John 1

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ ”) 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is the only Son, himself God, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

Litany of the Word

Leader:

In the beginning was not silence,

but conversation—

a holy exchange within God.

People:

We come, not to speak first,

but to listen.

Leader:

From that conversation came life,

and that life became light,

shining in the darkness.

People:

The light still shines,

and the darkness has not overcome it.

Leader:

The world was made through this light,

yet the world did not recognize it.

People:

We confess that we often hear

without listening

and see without responding.

Leader:

John came as a witness,

not to be the light,

but to point toward it.

People:

Teach us to notice the light,

and to bear witness without needing to be the center.

Leader:

The conversation became flesh

and lived among us,

full of grace and truth.

People:

Christ, dwell among us still.

Speak into our lives.

Leader:

He came to his own,

and many did not receive him.

People:

We confess our resistance—

our fear of change,

our comfort with familiarity.

Leader:

But to all who received him,

who listened and responded,

he gave power to become children of God.

People:

We receive the invitation.

We choose to respond.

Leader:

These children were born

not of human striving,

but of God’s creative will.

People:

Make us a new creation,

shaped by grace.

Leader:

The conversation is still unfolding—

here, now, among us.

People:

Give us courage to take part,

even when it costs us.

Leader:

This is the covenant set before us:

to belong, to listen, to yield.

People:

We offer ourselves again—

all that we are,

and all that we may become.

Leader:

Come, Light of the world.

Continue the conversation.

People:

We are listening.

We are ready.

Amen.

The Wesley Covenant Prayer

(Modern English)

I am no longer my own, but yours.

Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed for you or laid aside for you,

exalted for you or brought low for you.

Let me be full, let me be empty.

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things

to your pleasure and disposal.

And now, glorious and blessed God,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

you are mine and I am yours.

So be it.

And the covenant now made on earth,

let it be ratified in heaven.

Amen.