-52<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Luke 2:41-52\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/g0iyjycCjF0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Sermon: \u201cThe Narrow Way\u201d &#8211; Rev. Sara Baron<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Narrow Way\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6rRVNcgpPls?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>Responding<\/h2>\n<h3>Christmas Prayer<\/h3>\n<p>God who is always arriving, it is still Christmas, with all its wonders and complications.<br \/>\nThere is joy, and love, peace and hope, sounds, and smells, and tastes of delight.<br \/>\nWe are still filled with the story of birth, and now too with the twelve-year-old Jesus left at the Temple.<br \/>\nSometimes, we too, don&#8217;t want to leave the peace of being with you and yours.<br \/>\nYet, 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.<br \/>\nMay Mary and Joseph&#8217;s journeys to Bethlehem and Jerusalem continue in our journey to the places you next lead us.<br \/>\nAmen<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/image-004-e1640478707847.jpg\"><\/p>\n<h3>Offering<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Page-8-Image-10-1.png\"><br \/>\nPhoto by Larry McArthur<br \/>\nIf you wish, you are welcome to use this time to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eservicepayments.com\/cgi-bin\/Vanco_ver3.vps?appver3=3_CMn6vY3gbXWj2GvkW32xVh5LubqSJdgKX6KHFre1VuMdS3Q8kj_eIJXGJN8RG-0gmHZvX_Lw1ha8ZXgn-54Krv7ImQMfM68o70RRXIZtDlvXRu7Icp8meYpri-7vHbdSHJK5fST8PKv5rD7H0pV4u2FYADh6CtWzBcTpjLo9qDxBXK0S3J8MPHZwZCFVXkDJkCUTrur4Wm694FEfvylg==&amp;ver=3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">make a donation to the church online<\/a>, or to put a check in the mail.<br \/>\nThe 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?<\/p>\n<h3>Hymn #246: \u201cJoy to the World\u201d<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Hymn 246: Joy to the World\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vvXRbqce0g8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hymnary.org\/page\/fetch\/GG2013\/208\/low\"><\/p>\n<h3>Benediction<\/h3>\n<p>May God help you find your way, even now, even from here. Amen<\/p>\n<h3>Postlude<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cPraise Ye the Father\u201d by Charles Gounod (arr. Dorothy Wells)<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Praise Ye the Father\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZoNNCgIgxE0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/image-005-1.jpg\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>First United Methodist Church of Schenectady Worship for the First Sunday of Christmas December 26, 2021 Getting Centered It may &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/2021\/12\/26\/worship-for-the-first-sunday-of-christmas\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Worship for the First Sunday of Christmas<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2487,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1255],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2482","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-online-worship"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2482","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2482"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2482\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2489,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2482\/revisions\/2489"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2487"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2482"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2482"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2482"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}