John 1:1-5
The Word Became Flesh
Chapter 1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. 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.
Invitation
Here we kneel at the manger
and marvel at a God who chose
to send love into the world
as a vulnerable baby
A God who comes to us still
in bread and wine
A God who invites us
to feast on love today.
Narrative
The baby in the manger
fled the stable, took to the road,
grew up and turned up in the temple
He gathered friends around him
and the night before he died
he shared supper with them
He took bread, blessed it and broke it
and shared it with them, saying:
This is my body, broken for you
He also took the cup
explaining the new relationship
that was possible with God
And said:
Do this in memory of me.
And so, this Christmas morning
we celebrate the love in the manger
by celebrating love in bread and wine.
And we give thanks;
Prayer of Thanksgiving
The angels are resting now, O God,
having brought good news for all the world
News of joy and peace
And so we take up the song
praising you with all the hosts of heaven
We praise you for being born among us
taking on flesh
touching earth with the warmth of your love
We praise you for walking alongside us
showing us a better way
hanging out with all those
ignored or put down by others
loving, healing, making whole.
We praise you for seeing the journey through
from the cradle to the cross - all for love.
Christ, who became a refugee,
we pray for all those today
forced to flee their homes
separated from their loved ones.
Christ who knew oppression
we pray, today, for all those
weighed down by life
those denied justice
those judged harshly by others.
Christ who knew isolation and abandonment
we pray for all those betrayed by friends
and family and let down by systems
that should protect.
May we who have knelt at your crib today
stand up, speak out and act
to bring justice for all your children.
May we who worship God with us
share hope, joy and peace
in the world.
God born for us in bread and wine
as we share with you
and with the company of heaven
may we be rooted in love
committed to serving you
by serving our neighbour
So send your Spirit
upon these gifts of bread and wine
May they remind us of your sacrifice
and inspire us to keep hope alive
for Peace on earth.
Christmas God
who, in love, came in flesh
be present for us
in bread and wine today
and plant your love in our hearts
so that we can give wings
to your love for the world.
Amen
Fraction
Here is God with us
the baby who grew
and gave his life for us
The body of Christ - broken for you
The blood of Christ poured out for you
Share in this feast to celebrate
God with us.
Prayer after communion
Filled with the food of the incarnation
we leave the comfort of home and hearth
to travel with the Christ Child
into all the dark and despairing places
of our community
taking light and hope
into all the sad and troubled places
of our world
taking joy and peace
Catching up with God made flesh
who goes before us.
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