Processing with God: Narrative Lectionary, Liturgy, Prayers
Author: katyandtheword
Pastor Katy has enjoyed ministry at New Covenant since 2010, where the church has solidified its community focus. She now works at Capital CFO plus as the Non Profit Director. All opinions expressed on this blog are her own and do not reflect those of Capital CFO plus. Prior to that she studied both Theology and Christian Formation at Princeton Theological Seminary. She also served as an Assistant Chaplain at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital and as the Christian Educational Coordinator at Bethany Presbyterian at Bloomfield, NJ.
She is an writer and is published in Enfleshed, Sermonsuite, Presbyterian's today and Outlook. She writes prayers, liturgy, poems and public theology and is pursuing her doctorate in ministry in Creative Write and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
She enjoys working within and connecting to the community, is known to laugh a lot during service, and tells as many stories as possible. Pastor Katy loves reading Science Fiction and Fantasy, theater, arts and crafts, music, playing with children and sunshine, and continues to try to be as (w)holistically Christian as possible.
"Publisher after publisher turned down A Wrinkle in Time," L'Engle wrote, "because it deals overtly with the problem of evil, and it was too difficult for children, and was it a children's or an adult's book, anyhow?" The next year it won the prestigious John Newbery Medal.
Tolkien states in the foreword to The Lord of the Rings that he disliked allegories and that the story was not one.[66] Instead he preferred what he termed "applicability", the freedom of the reader to interpret the work in the light of his or her own life and times.
This worship tells the story of the birth of Jesus Christ fairly chronologically with John 3:16-17 towards the beginning as a focal point, offering included right after the reading of the magi from Mathew (should that fit your context) a moment for a sermon or reflection, and closing with the magnificat. As always feel free to adapt as needed. Should you find my work helpful you can support my work here.
Lighting of the Christ Candle: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love & Christ (All Children are invited forward to assist with the lighting)
Fourth Lesson Luke 2:8-12
Carol #31 Hark the Harold Angels Sing v. 1
Fifth Lesson Luke 2:16-20
Carol #23 Angels We Have Heard on High v. 1, 2, 3 (all)
Holy Communion
God be with you
And also with you
Lift up your hearts
We life our hearts to the Lord
Give thanks to the Lord our God
It is right to giver our thanks and praise…(prayer continues)
…and praying as his son taught us to pray Our Father 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 debts as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Carol God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen v. 1 & 4
Sermon/Reflection
Sixth Lesson Matthew 2:13,7-12
Offering & Carol #53 What Child is This? v. 1, 2, 3 (all)
See Also: Advent Prayer (which might be good to add in/replace)
This is a Meditative Worship for those who need Comfort over the Christmas Season. It may take place at anytime, even in place of Christmas Eve if service if that is (perhaps) too painful for you this year. You can do this without any supplies or with candle(s) to light. (If you have an Advent Wreath you may wish to light it up to the week you are at and add a Comfort candle)
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A Prayer For an Empty Advent:
God,
I’m reminded again
that it’s ok that Advent
is empty
Wasn’t Mary’s Magnificat
about filling up the empty
with Good things!
Weren’t the Angels Sent
to gift the silent world
with Holy Songs?
Wasn’t the whole and entire point?
To fill the world a little more with the love of God.
To put Jesus physically, right here on Earth!
God, remind us that it’s not only ok, but traditional to feel empty at Advent.
And if we are trudging, the long trudge, especially this year,
please send the Holy Spirit to trudge with us we pray.
And to remind us, it’s ok if Advent feels empty this year.
God, for those of us who haven’t felt like putting up a tree,
or hanging garlands–those of us who have only half heartedly decorated
Or not decorated at all–
It’s ok. We can blue, and sad.
You don’t need any festooning.
You don’t need any bells or whistles.
You are God.
Present in the very midst of Sorrow–
Isn’t that why we light the candles? Because sometime we need the reminders
that you are present, especially when we cannot see Hope, Peace, Joy or Love in the World?
That’s why today we are lighting an extra candle in our hearts. The candle of Comfort. For you–Wonderful Counselor, promise that with Christ too.
Amen
Picture Thanks to Rev Erin A. Jacobson Reading of Isaiah 40:1, Isaiah 55:1,11
Isaiah 40: 1, 55: 1, 11
Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.
Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Comfort Ye My People
Comfort Ye My People from “The Messiah” Magnificat Remixed
Magnificat Remix: (Based on Luke 1:46-55)
Holy is our God, How Holy is our God that we are able to Magnify Xem in our tiny acts?
God’s Mercy is plentiful, bringing comfort to generation upon generation.
Scattering those who think they have power, and empowering those feel emptied out!
God always, always remembers God’s promises.
God sends the rich away hungry, and fills the hungry with good things.
God brings those who sits on thrones down, and lifts up those who are low in spirit.
This is the God we worship and love, the God, wonderful Counselor, the Abundant God, the Guardian of Peace.
This is our comfort, Fill us up God, especially when we feel desolate, we pray.
Lighting of the Comfort Candle Candle (if you chose you may light a candle at home)
Closing Prayer:
Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ be with me. Amen*
Benediction: May you make it through this Christmas knowing there are no requirements. Instead, may God Console and Comfort You and may Christ’s Peace be with you. Amen.
Picture Thanks to Rev. A. Erin Jacobson
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My Thanks to Rev. Dr. Barb Hedges-Goettl and Rev. Marie O’Connell for the inspiration for this Virtual Worship and Rev. Erin A Jacobson for contributing the images
katyandtheword 