Christmas B1

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A weekly webzine for the global church - lectionary essays, books, film, and poetry.
(Jul0809)

Reading and Studying the Text This Week

Texts:

NRSV Lectionary readings from Vanderbilt Divinity Library.
Roman Catholic Lectionary Readings from the New American Bible.
The Roman Catholic Lectionary for Mass (1998 USA Edition). At Felix Just S.J.'s The Roman Catholic Lectionary For Mass - a site featuring comprehensive tables of editions of the Roman Catholic Lectionary.
Lectionary readings from the Episcopal Lectionary.
Lutheran lectionary readings, Year B, from the ELCA site.
United Methodist lectionary readings, Year B.
Biblical Passages for Mennonite Bulletins, Year B.
Free Church version for Baptist, Reformed, and Congregational use Revised Common Lectionary Readings.
ELCIC Worship Planning Calendar, lectionary citations with and without hymn suggestions, text and pdf formats.
Lutheran RCL CEV readings - .doc files. Lutheran Bible Ministries.
PCUSA - Daily/Weekly Lectionary Readings.

Images and Movies:

Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Concordance, with the following themes:
- Presentation/Circumcision of Jesus
Movies Linked at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance, with the following themes:
- Prophecy
- Redemption

Commentary, Exegesis & Sermon Preparation (see also listings at individual scripture pages, linked in listings at top of page):

Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
Commentary and Spiritual Perspectives, Holy Family, 2008. Commentary, historical background, poems and readings. Center for Liturgy, St Louis University.
Preaching This Week at WorkingPreacher.org, Luther Seminary, 2008. Commentaries on lectionary readings by J. Clinton McCann, Hans Weirsma, Holly Hearon, James Limburg.
Preaching Helps (Christmas 1B, 2008). United Methodist Church General Board of Discipleship.
Girardian Reflections on the Lectionary, Christmas 1, by Paul Nuechterlein & Friends.
Preaching Peace commentary, Jeff Krantz & Michael Hardin.
Process and Faith Lectionary Commentary, Christmas 1, 2008, Bruce G. Epperly, "...bringing process-relational thought to people of faith."
Jesus Now, Christmas 1B, lectionary, study and worship resources from Faith Futures Jesus Then & Now.
"Cracking the Code," Christmas 1B, 2008, Sea Raven, Liberal Christian Commentary.
Readings, Analysis of Texts and Preaching Paths, Dennis Bratcher, Christian Resource Institute. (Church of the Nazarene.)
"Long-Awaited Gift," Kate Huey, Weekly Seeds, iucc.org, 2008.
SAMUEL, Christmas 1B, 2009, at ucc.org: lectionary citations, weekly theme, lectionary texts, commentary and bulletin back page.
Rumors, for December 28, 2008, Ralph Milton, "Sermon helps for preachers with a sense of humor."
Sermon Nuggets, Christmas 1B, 2008, Lindy Black. Illustrations, humor, questions, quotations.
Liberal Lectionary Analysis, Christmas 1B, Rev. John Shearman, Oakville, ON, Canada.
Text Studies, Christmas 1, Dan Nelson. (Lutheran)
Lectionary Study, Christmas 1B, Dr. Robert Linthicum, Partners in Urban Transformation.
Preaching Helps, First Sunday of Advent through Transfiguration of Our Lord, Year B, Robert H. Smith, John Rollefson, Richard Rollefson, Currents in Theology and Mission, 2002.
Starters for Sunday, 28 December, 2008. Thoughts on Readings, Prayers & Hymn Suggestions. Office for Worship, Doctrine and Artistic Matters, Church of Scotland.

Lists of recommended articles available with ATLAS subscription for these texts:

Lectionary Reflections, Discussions & Weblogs:

"Good News and Bad News," Blogging toward Sunday, Tom Steagald, Theolog: The Blog of The Christian Century, 2008.
Sermon Brainwave. Lectionary podcast featuring Profs. Karoline Lewis, David Lose and Rolf Jacobson, discussing the week's passages in light of current events. At Luther Seminary's WorkingPreacher.org.
Tuesday Lectionary Leanings, Tradition Edition, RevGalBlogPals lectionary discussion, 2008.
"Rejoice! You Are A Child of God!" Judith Hoch Wray, Donna M. Prince and Julia Mayo-Quinlan, Out In Scripture: An Honest Encounter Between Our Lives and the Bible, Human Rights Campaign, 2008. (LGBT perspective)
Disclosing New Worlds, Christmas 1B, Lawrence Moore, 2008.
"Merry (Continued) Christmas," Jan Richardson, The Painted Prayerbook, 2008.
"No Room in the Inn," Butch Odom, HopeandHealing.org, 2008.
"Living the Word," at Sojourners:
- "A Light for Revelation," Michaela Bruzzese, "Christmas Presence," 2008.
- "Names," Robert Roth, "Making a Moment," 2006.
- "Recognizing the Divine," Kari Jo Verhulst, 2002.
- "A Sign That Is Opposed," Peter B. Price, "Reorder the Household," 1996.
This Sunday's Readings, Christmas 1 / Holy Innocents, Martin Warner, Church Times, 2008.
The Saturday Night Theologian, Exegesis of Word and World, Tod O.L. Mundo, Progressive Theology Weblog, 2008.
Daily Reflection, Holy Family, Larry Gillick, S.J., Creighton University, 2008.
Environmental & earth-centered reflections from the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota Environmental Stewardship Commission.
Articles from The Christian Century:
- "A Large, Subversive Vocation," Walter Brueggemann, "Getting Ready for the Unexpected," 2009.
- "Living on Tiptoe," Christine Pohl, 2005.
- "Holding Promises," John Stendahl, 2002.
Desperate Preacher's Site: sermons, discussions, liturgical material and other resources.
Sunday by Sunday, Reflections on Stewardship based on the RCL Gospels, Year B. Prepared by the Reverend Michael Pollesel, Stewardship Education Coordinator, Diocese of Ontario.

Sermons (see also listings at individual scripture pages, linked in listings at top of page):

"A Sight for Certain Eyes," the Rev. Dr. Ozzie E. Smith, Day 1, 2008.
Selected Sermon, Christmas 1B (RCL), the Rev. Ben E. Helmer, in Worship that Works, ECUSA, 2008.
"The Big Page Has Turned," the Rev. Mark Sargent, Day 1, 2006.
"Simeon and Anna," Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Sermons from Seattle, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington.
"Return to Family Values," Dianne Bergant, CSA, America: The National Catholic Weekly, 2002.

Group Studies & Discussion/Reflection Questions:

Lectionary Notes, Christmas 1, Rev. Beth Quick and the Lectionary Chat Group Bible Study of St. Paul's UMC, Oneida, NY.
"The Childhood of Jesus," study guide for adults, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Children," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2003. (Luke 2)
"My Eyes Have Seen It," Faith Lens, ELCA, 2008. Connects weekly headlines with lectionary texts.
"An Attitude of Discipleship: Peace-Filled," John and Robin McCullough-Bade, Daily Discipleship Bible Study, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 2008.
Bible Study - verse by verse Roman Catholic lectionary commentary at St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Picayune, MS.
Light on the Lessons, Lutheran Bible Ministries. .doc file leaders guide and participant guide for group study of the weekly lectionary readings.

A list of links to on-line Bibles and general Bible study resources.

A list of links to scholarly and preaching discussion groups and their homepages.

A list of links to other lectionary-based preaching and worship resources.

OnLine Worship and Liturgy Resources

The Text This Week's Christmas Resources Page.

A wonderful, comprehensive list of links & resources for Advent and Christmas at Richard and Charlene Fairchild's award-winning A Holy Christmas.

Complete Liturgies and General Worship Planning Resources:

Worship Planning Helps (Christmas 1B, 2008): Worship & Preaching Notes, Hymn Suggestions and Worship Resources from the United Methodist Church General Board of Discipleship.
"Past Meets Future: A Blessing for Today," Intergenerational Worship for the Sunday after Christmas, UCC Worship Ways, 2009.
Gathering, Christmas 1, 2009, from the United Church of Canada. Includes sermon seeds, liturgical ideas, "with children," hymn suggestions, choral suggestions etc.
Mustard Seeds, "Christmas 24/7," Christmas 1B, 2008. A lectionary-based ideas resource for leaders of contemporary worship, Ann Scull, Gippsland, Australia.
Worship Resources, Christmas 1, 2008, Free Resources, Cokesbury Worship Connection.
Liturgy for the Celebration of Life, Christmas 1B, 2008. Liturgies from a Progressive/Post-Liberal Theology, Revd Rex A.E. Hunt, The Uniting Church of St James Curtin, ACT.
Lectionary Liturgies, Christmas 1B, Thom M. Shuman, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
A Liturgy of Carols for the First Sunday after Christmas, The Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel, ELCA.
Worship and Liturgy Resources, Christmas 1 by Rev David Beswick, Uniting Church in Australia.
Liturgies Online, Christmas 1, by Rev Moira Laidlaw, Uniting Church in Australia.
Sermons and Liturgies for Year B, Richard J. Fairchild, United Church of Canada.

Prayers, Prefaces, Litanies, etc:

Laughing Bird Liturgical Resources, by Nathan Nettleton, South Yarra Community Baptist Church, Melbourne, Australia. Prayers, blessings, Eucharistic prefaces and scripture paraphrases.
Resources: Based on the Revised Common Lectionary. Prayers, Collects and Litanies by Bruce Prewer, Uniting Church in Australia.
Prayers of the People, Year B - Christmas 1, General intercessions for Sundays and Feasts, by Ormonde Plater, Archdeacon of the [Anglican/Episcopal] Diocese of Louisiana.
Liturgical Planning and Music Suggestions, CanticaNova Publications.
Lector's Notes, Feast of the Holy Family, Gregory Warnusz, Saint Jerome Parish, Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO. Notes and commentary for those reading this week's lectionary texts to the congregation.
Outside the Box, Sundays after Christmas, litanies, poems and prayers written for the local church, by Katherine Hawker.
Offertory Prayers for December, 2008, David S. Bell, United Methodist Church GBOD.
Starters for Sunday, 28 December, 2008. Thoughts on Readings, Prayers & Hymn Suggestions. Office for Worship, Doctrine and Artistic Matters, Church of Scotland.
Worship Resources, Christmas 1B, John van de Laar, Sacredise.
21st Century Worship Resource, A Call to Worship or Opening Prayer for the First Sunday after Christmas, Year B, The Rev. Nathan Decker, United Methodist Church GBOD.
"A Prayer for Use on Christmas Morning or the First Sunday after Christmas," Elli Elliott.
Prayers and Musical Ideas, Holy Family, 2008. Commentary, historical background, poems and readings. Center for Liturgy, St Louis University.
A Prayer for Christmas 1, Stephen Brown, A Place for Prayer.
"Liturgy: prayer reflection", reflections on the collect at the Eucharist, Rev. Bosco Peters, New Zealand.
Thematic, Intercessory and Scripture Prayers for the RCL, Vanderbilt Divinity Library.

Graphics & Multimedia:

Art in the Christian Tradition, Jean and Alexander Heard, Vanderbilt Divinity Library. Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial ShareAlike 3.0 License.
Cerezo Barredo's weekly gospel illustration. Follows Latin American Roman Catholic gospel reading, though most gospels texts/themes are found in the index. Liberation emphasis.
Clip Art, Advent B2, Fr. Richard Lonsdale, Resources for Catholic Educators.
Images for this week's readings, Pitts Theology Library Digital Image Archive.
Bulletin Covers, www.scholia.net. Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Emmett, Idaho. Scroll down for Year B index.
Mustard Seeds, "Christmas 24/7," Christmas 1B, 2008. A lectionary-based ideas resource for leaders of contemporary worship, Ann Scull, Gippsland, Australia.
CHURCH PowerPoint, Christmas 1B, Rev. Dorothy Okray. Free PowerPoint slides for Worship Services.
Commercial Site: "Psalm 148," video for Christmas 1B, The Work of the People.
"Merry (Continued) Christmas," Jan Richardson, The Painted Prayerbook, 2008.

Bulletin Inserts (see also Children's Bulletins, below):

SAMUEL at ucc.org: lectionary citations, weekly theme, lectionary texts, commentary and bulletin back page.
Scripture Introduction for Bulletin Insert, Christmas 1B, Rev. John Shearman, Oakville, ON, Canada.

Hymns and Music:

Original Hymns, Settings, and Songs:
- "At the Turning of the Year," A Hymn for the New Year by Michael Hudson. United Methodist Church General Board of Discipleship.
- Hymns of the Spirit Three, Christmas 1B, Richard E. Hurst, Universalist National Memorial Church.
Hymn/Song/Choral Piece Lists:
- Hymn Suggestions for the Sunday Lectionary (with lyrics and sound files) from the Oremus Hymnal. (Click "Hymn Suggestions for the Sunday Lectionary.")
- Lectionary Hymns, Holy Family, National Association of Pastoral Musicians.
- Choral Anthem Project, Holy Family, National Association of Pastoral Musicians.
- Hymn selections (United Methodist) and more from Hymnsite.com.
- The Billabong by Rev Jeff Shrowder, Uniting Church in Australia: Hymn suggestions and paraphrases of lectionary Psalms.
- Hymn and Song Suggestions, Christmas 1B, 2008, annotated suggestions from Natalie Sims, Singing from the Lectionary.
- Sing for Joy, Christmas 1B, 2008. Choral reflections on this week's lectionary readings, St. Olaf College.

With Children (see also listings at individual scripture pages, linked in listings at top of page):

Gathering, Christmas 1, 2009, from the United Church of Canada. Includes sermon seeds, liturgical ideas, "with children," hymn suggestions, choral suggestions etc.

Children's Bulletins (see also listings at individual scripture pages, linked in listings at top of page)

Lectionary Puzzles by Reg McMillan, St.Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Peterborough, Ontario. Word search puzzles in RTF or plain text (html) formats.

Drama (see listings at individual scripture pages, linked in listings at top of page)

A list of links to other lectionary-based preaching and worship resources.