SECOND SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS, YEARs a, B, c

2018 - 
2019 - 
2020 - 05 January
2021 - 03 January
2022 - 02 January
2023 - 
2024 -
2025 - 05 January
2026 - 04 January
2027 - 03 January
2028 - 02 January
2029 - 
2030 - 
2031 - 05 January
2032 - 04 January
2033 - 02 January
2034 - 
2035 - 
2036 - 
2037 - 04 January
2038 - 03 January

Note: For explanations and suggestions on the various resources provided, see the documents 'General notes and resources' and 'Christmas season' in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

This Sunday may be celebrated as Epiphany Sunday, if the festival of Epiphany is not observed on 6 January.

LITURGY

Sentence
See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder for suggestions on using a Sentence.

The Word became flesh and lived among us,
and we have seen his glory,
the glory of the Father's only Son,
full of grace and truth.  (John 1:14 comp)

OR
The Lord says: I will turn your mourning into joy,
I will comfort you, and give you gladness for sorrow. 
(based on Jer 31:13)

OR, use the standard Christmas Sentence in the document 'Christmas season', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

OR, use one of the general Sentences in the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)
As for First Sunday after Christmas

OR, traditional
Almighty God, 
since you wonderfully created us in your own image, 
and yet more wonderfully restored us: 
Grant that, as your Son our Lord Jesus Christ 
was made in our likeness, 
so we may share in his divine nature; 
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

OR, modernised traditional
Almighty God, 
you wonderfully created us in your own image, 
and even more wonderfully restored us. 
As your Son our Lord Jesus Christ 
was made in our likeness, 
so let us share in his divine nature. 
For he lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

OR, alternative
(Let us pray that we may be light to the world. [silence])
Almighty and merciful God, 
you gave your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, 
to be the light of the world. 
Come to us in your word and sacraments, 
and make us shine with his glory, 
so that people throughout the world 
may know, worship, and obey him. 
For he lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

OR, new
(Let us pray that the light of Christ shines in us. [silence])
Almighty and merciful God, 
we thank you for sending to us the light for the world, 
the Word who became a human being 
and lived among us. 
Make the light of faith shine within us 
and be seen by those around us. 
We ask this through your Son, 
Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

FIRST READING
Jeremiah 31:7-14 The Lord will gather Israel

PSALM 
Psalm 147:12-15(16-18)19,20
Antiphon: 
The Word became flesh and lived among us. (Alleluia.)

SECOND READING
Ephesians 1:3-14 Paul's thanksgiving and prayer

ALLELUIA VERSE (based on John 1:18)
Alleluia, alleluia.
No one has ever seen God, 
but his only Son has made him known. Alleluia. 
Alleluia.

GOSPEL
John 1:(1-9)10-18 We saw God's glory in Jesus
(If beginning at verse 10, begin: 'The Word was in the world . . .')

The words 'Light of the world' could be added to the gospel acclamations, giving: 
Glory to you, O Lord, Light of the world.

Praise to you, O Christ, Light of the world.

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ (, Light of the world).
Lord Jesus Christ, 
thank you for coming with grace and truth.
Lead us to know God by knowing you. 
Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER
Thank you, Lord, for sending your Son into the world
to become a human being and to show us your love.
Help us to praise your glory
in our words and in our lives,
by giving of ourselves in service
to you and to our fellow human beings.
Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Call to prayer
By his birth as a human being, Jesus has made the Father known to us. Let us therefore pray to our Father in heaven.

The regular response, OR:
Father, hear our prayer,
through Jesus Christ, your only Son, our Lord.

Suggested petitions
*	for the preaching of the word of God, that Christ may be made known
*	thanksgiving for the harvest
*	for the citizens of the modern state of Israel
*	for God's blessing on the new year

Concluding prayer
Heavenly Father, you revealed yourself through your only Son, Jesus Christ. In his name, hear our prayer, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

SEASONAL PREFACE
It is indeed right and good, 
Lord God, holy Father, 
that we should at all times and in all places 
give thanks to you, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
You have revealed your glorious presence to us 
in a new way 
through the mystery of the Word made flesh, 
so that as we see you in your Son, 
we are drawn to love you 
whom we cannot see. 
And so, with angels and archangels, 
and with all the company of heaven, 
we adore and praise your glorious name:

COMMUNION INVITATION
Jesus says: 'I am the living bread 
that came down from heaven. 
The bread that I will give you is my flesh, 
which I give so that the world may live.' 
(Thanks be to God.)
Come, everything is ready.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
For a Christmas post-communion prayer, see the document 'Christmas season', under 'Prayer after communion', in the 'General and seasonal' folder. Alternatively, use the third prayer of the day (as listed above). It may be modified as follows.

Almighty and merciful God, 
you gave your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ
to be the light of the world.
As you have come to us in your word and sacrament, 
make us shine with his glory, 
so that people throughout the world
may know, worship, and obey him.
For he lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

SEASONAL BLESSING
This seasonal blessing is used together with (ie before) the usual blessing in the order of service.

Christ the Son of God give you joy and peace by his presence with you; . . .

DISMISSAL
Go in peace, as people who have seen the glory of the Father's only Son.
Thanks be to God.  OR  In the name of Christ. Amen.

HYMNS AND SONGS

FOR THE READINGS
Please note:	* =	Modernised version available
	G3, G4 . . . =	Guitar chords available in the Music Package 3, 4 . . . 
	GS =	Guitar chords in the Supplement to LH

First reading : Jeremiah 31:7-14
	God rest you merry (various sources, eg Together at Christmas 31)
LHS
435	Christians, now praise ye G6
623	Now sing we, now rejoice G4
630	O thou holiest, O thou happiest G7
732	Comfort, comfort GS
AT
25	Comfort, comfort
94	God give you joy
235	In your hand, my Saviour
253	He turned my mourning into dancing
TIS
313	Good Christians all, rejoice
330	O how joyfully, O how hopefully
647	Comfort, comfort

Second reading : Ephesians 1:3-14
LHS
20	O Jesus Christ all praise to Thee* G4
22	Let us all with gladsome voice* G4
32	O rejoice, ye Christians, loudly G7
33	Hark, the herald angels sing G4
147	O Morning Star, so bright and fair* G3
322	Dear Christians, one and all rejoice* G3
323	Blessed are the sons of  God* G4
441	With joyful heart your praises sing* G3
777	Father in heaven GS
805	We are heirs of the Father GS
871	My heart is filled with faith and wonder (vv 1-4) G6
AT
12	We are family
40	Holy, holy
41	Father, we adore you
57	Father God
115	Father in heaven
145	What wondrous love
TIS
114	Blessed be the everlasting God
115	Behold the amazing gift of love
196	Dear Christians, one and all rejoice
189	Glory to our boundless God
199	Lord Jesus, our bright morning star
221	Glory to God on high
303	Hark! the herald angels sing
465	Father in heaven

Gospel : John 1: (1-9) 10-18 (see Christmas Day Proper III)
LHS
47	Songs of thankfulness and praise* G4
141	Father of heaven whose love G5
154	Amazing love, that rent the heavens* G4
746	What child is this GS
822	God has spoken by his prophets G6
823	Your strong word (vv 1, 2, 3, 6 or all) G5
AT
132	Anna's song
244	We have seen the Word of life
329	This kingdom
TIS
131	Father of heaven, whose love profound
158	God has spoken by his prophets
165	Praise our God, the great creator
255	O Laughing Light
258	Praise to you, O Christ
300	On Christmas night
431	Thanks to God whose word (esp v 2)
528	The Son of God proclaim (holy communion)

PSALM 147:12-15(16-18)19,20 
For musical settings of Psalm 147:12-15(16-18)19,20, see Music Packages 1 and 4.

Below is a paraphrase by David Schütz which may be sung to the tune Merton (LH 1, TIS 264), Laus Deo (LH 17, TIS 525), or Stuttgart (LH 42, TIS 291). It also fits the tune of John Bell's 'Sing to God with joy and gladness' (TIS 92, ATO 325), which is a paraphrase of the first part of Psalm 147. If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Schütz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

Praise the Lord, you folk of Zion!
Praise your God, Jerusalem!
He has strengthened your defences,
blest your daughters and your sons.

He gives peace within your borders,
fills you with the finest wheat.
He sends heralds with his orders
to the world on running feet.

Who can stand the cold he sends us - 
frost and hail and freezing snow?
He sends out his word to thaw them,
making frozen rivers flow.

He declares his word to Jacob,
gives his laws to Israel.
He has done this for no other.
Praise the Lord! His glories tell!

NOTES ON THE READINGS

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Notes on the readings', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

JEREMIAH 31:7-14: The long-suffering God of Israel had finally scattered his rebellious people into humiliating and despairing captivity under other nations. Now through the prophet Jeremiah, he promises to gather them together with himself once again in the land given to their ancestors. The inclusion of even the handicapped shows this work to be purely by the work of God. The joy of return rests on their repentant weeping being replaced by their shepherd's own consolations and abiding protection. They would be provided with plenty once more to serve the Lord in overflowing gladness. Christmas reminds us of our return to the Father through his own wonderful redemption.

EPHESIANS 1:3-14: Paul outlines in majestic words the sweep of God's plan from eternity at its beginning to its consummation in the future, the final, eternal redemption that God wills for his people. The work of the Trinity is cited in a) the planning of God made first in his predestination and election, b) the cooperative redemption and adoption by which Jesus Christ has created us as God's blameless children, and c) the work of the Holy Spirit to seal these blessings to us through faith as empowered by the Holy Spirit. What glorious hope is ours through the counsel and will of our God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

JOHN 1:1-18: Jesus Christ is called here 'the Word' who existed and worked the words of God at creation. The light of truth and holiness exists perfectly only in God himself. John tells us that this light and truth came into the world in Jesus Christ. Those who receive him in faith become by his power God's children, born of God to receive from Christ's fullness grace which has no limit. This is the marvellous and mysterious miracle of Christmas. 

VISUAL

visuals for the READINGS
Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, the first reading could be accompanied by a picture of rejoicing, eg as in the TEV Bible for Jeremiah 31:13. The second reading could be accompanied by a picture of praising God, eg as in TEV for Ephesians1:12.

DRAMA

'MEGA DRAMA'
See a drama for the day in Mega Drama resources (Openbook Publishers), originally included in these worship resources when they were released on disks.

dramatising the READINGS
The readings can be read by more than one person to make the dramatic meaning of the text clearer.

CHILDREN

Children and the READINGS
The children could be involved in making/displaying pictures for the readings - see above under 'Visuals for the readings'.