If God had a name what would it be? And would you call it to his face? If you were faced with Him in all His glory, what would you ask if you had just one question? What if God was one of us? Just a slob like one of us? Just a stranger on the bus tryin’ to make his way home?
Welcome to the gathering of St. Mark’s Church (Sunday worship under one roof) Sunday, 3rd January, 2021.
Ephesians 1: 3-14
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 just as he chose us in Christ[a] before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. 5 He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight 9 he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance,[b] having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, 12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; 14 this[c] is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.
Prayerful Reflection
Music One of Us – Joan Osborne
If God had a name what would it be? And would you call it to his face?
If you were faced with Him in all His glory, what would you ask if you had just one question?
What if God was one of us? Just a slob like one of us? Just a stranger on the bus tryin’ to make his way home?
Song ‘Carol Our Christmas’
Welcome and Notices
Praying the Psalm
Psalm 147:12-20
12 Jerusalem, praise the Lord! Zion, worship your God!
13 For he has strengthened the authority of your gates.
He even blesses you with more children.
14 He’s the one who brings peace to your borders,
feeding you the most excellent of fare.
15 He sends out his orders throughout the world;
his words run as swift messengers, bringing them to pass.
16 He blankets the earth with glistening snow,
painting the landscape with frost.
17 Sleet and hail fall from the sky,
causing waters to freeze before winter’s icy blast.
18 Then he speaks his word and it all melts away;
as the warm spring winds blow, the streams begin to flow.
19 In the same way, he speaks his word to Jacob,
and to Israel he brings his life-giving instruction.
20 He has dealt with Israel differently than with any other people,
for they have received his laws.
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
Song ‘Love Came Down at Christmas’
Scripture John 1: 1-18
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
Sermon Reflection
Song ‘Joy to the World’
Prayer for Others
We respond by singing the Lord’s Prayer together [offering to be brought up during the chorus “Amen”]
Offering and Dedication Prayer
Song I am the Light of the World
Sharing the Peace of Christ Peace of Christ be with you
Song of Sending ‘Like a Rock’
Benediction
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
The Love of God
The Communion of the Holy Spirit
Be with us all now and forever. Amen
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