Broadway Christian Church · Columbia, Missouri

The Worship of God · December 27, 2009

The First Sunday of Christmas

Litany of Praise and Invocation

From Psalm 148 

Praise the Lord in height and depth, on the inside and outside!

   Let all creation join in the song,

   the planets dancing with the stars.

Let every creature sing back to the Singer of it all!

   For God spoke and out of nothing came life.

Let us pray:

   We draw ourselves into the warmth of your fire,

   to the sparks that find their way

   to each of our waiting hearts. Amen.

New Testament Lesson

Luke 2:15-19

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.

Pastoral Prayer

Tim Carson

And now, O God, we have gathered with haste as shepherds running to the holy place, as wise men and Magi gathering from far places, carrying the gifts we have to offer. In these holy mysterious, glowing places, let us rest. Let us find our souls strangely warmed. Let us turn to you and continue the journey of grace.

We thank you for blessing upon blessing, and in this spirit, and by his name, we pray the prayer he taught us to pray, saying…

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Retelling a Story

The Unfinished Angel

Terry Overfelt

On this Quiet Christmas Sunday, Terry Overfelt continued a long-time Broadway Christian Church tradition by sharing a story with the congregation. In Terry’s most delightful and masterful way, she told her abridged version of a story written by Sharon Creech, The Unfinished Angel.

This story is definitely an auditory experience, as told by Terry, and cannot adequately be shared on the printed page. We offer two suggestions for appreciating Terry’s wonderful story. You may listen to her telling the story by going to the church’s website, www.broadwaychristian.net and hearing the story on the CD version of worship offered there. The other option is to read the entire story in the book The Unfinished Angel, by Sharon Creech; Joanna Cotler Books, An Imprint of Harper Collins Publishers; New York; 2009.

Benediction

Tim Carson and the Congregation

God is full of joy, sent into our hearts. We go into the world with this Spirit, always hoping, always loving, always being God’s church. Amen.