Return to Year A: 2007-2008 Resource Index

Scriptures: Isaiah 63:7–9; Psalms 148; Hebrews 2:10–18; Matthew 2:13–23/3:13–23 IV; I Nephi 1:26–34; Doctrine and Covenants 12:4–5b

Prelude

Welcome

Hymns of Gathering:

“Jesus, Good Above All Other” HS 259
“How Majestic Is Your Name” NS 16

Call to Worship: "Guide My Feet"

*Hymn

“As with Gladness Men of Old” HS 254
OR “Look at This Man, Born of God” HS 230

*Invocation

*Response

Disciples’ Generous Response

Leader: Lord, we confess that we live in a world dominated by greed and violence.

People: Yet you place a child in our midst and invite us to find salvation in that little one.

Leader: You teach us that your way is the way of service for others’ sake.

People: Forgive us, God, when we look to power instead of humility, status more than servanthood.

All: Renew us with the spirit of Jesus, born in a stable in Bethlehem. Amen.

Morning Message

An effective way to present today’s message is to show the DVD, Nooma: Rain by Rob Bell, produced by Flannel, P.O. Box 3228, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49501, distributed by Zondervan. It runs eleven minutes and is suitable for all ages. The theme is “Where is God when it really hurts?” Maybe God is closer to us than we actually think. Maybe it’s when we’re in these situations, where everything seems to be falling apart, that God gets an opportunity to remind us of how much he really loves us. Preview the video and prepare to apply its message to your congregation by speaking briefly after it is played.

Note:  The Marian Wright Edelman "Guide My Feet" Prayer for the Children can be found in the print and CD versions of this resource, available through HeraldHouse.org.  The publisher declined permission for website use.

*Hymn

“We Bring Our Children, Lord, to Thee” HS 348
OR “Jesus Loves the Little Children” HS 223

*Sending Forth:

Note:  The Marian Wright Edelman "Guide My Feet" Sending Forth can be found in the print and CD versions of this resource, available through HeraldHouse.org.  The publisher declined permission for website use.

*Postlude

Scriptures: Isaiah 63:7–9; Psalm 148; Hebrews 2:10–18; Matthew 2:13–23/3:13–23 IV; I Nephi 1:26–34; Doctrine and Covenants 12:4–5b

Today’s lectionary scripture recounts the stories of Jesus’ parents listening and responding to the Spirit to provide the infant Jesus safe haven. An angel tells Joseph to flee to Egypt due to Herod’s murderous response to the threat of a new king. A few years later an angel tells Joseph it is safe to return to Israel, but Joseph’s concerns over Herod’s successor prompts another dream that sends him to Nazareth. From the initial call to be Jesus’ chosen family, Mary and Joseph were guided by angelic direction.

Jesus was nurtured under the watchful care of his parents and upheld this model in his ministry. He set a child amidst a group of self-important disciples, showing them the necessity of innocence in the kingdom (Matthew 18:2–4). He threatened those who would lead children away from him or cause them any harm (Luke 17:2). He insisted children were welcome in the kingdom and were not to remain on the fringes of ministry (Matthew 18:5).

We are called to do likewise, to be alert to God’s direction regarding our children’s well-being. A huge scientific field is growing around the spiritual nurturance of children due to crucial issues such as child health and safety, education, child poverty, neglect and abuse, political injustice, and school violence. What has been discovered is that adults must acknowledge the fragility of children’s spirituality and respond faithfully if children are to grow as whole persons and loving disciples.

In 1986, the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child declared that children had rights that should be safeguarded by responsible caring adults. It was a universally embracing human rights action. In 1991, Marian Wright Edelman (a Community of Christ International Peace Award recipient) established a Sabbath to advocate for children’s rights: the National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths, an interfaith initiative. In the Community of Christ, we have enacted legislation to provide children’s advocates in congregations and to ensure safe leadership with the “Protecting Our Children” program. Curriculum and resources have been provided to give children the tools they need to grow faithfully in their discipleship, to learn discernment in their choices, to be welcome and involved, and to share ministry in worship. Peace programs for children have extended beyond the church to teach thousands the practice of peacemaking. In his 2005 World Conference sermon, President Steve Veazey challenged us to “take care of children and youth.”

There are multiple ways to advocate for children, to lift them up, to provide for their nurture and care. On the eve of a new year, aren’t we called to tune our ears to the guiding whispers of God’s Spirit to provide a safe and loving community for our children, to “protect the child,” just as Mary and Joseph did so many years ago?

Return to Year A: 2007-2008 Resource Index