Note: We are planning a “Christmas in July” for 7/28. In fact, Hebrews and John 1 are together in the RCL for Christmas; see resources below–and the incarnational themes for Hebrews could lead to a twinning of Christmas/Advent themes and Hebrews throughout this series.
INTRODUCTION to Hebrews summer Narrative Lectionary series: https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=4080
From the RCL, which also includes verses from chapter 2 in its pericope, this commentary answers the question “Why preach a series on Hebrews” and talks incarnation. Also gives two illustrations, one from Kierkegaard and the other from The Man Which Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales. https://cep.calvinseminary.edu/sermon-starters/proper-22b/?type=lectionary_epistle
Book of Hebrews resources: http://www.textweek.com/epistlesrevelation/hebrews.htm
WORSHIP RESOURCES
Opening prayer of adoration: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2012/09/opening-prayer-hebrews-1-1-4.html
1:1-4 and 2:5-12 for two readers https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2012/09/readers-theatre-hebrews-1-1-4-2-5-12.html
Original prayers:
Opening Prayer by Rev. Dr. Barb Hedges-Goettl; please give credit if using/adapting.
God, you have spoken, and you continue to speak, to your people.
Reveal Christ Jesus to us this day as your Son and heir.
In him, reveal to us your glory and your very self,
that we may be purified and sustained by him,
sharing in his life and light. In his name,
the name above all others, we pray, Amen.
CALL TO WORSHIP (from Hebrews 1 and John 1 The Message) by Barb Hedges-Goettl; please give credit if using/adapting.
One: The Word came first.
Many: The Word was with God and the Word was God.
By his Son, God created the world in the beginning.
Everything was created through the Word.
Nothing—not one thing!—came into being without him
and it will all belong to the Son at the end.
The Son perfectly mirrors God.
He is stamped with God’s nature.
He holds everything together by what he says,
His Life is the Light to live by.
The Life-Light blazes out of the darkness
and the darkness cannot put it out.
ALL: THANKS BE TO GOD.
RITE OF CONFESSION by Barb Hedges-Goettl; please give credit if using/adapting.
*Call to Confession:
God sent Jesus to light our way, but at times we stumble about cursing the darkness instead of using the light that God provides, and so we seek God’s forgiveness.
*Prayer of Confession Reader O God, you give us glimpses of your light, but sometimes, instead of following you, we stumble around on our own. We accept poor imitations of your light. We try to catch your light and hold it, so that we do not have to always look to you. You speak the words that give and sustain life, but we listen to the noise around us instead.
Forgive us. Give us eyes to see and ears to listen. (Silent Confession)
*Assurance of Pardon (from Psalm 40, The Message) Pastor Barb When Jesus had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. And so we give thanks and praise to God for the Good News: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
FREE POWERPOINT BACKGROUND
1:1-2 https://www.heartlight.org/powerpoint/905.html
OTHER IMAGES for bulletins/powerpoints
CHILDREN’S SERMON
For preaching series on Hebrews: http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2012/09/year-b-proper-22-27th-sunday-in.html
Remaining Faithful to Jesus: “The Neglected Gift” https://sermons4kids.com/neglected_gift.html
God’s proud parent speech https://www.episcopalchurch.org/sermons-that-work
CRAFT PROJECT/Sunday School: By His Own Mighty Word He Holds the Universe Together http://www.sundayschoollessons.com/pent17kart.htm
HYMNS
Hymnary search at https://hymnary.org/search?qu=Hebrews+1%3A1-4
Cyberhymnal
:1
1:2
1:3
- Brightness of the Fath er’s Glo ry
- Father of Earth and Hea ven
- Jesu, Our Hope, Our Heart’s De sire
- O Bright ness of th’Im mor tal Fath er’s Face
The Lutheran Hymnal
| Hebrews 1:06 | Hark! Ten Thousand Harps and Voices. |
221 |
At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
Memorizing scripture through song: Hebrews 1:1-3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dWMHYUtmbI
Presbyterian Hymnal (1990)
1.1-4
331.1+3 Thanks to God Whose Word Was Written
1.1-2a
255.4-6 Now Praise the Lord
327 O Word of God Incarnate
330 Deep in the Shadows of the Past
1.1
222.7 Psalm 103
319.2 Spirit
1.2-14
309 Of the Father’s Love Begotten
1.2-4
4 Creator of the Stars of Night
74 Jesus on the Mountain Peak
75 O Wondrous Sight, O Vision Fair
83 O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High
133 All Glory Be to God on High
137.2 We All Believe in One True God
346.1 Christ, You Are the Fullness
474 O Splendor of God’s Glory Bright
1.2a
10.4 On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry
31.2 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
36.2 In the Bleak Midwinter
41.2 O Come, All Ye Faithful
49.2 Once in Royal David’s City
52.2 Sheep Fast Asleep
54.3 From Heaven Above
55.5 That Boy-Child of Mary
57.4 The Snow Lay on the Ground
60.3 Silent Night, Holy Night
74.4 Jesus on the Mountain Peak
75.3 O Wondrous Sight, O Vision Fair
139.2 Come, Thou Almighty King
148.1 At the Name of Jesus
412.5 Eternal God, Whose Power Upholds
454 Blessed Jesus, at Your Word
485 To God Be the Glory
512.1 Living Word of God Eternal
1.3-14
41 O Come, All Ye Faithful
42 O Come, All Ye Faithful
141 A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing
142 All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name!
143 All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name!
150 Come, Christians, Join to Sing
153 He Is King of Kings 306 Fairest Lord Jesus
477 Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim
566 Glory to God in the Highest (Gloria in Excelsis)
575.6 Glory to God in the Highest (Gloria in Excelsis)
1.3a
133.3 All Glory Be to God on High
203.1 God of Mercy, God of Grace
263 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
412.5 Eternal God, Whose Power Upholds
474 O Splendor of God’s Glory Bright
519.4 Thee We Adore, O Hidden Savior, Thee
548.1+2 O Radiant Light, O Sun Divine
549.1 O Gladsome Light
550.1 O Light Whose Splendor Thrills
1.3c-d
110.1 Christ Jesus Lay in Death’s Strong Bands
147 Blessing and Honor
151 Crown Him with Many Crowns
155 Rejoice, the Lord Is King
308.4 O Sing a Song of Bethlehem
466.3 O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
1.3c
154.3 Lord, Enthroned in Heavenly Splendor
341.1 Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine!
492.1 Baptized in Water
1.3d
133.2 All Glory Be to God on High
194.2 Peoples, Clap Your Hands!
1.4
148.3 At the Name of Jesus
NAME: OF CHRIST
4.3 Creator of the Stars of Night
19.4 To a Maid Engaged to Joseph
142.1 All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name!
143.1 All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name!
147.2 Blessing and Honor
148 At the Name of Jesus
260.2 A Mighty Fortress is Our God
310.2 Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee
311.2 We Meet You, O Christ
346.3 Christ, You Are the Fullness
371R Lift High the Cross
395.3 Have Mercy, Lord, on Me (Take Pity, Lord)
442.2 The Church’s One Foundation
466.2+4 O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
477.1 Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim
498.3 Child of Blessing, Child of Promise
500.3 Become to Us the Living Bread
504.1 Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether
515.3 Now to Your Table Spread
539.1 Savior, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise
548.2 O Radiant Light, O Sun DivineEXEGESIS
Christological questions from the passage: https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=486
Brief overview of Hebrews & our passage; also includes John 1 http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/zxmascm.shtml This same author also publishes his leftover, more technical word-study type notes Again still yet includes John 1. See http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/zxmascl.shtml
Commentary from the passage’s use for RCL at Christmas focuses on “What’s His Name,” allowing readers to listen in on God’s announcement of the name of his Son, http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1479 At Christmas, the RCL also includes John 1:1-14, for that commentary see http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1523
Another commentary from the Christmas context; this one addresses the wisdom underpinnings of the passage, Jesus as Logos/logic, and even mentions John 1! Also addresses Jesus as the anointed king. http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/BEpChristmasDay2.htm
This passage is also in the RCL for 22B (October, 2018), This Working Preacher commentary takes up the challenges of the NRSV’s inclusive language translation, which loses the concept of “Son of Man,” thus truncating some of the meaning of Hebrews’ discussion of incarnation. http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2276
This one addresses the concept of Jesus as trailblazer using Harriet Tubman as an example. Also touches on the problem of the NRSV’s lack of the phrase “Son of Man.”http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=422
From the RCL context, this commentary introduces the book of Hebrews as well as discussing 1:1-4 (and 2:5-12). For chapter 1, it focuses on the word given the prophets, Christ as the Word, and the nature of the Son. http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/BEpPentecost19.html
Exhortation against lack of commitment; addresses 1;1-4 but continues through 2:12. http://www.crivoice.org/biblestudy/bbheb2.html
Hebrews as providing hope/the big picture (Christmas context) https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=3517
Incarnation plus pre-existence and exaltation (Heb. 1:1-12 in Christmas context) https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id
Christmas Reflection: Alone with the Stars https://www.theologyofwork.org/the-high-calling/christmas-reflection-alone-stars
katyandtheword 
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