Christmas B2
January 4, 2009

With thanks to page sponsor:
the Rev. Lucy E. Jones,
Reservoir United Methodist Church,
Shokan, New York.
(Dec 0809)

Click on Scripture Lessons below for study links and resources:

Jeremiah 31:7-14 / Sirach 24:1-12
Roman Catholic reading: Sirach 24:1-4, 8-12 or use Epiphany Readings
Episcopal Reading: Jeremiah 31:7-14

Psalm 147:12-20 / Wisdom of Solomon 10:15-21
Roman Catholic reading: Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20 or use Epiphany Readings
Episcopal Reading: Psalm 84

Ephesians 1:3-14
Roman Catholic reading: Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-18 or use Epiphany Readings
Episcopal Reading: Ephesians1:3-6, 15-19a

John 1:(1-9), 10-18
Roman Catholic reading: John 1:1-18 or 1:1-5, 9-14 or use Epiphany Readings
Episcopal Reading: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 or Luke 2:41-52 or Matthew 2:1-12

Reading and Studying the Text This Week

• Texts:
  • NRSV Lectionary readings from Vanderbilt Divinity Library.
  • 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:
  • Movies Linked at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance, with the following themes:
    • Incarnation
• 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.
  • Preaching This Week at WorkingPreacher.org, Luther Seminary, 2009. Commentaries on lectionary readings by J. Clinton McCann, Hans Weirsma, Holly Hearon, James Limburg.
  • Girardian Reflections on the Lectionary, Christmas 2, by Paul Nuechterlein & Friends.
  • Preaching Peace commentary, Jeff Krantz & Michael Hardin.
  • Process and Faith Lectionary Commentary, Christmas 2, 2009, Bruce G. Epperly, "...bringing process-relational thought to people of faith."
  • Jesus Now, Christmas 2B, lectionary, study and worship resources from Faith Futures Jesus Then & Now.
  • "O Sapientia," Christmas 2B, 2009, Sea Raven, Liberal Christian Commentary.
  • Text Studies, Christmas 2, Dan Nelson. (Lutheran)
  • SAMUEL, Christmas 2B, 2009, at ucc.org: lectionary citations, weekly theme, lectionary texts, commentary and bulletin back page.
  • Lectionary Study, Christmas 2B, Dr. Robert Linthicum, Partners in Urban Transformation.
  • Liberal Lectionary Analysis, Christmas 2B, Rev. John Shearman, Oakville, ON, Canada.
  • Rumors, for January 4, 2009, Ralph Milton, "Sermon helps for preachers with a sense of humor."
  • Readings, Analysis of Texts and Preaching Paths, Dennis Bratcher, Christian Resource Institute. (Church of the Nazarene.)
  • Starters for Sunday, 4 January, 2009. 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:
  • Jeremiah 31:7-14 / Sirach 42:1-12
  • Psalm 147 / Wisdom of Solomon 10:15-21
  • Ephesians 1:3-14
  • John 1:(1-9), 10-18
• Lectionary Reflections, Discussions & Weblogs:
  • "Flesh Made Word," Blogging toward Sunday, Tom Steagald, Theolog: The Blog of The Christian Century, 2009.
  • 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, 2009.
  • Tuesday Lectionary Leanings, Word and Kings Edition, RevGalBlogPals lectionary discussion, 2009.

  • Disclosing New Worlds, Christmas 2B, Lawrence Moore, 2009.

  • "Voices from the Desert: New Year's Resolutions from out Monastic Mothers and Fathers," The Journey with Jesus: Notes to Myself, Daniel B. Clendenin, Journey with Jesus Foundation, 2009.

  • "Wisdom, Made Particular," Greg Carey, Mykal Slack, Mona West, Out In Scripture: An Honest Encounter Between Our Lives and the Bible, Human Rights Campaign, 2009. (LGBT perspective)
  • The Saturday Night Theologian, Exegesis of Word and World, Tod O.L. Mundo, Progressive Theology Weblog, 2009.
  • Daily Reflection, Christmas 2B, Larry Gillick, S.J., Creighton University, 2009.
  • This Sunday's Readings, Christmas 2, Martin Warner, Church Times, 2009.
  • Articles from The Christian Century:
    • "Homeward Bound," Christine Pohl, 2005.
    • "Course Correction," Barbara Sholis, 2002.
    • "The Message and the Messenger," John Stendahl, 1997.
    • "Penetrating the Darkness," Gonald Goetz, 1988.
  • "Living the Word," at Sojourners:
    • "Full Circle," Michaela Bruzzese, "Claiming Our Inheritance," 2009.
    • "Invited and Convicted," Lauren F. Winner, "Divine Manifestations," 2002.
    • "Arise, Shine Out," Peter B. Price, "Breaking with the Old, Making the New," 1997.
  • 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 Permanent Glimpse of God," the Rev. Dr. Thomas Lane Butts, Day 1, 2009.

  • Selected Sermon, Christmas 2B (RCL), the Rev. Dr. Susanna Metz, in Worship that Works, ECUSA, 2009.

• Group Studies & Discussion/Reflection Questions:
  • "Two Languages," study guide, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Moral Landscape of Creation," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2001. (John 1)
  • "An Attitude of Discipleship: Grace upon Grace," John and Robin McCullough-Bade, Daily Discipleship Bible Study, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 2009.
  • Lesson Plans That Work, Adults, Christmas, Year B, The Episcopal Church, 2008.
  • 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 Resources, Christmas 2B, 2009, Free Resources, Cokesbury Worship Connection.
  • Worship and Liturgy Resources, Christmas 2 by Rev David Beswick, Uniting Church in Australia.
  • Liturgy for the Celebration of Life, Christmas 2B, 2009. Liturgies from a Progressive/Post-Liberal Theology, Revd Rex A.E. Hunt, The Uniting Church of St James Curtin, ACT.
  • Lectionary Liturgies, Christmas 2B, Thom M. Shuman, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
  • Liturgies Online, Christmas 2, 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 2, General intercessions for Sundays and Feasts, by Ormonde Plater, Archdeacon of the [Anglican/Episcopal] Diocese of Louisiana.
  • Liturgical Planning and Music Suggestions, CanticaNova Publications.
  • Outside the Box, Sundays after Christmas, litanies, poems and prayers written for the local church, by Katherine Hawker.
  • Worship Resources, Christmas 2B, John van de Laar, Sacredise.
  • A Prayer for Christmas 2, Stephen Brown, A Place for Prayer.
  • "Liturgy: prayer reflection", reflections on the collect at the Eucharist, Rev. Bosco Peters, New Zealand.
  • Starters for Sunday, 4 January, 2009. Thoughts on Readings, Prayers & Hymn Suggestions. Office for Worship, Doctrine and Artistic Matters, Church of Scotland.
  • Offertory Prayers for January, 2009, David S. Bell, United Methodist Church GBOD.
  • 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.
  • Images for this week's readings, Pitts Theology Library Digital Image Archive.
  • Commercial Site: "The Word Became Flesh," video for Christmas 2B, The Work of the People.
• Bulletin Inserts (see also Children's Bulletins, below):
  • "Equipping Ourselves for a New Year," reflection by Steve Berneking, eBulletins reflections, prayer reminders, activity corner, American Bible Society Bible Resource Center.
  • Scripture Introduction for Bulletin Insert, Christmas 2B, Rev. John Shearman, Oakville, ON, Canada.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Original Hymns, Settings, and Songs:
    • Hymns of the Spirit Three, Christmas 2B, Richard E. Hurst, Universalist National Memorial Church.
  • Hymn/Song/Choral Piece Lists:
    • Lectionary Hymns, Christmas 2B, 2009, United Methodist Church GBOD.
    • Hymn Suggestions for the Sunday Lectionary (with lyrics and sound files) from the Oremus Hymnal. (Click "Hymn Suggestions for the Sunday Lectionary.")
    • 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.
    • Together to Celebrate, January 4, 2009, David MacGregor, Uniting Church in Australia. Contemporary Christian Music resources.
    • Hymn and Song Suggestions, Christmas 2B / Epiphany 2009, annotated suggestions from Natalie Sims, Singing from the Lectionary.
    • Starters for Sunday, 4 January, 2009. Thoughts on Readings, Prayers & Hymn Suggestions. Office for Worship, Doctrine and Artistic Matters, Church of Scotland.
    • Sing for Joy, Christmas 2, 2009. Choral reflections on this week's lectionary readings, St. Olaf College.
• 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.
  • Coloring Pages/Puzzles. Charles Kirkpatrick, Object Lessons & Children's Sermons, Coloring Pages, Puzzles. Sermons4Kids.com. (Scroll to bottom of page.)

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

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

  • Dramatic Reading, John 1/Genesis 1, Theresa Coleman, reverend mommy's random thoughts.

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