[Friends] Sunday Scripture and Notes

[Rev. Christian D Boyd]

SUNDAY'S READINGS: First Sunday of Christmastide, the Season of the
Incarnation - "God with us in the flesh!"

 

Isaiah 63.7-9 (NRSV)

7I will recount the gracious deeds of the Lord, the praiseworthy acts of the
Lord, because of all that the Lord has done for us, and the great favor to
the house of Israel that he has shown them according to his mercy, according
to the abundance of his steadfast love. 8For he said, "Surely they are my
people, children who will not deal falsely"; and he became their savior 9in
all their distress. It was no messenger or angel but his presence that saved
them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and
carried them all the days of old.

 

Matthew 2.13-23 (NRSV)

13Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a
dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt,
and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the
child, to destroy him." 14Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother
by night, and went to Egypt, 15and remained there until the death of Herod.
This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet,
"Out of Egypt I have called my son." 

16When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was
infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem
who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned
from the wise men. 17Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the
prophet Jeremiah: 18"A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud
lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled,
because they are no more." 

19When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to
Joseph in Egypt and said, 20"Get up, take the child and his mother, and go
to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are
dead." 21Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the
land of Israel. 22But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in
place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned
in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. 23There he made his
home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the
prophets might be fulfilled, "He will be called a Nazorean." 

Hebrews 2.10-18 (NRSV)

10It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in
bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation
perfect through sufferings. 11For the one who sanctifies and those who are
sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call
them brothers and sisters, 12saying, "I will proclaim your name to my
brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you."
13And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again, "Here am I and the
children whom God has given me." 

14Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise
shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who
has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and free those who all their
lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. 16For it is clear that he
did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. 17Therefore he
had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he
might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make
a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. 18Because he himself
was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being
tested. 

 

Meditation: "The Other Side of Christmas"

 

 

WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK: Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face
shine, that we may be saved.  -Psalm 80:19

 

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: 

"We must follow Christ in the rhythm of His own life, the rhythm of solitude
and action. What is needed in our days is to retire to solitude and silence,
to hear the voice of God, to glorify Him and pray to Him, and then to return
to the secular world. Tragically the West keeps brushing this aside and
saying, 'Yes, that's basically true - but let's get down to action!'"  -from
the Northumbria Community's  Celtic Daily Prayer, page 812.  

 

How are we doing at setting time aside to enrich our relationship with God?
Setting time aside to enrich our relationship with others? Setting time
aside to enrich our relationship with our very own selves? Are all three
parts balanced, and most importantly, rooted in the primary relationship
with God? In this season of God's incarnation, which of the three areas of
relationship do you need God's love and help?

 

 

NOTES

Twelve Days of Christmas

As I have mentioned before, in the Christian calendar, which is constructed
around the life of Jesus, after Advent, the season of preparing for God
coming to us in flesh and bone, is the Season of the Incarnation, also known
as Christmastide. In the Western Church, this season runs from Christmas day
to Epiphany (Jan 6th. . . which in the Eastern Church is celebrated as the
Birth of Jesus).  These Twelve Days are a  time of festivities and for
giving thanks. It is also a time to reflect on how we may see "God with us"
(Emmanuel), give a pregnant 'yes' to God in our life and God's call to us to
participate in His mission in the world, and then point and guide others to
Jesus (which means "the LORD saves"), thus bearing the light of Christ into
the world, like the first disciple, Mary, the mother of our Lord. 

 

Traditionally each day of Christmastide has an emphasis that plays into what
we are to learn as disciples of Jesus in this season of His life. Below is a
devotional for you to use and encourage others to participate in the ways by
which you are setting time aside to be with God, to be with God and those
you love, and enriching your own spiritual and Christian life.

 

December 26th - This first day of Christmas is the Feast of St. Stephen when
"Good King Wenceslaus looked out...". This is a day dedicated to giving to
the poor as Stephen was a deacon who gave the wealth of the church to the
poor. It is also called "Boxing Day", in remembrance of giving boxes of food
to the poor. Today, box up and donate food and other things which the poor
of our community may need. Read Acts 6:8-7, 44-59

 

December 27th - The second day of Christmas remembers John the Apostle and
Evangelist, "whom our Lord loved" (according to the Gospel of John), who was
the only one present of the Twelve at the Crucifixion, and who wrote a lot
about darkness and light. It is a custom to light lots of candles today, and
to bless wine because legend has it that John drank poisoned wine without
harm, and because during this time of extra hospitality, wine can be a drink
of joy. "Wassail! I drink to you the love of Saint John!" Wassail means
"good health". Today is a good day to think about what you eat and drink,
where it comes from, who produced it, and how it was prepared for you to
consume. Remember to pray for all who had a hand in providing you food and
drink today, and give a blessing for your meal before you eat or drink. Read
1 John 1:1-2:3

 

December 28th - The third day of Christmas is also the day we remember the
martyrs, the Holy Innocents, and this day is often referred to as a
Christmas time Ember Day. It is a good day to not only pray and fast for
deserted and unclaimed children, but also a day to how we are called by God
to have a respect for life. Today we remember all holy innocents of every
time and place. Read Exodus 1:8-16, 22; Matthew 18:1-14

 

December 29th - The fourth day of Christmas remembers all who have been
exiled and murdered for defending the rights of the Church. Pray today for
missionaries, and perhaps go on-line and read their newsletters
(www.pcusa.org). Read Revelation 1:1-8

 

December 30th - Today, the Fifth Day of Christmas, we celebrate the Holy
Family (Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. . . who model the familial relationship of
the Trinity for us). It is a time to be reminded of the holiness in the
ordinary. This is a good time to bless our families and lift them up to God
in prayer. Read Ephesians 5:21-6:4

 

December 31st - New Year's Eve is the Sixth Day of Christmas. This is the
day to ask pardon of those you've hurt, to extend affection to everyone you
meet, to open your door to your neighbors. One tradition which comes from
Scotland is that libations and gifts are handed out to all whom cross the
threshold and the head of the household bless their guests in the name of
Jesus. Read John 8:12-19

 

January 1st - The Seventh Day of Christmas celebrates not only the beginning
of a new year and new beginnings, but is also a day to become a 'New
Creation'. It is a custom today to bless all the members of your household,
a day for hospitality. It is a great day to tell stories of births and
beginnings, and to reaffirm your Baptismal vows. Read Hebrews 2:10-18

 

January 2nd - The Eighth Day of Christmas in the Orthodox Christian
tradition is celebrated with St Basil the Great in mind, who wrote: "The
bread you store up belongs to the hungry; the cloak that lies in your chest
belongs to the naked; the gold that you have hidden in the ground belongs to
the poor. If everyone would take only according to his needs and would leave
the surplus to the needy, no one would be rich, no one poor, no one in
misery." Today is a day to make bread, bless it in the name of Christ, and
share it. Read John 6:35-42, 48-51

 

January 3rd - The Ninth Day of Christmas we celebrate the name of "Jesus."
>From Apostolic times, the Church has professed that "at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father" (Phil. 2:10). Today is a day to think about names, your name, its
meaning, and about your relationship with the one named "Jesus", the "one
who saves." Read Colossians 2:6-12

 

January 4th - The Tenth Day of Christmas is a day to share stories.
Traditionally, apocryphal stories are told to kids this day (such as the
Legend of the Animals on Christmas Eve) and adults share their stories of
faith with each other, which may include their Emmaus experience, when they
felt the presence of God the most, or experience of angles among us. Read
Genesis 28:10-22; Exodus 3:1-15

 

January 5th - On the Eleventh Day of Christmas, today would be a good day to
plan and make materials needed for the feast of the Epiphany or your Twelfth
Night celebration. However it is also a good day to think about your
continual Christian formation and education, as well as your families. What
would you like to learn or do in the New Year that would help deepen your
relationship with God through Jesus? Read John 15:1-16

 

January 6th - This is the traditional Epiphany, the Twelfth Day of
Christmas. Epiphany is also called "Theophany", the appearance of God. A
visit from the magi and the Epiphany blessing of the home is in order. A
great day to have a party. This is the climax of Christmas. Make your
enthusiasm for this day infectious!  Read Isaiah 52:7-10, Matthew 12:14-21

 

A House blessing:

 

Dear God,
we thank you for this past year
and for the year to come.

Be with us as we fill our home with kindness,
hospitality, and caring for others.

Help us to dream the dream of a better world
and to work towards that dream daily.

Hold us close to each other.
Keep us close in spirit with those who have died or who are far away.

May all who come to our home this year
rejoice to find Christ living among us;
and may we seek and serve,
in everyone we meet,
Jesus who is Lord for ever and ever.

Amen.

 

 

 

 

Rev. Christian Dominic Boyd

 

Pastor, New Creation PC(USA) in O'Fallon, IL

& Staff, Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy

Mob: 618.292.8583

www.NewCreationPC.org

Enriching our community 
through vibrant, Christ-centered relationships...
one life at a time.

(2 Cor 5:17)

 

"God is personal, not private. . . so is discipleship in Christ"

 

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