Word Becomes Flesh Celebration
Birth of Jesus Christ in Our Lives
for the Community.
Modern Song Focus on Contemporary Church Artists
performing hymns of traditional foundation.
Everyone is Welcome!

Word Becomes Flesh Introduction:
As we continue on our journey through the Twelve Days of Christmas we will present and discuss several interpretations of our Christmas Scripture.
Christmas is to be interpreted as: the rebirth of our Lord, the Light shining in the darkness, witnessing to the Light, what Jesus as a child means to us, the Word becomes flesh, grace and intimacy.
Jeremiah delivers us to the intimacy of familial relationships as a model for Judah’s covenant relationship with the Lord.
The poetic context of Ps. 147 relates snow in Palestine to the Divine mystery of the Lord’s Word in our lives.

Shall We Gather at the River
Robert Lowry (1864).
Jeremiah 31:

Shall we gather at the river, Where bright angel feet have trod;
With its crystal tide forever Flowing by the throne of God?

Scripture:
I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. Jer. 31:13.
Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! Ps. 147:12.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Eph. 1:3.
The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. John 1.

Here I am Lord – James Kilbane

Ps. 147.

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard My people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin,
My hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear My light to them?
Whom shall I send?
Here I am Lord, Is it I, Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if You lead me.
I will hold Your people in my heart.

Prayer:
O Holy One,
heavenly angels spoke to earthly shepherds
and eternity entered time in the child of Bethlehem.
Through the telling of the Christmas story,
let our temporal lives be caught up in the eternal
in that same child,
that we might join shepherds and all the heavenly host
in praising the coming of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

Amazing Grace How Sweet the Sound
John Newton. (1779).
Amazing Grace Cherokee Prayer

Eph. 1.
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found,
was blind but now I see.

Prayer:
God has blessed creation with a great variety of gifts
and gathered all people into one family,
so that in sharing, we might strengthen
and be strengthened by one another.
We gather into our hearts and minds
the universe entrusted to us,
remembering its needs before God and this company.
Grant that these prayers, O God,
may be enfleshed by our commitment not only to pray them,
but to live them in your Son’s name. Amen.

O little town of Bethlehem
Philips Brooks (1868).

John 1.
O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting Light;
the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
Prayer:

Gracious God,
you have redeemed us through Jesus Christ,
the first-born of all creation,
whose birth we celebrate as the child of Bethlehem.
Bless us with every spiritual blessing,
that we may live as your adopted children
and witness to your glory
with unending praise and thanksgiving. Amen.

We are all stewards spreading the Word of Jesus’ blessings for His people.
Picnic Fellowship Activities for the Entire Family!

Of course lively discussion and activities will be available!
Perhaps you may prefer to sit and visit!
Please Contact Us with Special Requests!