Call to Worship
(adapted from Psalm 148 for four readers and congregation)
Alleluia! Praise Yahweh from the heavens!
Praise God in the heights.
Praise God, sun and moon.
People: Praise God, all you shining stars!
Praise God from the earth, sea creatures and ocean depths, lightning and hail,
People: snow and mist.
Sing praise to God, mountains and hills, fruit trees and cedars.
People: small animals and flying birds.
Let them praise God’s name.
Let all creation praise the name of Yahweh, whose name alone is exalted.
People: Praise God’s name! All: Alleluia!
Candle Litany
Leader: We light the Christ candle and we welcome new life.
People: Hurry, hurry, sing the glory!
Imagine that . . . we are God’s wonders, blessed wonders.
Song Suggestions
Hark the Herald Angel's Sing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_iLXNSIaYc
Angel's We Have Heard on High - Casting Crowns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6wsLm6cZ1E
Overview
In Jesus, God has come close enough that we can see God’s face; in Jesus, we see God face-to-face. This is the wonder of Christmas. Now God robes us in God’s love, and this becomes the new garment we wear.
The “robe” imagery is introduced in 1 Samuel 2. The boy Samuel ministers before the Lord only wearing a linen ephod, but his mother makes a new robe for him every year as he grows and brings it to the tabernacle for him to wear. Hannah’s care for Samuel exemplifies God’s care for us.
Psalm 148 is a classic psalm of praise to God, with praises resounding throughout creation. You might wish to explore the idea of God “inhabiting” (or “being clothed in”) the praises of God’s people (Psalm 22:3)—God wearing the praises of creation as a robe.
In Jesus, God incarnate, God sanctifies our embodied humanity. This is a sign that the whole “embodied” creation is sanctified to God.
In Colossians 3, the apostle Paul calls believers to be clothed with Christ (also Galatians 3:27; Romans 13:14). In other words, we are being clothed in the new image of God revealed in Christ (Colossians 3:9-11).
Here “God’s robe” is the character of Jesus, which is the character of God: compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience; forbearance and forgiveness; and, above all, love.
Scripture
18 But Samuel was ministering before the Lord—a boy wearing a linen ephod. 19 Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. 20 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to[a] the Lord.” Then they would go home.
26 And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.
~ 1 Samuel 2:18-20; 26
1 Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights above.
2 Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
3 Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars.
4 Praise him, you highest heavens
and you waters above the skies.5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for at his command they were created,
6 and he established them for ever and ever—
he issued a decree that will never pass away.7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,
9 you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals and all cattle,
small creatures and flying birds,
11 kings of the earth and all nations,
you princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and women,
old men and children.13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,
the praise of all his faithful servants,
of Israel, the people close to his heart.
Praise the Lord.
~Psalm 148
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
~Colossians 3:12-14
Benediction
(adapted from Colossians 3:12-17)
Imagine a robe of God’s design— clothing yourself with heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience . . . and above all else, with love. Love is the seam that binds the rest together and makes them perfect. Do we dare to imagine? Imagine wearing a robe of God’s design as you go from here.
Reflection Question
1. When you imagine being 'clothed' with Christ, what attribute of Christ are you most in need of today? You are invited to ask God to clothe you with His robe.
