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December 24, 2006 |
4th Sunday of Advent - Christmas Eve Services |
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10:15 AM 4th Sunday of Advent |
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Preparation for Worship |
O God, Restore us and cause Thy face to shine Upon us. Psalm 80: 7
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I see Christ as the incarnation of the piper who is calling us. He dances that shape and pattern which is at the heart of our reality. Sydney Carter
Somehow, not only for Christmas, but all the long year through, the joy that you give to others, is the joy that comes back to you. And the more you spend in blessing, the poor and lonely and sad, the more of your heart's possessing, returns to you glad. John Greenleaf Whittier
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Advent Prayer God of love, you chose the young woman Mary, full of grace, to be the mother of our Lord and Savior. Now fill us with your grace, that with her, we may rejoice in your salvation; through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.
This morning we celebrate the fourth Sunday of Advent. This service marks the end of Advent and tomorrow we begin the twelve days of Christmas. The theme underlying the service is love. A love symbolized in the relationship between a mother and the child who grows within her. A love experienced as incarnation or “God with us” in the world. The texts and hymns reflect the light of this mysterious and amazing love. The final Sunday of Advent is a time of heightened expectations as it moves the church from the anticipation of God’s promised fulfillment to a realization of that fulfillment. Our first hymn anticipates this moment as it asks, “O Lord, how shall I meet you, How welcome you aright?” The second hymn celebrates the love begotten from the Father and the final hymn moves us even closer to Christ in its celebratory tone. The biblical texts include the prophetic voice of Isaiah speaking of a day when a son will be born who will bring justice and peace. The passage from Luke tells of a visit between Mary and Elizabeth and includes the well known Magnificat of Mary. The Affirmation of Faith following the sermon is taken from the second section of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Brief Statement of Faith. This segment of the affirmation emphasizes God as Creator of the diverse and unique world in which we live. The affirmation moves from confession of how we hurt the world and those around us into the amazing truth of God’s everlasting and abounding grace.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH We trust in God whom Jesus called Abba, Father. In sovereign love God created the world good and makes everyone equally in God's image, male and female, of every race and people, to live as one community. But we rebel against God; we hide from our Creator. Ignoring God's commandments, we violate the image of God in others and ourselves, accept lies as truth, exploit neighbor and nature, and threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care. We deserve God's condemnation. Yet God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation. In everlasting love, the God of Abraham and Sarah chose a covenant people to bless all families of the earth. Hearing their cry, God delivered the children of Israel from the house of bondage. Loving us still, God makes us heirs with Christ of the covenant. Like a mother who will not forsake her nursing child, like a father who runs to welcome the prodigal home, God is faithful still.
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"Children, Youth and Family" Service 5 PM |
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Preparation for Worship |
The people who walk in darkness shall see a Great Light. Isaiah 9: 2
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"There is a depth a reality a promise in Christmas And this depth has nothing to do with the holiday or families or receiving gifts. It has to do with God’s eternal Promise That we can have a new life Start over. Begin again. Be born anew. If we want that. That can happen.” You Can Choose Christmas Clyde Reid
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CHRISTMAS PRAYER Good and gracious God, you gave us your Son, the Lord of the universe, wrapped in swaddling clothes, the Savior of all, lying in a manger. On this holy night draw us into the mystery of your love. Join our voices with the heavenly host that we may sing your glory on high. Give us a place among the shepherds that we may find the one for whom we have waited, Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Christmas Eve marks the moment of God’s incarnation among us. We light the Christ candle to symbolize the light that came into being in a world filled with darkness. The service tells the story of the birth of this light in the world through scripture and hymns. Each hymn reflects and expands on a particular aspect of the Christmas story. In order to help our younger worshippers experience the birth of Jesus, the story of the Innkeeper who liked to sleep is interspersed throughout the reading of the scripture. This story is adapted from a children’s book by Nicholas Allen called “Jesus’ Christmas Party.” The candle lighting at the end of the services symbolizes in different ways the manifestation of the light of Christ in our lives. The dimming of the sanctuary lights symbolizes the darkness of the world into which Christ’s light comes into being. The source of our own light is the Christ candle illuminating the shadows. As we share the light of Christ with each other, we sing of “Silent Night, holy night! Son of God, loves pure light, radiant beams from Thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace.” And finally we take this light into the world repeating the sounding joy and the wonders of God’s love.
LITANY FOR CHRISTMAS All the ends of the earth have seen the glory of our God. Alleluia! Shout to the Lord, all the earth. Alleluia! O Christ, splendor of God’s eternal glory, the mighty Word, sustaining the universe: Renew our lives by your presence. Lord, have mercy. O Christ, born into the world in the fullness of time for the liberation of all creation: Release all into your promised freedom. Lord, have mercy. O Christ, begotten of the Father before all time, born in a stable at Bethlehem: May your church be a sign of hope and joy. Lord, have mercy. O Christ, born of Mary, child of wonder and splendor, mighty God of all ages, Prince of Peace: May the whole world live in peace and justice. Lord, have mercy. All-powerful and unseen God, The coming of your light into our world Has brightened weary hearts with peace. Teach us to proclaim the birth of your Son Jesus Christ, Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever, Amen.
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Preparation for Worship |
The people who walk in darkness shall see a Great Light. Isaiah 9: 2
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"There is a depth a reality a promise in Christmas And this depth has nothing to do with the holiday or families or receiving gifts. It has to do with God’s eternal Promise That we can have a new life Start over. Begin again. Be born anew. If we want that. That can happen.” You Can Choose Christmas Clyde Reid
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CHRISTMAS PRAYER Good and gracious God, you gave us your Son, the Lord of the universe, wrapped in swaddling clothes, the Savior of all, lying in a manger. On this holy night draw us into the mystery of your love. Join our voices with the heavenly host that we may sing your glory on high. Give us a place among the shepherds that we may find the one for whom we have waited, Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Christmas Eve marks the moment of God’s incarnation among us. We light the Christ candle to symbolize the light that came into being in a world filled with darkness. The service tells the story of the birth of this light in the world through scripture and hymns. Each hymn reflects and expands on a particular aspect of the Christmas story. In order to help our younger worshippers experience the birth of Jesus, the story of the Innkeeper who liked to sleep is interspersed throughout the reading of the scripture. This story is adapted from a children’s book by Nicholas Allen called “Jesus’ Christmas Party.” The candle lighting at the end of the services symbolizes in different ways the manifestation of the light of Christ in our lives. The dimming of the sanctuary lights symbolizes the darkness of the world into which Christ’s light comes into being. The source of our own light is the Christ candle illuminating the shadows. As we share the light of Christ with each other, we sing of “Silent Night, holy night! Son of God, loves pure light, radiant beams from Thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace.” And finally we take this light into the world repeating the sounding joy and the wonders of God’s love.
LITANY FOR CHRISTMAS All the ends of the earth have seen the glory of our God. Alleluia! Shout to the Lord, all the earth. Alleluia! O Christ, splendor of God’s eternal glory, the mighty Word, sustaining the universe: Renew our lives by your presence. Lord, have mercy. O Christ, born into the world in the fullness of time for the liberation of all creation: Release all into your promised freedom. Lord, have mercy. O Christ, begotten of the Father before all time, born in a stable at Bethlehem: May your church be a sign of hope and joy. Lord, have mercy. O Christ, born of Mary, child of wonder and splendor, mighty God of all ages, Prince of Peace: May the whole world live in peace and justice. Lord, have mercy. All-powerful and unseen God, The coming of your light into our world Has brightened weary hearts with peace. Teach us to proclaim the birth of your Son Jesus Christ, Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever, Amen. |
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