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Two Public Voices
First Sunday after Christmas Day
Luke 2:22-40

Sermon Notes
Music Notes
Liturgy Notes

Theme of the Service

Because this Sunday is the day immediately following Christmas Day, it is important to establish a link with the narrative of the Christmas story. In this service we will focus on the visit of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem for Jesus to be presented. Two key people, Simeon and Anna, met them there and publicly proclaimed the identity and mission of Jesus.

Our theme for this service is to hear and welcome the proclamation these two voices make, to embrace the importance of continued proclamations of Christ's ministry, and to recognize the lack of response on the part of Jerusalem-which is paralleled in our world.

On the first Sunday after Christmas, we worship in the joy
of knowing Immanuel has come among us for joy, light, and peace.

WE GATHER IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD

Prelude: "Brightest and Best" [see music notes]
     or "How Bright Appears the Morning Star"
     or "And the Glory of the Lord"

The Call to Worship

Introit: "And the Glory of the Lord," Handel
     or "There Shall a Star Come Out of Jacob," Mendelssohn

*Opening Profession
     Arise, shine, for your light has come.
     And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
     As Creator you brought light out of darkness
     And you marched before your people in the wilderness as a pillar of light.
     We have seen your glory in the Word become flesh.
     He alone could say, "I am the light of the world."
     The people who sit in darkness
     have seen a great light.
     Let us celebrate the light of the world,
     for upon us has the Light shined!

*Opening Hymn: "How Bright Appears the Morning Star" PH 69, PsH 357, RL 367, TH 515
[see music notes]

* Our Declaration of Trust and God's Greeting
     Congregation of Jesus Christ, in whom are you trusting?
     Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.
     Grace, mercy, and peace to you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
     Amen!

 *Song: "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" (st. 1, 3) PH 31/32, PsH 345, RL 196, TH 203, TWC 171, UMH 240


WE ARE RENEWED IN GOD'S GRACE

The Children's Moment

The Call to Confession

Our Prayer of Confession

     God of eternal hope, you have placed a light in our darkness and yet we sometimes
     choose to walk in the darkness of despair, worry and guilt. We have forgotten that
     there is never a moment that you are not with us, that your Son was called
     Immanuel, which means "God with us." We pray that you will shine your light on
     our path, walk with us through the valleys that we face. Hear our confession of
     those times when we try to run ahead and live in our own strength as though
     you are unimportant.

     (Silence for personal confession)

      Lord, have mercy.
     Christ, have mercy.
      Lord, have mercy and forgive us. Amen.

The Assurance of God's Pardon: Matthew 1:21

Song: "Shine, Jesus, Shine" RN 247, SFL 239, SNC 128, TWC 721, WOV 651
     or "Arise, Shine For Your Light Has Come" PsH 198, RN 123
[see music notes]

Hearing God's Will for Our Lives: Responsive reading of God's law from the Psalms (PsH, p. 1015)


GOD SPEAKS THROUGH HIS WORD

*Song: "Once in Royal David's City" (st . 1-3) PH 49, PsH 346, RL 201, TH 225, TWC 161, WOV 643, UMH 250

The Prayer for Illumination
     Mighty God,
     the shepherds of old were full of your praises
     speaking of all they had seen and heard.
     Simeon and Anna had learned from your Spirit
     and spoke to those who were with them.
     Move among us now with your Spirit
     that we may see and hear,
     and know the wonder and joy
     of the living Word in our lives. Amen.

The Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 63:7-9
     The Word of the Lord,
     Thanks be to God!

The New Testament Reading: Luke 2:22-40
     The Word of the Lord.
     Thanks be to God!

Sermon: "Two Public Voices"


WE RESPOND TO GOD'S WORD

Song: "Song of Simeon/Lord, Bid Your Servant Go in Peace" RN 295, SNC 292
     or "Song of Simeon" PsH 216

The Prayers of the People

The Offertory: "Once in Royal David's City"
     or "Song of Simeon"
[see music notes]

The Offering

*Song: "Once in Royal David's City" (st. 4, 5) PH 49,PsH 346, RL 201, TH 225, TWC 161, WOV 643, UMH 250
 [see music notes]

*The Benediction with Congregational Amen!

 *Song: "Good Christian Friends, Rejoice" (st. 2, 3) PH 28, PsH 355, RL 218, TH 207, TWC 157, UMH 224
[see music notes]

Postlude: "Good Christian Friends, Rejoice"
[see music notes]

     * you are invited to stand

Sermon Notes:

  1. It would be helpful to put the time sequence before the hearers as closely as we can determine it. The time of circumcision (see Luke 2:21) was eight days after birth. The time of purification (see Luke 2:22) was normally forty days after birth. Therefore, the event of this passage takes place forty days after Jesus' birth, before the Magi arrive and before Joseph and Mary leave for Egypt.
  2. Uncertainty and trouble are the background of this event and the sermon should present that. Will this Jesus be accepted? Will they recognize him for who he is? Is the temple to which he is going ready to recognize him? Will the religious leaders feel threatened? Is the "hope" in Israel alive enough to receive its fulfillment? (Many of these are the same questions that must be asked today to reveal the trouble in our world.)
  3. The core presentational action of this event is found in the public statements of Simeon and Anna. This action is composed of several layers of meaning:
    • It occurs in the Temple, the very place that was constructed in anticipation of the Messiah, the hope of Israel.
    • Both speakers are part of a culture that had, for the most part, lost its hope and was described as the generation who "did not recognize him . . . did not receive him" (see John 1:10-11).
    • Both are aged and have observed the need and the hope of Israel for many years, and both spoke publicly and pointedly that they were now seeing and proclaiming the fulfillment of all God's promises.
    These two saints, therefore, become the bearers of the gospel (good news) to a world that ought to be waiting.
  4. The tragedy of this story, as today, is that for most folks nothing happened! We could expect that this would be an explosive moment-the Messiah finally arriving at the Temple ! There should have been a massive celebration! But nothing happened. Luke 2:39 is shocking in its ordinariness. "They did what they had to and went home . . ." Nothing else to do; nobody else paid attention! On the first Sunday after Christmas we may well ask how many people put Christmas away and get back to life as usual. Nothing more happens!

Music Notes:

Glossary of Hymnal Abbreviations:
PH        The Presbyterian Hymnal (Presbyterian Church USA; Westminster/John Knox Press)
PsH      The Psalter Hymnal (Christian Reformed Church; Faith Alive Christian Resources)
RL        Rejoice in the Lord (Reformed Church in America; W.B. Eerdmans Publishing Company)
RN        Renew! (Hope Publishing Company)
SFL      Songs for LiFE (children's songbook; Faith Alive Christian Resources)
SNC      Sing! A New Creation (Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Christian Reformed Church,
             Reformed Church in America; Faith Alive Christian Resources)
TH        Trinity Hymnal (Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Church in America; Great
             Commission Publications)
TWC     The Worshiping Church (Hope Publishing Company)
UMH     The United Methodist Hymnal (United Methodist Publishing House)
WOV     With One Voice (Augsburg Fortress)

1. The music suggestions for the prelude, based on "How Bright Appears the Morning Star" [WIE SCHÖN LEUCHTET] and "Brightest and Best" [MORNING STAR] can be found in the following sources:

WIE SCHÖN LEUCHTET
Organ:

Piano:

MORNING STAR
Organ:

Handbells:

Additional Handbell Resource:

2. The Introit "And the Glory of the Lord" by G.F. Handel from the Messiah for SATB voices is published by Schirmer 3829 (M). The alternate SATB anthem suggestion, "There Shall a Star Come Out of Jacob" by Felix Mendelssohn, is published by Schmitt, Hall, McCreary 1903 [1941] (M).

3. Alternative harmonizations on the opening hymn "How Bright Appears the Morning Star" can be found in the following:

Organ:  

Piano:

If you have chosen to use "There Shall a Star Come Out of Jacob" as an introit, the congregation will probably sing only the second and third stanzas for the opening hymn.

4. The song suggestions following the Assurance of Pardon both focus on Christ as the Light of the world. "Arise, Shine, for Your Light Has Come" is also arranged in an anthem setting by Davis Folkerts, originally published by CRC Publications 241-198-00 [1990] (E-M). This publication is now offered by Selah Publishing.

5. The offertory suggestions are based on "Once in Royal David's City" [IRBY] and "Song of Simeon" [LAND OF REST].

IRBY    
Organ:

Handbells:

LAND OF REST

Organ:

6. A piano alternative harmonization for "Once in Royal David's City" by Bert J. Carlson can be found in Let It Rip! At the Piano Augsburg 11-11045 [2000].

7. An introduction to the closing hymn can be found in David Cherwien's organ collection Interpretations Advent/Christmas Summa Productions SP-110 [1997] (E-M). Alternative harmonizations for "Good Christian Friends, Rejoice " [IN DULCI JUBILO] can be found in the following organ collections:

8. The postlude "Good Christian Friends, Rejoice" [IN DULCI JUBILO] can be found in the following sources:
Organ:

Piano:

Liturgy Notes:

  1. The words of the worship leader for the call to worship should immediately link this Sunday with Christmas and point to Epiphany-the manifestation or revelation of Christ. It is important that worshipers see this day not only as a carry-over of Christmas but a new chapter in the church and world as Christ's identity is progressively revealed.
  2. We have placed the Children's Moment as the first step in the Service of Confession so that they can make a connection between Christmas and forgiveness, Christ in the manger to forgive our sins. You may want to speak to them about the fact that confessing sins seems to be quite a change from the joy of Christmas, but is not.
  3. We have left silence in this prayer of confession for worshipers to make their own personal confessions. Such a statement should be printed on the worship sheet, but also explained verbally by the worship leader.
  4. Hearing God's Will for our Lives includes a responsive reading of the law of God and its echo in the Psalms. It's found in the Psalter Hymnal (published by CRC Publications/Faith Alive Christian Resources). If this isn't available to you, you may read the Ten Commandments or another form of God's will from an alternate passage.
  5. It will be helpful to have both an Old Testament and a New Testament reading because Simeon and Anna are speaking about the fulfillment of God's promises that were given in the Old Testament. The reading of Isaiah 63 is recommended by the Revised Common Lectionary.

This weekly worship service has been provided for your use and encouragement by Howard Vanderwell and Norma de Waal Malefyt, Resource Development Specialists at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. You can reach them with your suggestions and comments at howard.vanderwell@calvin.edu or norma.malefyt@calvin.edu.

Any materials included here from The Worship Sourcebook are used by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, © 2004, CRC Publications. This permission is granted for one time worship use in an order of service for a congregation, or in a special program or lesson resource, provided that no part of such reproduction is sold, directly or indirectly. For all other uses, please contact the copyright holder.