January 1 – 7, 2001
Roger C. Dowdy
 his collection of worship resources for the new century opened with a liturgy of The Festival of Christ the King. Now, as you and your family, church, or covenant groups begin the first week of the new millennium, you will find here a series of brief celebration liturgies built on the central theme of Christ as the spiritual servant leader of his 21st-century followers into a new millennial year. Or you may chose to celebrate a week of Jubilee worship.
This dramatic change event in time can be an awakening call for Christ’s followers to hear and tell in new ways the powerful story of God’s all-encompassing love, and Christ’s epiphany as God’s change-agent. It is vital that the church tell the great story of saving grace and mission of compassion and healing, for no one but the church and the followers of Christ can or will tell it.
For seven days, from New Year’s Day (January 1) through January 7, these celebrations can serve as spiritual gathering places for local churches, house groups, families, and small covenant groups wishing to begin a new age of Christian faith—centered on Christ—through Word, prayer, reflection/meditation, sacrament, and service. Families, groups, and churches may wish to dedicate this week to a form of local mission effort. These services (modified) could become celebrations and times of reflection for the call from God to be in mission where we live and work.
You are encouraged to use (or adapt) any portion of these liturgies in your particular local culture or setting. They have been designed with the flexibility of location in mind—church, house, “marketplace.” Through these liturgies, assemblies large and small are challenged to renew the
discipline of setting aside time for worship in these first days of a new year. The purpose is to focus on the incarnation of Christ and his centrality to life, to celebrate God’s unfailing covenant-grace, and to receive, rekindle, and nurture the enabling gift and power of God’s Holy Spirit.
The prayer and hope is that the discipline of gathering for corporate prayer; hearing, proclaiming, and meditating on the Word; and celebrating the sacrament will become more firmly established and that small groups and churches will learn anew the power of “hours of prayer” apart from the larger gathered body on the Lord’s Day.
The brief liturgies are based somewhat on the forms of daily prayer Services (Morning and Evening). With slight adaptation (brackets indicate optional acts of worship), these seven services can be used for any time of gathering for worship throughout the first days of the new millennium. The option is provided for a brief homily [sermon], though not traditionally found in daily prayer services; or this time could include personal faith-sharing and witness.
These services may be held within the context of a congregation’s
larger celebration of millennial change. The liturgies could serve as one aspect of the church’s millennial focus—incorporating, over the first weeks/months of the new year, fellowship meals, study (see Blair Meeks’ Bible Study and Repairing the World: God's Gift of Jubilee), worship, mission outreach, telling personal faith stories—reflecting on the accomplishments and shortcomings of the past 1000 years, and building hope for the future.
NEW YEAR’S DAY
Monday, January 1, 2001
THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS
If this is an evening service, the Christ Candle or other candles should be lit.
GREETING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
Holy God, we come into your presence with thanksgiving and praise.
We have come to give thanks for your abiding presence through the ages
and to praise you in the powerful and holy name of Jesus.
Be with us in this hour.
Sanctify our thoughts and words that being made holy we would come to
know more fully you will for us in this new age of faith.
Grant us your Holy Spirit as guide.
Cause us to see Christ more clearly, love him more dearly, and follow
him more nearly, day by day. 27 Amen.
| HYMN | UMH |
| All People That on Earth Do Dwell | 75 |
PRAYER
Jesus . . . Master . . . Shepherd . . . Teacher . . . Door . . . Vine . . . Friend, you are many things to many people. You are near enough to know our every need; and, by faith, we know that you walk with us and that you are going before us, showing us the Way, your way. You are with us as Emmanuel—God with us. So we do not fear. Grant us the gift of the Spirit of faith to walk your Way with assurance and love. Amen.
CANTICLE OF THE HOLY TRINITY
Te Deum Laudamus – We Praise You, O God/UMH #80
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Allowing time for silent reflection between the readings.
Numbers 6:22-27
Psalm 24/UMH pg. 755
Philippians 2:1-13
Luke 2:21-39
| HYMN | UMH |
| There’s Something About That Name | 171 |
A TIME OF FAITH-SHARING or HOMILY
In Name and Likeness
To be blessed in the name of Jesus is to receive the blessing and grace of God. It is important to help the gathering understand the importance of “name” and the power which the holy name of Jesus carries. As
disciples of Christ we carry the name and “walk the Walk.” Made in the image of God, we, through Jesus, glorify God in the world through acts of mercy and peace. A reading of “O Noble Christ” is suitable here.
RESPONSE
Lord, I Want to Be a Christian, stanzas 1, 3, UMH #402, or
Day by Day, Hymnal 1982, #654 (Episcopal Church)
PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING & INTERCESSION
THE LORD’S PRAYER
| HYMN | UMH |
| At the Name of Jesus | 168 |
| His Name Is Wonderful | 174 |
| Jesus! the Name High over All | 193 |
GOING FORTH
Take the name of Jesus with you.
We carry the name of Jesus in our hearts as blessing and hope.
Take the name of Jesus with you.
We go in Jesus’ name to a world in need of peace and healing.
Take the name of Jesus with you.
We take the name of Jesus in our hearts to share with others the joy of his salvation.
Glory to God! Amen!
VISUALS/IMAGES
Calendar pages, the church’s book containing its baptismal records,
a family Bible with names and dates recorded.
Tuesday, January 2, 2001
[EVENING] PRAISE, PROCLAMATION, & PRAYER
LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE
Light and peace in Jesus Christ to all who gather here.
We come to give witness to the Light.
Jesus is the true light.
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.
(John 1:1-5)
The Lord be with you.
And also with you. Amen.
| HYMN | UMH(select one or another appropriate hymnal) |
| Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise | 103 |
| Now Thank We All Our God | 102 |
| Of the Father’s Love Begotten | 184 |
PRAYER
Creator of the Universe, all time is in your hands.
We confess [this night] the trivial ways in which we misuse precious
moments, days, and years.
Help us hear anew your call to holy living and use the time we have been
given to be productive Kingdom builders.
We give you thanks for the newness of life each day, each year; and for
your holy presence with us in all times of work and play, joy and
difficulty.
Help us in this hour, at the doorway to a new era, to be good stewards
of time;
To be always engaged in doing your will; and to be ever watchful for the
new thing you are doing; so that we might be partners in your mission
of reconciling the world through Jesus your Son who lights the way.
[silence for personal confession]
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Amen. Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS [with time for silent reflection between readings]
Ecclesiastes 3:1-13
Psalm 8
Revelation 21:1-6a
Matthew 25:31-46
| HYMN | UMH |
| Tell Out, My Soul | 200 |
| (or other musical setting of Mary’s hymn, the Magnificat: Luke 1:46b-55) |
A TIME OF FAITH-SHARING or HOMILY
Like Sand Through the Hourglass
The scripture lessons call us to awareness and accountability regarding the Christian concept of time and use of time as God’s holy people. Explore God’s time and seasons of life experiences in light of the passage from Matthew. Encourage the people to consider the “now but not yet”
of God’s new heaven and new earth described in the Revelation passage, and how we should engage our time in the meantime.
INTERCESSORY PRAYERS
For the church, others, the nation, and the world
THE LORD’S PRAYER
| HYMN | UMH |
| God of Love and God of Power | 578 |
| I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light | 206 |
| Forth in Thy Name, O Lord | 438 |
GOING FORTH
Carry the Light.
We will carry the light to light our way and help others see their way to God.
May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways.
The Lord go with you.
And also with you. Amen.
VISUALS/IMAGES
A variety of clocks; even the sound of ticking clock could be effective for a period in the service; a large hourglass; a kitchen timer set to announce at an appropriate time.
A Service of Obedience and Faith
Wednesday, January 3, 2001
LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE
CALL TO PRAISE & PRAYER
Come into God’s presence with thanksgiving and praise.
For God has called us to this place and to this time of worship.
We have heard God’s call and we rejoice that God draws us together in faith, secure in an eternal covenant.
Come into God’s presence with thanksgiving and praise.
For God has given us his Son, Jesus, to be our good shepherd.
We seek deeper faith and trust in order that we might be worthy to be called the flock of God’s own choosing.
HYMN
Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us/UMH #381
Here, O Lord, Your Servants Gather/UMH #552
Gather Us In/URW #40
PRAYER
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
[silent confession]
Often, O Lord, we fail to be an obedient people; we fail to heed your
loving call.
As nation, church, and individuals we have strayed away from you like
wandering sheep.
Guide us, shape us, renew us by the power of your Word and Spirit.
Help us in this and each new day ahead to claim and live in your
covenant promise that makes us yours.
May we live our lives in thankful obedience to your will with Christ ever
before us as our shepherd. Amen.
SCRIPTURES
Allowing time for silent reflection between the lessons.
Genesis 28:10-22
Psalm 25
John 10: 7-17
Hebrews 11:13-22
| HYMN | UMH |
| We Are Climbing Jacob’s Ladder | 418 |
A TIME OF FAITH-SHARING or HOMILY
By Faith Alone
The powerful themes of Jacob’s ladder and God’s covenant promises renewed, Jesus offering himself to us as the good shepherd, and the
lineage of faith account (Hebrews) affect homily choices here. Central
to the early days of the new year or a new millennium should be proclamation of,
re-membering, and re-affirming our covenant relationship with God. Time should be spent helping persons grow in their understanding of faith and obedience (“Trust and Obey”) to the end that they live and serve more confidently in the challenging, uncertain days and months ahead (see also Fred Pratt Green text, “When Our Confidence Is Shaken,” UMH #505).
RESPONSE
Prayer for a New Heart/UMH #392
| HYMN | UMH |
| Faith While Trees Are Still in Blossom | 508 |
PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING & INTERCESSION
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Ecumenical Version/UMH #894
| HYMN | UMH |
| Jesus Calls Us | 398 |
GOING FORTH
The coming days may bring uncertainty and doubt.
We will look to Jesus, the Good Shepherd, to be our guide.
The coming days may require a new measure of faith.
We will stand firm in God’s promise:
“Know that I am with you
and will keep you wherever you go.” (Gen. 28:15a)
VISUALS/IMAGES
A shepherd’s staff; a wax seal attached to a folded “covenant message.”
CELEBRATING GOD’S CLAIM & CALL
Thursday, January 4, 2001
LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE
Light and peace in Jesus Christ.
God’s Light shines among us.
Thanks be to God.
CALL TO PRAISE & PRAYER
You are God’s chosen people,
in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you
out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Once we were no people, but now we are God’s people;
Once we had not received mercy, but now we have received mercy.
Thanks and praise, glory and honor to God for God’s saving grace. Alleluia! Amen. (Adapted from 1 Peter 2:9-10)
HYMN
God of Grace and God of Glory/UMH #577
Here, O Lord, Your Servants Gather/UMH #552
God, Whose Love Is Reigning/UMH #100
PRAYER FOR RENEWAL/UMH #574
LITANY
What Do You Seek After
Standing at the door of a new millennium, what do you long for?
We long for inner peace, spiritual strength, and confident faith.
What drives you to seek these things?
The knowledge that God grants these gifts and calls individuals, churches,
and groups to share in some way in God’s work in the world.
Where will you turn for direction and answers?
We will open the Bible and study God’s Word, learning God’s teaching as
the stories of people of faith unfold in the scriptures.
What do you think you will find in your search?
We will hear accounts of ordinary people, claimed by God, and of God’s
love for them, calling them to special tasks in God’s name.
What will you do then?
We will strive to build a faith like Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Rahab,
and Joshua; who, though at first, were unlikely and unwilling agents,
accepted God’s call in faith.
Where will this lead you?
Through faith and service as covenant partners with God, our longing
and search for peace, spiritual strength,
and a confident faith will be satisfied.
Let us pray then for seekers everywhere . . .
For deepening of faith . . .
For a goodly measure of God’s Spirit to be with us and with all seekers
on the journey . . .
With the assurance that God hears our prayers, let us pray . . .
THE LORD’S PRAYER
RESPONSE
Be Thou My Vision/UMH #451
When You Seek Me/URW #44
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Allowing time for silent reflection between the readings.
Exodus 3:1-15
Psalm 106/UMH #829
John 14: 6-14
Hebrews 11:23-31
| HYMN | UMH |
| Go Down, Moses | 448 |
| What Does the Lord Require | 441 |
| Breathe on Me, Breath of God | 420 |
A TIME OF FAITH-SHARING or HOMILY
Covenant Faithfulness
At the threshold of a new millennium, there is likely to be one common question among Christians: How shall we be God’s reconciling agents in the 21st century? What qualities will it take to be partners with God in this work? What is God’s will for us as individuals, as families, as a church? The scriptures for this liturgy hold some of the answers to life’s difficult questions.
RESPONSE
Sois la Semilla (You Are the Seed)/UMH #583
Jesu, Jesu/UMH #432
Let There Be Peace on Earth/UMH #431
Prayer for Our Country/UMH #429
Seek Ye First/UMH #405
GOING FORTH
Finding Rest in God/UMH #423
VISUALS/IMAGES
Various types of mirrors to reflect our “image”; symbol, the ever-
faithful, watchful eye of God.
Twelfth Night of Christmas/Epiphany Eve Celebration With Holy Communion
Friday, January 5, 2001
LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE
CALL TO PRAISE & PRAYER
“At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow,
every tongue confess him King of Glory now;
‘tis the Father’s pleasure we should call him Lord,
who from the beginning was the mighty Word.” 28
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Heavenly Spirit-God, may our words, thoughts, and actions
This hour draw us closer to you,
And our praise and prayers honor you always. AMEN.
(Alternate prayer: UMH #255)
| HYMN | UMH |
| Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies | 173 |
| Joy to the World | 246 |
| Alleluia | 186 |
PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING & INTERCESSION
Here silent or spoken prayers may be offered, concluding with:
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Amen.
CALL TO HEAR THE WORD
Break Thou the Bread of Life/UMH #599
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Allowing time for silent reflection between the lessons.
Joshua 1:1-9
Psalm 133/UMH, pg. 850
John 15:1-16
Hebrews 11:32-12:2
| HYMN | UMH |
| Of the Father’s Love Begotten | 184 |
| Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus | 349 |
| Have Thine Own Way, Lord/stanzas 1, 4 | 382 |
A TIME OF personal witness to the word or HOMILY
The Next Step
The scriptures in this liturgy conclude the brief, semi-continuous readings from several great passages of the Word: Joshua’s commissioning to lead the people into a new day, Jesus’ teaching about love, a Psalm of sacred unity, and the closing section of the Hebrews faith narrative. On this fifth time of celebration and worship together, the Eve of the Epiphany—the Incarnation of Christ, it is important to (1) share the Word in ways that guide the gathered church or family group to grow in their understanding of their own “commissioning” call; (2) affirm the unity that comes from living as “branches of the Vine that Christ describes in the passage from John’s Gospel. This can be an appropriate occasion to celebrate unity and love through Holy Communion (especially if it has not been celebrated since Christmas Eve.
If Communion will not be celebrated, the time of witnessing or homily may be followed by the hymn (stanzas 1 and 4 only) and the Going Forth. Holy Communion may be celebrated as part of the final service of the series.
RESPONSE & HOLY COMMUNION
This Is a Day of New Beginnings, stanzas 1, 2, 5/UMH #383
The pastor may use “The Great Thanksgiving for New Year,” pp. 58-59 UMBOW; the people use “Word and Table III,” UMH, p.15.
| HYMN | UMH |
| This Is a Day of New Beginnings, stanzas 3, 4 | 383 |
GOING FORTH
Go into the world to carry the message of Christ
to those who needs to hear words of hope and love.
We go as Christ’s hands
to help, to hold, and to heal our sisters and brothers.
May the peace of God, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
And the power of the Holy Spirit go with always.
And with you also. Alleluia! Amen.
VISUALS/IMAGES
A vine and branches, stepping stones, a pathway; a shepherd’s staff;
notes or messages to others important in our lives.
EPIPHANY DAY CELEBRATION
Saturday, January 6, 2001
CALL TO PRAISE & PRAYER
O Lord, open my lips.
And my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Arise, shine, for your light is come!
The glory of the Lord is risen upon you!
Nations shall come to your light,
And rulers to the brightness of your rising.
Alleluia! (Isaiah 60:1, 3)
| HYMN | UMH |
| All Praise to Thee, for Thou, O King Divine | 166 |
| Majesty | 176 |
| God, Whose Almighty Word | 6 |
PRAYER
Epiphany/UMH #255
CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH/UMH #208
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Allowing time for silent reflection between the lessons.
Isaiah 60:1-6
Ephesians 3:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12
PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING & INTERCESSION
O Splendor of God’s glory bright,
We thank you for the light that draws us
To the brightness of your Epiphany.
We thank you
That you have bared your holy arm in the incarnation,
And have changed the water of our existence
Into the wine of everlasting life.
With grateful hearts we pay you homage
And, holding nothing back,
We bring you the treasures of our hearts
And our concerns offered in trust:
For the world . . .
For the church as the light of the world . . .
For all who suffer and are in trouble . . .
For those burdens and yearnings which
Commend themselves to our minds and your love,
Especially . . . 29
THE LORD’S PRAYER
| HYMN | UMH |
| We Three Kings | 254 |
A TIME OF witness & personal FAITH-SHARING or HOMILY
You Are an Epiphany!
The glory and power in the lessons for Epiphany call us back to the imagery found in the liturgy for the Festival of Christ the King. Share a message of light in the darkness spreading abroad in the world. Everyone is included, carried by the followers of Jesus the Christ (past and present). The urgency and timeliness of this message for the new
millennium should be made apparent.
| HYMN | UMH |
| Rise, Shine, You People | 188 |
| I Am the Light of the World Stanzas 1, 2, 5 | 45 |
GOING FORTH
All-powerful and unseen God,
Darkness cannot overcome your light.
Teach us to proclaim
The birth of your Son Jesus Christ,
That your light may shine into the dark corners of our world;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
One God, forever and ever. Amen.30
VISUALS/IMAGES
Light, a generous use of various sizes and shapes of candles;
images of the Kings; The Star of Bethlehem.
Evening Praise & Prayer Service:
Evening of the Lord's Day
Remembering & Reaffirming
Sunday, January 7, 2001
ENTRANCE OF THE LIGHT
[Lighting the Christ Candle, or other candles]
[For this final time of worship, the Christ Candle could be carried into the midst of the gathering and remain there through the Canticle; then placed in its usual location, or another visible, significant place]
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.
The light shines in the darkness,
And the darkness has not overcome it.
We have beheld Christ’s glory,
Glory as of the only Son of the Father. Alleluia!
CANTICLE OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS
UMH #205 Response 2
THANKSGIVING FOR THE LIGHT
Blessed are you, Holy God!
When you said, “Let there be light,”
There was light and it was good.
When your people fled from oppression,
You led them with a pillar of fire.
When the magi sought to worship the Christ,
You led them by the light of a star.
Through our baptism you call us
To let our light shine before others
That they may give glory to you.
Blessed are you, God of Light!
Shine in our lives with the light of Christ,
That together we may give you praise
Through him Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit
Now and forever. Amen. 31
CONFESSION AND PARDON
Hymn, Dear Jesus, in Whose Life I See/UMH #468
Your light has filled our lives,
But we have not shared it with others.
Lord, have mercy on us.
You have marked us as your own in baptism,
But we have not lived as your faithful people.
Christ, have mercy on us.
You have called us to be a light to the nations,
But we have hidden our light under a bushel.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Silent confession
Transform us by the power of your Holy Spirit
So that we may live out our baptism
As your new creation,
Forgiven and made whole by your matchless love
In Jesus Christ our Lord.
Thanks be to God! Amen. 32
| PSALTER | UMH |
| Psalm 29 | p. 761 |
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Allowing time for silent reflection between the lessons.
Isaiah 42: 1-9
Acts 10: 34-43
Matthew 3: 13-17
A TIME OF WITNESS & PERSONAL FAITH-SHARING OR HOMILY
A Time to Remember
Baptism, Jesus’ baptism and our own, is the focus of the seventh and concluding celebration in this week of worship services. This service should be offered in the stillness and quiet of a reflective evening setting. It should be a brief, simple message calling persons, in the context of standing at the threshold of a new era era of faith and mission in the local church, to examine the story of Jesus’ baptism, and to remember and reaffirm their own baptism. Recalling themes and images from the previous liturgies in the week (if used) now will culminate in the reaffirmation of God’s personal claim on individual lives, and the mission of the church – to make Christian disciples (see Bass Mitchell, Homily: The Waters of Baptism, p. 89).
Dramatic use of (evening) lights (candles) and of water (at the act of blessing the water and reaffirmation) is crucial to quicken the sense and the spirit of those gathered in this service.
Note: For families and other small groups, the service might conclude here with symbolic use of water (poured into a basin without words, or enjoyed in individual drinking cups, etc.), ending with UMH #117 and a brief prayer of remembering and commitment to service in the Lord’s name.
Careful worship design and use of symbolism will help worshipers understand that this is a time of “reaffirmation” of baptismal vows, not the sacrament of baptism.
| INVITATION HYMN | |
| Fear Not, For I Have Redeemed You | URW #42 |
| Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing | UMH #400 |
REAFFIRMATION OF BAPTISMAL VOWS
UMH, pp. 50-53
Note the option to conclude with Holy Communion, p. 51.
Hymns during the Reaffirmation
| Pues Si Vivimos (When We Are Living) | UMH #356 |
| Take My Life and Let It Be Consecrated | UMH #399
| | Lord, Have Mercy | UMH #482 |
| Praise and Thanks Be to God | UMH #604 |
| This Is the Spirit’s Entry Now | UMH #608 |
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
UMH #887 (from Romans 8)
| HYMN | UMH |
| O God Our Help | 117 |
GOING FORTH
Sensitivity to your local church (family/group) situation, time, and movement of the Spirit in the previous celebration services will guide you in designing appropriate words or action for sending out (commissioning).
VISUALS/IMAGES
Water, water everywhere...(see notes above); shells for each individual to dip into the water; individual blue cloth armbands signifying dedication to Christ in Baptism.
RESOURCES
(In addition to UMH and UMBOW)
- Upper Room Worship Book: Music and Liturgies for Spiritual Formation (Nashville: The Upper Room, 1985).
- The Daily Office: A Book of Hours for Daily Prayer Office, Volume One, Dwight W. Vogel, Editor and Compiler (Akron, OH: Order of St. Luke Publications, 1998).
- Handbook for the Revised Common Lectionary, Peter C. Bowers, Editor (Louisville, KY: Westminster-John Knox Press, 1996).
- Hymnal 1982, Episcopal (New York: The Church Hymnal Corporation, 1985).
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