This is part of the worship series,
"In the Beginning Was the Word”
Series Introduction
Advent 1 | Advent 2 | Advent 3 | Advent 4
Second Sunday of Advent
The Word and Creation: John 1:3–5
All things came into being through him.
and without him not one thing came into being,
What has come into being in him was life,
and the life was the light of all people.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not overcome it.
Call to Worship
Almighty God, in whom we live and move and have our being, who made us for yourself so that our hearts are restless till they rest in you:
We give you thanks for every mercy granted to us in times past, and for your presence with us at this hour.
As we seek to rededicate our lives and work to you, grant us purity of heart and strength of purpose, that no selfish passion may hinder us from knowing your will, no weakness from doing it, but that in your light we may see clearly, and in your service find our perfect freedom, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
—Adapted from Saint Augustine
Call to Confession
Do not enter into judgment with your servant,
for no one living is righteous before you.
—Psalm 143:2 NRSVUE
Prayer of Confession
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
But we choose to build our own idols of wood, steel, concrete, and to bow down before them.
There is no speech or language where your voice is not heard.
But we choose to see others and to discriminate and to be prejudiced.
The law of the Lord is perfect. His statutes are trustworthy.
But we choose to set our rules and trust our own judgment.
The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart. His commands are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
But we choose to harden our hearts and close our eyes, stumbling in darkness.
By your ordinances, O Lord, is your servant warned.
Help us to discern our errors. Forgive our faults. Keep us from willful sins. Hear our prayer, O Lord. Amen.
—Based on Psalm 19
Words of Assurance
Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive. (Matthew 21:22, NRSVUE)
Prayer for Illumination
Creative Word, living Truth,
speak to our minds, touch our hearts,
and change our daily lives,
in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Scripture Lessons
Old Testament: Isaiah 40:18–26
Epistle: Colossians 1:15–17
Gospel: John 1:3–5
Sermon Notes
“The light shines in the darkness . . .” (Jesus in creation)
James Weldon Johnson’s poem “The Creation” opens with these lines: “And God stepped out on space,/And he looked around and said:/I’m lonely—/I’ll make me a world.”
And God stepped out on space. God was all that existed; there was nothing else but God’s eternal being. The poem goes on: “And far as the eye of God could see/Darkness covered everything,/Blacker than a hundred midnights/Down in a cypress swamp.
“Then God smiled/And the light broke,/And the darkness rolled up on one side,/And the light stood shining on the other,/And God said: That’s good!”
At the moment of light and darkness in Johnson’s poem, the Word moves from outside of human time into human time through the sphere of creation. That same moment is expressed in the words “God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light” (Gen. 1:3). It is also found in “all things came into being through him” (John 1:3). God has chosen to work out a plan of salvation for us in the context of our created world and human history; by the act of creation God set in motion the events that will become clearer “in the fullness of time” and be completed at the end of time. This message places before us the God who was outside of time coming into human time to work out the plan for our salvation. This is Advent—in both his coming and his coming again.
Litany of the Faithful
From the pages of your holy word we lift the names of Abel and Enoch,
these faithful ones who saw from a distance and welcomed the promises of God.
From the pages of your holy word we lift the names of Noah and Abraham,
foreigners and nomads here on earth looking forward to a country they could call their own.
From the pages of your holy word we lift the names of Abel and Enoch, Noah and Abraham,
trusting servants looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland.
From the pages of your holy word we lift the names of Abel and Enoch, Noah and Abraham,
those you, O God, were not ashamed to be called their God, ones for whom you prepared a heavenly city.
From the pages of today we lift our own names, foreigners and nomads, looking for a country to call our own, a heavenly homeland.
God, be not ashamed to be our God and bring us also into your heavenly city.
—Based on Hebrews 11
Revised Common Lectionary
Years A, B, C: Christmas—Nativity of the Lord - Proper III
Years A, B, C: Christmas—Second Sunday after Christmas Day
Year B: Advent—Second Sunday of Advent
