The Apostle John tells of the coming of Christ into the world: “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a parent’s only child, full of grace and truth.”

Reading by Willa Caspole at All Saints Church, Pasadena, Advent Festival of Lessons & Carols, on Sunday, December 9, 2018.

A Reading from John (1:1–14).      

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The Word was in the beginning with God.

All things came into being through the Word, and without the Word not one thing came into being.

What has come into being with the Word was life, and the life was the light of all people.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

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

The Word was in the world, and the world came into being through the Word; yet the world did not know the Word.

The Word came to what was its own, and yet the world did not accept the Word.

But to all who received the Word which is Love, who believed in Love, Love gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of humans, but of God, who is love.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a parent’s only child, full of grace and truth.

Minister:  Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.

People:   Thanks be to God.