Christmas Morning

      


Ecclesiastes 7:15-29 OR Micah 7:1-20

Psalm 44

Matthew 10:9-23 OR Luke 12:1-12

Romans 3:1-22a

CALL TO WORSHIP

Jesus said, “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others,

the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God; 

but whoever denies me before others

will be denied before the angels of God.”

You are my King and my God;

you have saved us from our foes;

In you we have boasted continually,

and we will give thanks to your name forever.

“Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light,

and what you have whispered behind closed doors

will be proclaimed from the housetops.”

We have heard with our ears, O God, our ancestors have told us,

what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old.

Rouse yourself! Why do you sleep, O Lord?

Awake, do not cast us off forever!

“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?

Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. 

But even the hairs of your head are all counted.

Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

Rise up, O Lord, and come to our help.

Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love.

Let not your righteous perish in righteousness,

or the wicked prosper in evil-doing.

Let us not spend our days in vanity.

INVOCATION

O Holy Savior, Son of God and Son of David, shepherd your people with your staff, as in the days of old, the flock that belongs to you, which abides in the midst of a garden land; show us marvelous things, as in the days when you came out of Egypt, so that the nations shall see, cover their mouths, and be ashamed of all their might. For you came into this world with nothing, and you have called us to go forth with nothing but your Spirit to teach us what to say, speaking peace to those who receive you and remaining at peace in the face of rejection. Give us, therefore, strength and sustenance for this earthly life, that we may have hope and courage to endure, for you have promised that those who endure to the end will be saved.

                                    

CALL TO CONFESSION

Surely there is no one on earth so righteous as to do good without ever sinning. For though God made human beings straightforward, he knows the secrets of the heart, and how inclined it is to devise many schemes. Truly, nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing is secret that will not become known. For all are under the power of sin, as it is written: There is no one who is righteous, not even one; all have turned aside; there is no one who shows kindness; there is no fear of God before their eyes. Truly, the faithful have disappeared from the land, and there is no one left who is upright; but the whole world will be held accountable to God. Therefore, let us repudiate sin and confess our need of our forgiving and redeeming Savior, Jesus Christ, born to save, now in our midst, and coming again.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

O Lord, God of our salvation, who is like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of your possession? For you have shown faithfulness to Jacob and unswerving loyalty to Abraham, as you swore to our ancestors from the days of old. We confess that we have not been true to your covenant; we have not always welcomed your prophesies and your prophets; neither have we obeyed your Word, your only begotten Son; we have allowed worldly desires to distract us from your will; and we have resisted the reign that Jesus came to preach, establish, and fulfill. Forgive us, Heavenly Father, for every sinful thought, every careless word, and every sinful deed, whether of action or inaction. Have mercy, O Lord; cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Bring us out from our darkness and into the light of your Son, that we may see and rejoice in his vindication and glory. This we ask, confident that your faithfulness is greater than our faithlessness, certain that, even if everyone is a liar, you will be proven true!

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

The Lord does not retain his anger forever, but delights in showing clemency. Forgiving, gracious, and compassionate, he hears the cries of those who wait for the God of salvation. If for a time we have borne the indignation of our Lord, he will soon execute judgment on our behalf, establishing his people, setting us free, delighting in us, and commanding our victory. For now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe in him. As for those who are in Christ: though we may fall, we shall rise again. Therefore, I declare to you in the name of Jesus Christ, you are redeemed, forgiven, and free.