Welcome to ICYMI Worship! ICYMI stands for In Case You Missed It; our ICYMI series gives a brief snapshot of worship each week so that you can worship in your home, on the road, or wherever life takes you.
At Cross of Christ, our basic worship order is based on worship patterns from Hebrew traditions and biblical accounts of the earliest Christians: We GATHER with songs and prayer, We HEAR God’s word, We SHARE a meal of bread and wine, We are SENT into the world to love and serve. Let us know how this format works for you.
TODAY IS THE FIRST SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS
Welcome to worship on this very special final Sunday of the year, as we look back with thanksgiving for the year past, and look forward in faith to the year to come. We end one year and begin another in worship, with bells and chimes, lessons and hymns, Holy Communion and Holy Resolutions. We pray this is a meaningful service for all who gather here today. Happy and Blessed New Year!
LITANY FOR A NEW YEAR
This is the day that the Lord has made.
We will be glad and rejoice in it.
This is the year that the Lord has begun.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Because of the Lord’s great love, we begin this new year with confidence,
for God’s compassions never fail—they are new every morning.
Great is your faithfulness, O Lord.
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him.
Great is your faithfulness, O Lord.
GATHERING SONG
“Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Loving God maker of heaven and earth,
We enter your gates with thanksgiving,
And your courts with praise.
We look back at this past year.
We see that you have been with us,
That you have provided for us and lead us in your ways.
We look forwards to the year to come,
Unable to see beyond the next bend or over the horizon,
Yet we put our trust in your, for all our times are in your hands.
Grant us faith this coming year,
To live as your people,
To delight in your will,
And to walk in your ways.
This we pray in the name of your Son,
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
THIS WEEK’S READINGS
read responsively
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, “Papa! Father!” Doesn’t that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you’re also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.
SONG OF THE DAY
“10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)”
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Coming soon!
COMMUNION SONG
“What Child Is This?”
On the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.
All are welcome to receive Christ’s Body and Blood in the Bread and Wine of the Eucharist.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Coming soon!
BENEDICTION
based on Luke 2
Depart now in peace, for our eyes have seen the salvation
which God has prepared for all people.
Grow this New Year in strength and wisdom
and bring forth a harvest of righteousness and praise.
May God smile upon you this year, making you faithful and wise;
May the peace of Christ Jesus be yours each day;
And may the Holy Spirit be your constant companion and guide.
We go into the New Year in peace, to love and serve the Lord. Amen.
SENDING SONG
“Lord Dismiss Us With Your Blessing”
By God’s grace, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, we are called to
Worship God
Grow in Faith
Share the Gospel
Serve others, and
Welcome all.
Thanks be to God!
