December 30, 2012

First Sunday of Christmas

(Congregation may be invited to be seated for prayer.)

With the prayer “Spirit of God” you are invited to respond…

HEAR OUR PRAYER.

  1. Let us pray for the church, the earth, and all those in need, in the name of the one who is our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

A brief silence.

  1. We pray for your church in all its forms—for Pentecostals and Anglicans, for Mennonites and Baptists, for Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Coptic Christians. Let the Word of Christ dwell in them richly.

Spirit of God:

HEAR OUR PRAYER

  1. We pray your sustaining blessing on our partner Anglican Church of Canada and on the congregations and ministries in this BC Synod:

for Good Shepherd Lutheran church in Coquitlam and their pastor, Eric Krushel; and for King of Life Lutheran Church in Coquitlam and their pastor, Kathy Martin.

Spirit of God:

HEAR OUR PRAYER

  1. We pray for those gathered here today for worship, that you would clothe us in compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience-- and teach us to forgive each other.

Spirit of God:

HEAR OUR PRAYER

  1. We pray for the sovereigns of the earth and all peoples; for ethnic and religious groups in conflict with one another: Clothe the nations with the mystery of your love.

Spirit of God:

HEAR OUR PRAYER

  1. We pray for parents separated from their children, for those suffering from stress; for those dependent on the daily care of others, for those who are called to give dailycare for others; and for all those in need of our prayers--especially for those we name aloud or quietly in our heart at this time…

In this coming week, sustain us in our life of ministry.

Spirit of God:

HEAR OUR PRAYER.

  1. Loving God, we thank you for your coming and for all the ways you continue to come. We thank you for those who are celebrating special events during this season.

-we thank you for those who have the gift of another birthday or another anniversary

-we thank you for the continuing gift of your Son;

-Finally we thank you for those special blessings we name aloud at this time….

Continue to help us see your presence in the joy and sorrows of life.

Spirit of God:

HEAR OUR PRAYER.

  1. We pray in gratitude for the sun, and moon, and the shining stars, for the sea monsters and wild beasts, for the mountains and the cedar trees, for creeping things and flying birds--for all of your marvelous creation.

Spirit of God: HEAR OUR PRAYER

  1. With grief and with thanksgiving, we remember our departed loves ones who now praise you with all the angels. O God, who shines light into darkness, receives these prayers and the prayers of our hearts through the power of the Sprit in Jesus’ name. AMEN.

Colossians 3:12-17

12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.13Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord* has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.16Let the word of Christ* dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.*17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

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Luke 2:41-52

The Boy Jesus in the Temple

46After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.47And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.48When his parents* saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, ‘Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.’49He said to them, ‘Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’*50But they did not understand what he said to them.51Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years,* and in divine and human favour.