Living the Christian life involves approaching God through prayer, praise and worship. On this site, we can find different ways people have and can enter into his presence.
A brief thought based on John 14:1-3 - “Jesus said to his disciples, 'Don't be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me. There are many rooms in my Father's house. I wouldn't tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together.'”
Here's a copy of the order and the podcast of the worship service I led in the Presbyterian Church of Hopedale, Ohio on Sunday, December 27, 2020.Below was our order of worship.
Announcements
Our Call to Worship: Psalm 148
Leader: Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights!
People: Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host!
Leader: Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars!
People: Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
Leader: Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created.
People: He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.
Leader: Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command!
People: Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!
Leader: Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and women alike, old and young together!
People: Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven.
Leader: He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the people of Israel who are close to him.
People: Praise the Lord!
Congregational Song
Prayer of Confession
Gracious God, we confess that we've sinned against you. We’re about to enter a new year, but instead to looking forward with hope and faith, we allow 2020 to shape our expectations and actions. As a result, we fail to claim the opportunities God has put before us. Merciful Lord, forgive us and help us trust you as we move forward.
Words of Forgiveness
Gloria Patri
Affirmation of Faith: The Apostle's Creed
I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Prayers of the People: (followed by The Lord's Prayer)
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
We can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Between Monday, December 28 and Sunday, January 3, we'll lay before God the needs listed below.
Monday- That our leaders work for unity and cooperation.
Tuesday - That families would read their Bible and attend worship services together.
Wednesday - That we work together as best we can to prevent the spread of the virus.
Thursday - That our judges would value the principles reflected in the Old and New Testaments.
Friday - That Americans would respect and honor their parents and raise their children with compassion.
Saturday - That we all recognize that our actions impact others.
Sunday - That American youth would value honesty and respect in all their relationships.
Study, Learn and Grow: Looking into the lectionary — 2nd Sunday of Christmas: SUBSCRIBE \ ABOUT \ DONATE \ CONTACT John 1:(1-9), 10-18 — January 3, 2021 2nd Sunday of Christmas If John’s majestic prologue is a s...
Here's the message I offered during the celebration services in the Presbyterian Church of Hopedale, Ohio on Sunday, December 27, 2020.
Luke 2:22-38
And when the day of purification, according to the law of Moses, came, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it had been written in the law of the Lord, “Every first born male is called holy to the Lord.” And they came to offer a sacrifice according to what has been said in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem who’s name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and pious, as he waited for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he might see the Christ of the Lord. And he went in the Spirit into the Temple. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus for them to do what is the custom of the law concerning him, [Simeon] took him into his arms and praised God and said, “Now you may release your slave, master, according to your word, in peace, because my eyes have seen your salvation, the one prepared before all the people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory to your people, Israel.” And his father and mother were amazed at what they heard concerning him.
And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, he is destined for the falling and rising of many in Israel and for a sign that is spoken against. (And through your own self, a sword will pierce.) So that the thoughts of many hearts might be revealed.”
And there was a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, from the tribe of Asher. She had lived many days, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity. And she was a widow for as long as eighty-four years. She didn’t leave the Temple, fasting and praying night and day. And at that hour, she came and gave thanks to God and spoke concerning [Jesus] to those who waited for the ransom of Jerusalem.
Happy New Year
Happy New Year, well, almost. Right now we’ve got less than a week before that huge ball drops in Times Square, wearing a mask of course, and we officially enter 2021. But we’ve still got a little while to wait for that to happen, and that’s a good thing, because in these last few days we have the chance to do two things before we turn the calendar.
For example, we have the chance to look back on 2020, and I’ve got to tell you, on a lot of levels, it’s been a year for the books. My gosh, we faced a global pandemic like nothing we’ve seen in one hundred years. And although folks are just starting to get vaccinated, as of last week, here in the United States, we’re still looking at new hospitalization of 120,000 each day and a daily death rate of about 3,000. And speaking of the United States, have we ever had political year like we just endured? Not in my memory. And just like COVID-19, it’s still going strong, with the President and his supporters saying he’d have won by a landslide without massive voter fraud while the courts, the states and even some people in his party say that the election was clean and that Joe Biden won fair and square. Yeah boy. And I’ll tell you, as an old history teacher, never in the history of the United States has the military had to say that they won’t interfere in an American election. Wow. Man alive, for the world and for our country, this has been a year like no other.
And as we look at our own lives and families, I think the same kind of turmoil has been going on there but not so public. I mean, some of us have said good-bye to family members who’ve passed while also saying hello to some brand, new people who I think we can call cute little cuddly bundles of potential. Friends have gotten sick and others have recovered. Diagnoses have been good and not so good. We’ve seen some doors open and watched others close. And you know, on a very personal level, I certainly hope changing the calendar will change some of the fortunes of my little family. For example, as a member of the high school class of 2020, my daughter’s senior year was crazy and so was her first semester at WVU. It’s like I told her, most people won’t remember the class of 2019, because it was a lot like the class of 2018. And most people won’t remember the class of 2021, because it will probably be a lot like the class of 2022. But the class of 2020, man, no one will forget. Let’s just say 2020 has been interesting to say the least.
But of course, today isn’t just about looking in the rear view mirror. As a matter of fact, if that’s all we do, you know, to look back, I think we’re in big trouble, because let’s face it, we have absolutely no power to change the past. It’s in concrete. It’s a done deal. You see, the only thing we can do with what’s already happened is to learn from it, both good and bad, and hopefully decide to repeat the good and avoid the bad. In other words, as we stand in line for a new year and wait to move up, right now we can look forward, and we can begin to make what I guess people all over the world call new year resolutions. You see, right now, we can look at 2021 as a blank slate and what we resolve is the stuff we intend to write in the next twelve months. And even though, what we’ve gone through will shape the kind of things we might want to do, undo or redo, I think there are three resolutions we can make that might have an enormous impact on how we live during the next year. And I’ll tell you, I believe we can see these three decisions in the passage we read from Luke. You see, if we look at the examples of both Simeon and Anna and if we consider what they did and said, I believe that we might be setting ourselves up to have a pretty happy new year. And let me share with you what those things are.
You see, first, we can decide that starting today, we’re going to look for the presence of God in simple things, you know, in places that are unassuming and in events that are unimpressive and in people who are modest. In other words, we can decide that we’re going to try as hard as we can to see God in the simplicity that surrounds us. Which, when you think about it, is a lot different from what we’re encouraged to do now-a-days. I mean, let’s face it, we are not exactly living in the golden age of humility. Man, everything has to be big and bold and beautiful. That’s where we find our national leaders and the stars of sports and show business, that’s where they live. And because of that, it seems natural to look there for God too. My goodness, God must be in not just the wind and the fire but the strongest wind and the hottest fire. He’s in a raging storm that’s been stilled and five thousand people miraculously fed, you know, in unbelievable things like the heavens being torn apart and the Steelers missing the play-offs after starting 11-0. You see, that’s where God hangs out; therefore, that’s where we can expect to see him, right?
But you know, that’s not the way Simeon saw it; and I’m talking about a man who’d waited for the consolation of Israel and to whom “the Holy Spirit [revealed] that he wouldn’t see death before he might see the Christ of the Lord.” Man, if he’d been looking for God in the huge, he’d have missed that ordinary infant born in the sticks, to a family so poor that all they could offer God was a pair of pigeons. You see, it was in a baby where Simeon saw the promises of God. And you know, the same could be said of the prophetess Anna, who saw that same baby Jesus and gave thanks to God. They were looking for the presence of God in the simple.
And you know, we can do the same thing ourselves. I’m telling you, we can decide to recognize that God is all around us 24/7, if we take the time to look. You see, we can see him in the sun that rises every day or in the faces of the children that are in our lives. And we can see him in those little acts of kindness and concern that we’re going to miss if we’re not really looking. And we can certainly see him in this place, in this community, in this church. You see, he’s here every time we get together and sing the songs and pray the prayers and hear the word and share in that same Holy Spirit. Remember, for Elijah, God wasn’t in the whirlwind but rather in that still, small voice. I’m telling you, just like God became flesh in the form of a baby lying in a manger, this will truly be an amazing new year if we make the decision to look for God in the simple. And that’s one.
And second, we can also decide, starting today, to praise God for sending Jesus Christ into our world, to praise him every single day for something that can kind of get lost in the shuffle and that we may even take for granted from time to time. I mean, although I think most, if not all of us here this morning believe that God entered our time and space through the person of Jesus Christ, but outside of the period around Christmas, how often do we really thank him for that? Now, like I said, I don’t think it’s because we don’t believe or because Jesus just isn’t important to us. That’s not the case, but let’s face it, we’ve got a lot things happening in our lives, don’t we? I know in my own house, it seems like we’ve got all kinds of stuff going on. Man, there’s church and preschool and college, smart phones and ipads and Netflix. It’s enough to drive you crazy. In fact, there’s just not much time to give thanks.
And I’ll tell you, for that reason, I really think it’s important for us to read and reread what Simeon said right after he took Jesus into his arms and began to praise God. You see, just like he said, Jesus is still God’s salvation, but not just for me or for you but for all people, those whom we like and those whom we don’t, folks who follow the rules right along with those who do their own thing, men and women who are fortunate to grow up in God-fearing families and to live in comfortable Christian homes as well as those who were raised with virtually no knowledge of God and who’ve been dumped on by the some of those whom the world considers “righteous.” Man, he’s still a light to the Gentiles and a glory to Israel. It’s just like the prophet Isaiah wrote: “Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. ...Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of God.” I’m telling you, if starting today, we make this our focus, I’ll guarantee we’ll be praising for the next three hundred and sixty-five days. And wouldn’t that be a wonderful new year resolution? That’s number two.
And third, if we really want to enter 2021 in the best possible way, we can also decide to recognize that we live in a world that desperately needs to hear this good news. I mean, throw a dart into a crowd; there’s a better than even chance you’re going to hit a person who feels a little bit lost. Maybe they feel lonely and isolated. Maybe they’re being crushed by abuse they didn’t choose or bound to addictions they just can’t seem to break. Or maybe they’ve simply lost their sense of direction, having joined with so many others in our society who have confused fulfillment with greed and righteousness with intolerance and faith with certainty. In other words, maybe they reflect the kind of world that Simeon saw, when he said to Mary, the mother of Jesus, “Behold, he is destined for the falling and rising of many in Israel and for a sign that is spoken against. (And through your own self, a sword will pierce.) So that the thoughts of many hearts might be revealed.”
But you know, regardless of the reason, right now, we live in a world, man, we live in a community that’s hungry for some good news, not the burden of pseudo-religious legalism, not the empty hypocrisy that’s traded political power for eternal truth, and not the quick-fixes promised by ideas that are the spiritual equivalent of cotton candy, something that tastes good going down but that has the nutritional value of Styrofoam. Right now, people need to hear about the Father who loved the world so much that he gave his only son. And they need to hear about the son who lived and died and rose again to give us direction and forgiveness and hope. And they need to hear about the Holy Spirit who surrounds us and fills us with love and grace and faith even on our worst day. I’ll tell you, for a community of workers, and that’s exactly what we are, the harvest is ready. And if, starting on January first, we decide to hop in our combines and get to work; if this is what to do as a result of birth of Jesus, this will truly be wonderful new year.
Well, we’re closer to the new year now than when I started; therefore, soon we’ll be able to say farewell to all the craziness of 2020 and move into all the opportunities and possibilities awaiting us in 2021. And as we stand here and look forward, we can make some decisions that’ll determine what we’ll do. And among all the other stuff can promise, we can resolve to look for God in simple things and to praise him for sending Jesus Christ into our world and to recognize that we live in a place that desperately needs to hear the good news. And if we do those things, we just might have every reason to look ahead and say happy new year.
On Saturday, December 26, I officiated the marriage of Ben Peck and Grace Vishnick. If you're planning your wedding and need an officiant, please give me a call at 304-479-3402.
Witness, Share and Evangelize: Today in the Mission Yearbook - ‘Ordinary Time’ is extra-ordinary: The breather in the church calendar after the mountaintop highs December 28, 2020 A recent cartoon in our Sunday newspaper depicted an exhau...
Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me. In this monthly column, ‘Setting the Inner Compass,’ I share some of the poems I find nourishing to the soul.
In this column, I share four poems related to Christmas. Christmas is a social/cultural and spiritual celebration. Culturally, Christmas is a worldwide celebration of light in darkness, gift giving and gathering in community. Jesus may be part of these festivities or not. Often, he is just a prop. In my area of the country, church attendance has dramatically declined. The segment of the population who do not identify with a religious tradition, the spiritual but not religious, continues to grow. Yet the decline in church attendance and growth of the “nones” has had no impact on holiday festivities. Christmas lights abound on my non-church going neighbors’ homes. The need for a mid-winter celebration makes sense. It’s a good thing.
In the Christian household, Christmas is about more than gathering together, gifts, and colorful lights. It is about Jesus and incarnation, the word made flesh. I celebrate Christmas believing that the center of my tradition is not a book, or a doctrine or four spiritual laws but a person, a person who lived a life full in God. Christmas invites us not to look up but to trust the way of Jesus and look around at the sacred in the midst of life. Christmas invites us to make flesh in our lives the good news of liberation and compassion we encounter in Jesus’ life.
The four poems I selected for this column play with that theme. The first is a nativity prayer by St. Bernard of Clairvaux, a monk mystic and founder of the abbey of Clairvaux (1090 -1153). “The work of Christmas” is by Howard Thurman, author, philosopher, theologian, educator, and civil rights leader (1891-1981). I know little about the poem “Che Jesus” except that I like it. All I could discover is that it appeared in the form of a printed and anonymous sheet in a large factory center of the city of Córdoba, Argentina at Christmas 1969. The last poem, “Candlemas,” is by Denise Levertov. I found it in her wonderful anthology of poems on religious themes, The Stream & the Sapphire. By the time she died in 1997, Denis Levertov had published more than fifty volumes of poetry. She identified as a Christian late in life, at the age of 60. In 1989, she joined the Catholic church after moving to Seattle.
Merry Christmas.
Peace,
Dave
The Poems
The Nativity Prayer of St. Bernard of Clairvaux
You have come to us as a small child, but you have brought us the greatest of all gifts, the gift of eternal love. Caress us with your tiny hands, embrace us with your tiny arms and pierce our hearts with your soft, sweet cries.
The Work of Christmas by Howard Thurman
When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flock, The work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, To heal the broken, To feed the hungry, To release the prisoner, To rebuild the nations, To bring peace among all, To make music in the heart.
Che Jesus Anonymous
They told me that you came back to be born every Christmas. Man, you’re crazy! …with the stubborn gesture of coming back every Christmas you are trying to tell us something.
That the revolution that all proclaim begins first of all in each one’s heart, That it doesn’t mean only changing structures but changing selfishness for love, That we have to stop being wolves and return to being brothers and sisters.
That we…. begin to work seriously for individual conversion and social change that will give to all the possibility of having bread, education, freedom, and dignity.
That you have a message called the Gospel, And a Church, and that’s us – A Church that wants to be servant of all, A Church that knows that because God became human one Christmas there is no other way to love God but to love all people. If that’s the way it is, Jesus, come to my house this Christmas, Come to my country,
Come to the world of men and women. And first of all, come to my heart.
Candlemas by Denise Levertov
With certitude Simeon opened ancient arms to infant light. Decades before the cross, the tomb and the new life, he knew new life. What depth of faith he drew on, turning illumined towards deep night.
“The Nativity Prayer” by St. Bernard of Clairvaux is not copyrighted and found in many publications.
“Che Jesus” by anonymous
“The Work of Christmas” by Howard Thurman, from Howard Thurman’s The Mood of Christmas and Other Celebrations is used by permission of Friends United Press. All rights reserved.
Rev. Dave Brown is a writer, creator/host of Blues Vespers, one of the PNW Interfaith Amigos and former pastor of Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Tacoma WA. He serves on the PCUSA Education Roundtable. (dbrown7086@aol.com).
Witness, Share and Evangelize: Today in the Mission Yearbook - Longing for home: A reflection on the Nativity of the Lord: This Christmas might feel different, but God is still with us December 25, 2020 Living room decorated for Christmas. Christmas recalls memor...
Here's the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service I led last year in Cove Presbyterian Church, Weirton, West Virginia.
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At the beginning of the service, the candles on the communion table, along the pews and the four advent candles were lit. The cow was the only part of the Nativity on the communion table. The rest of the figures were brought in during the service.
Before we started the service, we watched the video below:
After welcoming people to the service, we sang “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” We collected an offering as the Cove Bells played. We followed this with our prayer of thanksgiving and the Lord's Prayer. The choir sang the song “Bethlehem.”
Our presentation of the Christmas story through scripture, responses and carols was at the center of our service. We followed the structure below:
The Christmas Story
Once Upon a Time
Isaiah 9:6-7: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called `Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’
“Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore.”
The Response: The amazing thing to consider is that, hundreds of years before it happened, Isaiah told about a child to be born who would change the world.
The Prophet said that this child would be received as the bringer of peace, justice, and righteousness. Isaiah, in his wisdom as a prophet, gave hope for the light to come. Yet, while he lived, he very likely was considered just another old man dreaming dreams.
An Angel Visits Mary
Luke 1:30-33, 46-50: And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
And Mary said “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation.”
The Response: Many, many years after Isaiah lived, we see the events he predicted beginning to unfold. Mary has been chosen to be the mother of Jesus, and she has accepted her role with grace.
But, can you imagine the uncertainty and the astonishment she must have felt? Can you imagine the emotions of this young woman when she was visited by an angel and told that she was to have a child? It was not to be an ordinary child, but the one to be called the Son of God! What extreme anxiety she must have felt as she considered how to tell all these things to Joseph, the man she was to marry.
Video: "Mary, Did You Know?"
An Announcement is Made
Matthew 1:18-21: Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.
But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
The Response: When an angel visited Joseph in a dream telling him that Mary was with child of the Holy Spirit, Joseph, too, accepted his place in the great drama.
Imagine his feelings as he began married life under extremely trying circumstances, knowing that his family life would be unusual and out of the ordinary, to say the very least.
He must have wondered what he would say to Mary and to others about her condition. He must also have had overpowering feelings of unworthiness at being chosen to be the Messiah’s earthly father.
Considering all this, what a compassionate and thoughtful man Joseph must have been—accepting and performing the role with unselfishness, grace, and understanding.
Congregational Carol: “What Child Is This?”
The Journey
Luke 2:1-3: In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city.
The Response: We can almost see her now: Mary, nine months pregnant, jostling along on the back of a donkey being pulled by Joseph through crowds of people going to Bethlehem. We can only imagine Mary’s discomfort. There is no record that she complained about traveling or facing the uncertainties of the road. The trip must have been terribly difficult for her. Joseph, too, must have suffered with concern for his wife and the unborn child.
The bustling town of Bethlehem must have been a welcome sight to the weary travelers. We wonder if they could have been aware of the even more uncertain journey they were about to begin with the child about to be born.
The Marketplace
Luke 2:4-5: And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
During this reading, “Joseph,” “Mary,” and the donkey should be brought in and placed on the table.
The Response: A busy marketplace can be both exciting and exasperating. For Joseph and Mary, it must have been both. Under normal circumstances, it might have been exciting to wander around, taste different foods, perhaps visit with old friends, or even to sell some of Joseph’s hand crafted wood pieces.
But to have no choice other than to push through the crowds on a donkey, stand in line for hours at the enrolling place, and pay taxes too, must have made the experience in Bethlehem town much more exasperating than exciting.
Congregational Carol: "There’s a Song in the Air"
The Inn
Luke 2:6-7: And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
During this reading, “Jesus” should be brought in and placed on the table.
The Response: Have you ever traveled into the night to get just a few more miles down the road? Then, deciding to stop, all you found were “No Vacancy” signs at motel after motel so you were forced to keep traveling. You remember the feelings: tired, irritable, angry, frustrated—willing to take any room at any price.
Joseph must have known these feelings, too. The need for a place to stay was made even more desperate because Mary’s time was so near.
So, the simple stable became a welcome lodging for the night. It was warm, sheltered, and away from the crowded, noisy town.
Here, Mary’s baby was born and she made a bed for him on some straw in a manger.
Soloby Sue Willson: O Holy Night
Angels in the Heavens
Luke 2:8-14: And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.
And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!”
The Response: This birth was not to be a quiet one, celebrated by the family and a few friends! How could it be quiet when a major star hovered overhead lighting the countryside and pointing its shining light toward the stable? It was announced in grand style by a crowd of angels singing a majestic chorus for shepherds out in the field with their sheep.
Those angels captured for all time the glory, wonder, and importance of the birth which took place in a stable in Bethlehem.
Shepherds in the Field
Luke 2:15: When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
During this reading, the shepherds and sheep should be brought in and placed on the table.
The Response: How those shepherds must have trembled, in spite of the angel’s calming assurance that there was nothing to fear! How overwhelming it must have been to witness such a supernatural event!
Yet their curiosity must have been stronger than fear because they left the field at once and followed the star’s light to Bethlehem and to the stable.
We can imagine that their curiosity turned to wonder when they found a child just as the angel said they would. Imagine what those simple men must have thought when they found the promised savior lying on a bed of hay in an animal’s feeding trough!
Congregational Carol: "Angels, from the Realms of Glory"
The Manger
Luke 2:16-19, Matthew 2:1-2: And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.”
During this reading, the kings and camels should be brought in and placed on the table.
The Response: The Magi, too, followed the star, riding their camels for days, carrying their precious gifts. This was the fulfillment for them of the prophecy and the hope for a king from David’s descendants.
Imagine their wonderment at finding this royal child born in a stable and sleeping on a bed of hay. Yet, they did not doubt that this, indeed, was the child that Isaiah foretold, nor did they hesitate to present to him their priceless gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Then, satisfied that the child was the long expected one, they went back to their far countries taking with them the message of the birth with all its wonder, joy, and promise.
But it is for Mary that we feel the most emotion. A young woman, away from her family, in a very strange and difficult place, giving birth to her first child.
She knew that the child was different, and that his destiny had not yet been revealed. But imagine her feelings when shepherds appeared, followed by three important kings, and angels all around.
A birth in itself is overwhelming, but Mary also had all the other unnatural occurrences to consider and deal with.
She knew that she had given birth to a very special child who would be known as the Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, Emmanuel the long awaited Messiah. How difficult it must have been for her to realize that her son was Jesus, the Christ.
We are told only that Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.
Choir: Song of Bethlehem
The Shepherds Return
Luke 2:20: And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
The Response: On this night, we, like the shepherds, return to this place to glorify God and give praise for the birth and life of Mary’s Son.
We, like the angels, keep music in our hearts and sing the familiar and well loved songs to remind us of that night long ago in Bethlehem.
Perhaps, just for this little while, we can turn off the Christmas tree lights, ignore the glitter and tinsel, forget the wrapped gifts under the tree, and remember with all our hearts and minds the most precious gift of all, God’s Son, Jesus.
Let us remember his birthday with these gifts: our promises to help bring Peace, Justice, and Righteousness to all corners of the earth.
Then, truly, the angels’ music will fill the heavens once again “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth, Peace!” Amen.
Congregational Carol: “Go, Tell It on the Mountains”
The Coming of the Light
John 1:1-14
In the beginning was the word
and the word was with God,
and God was the word.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things through him came into being,
and apart from him nothing came into being.
That which came into being in him was life.
And the life was the light of humanity.
And the light in the darkness shines,
and the darkness did not overcome it.
He was in the world,
and the world through him came into being,
and the world didn’t know him.
To his own he came,
and his own didn’t accept him.
But all who accepted him,
he gave to them the ability to become children of God,
And the word became flesh
and dwelt among us,
and we saw his glory,
glory as the first born from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Because from his fullness,
we all received, even grace upon grace.
The Response: According to the Evangelist John In the beginning was the one who is called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God. From the very beginning the Word was with God. And with this Word, God created all things. Nothing was made without the Word. Everything that was created received its life from him, and his life gave light to everyone. The light keeps shining in the dark, and darkness has never put it out.
After the reading, I went to the advent wreath, lit the center candle and extinguished the others. I returned to the center with his candle. The deacons came forward, lit their candles by mine, and stood facing the congregation. I explained that the Deacons would light the candle on the inside and the flame should be passed on and that we would continue to sing Silent Night until everyone’s candle is lit.
Congregational Carol: Silent Night! Holy Night!
An usher in the back extinguished the sanctuary light, beginning with the light in front and ending with the lights on the side.
Dismissal: You see, this was the work of God, how the word became flesh, how the light entered a dark world. Of course, at first the light was so faint you could hardly see it. And through out history, there have been those who tried to make the light go out. (As carefully as you can, will you lower your candle in front of you into the pew). But no matter hard they tried, they couldn’t stop this love and light. And so it spread, from a flicker to a flame. (Now, as carefully as you can, raise your candle over your head.) And now there’s just a little time left before we celebrate the birth of Christ.
But after the service, as you’re going home, I want you to remember the story we shared tonight. Children, share it with your friends. And parents, share it your children. How the world changed with the coming of the light.
Here's a new devotion that I wrote. You can find a recording of this devotion at the bottom of the page.
Revelation 22:12-17, 21
“See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone's work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
“It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let everyone who hears say, “Come.” And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.
The Bright Morning Star
I find a lot of comfort in this image for Jesus, and that’s especially true as I close out 2020. I think I’m safe in saying, this year has been challenging for all of us. For example, over 320,000 Americans died as a result of COVID-related illnesses. Businesses have closed, jobs have been lost and new opportunities have withered. I’ll tell you, over the last ten months, our whole world changed. A year ago, a friend of mine said, “In this economy, if you’re unemployed, you’re just not trying.” I’m not sure anyone would say that now. And so, as we pass through our subdued celebration of the Christmas, a lot of us are sort of limping to the end of a bad year.
And for this reason, I believe this image is so meaningful. You see, no matter what we’ve encountered in the past or how tired and discouraged and frustrated we might be right now, Jesus Christ is still “the Bright Morning Star.” And to me, that represents two things. First, because he’s in control of his creation, we have good reason to hope, because what may appear to be the dead of night may actually be the time right before the dawn. In him, possibilities are always possible. That’s one. And second, regardless of what we’re facing right now, the entire creation is moving toward a bright new morning. You see, the time is coming when the old will be made new and the dead will be raised. And nothing in creation will change that reality. And so, as stagger to the close of a dark year, let’s intentionally focus on the Bright Morning Star.
Witness, Share and Evangelize: Today in the Mission Yearbook - Away in a manger: From humble beginnings came a true gift December 24, 2020 Ever since my girls were big enough to hitch a ride on a luggage cart, they’ve bee...
Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God; for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting. The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. The Lord lifts up the downtrodden; he casts the wicked to the ground. Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre. He covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, makes grass grow on the hills. He gives to the animals their food, and to the young ravens when they cry. His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner; but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. — Psalm 147:1–11
“Brokenhearted” and “downtrodden” are words that sum up how many people are feeling as Christmas Eve approaches. Broken hearts abound as loved ones taken by COVID-19, unjust shootings, accidents and illnesses have left empty chairs around many holiday tables this year. And there are hearts broken by vacant chairs because friends and family can’t gather together this year out of safety concerns for a virus still infecting the young and the old.
There will also be many downtrodden Christians making their way to the manger with heads hung low and steps that are faltering due to the tiredness that comes in trying to fight injustices. Let us not ignore the drooping shoulders of many who are burdened with trying to put food on the table. The world is in pain, and to not be able to even gather in person on Christmas Eve to light candles and sing “Silent Night” is just too much for some to handle. This year’s “Silent Night” will indeed be silent, but maybe not.
Just because we won’t be singing an old, familiar song in an old, familiar way — in a church sanctuary — doesn’t mean that there isn’t a song to sing. Could it be that our broken hearts are creating space for a new song this Christmas Eve? Could it be that “the old song of my spirit has wearied itself out,” as Howard Thurman discovered years ago?
Thurman added that “the words belong to old experiences. I know that the work of the old song, perfect in its place, is not for the new demand. I must learn the new song that is capable of meeting the new need. I must fashion new words born of all the new growth in my life, my mind and my spirit.”
Perhaps not being able to sing “Silent Night” — as we have always done in church — is not a bad thing at all. Yes, this tradition will be grieved. But can we look beyond the loss to see what new thing can be found? “We need the untried melody to meet the need of the untried morrow,” said Thurman. May this Christmas bring us the gift of an untried melody.
Pray
Gracious and loving God, as Christmas Eve approaches, I can’t help but feel some sadness this year. Nothing feels right. The holiday cheer is missing. The traditions I have looked forward to are just not happening. Help me to find a new song to sing: a song of praise to you. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Go deeper
Take time to mourn the losses in your life. Don’t push them aside. Let the tears fall. Then wipe your eyes and ask God for a new song to sing this Christmas, a new tradition to begin, a new friend to make and a new understanding of Emmanuel: God with us.
Christmas is the season when the whole world is open to conversation about new life, families, hope and salvation. PPL works year-'round to help you find the words to speak words of life that will take root this time of year like no other. We rely on your support and we are grateful to God for it.
May God bless you with His closeness and His love this day and every day.
Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God; for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting. The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. The Lord lifts up the downtrodden; he casts the wicked to the ground. Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre. He covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, makes grass grow on the hills. He gives to the animals their food, and to the young ravens when they cry. His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner; but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. — Psalm 147:1–11
