The Festival Of The Holy Nativity
Sermon
Songs For A Savior
Sermons And Worship Services For Advent And Christmas
Prelude Organ Suggestions
Joy To The World -- arr. Petker
O Come, All Ye Faithful -- arr. Burroughs
Silent Night -- arr. Bock
The First Noel -- arr. McKecknie
Trumpet
Carol Medley
-- arr. Hamilton
Handbell Choir
The Holly And The Ivy -- Christmas Carillon
Organ, Piano, And Keyboard
Oh, Come All Ye Faithful -- arr. Billingsley
Flute
Angels We Have Heard On High -- arr. Schuster
O Come, O Come, Immanuel -- arr. Schuster
Organ
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing -- Mendelssohn
Welcome
Merry Christmas to each of you! We are honored to have you join us for this special occasion of celebration.
Call To Worship
Luke 2:10-11
"I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord."
Procession Of The Carols
Please remain seated as we sing the first verse of each carol from memory.
O Come, All Ye Faithful -- John F. Wade
O Little Town Of Bethlehem -- Phillips Brooks
Joy To The World -- Isaac Watts
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear -- Edmund H. Sears
The First Noel -- Trad. English Carol
The Lighting Of The Christ Candle1
Leader: Christ came to bring us salvation and has promised to come again. Let us pray that we may always be ready to welcome him. (Light the first candle)
People: Come, Lord Jesus.
Leader: That the keeping of Advent may open our hearts to God's love. (Light the second candle)
People: Come, Lord Jesus.
Leader: That the light of Christ may penetrate the darkness of sin. (Light the third candle)
People: Come, Lord Jesus.
Leader: That this wreath may constantly remind us to prepare for the coming of Christ. (Light the fourth candle)
People: Come, Lord Jesus.
Leader: That the Christmas season may fill us with peace and joy as we strive to follow the example of Jesus. (Light the Christ Candle)
People: Come, Lord Jesus.
Leader: These candles have been lit as a symbol of Christ, our Savior, whom God has given to us in love.
All: Lord God,
your Church joyfully awaits the coming of its Savior,
who enlightens our hearts
and dispels the darkness of ignorance and sin.
Pour forth your blessings upon us
as we light the candles of this wreath.
May their light reflect the splendor of Christ,
who is Lord, for ever and ever. Amen.
Old Testament: Isaiah 9:2-7
Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Anthem
Angel's Carol
-- John Rutter
*Gospel: Luke 2:1-7
Leader: This is the Gospel of our Lord.
People: Praise be to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Anthem
Away In The Manger -- Paul Sjoland
Christmas Meditation
Our Song For The Savior
Part five in the series, Songs For A Savior
Giving Our Gifts In Adoration Of Christ Jesus
Offertory Anthem
O Holy Night
Candle Lighting Ceremony
We will remain seated throughout the candle lighting ceremony. The young women will bring the light to those at the end of the pews. Always keep your lighted candles upright and tip the unlighted candles as you pass the light along your row. Please watch that no clothing or hair gets near the flame. For your safety, ushers will be in the outside aisles with fire extinguishers and damp towels. Our recommendation is that children less than sixth grade share a candle with a parent or adult. Please extinguish your candle following the Lord's Prayer but take the light of Christ that is in you into the world.
Anthem Or Hymn Suggestions
I Want To Walk As A Child Of The Light
Shine The Light Of Your Love -- Patterson
Carol By Candlelight
Silent Night -- Joseph Mohr
(The organist will play through Silent Night once, then all are invited to join in singing.2 Carefully raise your lighted candles during the third stanza as a tribute to God's Wondrous Light, Jesus Christ, shining in our lives and through us to the world.)
Benediction And Lord's Prayer
(You are invited to pray in unison with your eyes open.)
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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Extinguishing Of The Candles
*Postlude
Carols Of Christmas
-- Doran
(The organist should select something quiet to perpetuate the mood of people leaving with a deep sense of peace and the presence of God.)
* * * * *
*All who are able are invited to stand.
____________
1. Advent candle lighting ceremony adapted from "Blessings of the Advent Wreath" from the Book of Blessings, additional blessings for use in the United States of America © 1988 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Inc., Washington, D.C. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright holder.
2. The four verses of the carol may be printed in the bulletin or on a bulletin insert.
Our Song For The Savior
Part five in the series, Songs For A Savior
Christmas Eve
Isaiah 9:2-7; Luke 2:1-20
During the weeks of Advent leading up to Christmas, we have been exploring what it means to live faithfully as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus and as we await the return of Christ, our Savior. We have drawn insight from the scriptures as reflected in "Zechariah's Song," "The Prophet's Song," "Mary's Song," and "The Songs Of The Angels And Shepherds."
In these familiar accounts, we have seen that faithful people have a song to sing as a result of an encounter with God or the announcement of Jesus' birth. We have also seen that the song of celebration does not always begin immediately. In most cases, the first response is to be startled or afraid, to have a sense of awe, wonder, and amazement.
Tonight's reading of the birth story in Luke portrays this very clearly. The shepherds were afraid at first. Fear, however, turned to wonder and amazement. Wonder and amazement turned to curiosity. Curiosity turned to action. Action resulted in the search for and discovery of Mary, Joseph, and the child in the manger. Discovery gave way to rejoicing and sharing the good news the angels had told them. Good news overcame and overcomes fear. Hope is victorious over uncertainty and doubt.
In our lives, we can identify with this range of emotions and responses. Along with our sisters and brothers in the faith before us, we too struggle to make sense of what God is doing and how God is working. Fear, sorrow, frustration, and anger may rise to the surface of our lives in response to pain and difficulty. Another emotion is also frequently present: the sense of comfort and the inner assurance that we are not alone.
I will never forget when one of my colleagues in the ministry, a person with whom I worked and for whom many had prayed during her problem pregnancy, gave birth to a stillborn son on Christmas Eve. God's answer to our prayers was difficult to accept. It was a painful time for many, especially those closest to my grieving friend. One thing all of us experienced that night, however, was the sense of God being with us. God was with the grieving couple and their families. God was with us in our loss. We all had a sense of God's comfort, love, and grace.
Who of us has not struggled with discerning where and how God is at work when a loved one has an accident or gets seriously ill and dies, when a friend is beaten or abused, or when a spouse decides to leave the marriage? These are the common experiences of humanity. We struggle to hear God's song at times such as these. Nevertheless, God is with us. God walks with us throughout the journey of life.
Fortunately, there are also other times of great joy, times when the Lord seems so clearly present and seems to answer our prayers in ways beyond what we can ask for or even imagine. I have asked a member of our congregation to share a small portion of her story with us this evening.
(Pastors are invited to have someone in their congregation offer a personal testimony here. The one that follows is used with permission and may be incorporated into your message if that is desired.)
Lisa Fisher's Testimony:
Over the years I have struggled to walk the walk and to talk the talk of true faith. Just going through the motions without the heartfelt commitment was not satisfying. Although many years ago I asked God into my heart, it was not until recently that I really experienced the personal touch of God. Some of you know that over the past couple of years, I have had Achilles tendon surgery and subsequent other problems requiring that I use crutches. The doctor put me back into a cast to see if it would help. If it did not, I was told that I would require another surgery.
It was twelve weeks ago that my Bible Study class prayed over me. They gathered around me while I sat in a chair. They laid their hands upon me and prayed for my healing. As we sought the Lord together, I asked Jesus Christ to heal me if that was in his plan for me. As we continued in prayer, I felt a warm sensation start in my feet and it flowed through my whole body. I experienced the touch of God's Spirit. When I arose from the chair that evening I knew that I had been healed. To confirm it, the doctors cut the cast off my leg a few days later. I have been pain free ever since. I praise God for caring enough for me to touch me in this wonderful way. I sense a new song in my heart, a song of joy and thanksgiving for all he has done for me.
Have you ever seen the twinkle of pride in a parent's eye when their child has done something outstanding? Tonight, as your candles are lighted, think of the love which our Heavenly Father has for each of us. The best present you can open this Christmas isn't lying under a tree; it is a gift paid for and given to you by your Heavenly Father. God gave the gift of his Son so that all humanity could be set free from sin, enjoy peace with one another, and hope for eternity. God wants Jesus Christ to be born this night in each of our hearts. I invite you to open your heart to him and let his light shine on you and through you to bless others.
Thank you, Lisa, for sharing with us. We appreciate your willingness to share this wonderful news of God's loving, healing touch in your life.
No matter what you and I are experiencing in life at this moment, the absolute truth is -- God cares. God, our Creator, knows us completely and loves you and me unconditionally. Like a good father or mother, God comes to us where we are, whatever our plight or predicament, and promises to be Emmanuel, God with us. God comes to us wherever we are, even in our darkness, and brings light and healing and hope. If we will look for God and listen for God, a new song can and will be born in us as it was in those who heard long ago.
The stories of scripture are recorded in order that we may know the truth, for the truth alone can set us free. We are guided and strengthened up by these stories. They bolster our faith throughout all of life.
As Luke tells us, Mary and Joseph had gone to Bethlehem for the Roman census and to pay their taxes. No room could be found in any guest quarters and Mary's baby was about to be born. Having been offered a stable with straw to lie in, Mary gave birth to her first son, wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, a feed trough. Nothing could be remotely considered a home in that place. No comfortable reassurances of family or friends were to be found. No trusted persons were there to care for the exhausted mother, father, or their newborn infant. But God was there.
In the vulnerability of the baby Jesus, God entered the world in human flesh. In so doing, God came to be with us and God became one of us. For centuries God had been searching for ways to reach humanity and build a lasting covenant of love. God had tried the Law and various prophets, priests, and kings. However, people continued to go their own way, living lives filled with much activity but little sense of purpose. Although many believed in a God who could change history, few expected to encounter that God in a direct way. God, however, had a different plan.
The story of Jesus' birth is not to be seen as merely quaint or nostalgic, a picture postcard image of a better, bygone day. When we understand the significance of the birth of Jesus, we are energized and filled with hope, faith, and new perspective. The story of Almighty God becoming one of us helps us to sing a song of our own for the Savior.
How so, you may wonder? A couple of ways seem evident. First, we are humbled. We find the quality of humility to be universally present in all who have close encounters with God. Humility opens us to divine good news and instruction. Mary and Joseph listened to the words of God and humbly obeyed them.
Second, those who are faithful, who desire to sing a song for the Savior, are teachable and open. Mary and Joseph were surprised by the angel, as were the shepherds. In every case, they remained open to what the angel had to say to them. They did not close their hearts when they encountered God in a way that was initially frightening and unusual.
We often find in the scriptures that God breaks into humanity's well-ordered reverie and asks us to follow in faith, placing our trust in God. God steps in and wants to teach us or show us something more than we have experienced thus far. The nativity stories reassure us that when God is at work, even if it seems unusual, difficult, unfamiliar, or even unfair, God will always work for our well being. We can trust God to work on our behalf. We can count on God to love us. We are best off when we remain humble, teachable, and open to God's activity and God's surprises.
Our great God continues to break into human circumstances and pain to show us that he is alive and that he cares. God is not a distant, abstract deity to be feared. The Bible declares that God is love (1 John 4:8). God desires a close, personal relationship with you and me. God understands our hopes and dreams, our fears and insecurities. God knows all about our failures, but God also knows our fullest potential and every strength we possess. How is this possible? It is possible because God created us and gave us life.
Christians believe in a living, active, involved God. God does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. God became flesh, a human being. In Jesus Christ, God became like us in every way except sin (Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:15). Therefore, God fully understands our condition and our need.
God's Son longs to be your Savior from sin and the Leader of your life. He desires you and me to offer him the broken, confused, imperfect things in our lives. In exchange, he will give us faith, hope, and love. He will give us a new song! What an incredibly wonderful exchange! His wholeness is exchanged for our brokenness; his life for our sin and separation; his perfect love substituted for our imperfection. I hope that you will not hesitate to accept this profound gift-exchange. In so doing, it will likely be the best Christmas you have ever experienced.
Accepting Christ in this way is God's greatest gift to you and me. The gift was given long ago but remains fresh, alive, relevant, waiting for each of us to receive this evening. As the Bible says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life" (John 3:16).
You and I were created for this. We were made by God for a deep, personal relationship of faith. When we accept this gift, we are transformed. A new significance and a remarkable joy take hold of us. Profound peace possesses us despite the sorrows, the painful circumstances, the confusion and frustrations of life. A new song is born in our hearts. When this happens, we know that God is with us; we are not alone. Thanks be to God!
Let us pray. Loving God, thank you for creating us and for caring so much about us that you sent your only Son, Jesus, to be with us. When we are afraid, calm us. When we are confused, clarify what you are trying to teach us. Wherever we have doubted you or mistrusted you, grant us clarity and reveal yourself to us. Reassure each one here of your care. Help us to know and to experience deep within the power of your love. Grant us the humility, the teachable spirit, and the openness to you that will give rise to a new song, a song of freedom, a song of joy, a song of hope and life everlasting. We pray these things in your glorious name, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Candle Lighting Ceremony
Please turn now in your bulletin and read the printed instructions listed under the "Candle Lighting Ceremony." For safety's sake, we especially want to highlight keeping your lighted candles upright and dipping the unlit candles toward the flame as you pass it down your row. In a few moments, we will begin this ceremony as the Worship Leader lights his candle from the Christ Candle in the center of the Advent Wreath. Light and love are two things which a person can give away without diminishing the source. Sharing our light and love increases these gifts rather than diminishing them. I hope that you will joyously share the light and love of God with your family, friends, and neighbors, not only this night, but in the new year.
When the appropriate lights are turned off, the choir will then sing, "Shine The Light Of Your Love" (or another anthem). During this anthem, those assisting with the lighting of the candles will come forward, receive the light from the Worship Leader and me and pass their light to those at the end of each pew. We will then join in the singing of "Silent Night" followed by praying the Lord's Prayer with our eyes open. We ask that you will remain seated and in reverent silence until the lights are turned on at the conclusion of the service. Let us now share in the Candle Lighting Ceremony.
Joy To The World -- arr. Petker
O Come, All Ye Faithful -- arr. Burroughs
Silent Night -- arr. Bock
The First Noel -- arr. McKecknie
Trumpet
Carol Medley
-- arr. Hamilton
Handbell Choir
The Holly And The Ivy -- Christmas Carillon
Organ, Piano, And Keyboard
Oh, Come All Ye Faithful -- arr. Billingsley
Flute
Angels We Have Heard On High -- arr. Schuster
O Come, O Come, Immanuel -- arr. Schuster
Organ
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing -- Mendelssohn
Welcome
Merry Christmas to each of you! We are honored to have you join us for this special occasion of celebration.
Call To Worship
Luke 2:10-11
"I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord."
Procession Of The Carols
Please remain seated as we sing the first verse of each carol from memory.
O Come, All Ye Faithful -- John F. Wade
O Little Town Of Bethlehem -- Phillips Brooks
Joy To The World -- Isaac Watts
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear -- Edmund H. Sears
The First Noel -- Trad. English Carol
The Lighting Of The Christ Candle1
Leader: Christ came to bring us salvation and has promised to come again. Let us pray that we may always be ready to welcome him. (Light the first candle)
People: Come, Lord Jesus.
Leader: That the keeping of Advent may open our hearts to God's love. (Light the second candle)
People: Come, Lord Jesus.
Leader: That the light of Christ may penetrate the darkness of sin. (Light the third candle)
People: Come, Lord Jesus.
Leader: That this wreath may constantly remind us to prepare for the coming of Christ. (Light the fourth candle)
People: Come, Lord Jesus.
Leader: That the Christmas season may fill us with peace and joy as we strive to follow the example of Jesus. (Light the Christ Candle)
People: Come, Lord Jesus.
Leader: These candles have been lit as a symbol of Christ, our Savior, whom God has given to us in love.
All: Lord God,
your Church joyfully awaits the coming of its Savior,
who enlightens our hearts
and dispels the darkness of ignorance and sin.
Pour forth your blessings upon us
as we light the candles of this wreath.
May their light reflect the splendor of Christ,
who is Lord, for ever and ever. Amen.
Old Testament: Isaiah 9:2-7
Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Anthem
Angel's Carol
-- John Rutter
*Gospel: Luke 2:1-7
Leader: This is the Gospel of our Lord.
People: Praise be to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Anthem
Away In The Manger -- Paul Sjoland
Christmas Meditation
Our Song For The Savior
Part five in the series, Songs For A Savior
Giving Our Gifts In Adoration Of Christ Jesus
Offertory Anthem
O Holy Night
Candle Lighting Ceremony
We will remain seated throughout the candle lighting ceremony. The young women will bring the light to those at the end of the pews. Always keep your lighted candles upright and tip the unlighted candles as you pass the light along your row. Please watch that no clothing or hair gets near the flame. For your safety, ushers will be in the outside aisles with fire extinguishers and damp towels. Our recommendation is that children less than sixth grade share a candle with a parent or adult. Please extinguish your candle following the Lord's Prayer but take the light of Christ that is in you into the world.
Anthem Or Hymn Suggestions
I Want To Walk As A Child Of The Light
Shine The Light Of Your Love -- Patterson
Carol By Candlelight
Silent Night -- Joseph Mohr
(The organist will play through Silent Night once, then all are invited to join in singing.2 Carefully raise your lighted candles during the third stanza as a tribute to God's Wondrous Light, Jesus Christ, shining in our lives and through us to the world.)
Benediction And Lord's Prayer
(You are invited to pray in unison with your eyes open.)
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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Extinguishing Of The Candles
*Postlude
Carols Of Christmas
-- Doran
(The organist should select something quiet to perpetuate the mood of people leaving with a deep sense of peace and the presence of God.)
* * * * *
*All who are able are invited to stand.
____________
1. Advent candle lighting ceremony adapted from "Blessings of the Advent Wreath" from the Book of Blessings, additional blessings for use in the United States of America © 1988 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Inc., Washington, D.C. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright holder.
2. The four verses of the carol may be printed in the bulletin or on a bulletin insert.
Our Song For The Savior
Part five in the series, Songs For A Savior
Christmas Eve
Isaiah 9:2-7; Luke 2:1-20
During the weeks of Advent leading up to Christmas, we have been exploring what it means to live faithfully as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus and as we await the return of Christ, our Savior. We have drawn insight from the scriptures as reflected in "Zechariah's Song," "The Prophet's Song," "Mary's Song," and "The Songs Of The Angels And Shepherds."
In these familiar accounts, we have seen that faithful people have a song to sing as a result of an encounter with God or the announcement of Jesus' birth. We have also seen that the song of celebration does not always begin immediately. In most cases, the first response is to be startled or afraid, to have a sense of awe, wonder, and amazement.
Tonight's reading of the birth story in Luke portrays this very clearly. The shepherds were afraid at first. Fear, however, turned to wonder and amazement. Wonder and amazement turned to curiosity. Curiosity turned to action. Action resulted in the search for and discovery of Mary, Joseph, and the child in the manger. Discovery gave way to rejoicing and sharing the good news the angels had told them. Good news overcame and overcomes fear. Hope is victorious over uncertainty and doubt.
In our lives, we can identify with this range of emotions and responses. Along with our sisters and brothers in the faith before us, we too struggle to make sense of what God is doing and how God is working. Fear, sorrow, frustration, and anger may rise to the surface of our lives in response to pain and difficulty. Another emotion is also frequently present: the sense of comfort and the inner assurance that we are not alone.
I will never forget when one of my colleagues in the ministry, a person with whom I worked and for whom many had prayed during her problem pregnancy, gave birth to a stillborn son on Christmas Eve. God's answer to our prayers was difficult to accept. It was a painful time for many, especially those closest to my grieving friend. One thing all of us experienced that night, however, was the sense of God being with us. God was with the grieving couple and their families. God was with us in our loss. We all had a sense of God's comfort, love, and grace.
Who of us has not struggled with discerning where and how God is at work when a loved one has an accident or gets seriously ill and dies, when a friend is beaten or abused, or when a spouse decides to leave the marriage? These are the common experiences of humanity. We struggle to hear God's song at times such as these. Nevertheless, God is with us. God walks with us throughout the journey of life.
Fortunately, there are also other times of great joy, times when the Lord seems so clearly present and seems to answer our prayers in ways beyond what we can ask for or even imagine. I have asked a member of our congregation to share a small portion of her story with us this evening.
(Pastors are invited to have someone in their congregation offer a personal testimony here. The one that follows is used with permission and may be incorporated into your message if that is desired.)
Lisa Fisher's Testimony:
Over the years I have struggled to walk the walk and to talk the talk of true faith. Just going through the motions without the heartfelt commitment was not satisfying. Although many years ago I asked God into my heart, it was not until recently that I really experienced the personal touch of God. Some of you know that over the past couple of years, I have had Achilles tendon surgery and subsequent other problems requiring that I use crutches. The doctor put me back into a cast to see if it would help. If it did not, I was told that I would require another surgery.
It was twelve weeks ago that my Bible Study class prayed over me. They gathered around me while I sat in a chair. They laid their hands upon me and prayed for my healing. As we sought the Lord together, I asked Jesus Christ to heal me if that was in his plan for me. As we continued in prayer, I felt a warm sensation start in my feet and it flowed through my whole body. I experienced the touch of God's Spirit. When I arose from the chair that evening I knew that I had been healed. To confirm it, the doctors cut the cast off my leg a few days later. I have been pain free ever since. I praise God for caring enough for me to touch me in this wonderful way. I sense a new song in my heart, a song of joy and thanksgiving for all he has done for me.
Have you ever seen the twinkle of pride in a parent's eye when their child has done something outstanding? Tonight, as your candles are lighted, think of the love which our Heavenly Father has for each of us. The best present you can open this Christmas isn't lying under a tree; it is a gift paid for and given to you by your Heavenly Father. God gave the gift of his Son so that all humanity could be set free from sin, enjoy peace with one another, and hope for eternity. God wants Jesus Christ to be born this night in each of our hearts. I invite you to open your heart to him and let his light shine on you and through you to bless others.
Thank you, Lisa, for sharing with us. We appreciate your willingness to share this wonderful news of God's loving, healing touch in your life.
No matter what you and I are experiencing in life at this moment, the absolute truth is -- God cares. God, our Creator, knows us completely and loves you and me unconditionally. Like a good father or mother, God comes to us where we are, whatever our plight or predicament, and promises to be Emmanuel, God with us. God comes to us wherever we are, even in our darkness, and brings light and healing and hope. If we will look for God and listen for God, a new song can and will be born in us as it was in those who heard long ago.
The stories of scripture are recorded in order that we may know the truth, for the truth alone can set us free. We are guided and strengthened up by these stories. They bolster our faith throughout all of life.
As Luke tells us, Mary and Joseph had gone to Bethlehem for the Roman census and to pay their taxes. No room could be found in any guest quarters and Mary's baby was about to be born. Having been offered a stable with straw to lie in, Mary gave birth to her first son, wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, a feed trough. Nothing could be remotely considered a home in that place. No comfortable reassurances of family or friends were to be found. No trusted persons were there to care for the exhausted mother, father, or their newborn infant. But God was there.
In the vulnerability of the baby Jesus, God entered the world in human flesh. In so doing, God came to be with us and God became one of us. For centuries God had been searching for ways to reach humanity and build a lasting covenant of love. God had tried the Law and various prophets, priests, and kings. However, people continued to go their own way, living lives filled with much activity but little sense of purpose. Although many believed in a God who could change history, few expected to encounter that God in a direct way. God, however, had a different plan.
The story of Jesus' birth is not to be seen as merely quaint or nostalgic, a picture postcard image of a better, bygone day. When we understand the significance of the birth of Jesus, we are energized and filled with hope, faith, and new perspective. The story of Almighty God becoming one of us helps us to sing a song of our own for the Savior.
How so, you may wonder? A couple of ways seem evident. First, we are humbled. We find the quality of humility to be universally present in all who have close encounters with God. Humility opens us to divine good news and instruction. Mary and Joseph listened to the words of God and humbly obeyed them.
Second, those who are faithful, who desire to sing a song for the Savior, are teachable and open. Mary and Joseph were surprised by the angel, as were the shepherds. In every case, they remained open to what the angel had to say to them. They did not close their hearts when they encountered God in a way that was initially frightening and unusual.
We often find in the scriptures that God breaks into humanity's well-ordered reverie and asks us to follow in faith, placing our trust in God. God steps in and wants to teach us or show us something more than we have experienced thus far. The nativity stories reassure us that when God is at work, even if it seems unusual, difficult, unfamiliar, or even unfair, God will always work for our well being. We can trust God to work on our behalf. We can count on God to love us. We are best off when we remain humble, teachable, and open to God's activity and God's surprises.
Our great God continues to break into human circumstances and pain to show us that he is alive and that he cares. God is not a distant, abstract deity to be feared. The Bible declares that God is love (1 John 4:8). God desires a close, personal relationship with you and me. God understands our hopes and dreams, our fears and insecurities. God knows all about our failures, but God also knows our fullest potential and every strength we possess. How is this possible? It is possible because God created us and gave us life.
Christians believe in a living, active, involved God. God does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. God became flesh, a human being. In Jesus Christ, God became like us in every way except sin (Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:15). Therefore, God fully understands our condition and our need.
God's Son longs to be your Savior from sin and the Leader of your life. He desires you and me to offer him the broken, confused, imperfect things in our lives. In exchange, he will give us faith, hope, and love. He will give us a new song! What an incredibly wonderful exchange! His wholeness is exchanged for our brokenness; his life for our sin and separation; his perfect love substituted for our imperfection. I hope that you will not hesitate to accept this profound gift-exchange. In so doing, it will likely be the best Christmas you have ever experienced.
Accepting Christ in this way is God's greatest gift to you and me. The gift was given long ago but remains fresh, alive, relevant, waiting for each of us to receive this evening. As the Bible says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life" (John 3:16).
You and I were created for this. We were made by God for a deep, personal relationship of faith. When we accept this gift, we are transformed. A new significance and a remarkable joy take hold of us. Profound peace possesses us despite the sorrows, the painful circumstances, the confusion and frustrations of life. A new song is born in our hearts. When this happens, we know that God is with us; we are not alone. Thanks be to God!
Let us pray. Loving God, thank you for creating us and for caring so much about us that you sent your only Son, Jesus, to be with us. When we are afraid, calm us. When we are confused, clarify what you are trying to teach us. Wherever we have doubted you or mistrusted you, grant us clarity and reveal yourself to us. Reassure each one here of your care. Help us to know and to experience deep within the power of your love. Grant us the humility, the teachable spirit, and the openness to you that will give rise to a new song, a song of freedom, a song of joy, a song of hope and life everlasting. We pray these things in your glorious name, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Candle Lighting Ceremony
Please turn now in your bulletin and read the printed instructions listed under the "Candle Lighting Ceremony." For safety's sake, we especially want to highlight keeping your lighted candles upright and dipping the unlit candles toward the flame as you pass it down your row. In a few moments, we will begin this ceremony as the Worship Leader lights his candle from the Christ Candle in the center of the Advent Wreath. Light and love are two things which a person can give away without diminishing the source. Sharing our light and love increases these gifts rather than diminishing them. I hope that you will joyously share the light and love of God with your family, friends, and neighbors, not only this night, but in the new year.
When the appropriate lights are turned off, the choir will then sing, "Shine The Light Of Your Love" (or another anthem). During this anthem, those assisting with the lighting of the candles will come forward, receive the light from the Worship Leader and me and pass their light to those at the end of each pew. We will then join in the singing of "Silent Night" followed by praying the Lord's Prayer with our eyes open. We ask that you will remain seated and in reverent silence until the lights are turned on at the conclusion of the service. Let us now share in the Candle Lighting Ceremony.
