To Be A Manger, Part II

Good Morning and Welcome to Worship! Worship is often the first place that new people come into contact with this growing community of faith. And so, if you are joining us for the first time, I say to you what is said every Sunday: You are welcome here. Here is a place where all are welcome. For such is the love of God for God’s Very Good Creation.

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kindom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kindom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Siblings, in Jesus, God’s Word became flesh to birth love in our hearts and peace in our world.

Your messenger announces peace in shouts of breathless joy; drive out the warring ways of our world and protect all who face danger this day as you guide our feet to travel with the One who is your peace.

Your Word comes with justice to rule the earth with fairness; inspire the leaders of all nations and citizens of the world to order our economic lives to promote dignity and equality for all in your global household.

Mountains and rivers clap and sing as your Word makes all things new; awaken us to the damage we do to your world and mend our ways, that all creation might breathe again the liveliness of your blessing.

When shepherds met your newborn Christ, they eagerly ran to tell the news; make us joyful messengers of your good news who freely share your love in the world.

In Jesus, your love takes on human form to seek us out and guide us home; may Christ be born in us today to lead us into the lives for which we were made.

From your majesty on high to the lowliness of the stable, your Word has power to sustain all things, and through him we become your precious children; comfort those who are hungry, sick, or suffering, and in all our afflictions anoint us with the oil of gladness as you visit us with your salvation.

Unto us a child is born this day, to live and die and rise again; bless all who are born today and all who will die, that your will for them may be fulfilled in the one who is the way, truth, and life.

O God, receive our prayers through Christ who is our glorious light. May we, like him, shine forth like the sun in bodies, breath, and beating hearts to sing your praise forevermore, and as holy partners in a heavenly calling, dwell with you eternally. Amen.

By the breath of your Spirit inspire us, that in the hearing of your Word we may be filled with new understanding and fresh desire to please you in all we do, for the sake of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

⁴¹Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. ⁴²And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. ⁴³When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. ⁴⁴Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. ⁴⁵When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. 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. ⁵²And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.

Numbers often have deeper meaning in the Scriptures. Here, Jesus is absent from his family for three days foreshadowing the three days in the tomb which will be here before we know it. Where have you experienced important time away and how did that time shape your movement forward? Are you due for some time away soon?

With grateful hearts, let us offer ourselves and our gifts to God, in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Amen.

Loving God: We give you thanks for Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Receive the gifts we offer in union with Christ’s gift for us. Clothe us with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, that we may be Christ for others. In his name we pray. Amen.

May the Christ inhabit you, the Father/Mother uphold you, and the Spirit sustain you, so that whatever you do, in word or deed — you do it in the love of God. Amen.