Sunday Worship - the First Sunday after Christmas
Welcome to our Sunday worship on the first Sunday after Christmas. Reverend Christine Steel, Curate at St John's Church, Hey, will be preaching and presiding this morning. If you can't be with us in person, you'll find everything you need to worship from home here on this page.
Our first hymn this morning is " A Great and Mighty Wonder"
The Gospel -
John 1:1-18
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life wasthe light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'") From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.
Reflection -
I am writing this 10 days before Christmas Day so that we can mail it out to everyone in plenty of time. Similarly, at the time of writing, I don’t even know what restrictions will be in place and what ‘tier’ we will be in.
I wonder how different Christmas will have been for everyone. Despite the fact that it will no doubt have seemed quieter and perhaps a little less busy for people, I truly hope there has been some joy for each and every one of you.
Hopefully, by the time this service takes place on December 27th, most of us will have had a relaxing Boxing Day (or St. Stephen’s Day if you prefer), to get over any over-indulgence and the left overs will have gone down considerably. Christmas will have been and gone. Or will it?
Ordinarily when we meet together in church on the Sunday after Christmas one of the first things we would ask each other might be, “Did you have a nice Christmas?” Despite the fact that for many that have jobs, they won’t return to work for at least a couple of days there is a sense that Christmas is over. For some it’s an anti-climax and for others a bit of a relief.
But Christmas is not just a point in time or a single event. In today’s Gospel passage John reminds us of the creation of all things by God and his omnipotent power. We and everything around us are all here by the ‘Will of God’. He also reminds us of the most important part of Christmas - “And the Word became flesh and lived among us.”
Jesus is sometimes referred to as Immanuel which translates as ‘God is with us’. It was God’s will to come amongst humanity so we could see his face and hear his voice. For us as humans, it is beyond our ability to fully comprehend God, but nonetheless he came amongst us that we may experience his love for us. God became like us so that we might know him directly. How fantastic is that!
But it doesn’t end there, because Jesus went about amongst us, and showed us how to love one another, and as we know he gave his life that we might all be redeemed. And Jesus is constantly with us, by our side, there for us whenever we turn to him. ‘From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.’
“And the Word became flesh and lived among us” and will always live amongst us. Every time we pray and speak to God, every time we live according to his word and love one another, we acknowledge anew that the Word became flesh and continues to live among us. … and we can receive that gift time and time again. Every day is Christmas Day.
Our prayers -
Heavenly Father, we worship Your holy name and Your gift of creation.
Thank You that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
We thank you that you sent Jesus, your only Son to be our saviour.
Who was born of human flesh and went about among us.
Who willingly suffered for us,
So that we may be redeemed by His precious blood.
Praise Your name and praise Jesus,
in Whose name we pray.
Amen.
Today's final hymn is "See Amid the Winter's Snow"
