Leader: At this Holy Instant, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
People: We jubilate the precious advent of trust!
Leader: We shout with glorious tongues at the coming of hope!
People: All the earth's tribes loosen their voices to celebrate the promise of Peace.
Leader: We, angels and mortals, believers and non-believers, look heenward and speak the word aloud…
People: Peace!
Leader: We look at our world and speak the word aloud…
People: Peace!
Leader: We look at each other, then into ourselves and we say without shyness or apology or hesitation…
People: Peace, my Brother. Peace, my Sister. Peace my siblings everywhere. Peace, my Soul!
O Come, All Ye Faithful – UMH #234, vss. 1 & 3Come You Unfaithful (Michael Boggs, Josh Nichols) – Liz GoughThe Singing of Angels by Howard Thurman – Stephanie McIlwain MillerHark the Herald Angels Sing – UMH #240Advent Candle Lighting – Sue, Stan, Karley & Kailyn Pennock[The Advent Candle Lighters come forward to the Altar Table as we sing.]
Congregation Sings
What Child is this, who, laid to rest,On Mary's lap is sleeping?Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,While shepherds watch are keeping?
[music continues quietly beneath the words…]
ACL Reader: Friends, Christmas is about God’s love. God is so crazy in love with you and with all of creation that God chooses to be right here with us in all that we experience all the time. God put his whole self into that manger so that we could know God completely. And, so that, knowing God completely, as we do in Jesus, we could then put our whole selves and all of our love into our neighbors and into this world!
As the Advent Candles are lit, the following words are spoken by one or more of our Advent Candle Lighters (ACL)…
ACL Reader: We relight the first candle, the candle of Hope as our commitment to shine and share Hope with the world. We relight the second candle, the candle of Peace, for a world in need of mercy and justice. We relight the third candle of Joy for those who he trouble feeling it and finding it in this dark season. We relight the fourth candle, the candle of Love, for those who need love’s healing. Now, tonight, we light the Christ candle to celebrate the child of possibility. What child IS this? This, this, is the King who brings hope, peace, joy and love into our lives and, through us, into the world.
[The Advent Candle Lighters return to the pews as the music begins as we sing.]
Congregation Sings
This, this is Christ, the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing: Haste, haste to bring Him laud, The Babe, the Son of Mary!
Time with Young Disciples – Stephanie McIlwain MillerNight of Silence – Sanctuary ChoirScripture Reading – Tim NinnemannIntroduction to the Gospel reading: Tonight’s Christmas reading is the story of how the whole person and power of God came to us fit into the small and vulnerable space of a human life, the life of Jesus, born in Bethlehem, as told in the Gospel of Luke chapter 2 verses 1-20.
Luke 2:1-20
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of Did called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of Did. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she ge birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of Did a Sior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heenly host, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heen,
and on earth peace among those whom he fors!”
When the angels had left them and gone into heen, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Still, Still, Still – Handbell ChoirMessage – Great Joy! – Pastor JimFeaturing a story by Kate DiCamillo called Great Joy with illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline.
He Is Born – UMH #228Offering Our Gifts to God – O Holy Night – Elaine PaolielloSharing the Light of ChristLeader: Loving God, we promise to remember that the light of Christ meets us in the very real darkness of the world.
People: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it!
Leader: From this Christ candle, we share the flame, a sign of love that grows as it is given away, a reminder that every person carries the light of God.
People: Holy God, we promise to remember that our candle is not diminished when we share our light with others.
Leader: Light shared is love multiplied!
People: We welcome the Light of the World into our hearts, into our lives, and promise to be light for others along the way!
Silent Night, Holy Night – UMH #239, vss. 1, 3, and 4Sending Blessing – Pastor JimJoy to the World – UMH #246, vss. 1, 2, 4Bring A Torch, Jeanette Isabella (setting by Keith Chapman) – Geoffrey Liu