Worship Prayers January 5

 CENTERING PRAYER

 

God of glory, your WORD made a home with us so that we might be at home in you. Gather your children from the farthest places in the world and lead us to that home where the human race can become a human family; through Jesus Christ and in the Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.

 

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

 

The WORD became flesh and lived among us

And we have seen his glory.

The true light that enlightens everyone

has come into the world.

Glory to God who has blessed us in Christ.

Glory to God forever.

 

 

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

Holy God, we confess we are a distracted people and forgetful of your love. We make selfish choices, hurt each other, and perpetuate injustice in your world. We sin against you, and we repent of our many wrongdoings. By the power of your Spirit, forgive, restore, and strengthen us to live in your light and to walk in your truth. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, your WORD made flesh. (Silent Confession)

 

OFFERING

 

Invitation to the Offering

 

Christ lavishes upon us the riches of his grace. Therefore, let us offer our lives and the fruits of our labor to God.

 

Prayer after Offering

 

Let us pray… Lord Jesus Christ, your goodness to us is beyond the reaches of our imagination, a fullness of love that embraces all of life. From you, we receive grace upon grace. Accept our offering for the sake of the world. All that we have is yours, and all we return to you is but a reflection of your love for us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Worship Scripture January 5

 John 1:1-18

The Word Became Flesh

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[a] 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[b] is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

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