January 2, 2022
Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the brunch potluck liturgy on January 2nd (in the order they are needed).
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
god rest ye merry gentlemen
let nothing you dismay
remember christ our savior
was born on Christmas day
to save us all from satan’s pow’r
when we were gone astray
o tidings of comfort and joy
comfort and joy
o tidings of comfort and joy
in bethlehem, in israel
this blessed babe was born
and laid within a manger
upon that blessed morn
that which his mother mary
did nothing keep in scorn
o tidings of comfort and joy
comfort and joy
o tidings of comfort and joy
from god our heavenly father
a blessed angel came
and unto certain shepherds
brought tidings of the same
how that in Bethlehem was born
the son of god by name
o tidings of comfort and joy
comfort and joy
o tidings of comfort and joy
The Collect
God of glory,
your splendor shines from a manger in Bethlehem,
where the Light of the world is humbly born
into the darkness of human night.
Open our eyes to Christ's presence in the shadows of our world,
so that we, like him, may become beacons of your justice,
and defenders of all for whom there is no room. Amen.
Joy to the World
joy to the world
the lord is come
let earth receive her king
let every heart prepare him room
let heaven and nature sing
let heaven and nature sing
let heaven and heaven and nature sing
joy to the world
the savior reigns
let all their songs employ
while fields and floods
rocks, hills, and plains
repeat the sounding joy
repeat the sounding joy
repeat, repeat the sounding joy
he rules the world
with truth and grace
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love
and wonders of his love
and wonders, wonders of his love
o for joy lift up your voice
christ has come, the christ has come
let the whole world see the lord
christ has come, the christ has come
Lesson 1: Jeremiah 31:7-14
For thus says the Lord:
Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,
and raise shouts for the chief of the nations;
proclaim, give praise, and say,
“Save, O Lord, your people,
the remnant of Israel.”
See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north,
and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth,
among them the blind and the lame,
those with child and those in labor, together;
a great company, they shall return here.
With weeping they shall come,
and with consolations I will lead them back,
I will let them walk by brooks of water,
in a straight path in which they shall not stumble;
for I have become a father to Israel,
and Ephraim is my firstborn.
Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,
and declare it in the coastlands far away;
say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him,
and will keep him as a shepherd a flock.”
For the Lord has ransomed Jacob,
and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.
They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion,
and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord,
over the grain, the wine, and the oil,
and over the young of the flock and the herd;
their life shall become like a watered garden,
and they shall never languish again.
Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance,
and the young men and the old shall be merry.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.
I will give the priests their fill of fatness,
and my people shall be satisfied with my bounty,
says the Lord.
Lesson 2: Psalm 147:12-20
Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!
For he strengthens the bars of your gates;
he blesses your children within you.
He grants peace within your borders;
he fills you with the finest of wheat.
He sends out his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.
He gives snow like wool;
he scatters frost like ashes.
He hurls down hail like crumbs--
who can stand before his cold?
He sends out his word, and melts them;
he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow.
He declares his word to Jacob,
his statutes and ordinances to Israel.
He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
they do not know his ordinances. Praise the LORD!
——————
St. Thomas Aquinas said: “It is requisite for the relaxation of the mind that we make use, from time to time, of playful deeds and jokes.” One of the things we want to focus on this year at UBC is playfulness. Please reflect with those at your table to answer the following questions.
What daily routine do you have that you enjoy?
Is there opportunities to be surprised in your life right now? If not, can you break a routine to introduce surprise?
What makes you laugh? (could be a show, person, memory)
There
before there were mountains to crumble
before there were seas to rise
before there was pain, the loss and the weight
you were there, you were there, you were there
although our fear is rising
although our fire has gone out
although our hearts are worried and fraught
you are there, you are there, you are there
i’ve got a problem, i’ve made a drug
of worrying over what is yet to come
it’s clouding my vision, strangling my love
away
but after the sun stops burning
after the stars have gone out
after the world ceases to turn
you’ll be there, you’ll be there, you’ll be there
Lesson 3: John 1:1-9
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.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
Please use this time to share you prayer needs with those at your table.
How do you want to grow this year?
In what ways do you need support?
What do you want to celebrate with gratitude?
Lesson 4: 1 Corinthians 11:23-36
For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord. Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For all who eat and drinkwithout discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves. For this reason many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
So then, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. If you are hungry, eat at home, so that when you come together, it will not be for your condemnation. About the other things I will give instructions when I come.
Wayward Ones
we are the wayward ones
liars and beggars, those who betray
we hand you over, deny your name
cast you aside, yet still you say
this is my body, this is my blood
broken and shed to show my love
we are the broken ones
cowards and fools, all filled with disbelief
we forsake you, deny your name
cast you aside, yet still you say
this is my body, this is my blood
broken and shed to show my love
remember me, remember me
come to the table, take and eat
remember me
Departing Prayer
Live. And Live Well.
BREATHE. Breathe in and Breathe deeply.
Be PRESENT. Do
not be past. Do not be future. Be now.
On a crystal clear, breezy 70 degree day,
roll down the windows and
FEEL the wind against your skin. Feel the warmth of
the sun.
If you run, then allow those first few breaths on a cool Autumn day to
FREEZE your lungs and do not just be alarmed, be ALIVE.
Get knee-deep in a novel
and LOSE track of time.
If you bike, pedal HARDER and if you crash then crash
well.
Feel the SATISFACTION of a job well done-a paper well-written, a project
thoroughly completed, a play well-performed.
If you must wipe the snot from your
3-year old's nose, don't be disgusted if the Kleenex didn't catch it all
because soon he'll be wiping his own.
If you've recently experienced loss, then
GRIEVE. And Grieve well.
At the table with friends and family, LAUGH.
If you're
eating and laughing at the same time, then might as well laugh until you puke.
And if you eat, then SMELL.
The aromas are not impediments to your day. Steak on
the grill, coffee beans freshly ground, cookies in the oven.
And TASTE.
Taste every ounce of flavor.
Taste every ounce of friendship.
Taste every ounce of Life.
Because-it-is-most-definitely-a-Gift
