The First Sunday after Christmas
THE COLLECT
Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate
Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our
lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the
unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 61:10-62:3
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for
he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the
robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a
bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will
cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. For Zion’s
sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her
vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch.
The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you
shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. You shall
be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand
of your God.
Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God
PSALM: 147
[1 Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises to our God! *
how pleasant it is to honor him with praise!
2The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; *
he gathers the exiles of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted *
and binds up their wounds.
4 He counts the number of the stars *
and calls them all by their names.
5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; *
there is no limit to his wisdom.
6 The Lord lifts up the lowly, *
but casts the wicked to the ground.
7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; *
make music to our God upon the harp.
8 He covers the heavens with clouds *
and prepares rain for the earth;
9 He makes grass to grow upon the mountains *
and green plants to serve mankind.
10 He provides food for flocks and herds *
and for the young ravens when they cry.
11 He is not impressed by the might of a horse; *
he has no pleasure in the strength of a man;
12 But the Lord has pleasure in those who fear him, *
in those who await his gracious favor.]
13 Worship the Lord, O Jerusalem; *
praise your God, O Zion;
14 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; *
he has blessed your children within you.
15 He has established peace on your borders; *
he satisfies you with the finest wheat.
16 He sends out his command to the earth, *
and his word runs very swiftly.
18 He scatters his hail like bread crumbs; *
who can stand against his cold?
19 He sends forth his word and melts them; *
he blows with his wind, and the waters flow.
20 He declares his word to Jacob, *
his statutes and his judgments to Israel.
21 He has not done so to any other nation; *
to them he has not revealed his judgments. Hallelujah
THE NEW TESTAMENT Galatians 3:23-25;4:4-7
Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until
faith would be revealed. Therefore, the law was our disciplinarian until Christ
came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we
are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, but when the fullness of time had
come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to
redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as
children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into
our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So, you are no longer a slave but a child.
Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God
THE GOSPEL of our Lord Jesus Christ according to:
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 was the 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.
Reader: The Gospel of the Lord People: Praise to you, Lord Christ