In the Beginning was the Word—Advent 1 The Word with God

This is part of the worship series, 
"In the Beginning Was the Word”

Series Introduction 
 Advent 1  | Advent 2 | Advent 3 | Advent 4  

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

The Word with God: John 1:1–2

In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.

Call to Worship

O God of creation, who was before there was . . .
We gather to praise your holy name and to celebrate the revelation of yourself to us.

O God of light and life, who was before there was . . .
It is through your true Light that we are able to see the truth of your saving love.

O God of silence and sound, who was before there was . . .
We thank you for your eternal Word, who speaks to us in our acts of worship.

O God of time and eternity, who was before there was . . .
Come afresh, come anew, come again, come now. O come, O come, Immanuel!

Call to Confession

The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; 
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 
—Psalm 51:17 ^NRSVUE

Prayer of Confession

Let us confess our sins to the Father and seek God’s pardon and peace.

[Silence]

Almighty and merciful God, we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed. We have not loved you with all our heart. We have not loved others as Christ loves us. We are truly sorry. In your mercy, forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory and praise of your name. Amen.
—Church of Wales, Alternative Order for Morning Prayer

Words of Assurance

May God our Father, who by our Lord Jesus Christ has reconciled the world to himself and forgives the sins of all who truly repent, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, and grant you the grace and power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.
—Church of Wales, Alternative Order for Morning Prayer

Prayer for Illumination

Word that was, Word that is, Living Word of God by the power of the Holy Spirit, open our ears to hear, and our eyes to see. Amen.

Scripture Lessons

Old Testament: Genesis 1:1–2
Epistle: Revelation 19:11–16
Gospel: John 1:1–2

Sermon Notes

“In the beginning . . .” (Jesus before creation—eternal Word)

A dramatic illustration for setting the tone of this message about Jesus before time can be found in Goethe’s Faust. When Faust begins to translate the New Testament into German, he starts with the prologue: “In the beginning was the Word . . .” Faust discovers that Word is an inadequate translation. His alternative suggestions come from a strange combination of German and Greek philosophy: “In the beginning was the Thought,” or “In the beginning was the Power.” At the end, enlightened by the Spirit, Faust triumphantly proclaims the real translation: “In the beginning was the Act” (Adapted from Raymond Brown’s Anchor Bible Commentary on the Gospel of John, p. 519).

In the beginning was the act of revelation—revelation by one who always was, who was about to be revealed again in a new way through the Incarnation of the Son, and who will be revealed totally at the end of time. So, with the words “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,” we are already weaving together the start and the climax of this great story. It sets the theme of Christ’s coming and his coming again.

Statement of Faith

Our only hope is Jesus Christ.
After we refused to live in the image of God,
he was born of the virgin Mary,
sharing our genes and our instincts,
entering our culture, speaking our language,
fulfilling the law of God.
Being united to Christ’s humanity, 
we know ourselves when we rest in him.
—Our Song of Hope, st. 3 © 1978, Reformed Church in America. Used by permission.
Come, Lord Jesus:
We are open to your Spirit.
We await your full presence.
Our world finds rest in you alone.

Music Resources

Theme Hymn for All Four Weeks
“In the Beginning Was the Word Eternal” ^{Polman and Leftley}
(optional alternate tune VIOLA)

Congregational Songs
Opening Hymns: “O Come, O Come, Immanuel” ^Helmore
“Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise” ^Smith
Service of Confession: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” ^Wesley
Introduction to Scripture: “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” ^Prudentius
Sung Prayer for Illumination: “Open Our Eyes, Lord” ^Cull
Sung Response to Scripture: “O Come, All Ye Faithful” (st. 2) ^Wade 
Closing Hymn: “View the Present Through the Promise” ^Troeger

Organ
“Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise” (Michael Burkhardt, Praise and Thanksgiving set 3, Morningstar MSM-10-753, 1990; Six General Hymn Improvisations set 2, Morningstar MSM-10-534, 1999)
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (Raymond H. Haan, Five Organ Preludes, Flammer HF5094, 1977; John Ferguson, An Advent Triptych, Morningstar MSM-10-008, 1995)

Piano
“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” (Myra Schubert, Give Him Praise, Lillenas MB-511, 1983)
“Open Our Eyes, Lord” (Mark Hayes, Lord, Be Glorified, vol. 2, Word 301 0063 318, 1992)

Bell
“Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise” (Douglas E. Wagner, Agape 1238/3 octaves, 1986)
“O Come, O Come Immanuel” (Cynthia Dobrinski, Agape 1399/3-5 octaves, 1989)

Choir
“The Word Was God” (Rosephanye Powell, Gentry JG2196/SATB divisi, a cappella, 1996)
“Creator of the Stars of Night” (John Ferguson, Choristers Guild CGA-474/unison with keyboard or handbells).

Revised Common Lectionary

Years A, B, C: Christmas—Nativity of the Lord - Proper III
Years A, B, C: Christmas—Second Sunday after Christmas Day