Westminster Worship Notes

Worship Notes Archives

December 30, 2007

1^st Sunday after Christmas

Preparation for Worship

Today is the first Sunday after Christmas. The central text for worship this morning is Matthew's description of Herod's search for the baby Jesus, who he perceives as a threat to his rule. The story is rather unsettling as we hear of the murder of the innocents. The story reminds us that Christmas is not simply a sentimental tale but the birth of Jesus into a world filled with darkness and danger.

Our opening hymn this morning reminds us to continue to celebrate the season as we sing "Good Christian Friends, Rejoice." The tension within the service between joy and sorrow is reflected in our Confession of sin as well as the hymn following the sermon. The words of that hymn "Herod the King, in his raging, Charged he hath this day; His men of might, in his own sight, All children young, to slay." It is one of the paradoxes of Christianity that joy and sorrow are part and parcel of our faith.

The confession of faith following the sermon is taken from the Confession of 1967. This confession developed by the northern branch of the Presbyterian Church attempts to address the issues of that turbulent time. Reconciliation is a predominate theme in which we as the church are called to heal the "enmities which separate people from God and from each other." This is a joyous calling for our community as we seek to "Go Tell It on the Mountain."