The journey continues! Here's the plan for Christmas Eve, 2018.
Here are the texts that will be read:
1ST LESSON: Proverbs 8:22-31 [Birth of Wisdom]
Proverbs 8:22-31 New English Translation (NET Bible)
22 The Lord created me as the beginning of his works,
before his deeds of long ago.
23 From eternity I was appointed,
from the beginning, from before the world existed.
24 When there were no deep oceans I was born,
when there were no springs overflowing with water;
25 before the mountains were set in place—
before the hills—I was born,
26 before he made the earth and its fields,
or the beginning of the dust of the world.
27 When he established the heavens, I was there;
when he marked out the horizon over the face of the deep,
28 when he established the clouds above,
when the fountains of the deep grew strong,
29 when he gave the sea his decree
that the waters should not pass over his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 then I was beside him as a master craftsman,
and I was his delight day by day,
rejoicing before him at all times,
31 rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth,
and delighting in its people.
2ND LESSON: Odes of Solomon 36 [The Child of Humanity]
Odes of Solomon 36
1 I rested on the Spirit of the Lord,
And she raised me up to the high place
2 And she caused me to stand on my feet in the high place of the Lord
Before his fullness and splendor,
While I was proclaiming in the preparation of his odes.
3 She gave birth to me before the face of the Lord.
And while I was the Child of Humanity
I was called the Light, the Child of God,
Because I was glorified among the glorious,
And first among the great ones.
4 For she made me according to the greatness of the Most High
And he renewed me according to his renewal,
5 And anointed me from his fullness.
I became one of those who are near him
6 And my mouth was opened like a cloud of dew
And my heart gushed forth a fountain of justice.
7 And my access was through peace,
And I was set up in the Spirit of Instruction. Halleluiah.
3RD LESSON: Luke 2:1; 3–7 [Birth of Jesus.]
1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the empire for taxes…. 3 Everyone went to his own town to be registered. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him, and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
4TH LESSON: Luke 2:8–16 [The Shepherds]
8 Now there were shepherds nearby living out in the field, keeping guard over their flock at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people: 11 Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a vast, heavenly army appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger.
5TH LESSON: Matthew 2:1–12 [The Magi]
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, in the time of King Herod, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem 2 saying, “Where is the one who is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was alarmed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 After assembling all the chief priests and experts in the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they said, “for it is written this way by the prophet:
6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are in no way least among the rulers of Judah,
for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod privately summoned the wise men and determined from them when the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and look carefully for the child. When you find him, inform me so that I can go and worship him as well.” 9 After listening to the king they left, and once again the star they saw when it rose led them until it stopped above the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star they shouted joyfully. 11 As they came into the house and saw the child with Mary his mother, they bowed down and worshiped him. They opened their treasure boxes and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 After being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back by another route to their own country.
6TH LESSON: Gospel of Thomas 70 & 77 [Bring Forth what Is within You]
Gospel of Thomas
70) Jesus said, "If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you."
77) Jesus said, "It is I who am the light which is above them all. It is I who am the All. From Me did the All come forth, and unto Me did the All extend. Split a piece of wood, and I am there. Lift up the stone, and you will find Me there."
7TH LESSON Odes of Solomon 41 [Sing with His Love]
Odes of Solomon 41
1 Let all to whom the Lord has given birth proclaim him,
And let us receive the Truth of his faith.
2 And let his children be known to him,
So that we may sing with his love.
3 We live in the Lord through his generosity
And we receive life through his Anointed One.
4 Indeed a momentous day has dawned for us,
And the one who gave to us from his glory is astonishing.
5 Therefore let us agree together, on account of the name of the Lord,
And let us honor him and his goodness.
6 And let our faces shine with his light,
And let our hearts meditate in his love night and day.
7 Let us rejoice in the Lord’s exultation.
[Christ speaks] 8 All who see me will be amazed
Because I am of a different sort.
9 For the Father of Truth remembered me,
The one who possessed me from the beginning.
10 Indeed his riches bore me,
Along with the contemplation of his heart.
[Odist speaks] 11 And his word is in each path of ours,
The redeemer who sustains life, and does not reject ourselves,
12 The person who was humiliated
And was raised by his own righteousness.
13 The child of the Most High appeared
In the fullness of the Father.
14 And light shone from the word
That was in him before he existed.
15 The Anointed One is one with Truth,
And he was known before the foundations of the generation,
So that he might give life to people forever in the Truth of his name.
16 A new hymn to the Lord from those who love him.
Halleluiah.
--Jack Lohr, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Forest Hills, NY
Thursday, December 20, 2018
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Christmas
Christmas Eve/Day
And the Word became flesh and lived among us,
... full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (NRSV)
... full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (NRSV)
MEDITATIVE READING (The Odes of Solomon 41)
The child of the Most High appeared In the fullness of the Father. And light shone from the word That was in him before he existed. The Anointed One is one with Truth, And he was known before the foundations of the generation, So that he might give life to people forever in the Truth of his name. A new hymn to the Lord from those who love him. Halleluiah.
The child of the Most High appeared In the fullness of the Father. And light shone from the word That was in him before he existed. The Anointed One is one with Truth, And he was known before the foundations of the generation, So that he might give life to people forever in the Truth of his name. A new hymn to the Lord from those who love him. Halleluiah.
CALL TO WORSHIP (The Odes of Solomon 41)
Leader: Let all to whom the Lord has given birth proclaim him,
People: And let us receive the Truth of his faith.
Leader: And let his children be known to him,
People: So that we may sing with his love.
Leader: Let us worship God!
People: And let us receive the Truth of his faith.
Leader: And let his children be known to him,
People: So that we may sing with his love.
Leader: Let us worship God!
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (from Common Worship: Times and Seasons; (c) The Archbishop's Council)
Leader: God our Loving Parent, you sent your
Son full of grace and truth:
forgive our failure to receive him. Lord,
have mercy.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Leader: Jesus our Savior, you were born in
poverty & laid in a manger: forgive our greed and rejection of your ways. Christ,
have mercy.
People: Christ, have mercy.
Leader: Spirit of Love, your servant Mary
responded joyfully to your call: forgive the hardness of our hearts. Lord, have mercy.
People: Lord, have mercy.
(silent prayer)
Leader: May God, whose glory shone in the face of Jesus, shine in our hearts with the promise of forgiveness.
ALL: This is the good news of the Gospel: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen.
ALL: This is the good news of the Gospel: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION (from The Odes of Solomon 8)
God, may we hear the word of truth, and receive the knowledge of the Most High. Our flesh may not understand that which we are about to hear; nor our garment that which we are about to be shown. May we keep the mystery, we who are kept by it; keep the faith, we who are kept by it. And may we understand the knowledge, we who know God in truth; love God with affection, we who love. Amen.Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Non-Canonicals Online
There are some beautiful presentations/introductions to these "new, ancient" texts online. Check these out:
A recent colloquium was held at l'Université Laval in Québec City on May 29-31 on the discovery of the Nag Hammadi texts after 70 years. Andre Gagne and Calogero Miceli were among the list of presenters at this event. On the Inquisitive Minds Podcast, they share a few words on the importance of this discovery for scholars who study the history of early Christianity, as well as a brief overview of their own conference papers. The podcast is no longer online.
Thunder Perfect Mind - a Prada Film starring Daria Werbowy from M G on Vimeo.
https://youtu.be/YM_rsBwPRJ4 Natalie Perkins -- "Diva Does Divinity" on Acts of Paul & Thekla
Thunder Perfect Mind - a Prada Film starring Daria Werbowy from M G on Vimeo.
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Advent 4 -- December 20, 2015
Advent 4
"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, --Luke 1:46b (NRSV)
MEDITATIVE READING Odes of Solomon 40 (ANNT)
As drops of honey from the honeycomb of bees, And the flow of milk from the one who loves her children, So also is my hope upon you, my God.
As a fountain gushes forth its waters, So also my heart pours forth the praise of the splendor of the Lord, And my lips send out praise to him.
Then my tongue becomes sweet in his anthems, And my members become fat in his odes.
Also my face beams with his exultation, And my spirit rejoices in his love, And my entire self shines.
And all who are afraid can rely on him, And salvation will be confirmed in them.
His abundance is immortal life, And the ones who receive it are without devastation.
Halleluiah.
CALL TO WORSHIP (Hebrews 10:5-7)
Leader: When Christ came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me;
People: in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.
Leader: See, God, we have come to do your will.
People: Let us worship God.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Hebrews 10:8-10)
ALL: Giving and forgiving God, you have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings. Set free from the law, we have often failed to do your will. in you We have everything we need . Yet we look everywhere else for contentment. Abundant life begins and ends with you. Yet we demand perfection; we are intolerant of flaws. Help us to be easier on others and find peace within. Teach us that to find contentment we must rest in you; we must accept what we cannot change and allow ourselves to be molded in positive ways by negative experiences, even the sins we confess here and now.
ALL: Giving and forgiving God, you have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings. Set free from the law, we have often failed to do your will. in you We have everything we need . Yet we look everywhere else for contentment. Abundant life begins and ends with you. Yet we demand perfection; we are intolerant of flaws. Help us to be easier on others and find peace within. Teach us that to find contentment we must rest in you; we must accept what we cannot change and allow ourselves to be molded in positive ways by negative experiences, even the sins we confess here and now.
(silent prayer)
Leader: I
ALL: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God! Amen.
Advent 3 -- December 13, 2015
Advent 3
7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ...
10-11 And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." ...
18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. --Luke 3 (NRSV)
10-11 And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." ...
18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. --Luke 3 (NRSV)
MEDITATIVE READING (The Prayer of Thanksgiving, Nag Hammadi)
We give thanks to you, every life and heart stretches toward you, O name untroubled, honored with the name of God, praised with the name of Father. To everyone and everything comes the kindness of the Father, and love, desire. And if there is a sweet and simple teaching, it gifts us mind, word, and knowledge: mind, that we may understand you; word, that we may interpret you; knowledge, that we may know you. We rejoice and are enlightened by your knowledge. We rejoice that you have taught us about yourself. We rejoice that in the body, you have made us divine through your knowledge.
CALL TO WORSHIP (from The Prayer of Thanksgiving, Nag Hammadi)
Leader: The thanksgiving of the human who reaches you is this alone: that we know you. People: We have known you, O light of mind. O light of life, we have known you.
Leader: O womb of all that grows, we have known you.
People: O womb pregnant with the nature of the Father, we have known you.
Leader: O never-ending endurance of the Father who gives birth,
People: So we worship your goodness.
Leader: O womb of all that grows, we have known you.
People: O womb pregnant with the nature of the Father, we have known you.
Leader: O never-ending endurance of the Father who gives birth,
People: So we worship your goodness.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (adapted from Evangelii Gaudium by Pope Francis)
Gracious
God, we have surrendered to a world pervaded by consumerism. We have succumbed
to the desolation and anguish born of a complacent yet covetous heart, the
feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures, and a blunted conscience. Our interior
life is caught up in its own interests and concerns, and there is no longer
room for others, no place for the poor. We no longer hear your voice, or feel the
quiet joy of your love, and our desire to do good fades. We end up resentful,
angry and listless.
(silent prayer)
Leader: God, help us to live a dignified and fulfilled life--
ALL: the life in the Spirit which has its source in the heart of the risen Christ. Amen.
ALL: the life in the Spirit which has its source in the heart of the risen Christ. Amen.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION (Odes of Solomon 9)
Listen to the Voice of Wisdom:1 Open your ears,
And I will speak to you.
2 Give your entire self to me,
So that I may give my entire self to you.
3 The word of the Lord and his desires,
The holy thought which he has considered about his Anointed One.
4 For your lives are in the will of the Lord,
His consciousness is the life of eternity,
And your fullness is without corruption.
Amen!
Additional Music:
"The First Song of Isaiah" ("Surely it is God who saves me...")
Advent 2 -- December 6, 2015
Advent 2
And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. --Philippians 1:9-11 (NRSV)
MEDITATIVE READING Gospel of Thomas 88 (ANNT)
Jesus said: "The messengers and the prophets will come to you. They will give you what is yours and you will give them what you have. You will say to yourselves: 'When will they come and take what is theirs?'"
CALL TO WORSHIP Odes of Solomon 21:1-3 (ANNT)
Leader: Let us lift up our arms to the height.
People: To the compassion of the Lord.
Leader: Because God cast off our chains from us.
People: And our helper lifted us up according to the Divine compassion and redemption.
Leader: Let us strip off the darkness and put on light.
People: Let us worship God!
People: And our helper lifted us up according to the Divine compassion and redemption.
Leader: Let us strip off the darkness and put on light.
People: Let us worship God!
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (from
Luke 2-3 NRSV)
Gracious God, we come together today as your baptized people
to recommit ourselves to changing our hearts and lives and once more experience
the forgiveness of our sins. We echo the words of Isaiah the prophet,
A voice crying out in the
wilderness:
“Prepare the way for the Lord;
make his paths straight.
Every valley will be filled,
and every mountain and hill will
be leveled.
The crooked will be made straight
and the rough places made smooth.
All humanity will see God’s
salvation.”
(silent prayer)
Leader: Lord, let your servants rest in peace according to
your word,
ALL: Because our eyes have seen your salvation, prepared in
the presence of all peoples, the perfect expression of your light and love . Glory
to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace, goodwill among people! Amen.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION (adapted from Luke 3:1-2)
Today in the seventh year of the presidency of Barack Obama,
while Andrew Cuomo is governor of New York, and Rob Astorino is executive of Westchester,
and Jonathan Mark is mayor of Scarsdale, during the General Assembly moderatorship
of Ruling Elder Heath K. Rada, let us listen for the word of God addressed to
us in the wilderness of our lives.
Leader: When Paul entered into Onesiphorus’s house, there was great joy and kneeling and breaking of bread, and the word of God concerning self-control and resurrection.As Paul said,
ALL: “Blessed are the clear of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are those who observe purity in flesh, for they will
become a temple of God.
Blessed are the self-possessed, for God will speak to them.
Blessed are those who set themselves apart from this world,
for they will please God.
Blessed are those who have wives as if they do not, for they
will be heirs of God.
Blessed are those in awe of God for they will become
messengers of God.
Blessed are the ones who tremble at God’s words, for they
will be called.
Blessed are the ones who receive the wisdom of Jesus Christ,
for they will be called children of the Highest.
Blessed are the ones who keep their baptism, for they will
rest with the Father and the Son.
Blessed are those on the journey to uniting with Jesus
Christ, for they will be in the light.
Blessed are the ones who have departed the form of the world
through God’s love, for they will judge angels and, at the right hand of the
Father, they will be praised.
Blessed are the compassionate, for they will receive
compassion and will not see the day of grievous judgment.
Blessed are the bodies of maidens, for they will have favor
with God and will not lose the reward for their holiness; for the Father’s word
will be a work of salvation for them until the day of his Child, and they will
have rest forever.”
Additional Music:
"Love Divine, All Loves Excelling"
"Love Divine, All Loves Excelling"
Advent 1 - November 29, 2015
Advent 1
"Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the
strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before
the Son of Man." --Luke 21:36 (NRSV)
MEDITATIVE READING Gospel
of Thomas 18 (ANNT)
His followers said to Jesus, "Tell us how our end will
be."
Jesus said, "Have you discovered the beginning, that
you ask about the end? For, in the place where the beginning is, there the end will
be. Blessed is the one who takes a stand in the beginning. That one will know
the end, and will not experience death."
CALL TO WORSHIP (Psalm 122:1-2 and Odes of Solomon 36)
Leader: I was glad when they said
to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”
People: And now here we are, standing inside your presence, O Foundation
of Peace!
Leader: I rested on the Spirit of
the Lord,
People: and She raised me up on high;
Leader: And caused me to stand on
my feet
People: in the high place of the Lord,
ALL: She gave birth to me before the face of the Lord,
Leader: And while I was the Child
of Humanity,
People: I was called the Light, the Child of God;
Leader: And my mouth was opened
like a cloud of dew,
People: And my heart gushed forth a fountain of justice.
Leader: And my approach was in
peace,
People: And I was established in the Spirit of Instruction.
ALL: Hallelujah.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Psalm 25:1-10)
Leader: Let us lift up our souls to
the Lord
and put our trust in God.
No one who looks to the Lord will
be put to shame. Let us pray.
ALL: Show me your ways, O Lord,
and teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation.
Remember, O Lord, your
compassion and love, for they are from everlasting.
Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions;
remember me according to your love and for the sake of your goodness, O
Lord.
(silent
prayer)
Leader: Gracious and upright are
you, O Lord; therefore you teach sinners in your way.
ALL: You guide the humble in doing right and teach your way to the
lowly. All your paths, O Lord, are love and faithfulness to those
who keep your covenant and your testimonies. Amen.
Additional Music: "Higher
Ground" (Iris Dement/traditional)
"I Rested on the Spirit of the Lord (Ode 36)" Jeff
Macaré The Odes of Solomon, Vol. 2
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