Jesus and the Dragon

December 24, 2025 Christmas Eve Luke 2:1-14 Revelation 12 Prelude Christmas Greeting Lighting the Christ Candle First Reader: Tonight/Today, we gather to remember with the prophet Isaiah: For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders, and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Great will be his authority, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this (Isaiah 9:6-7). All: We gather to once again bask in the glory that visited a stable and a manger, shepherds watching their flocks, and a young couple cradling the newborn Messiah. Second Reader: We light the Christ candle as a sign of the glory that came among us in unexpected places and to unexpected people, that we may be people who seek and follow the glory of the Christ child here and now. Light the center candle of the Advent wreath. Call to Worship With eyes wide open and our ears on edge, we look for shepherds and listen for the songs of angels. In the light of winter’s moon, with the Southern Cross lighting the way, we gather outside the door of a mystery, wondering if we dare go enter. With folks and friends we love, with strangers we have just met, we gather, becoming the holy family for this time and in this place. Invocation Hymn O Come All Ye Faithful UMH 234 Interactive Nativity Story: “A Story We Tell Together” – a version of Luke 2:1-14 • When you hear MARY, say: “Yes, Lord.” • When you hear JOSEPH, say: “I will trust God.” • When you hear ANGEL, say: “Do not be afraid!” • When you hear SHEPHERDS, say: “Let us go and see!” • When you hear BABY JESUS, say: “Glory to God!” • When you hear STAR, point upward and say: “God is guiding us!” ________________________________________ Print out the story just for the liturgist The Story Long ago, God chose a young woman named MARY. (Audience: “Yes, Lord.”*) One day, an ANGEL appeared to MARY with surprising news. (Audience: “Do not be afraid!”) God had chosen MARY to bring love into the world in a very special way. (Audience: “Yes, Lord.”) Now JOSEPH, who loved MARY, was confused and worried. But God spoke to JOSEPH in a dream and told him to trust. (Audience: “I will trust God.”*) So JOSEPH and MARY traveled a long way to Bethlehem. The road was hard, the nights were cold, and still they trusted God. (Audience: “Yes, Lord.”* / “I will trust God.”) That night, there was no room in the inn. So in a humble stable, BABY JESUS was born. (Audience: “Glory to God!”*) God placed a bright STAR in the sky to shine over Bethlehem. (Audience: “God is guiding us!”*) Out in the fields nearby, some SHEPHERDS were watching their sheep. Suddenly, an ANGEL appeared and said— (Audience: “Do not be afraid!”*) The ANGEL told the SHEPHERDS that BABY JESUS had been born. (Audience: “Glory to God!”) The SHEPHERDS looked at one another and said, (Audience: “Let us go and see!”) They followed the STAR to the place where MARY and JOSEPH were, and there they found BABY JESUS, lying in a manger. (Audience: “Glory to God!”*) The SHEPHERDS went home rejoicing, MARY treasured these things in her heart, JOSEPH gave thanks, and the STAR kept shining. (Audience responses as words appear) ________________________________________ Closing Leader says: “This is the good news of Christmas: God comes to us in love, God walks with us in trust, and God invites all of us to be part of the story.” All together: “Glory to God!” Hymn Joy to the World UMH 246 A Christmas Message Rev. Harriette Cross First United Methodist Church of Wilmington Christmas Eve December 24, 2025 Luke 2 Revelation 12 Jesus and the Dragon This year, many in the church brought our nativity scenes to church to display. The nativity has been a way for countless generations to learn and remember the Christmas story. We all just recounted the Christmas story in the book of Luke. The nativity is intended to be an ongoing story – not every nativity character is mentioned. We don’t talk about the wise men until much later. But tonight we talked about Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, the shepherds, and the angel. But somehow we forgot all about the dragon – yep I said the dragon. Every year we look at the same old scriptures and tell the same old story. You probably never knew that there is another biblical version of the birth of Jesus in the book of Revelation. I will share some of the story, A woman, her child, and the dragon 12 Then a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant, and she cried out because she was in labor, in pain from giving birth. 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: it was a great fiery red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven royal crowns on his heads. 4 His tail swept down a third of heaven’s stars and threw them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth so that when she gave birth, he might devour her child. 5 She gave birth to a son, a male child who is to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was snatched up to God and his throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the desert, where God has prepared a place for her. There she will be taken care of for one thousand two hundred sixty days. Then there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but they did not prevail, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 So the great dragon was thrown down. The old snake, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world, was thrown down to the earth; and his angels were thrown down with him Can you imagine adding a 7 headed dragon and the archangel Michael with a sword to every nativity scene - it would be a lot more fun than just playing with the camels and arranging the wise men – you get to have a sword fight to defeat the slay the evil dragon. It would certainly make our perfect silent night them much more chaotic. But Scripture gives us two Christmas stories. One is gentle and quiet, told in Luke 2. The other is cosmic and dangerous, told in Revelation 12. Luke tells us what happened on earth. Revelation tells us what was happening behind the scenes. Tonight, we hear them together—the birth of Jesus and the appearance of the dragon. But both are intended to give us a glimpse of life. Sometimes even getting ready of Christmas can be like fighting a dragon. Revelation is the story of a cosmic battle that started in heaven but is going on all around us. Mary, the Queen of the universe gives birth to a son. The dragon waits, planning to take away the baby – because of his importance to the world. The guardian angels vow to fight to the death to defend the future of the world. They fight so furiously, that both the angels and the dragon fall to earth. The baby is born protected, but the dragon vows to haunt the family to the ends of the earth. And the never ending battle between good and evil beings. I think we all have faced some seven headed dragons in our life. Challenges that are daunting, overwhelming and impossible to overcome. There may be challenges in health, in finances, in family ties, - we may face challenges at our job, at school, even at home. Sometimes the dragon comes to us in social or political situations. Sometimes the dragon is inside of our heart and soul. Each of is fighting one or more battles that we never want to talk about. Perhaps it is comforting to know that on a cosmic level – we are not alone. There are dragons right here in our lives, but so are God’s angels determined to make sure that the goodness of God prevails through it all. The book of revelation tells us a story a great fiery red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven royal crowns on his heads. With a tail that can take out a third of the world with one swoop. With all of the intimidation that he can muster, he is determined to challenge us with all that he’s got. The good news of the story is that he loses – he has no power over us. Jesus Christ is our hero, our advocate, our champion, our savior. A baby child is born into a world of suffering- he lives, he grows, he teaches, he rises up, he dies, he lives again. He dies our death, so that we can live in his eternal light. That child, Jesus Christ, saves us all from the dragon. The dragon in all of his terror, can’t stop a love that is willing to live int eh trenches with and open the doors of eternity so that we can see. I guess the dragon is not in the nativity scene, because we don’t have to fight him, the angels have done it for us. The child has given us the gifts of hope, peace, joy and love. His innocence defeated evil, his peace defeated chaos, his love defeated the power of hatred and revenge. So I guess the nativity is before us just as it should be. Perhaps this night is just as it should be – The faithful, gathered to see the newborn King, to bask in the light, to tell a story, to sing a song, and to spread a transformational love. We gather to celebrate the birth of a child, who defeated all of lifes dragons before he has born. To God be the glory. Conclusion: Lighting the Candles Tonight, we will light candles. Not because the darkness is gone. But because the light cannot be stopped. The dragon is real. But the child is stronger. The manger tells us: God chose vulnerability over violence. Love over force. Light over fear. And that is why, even now, we sing: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.” Because the dragon did not win. The child did. Merry Christmas. Christmas Eve Prayer Now in the silence, whisper of joy which comes into every life. Now in the comfort of carols, sing of hope which takes away the despair which envelops us. Now in familiar words heard anew, speak to us of grace which is born into barren lives, of peace which is birthed in war’s shadowed fears. Now leaning next to those who have always been a part of us, and those from whom we have been apart, remind us of your heart which always accepts us, always welcomes us. Now in the love which is ours forever, draw us closer to your heart, so we can be surprised by wonder, swaddled in serenity, embraced by tenderness. Now touch us once again with Christmas, God in Community, Holy in One, as we join in praying as we are taught, (The Lord’s Prayer) Giving Offertory Doxology Prayer Communion Page 13 THE GREAT THANKSGIVING FOR CHRISTMAS EVE, DAY, OR SEASON This text is used by the pastor while the congregation uses A Service of Word and Table II (UMH 13–15) or III (UMH 15–16) or one of the musical settings (UMH 17–25). The pastor stands behind the Lord's table. The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. The pastor may lift hands and keep them raised. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty (almighty God), creator of heaven and earth. You created light out of darkness and brought forth life on the earth. You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life. When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast. You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God, and spoke to us through your prophets. In the fullness of time you gave your only Son Jesus Christ to be our Savior, and at his birth the angels sang glory to you in the highest and peace to your people on earth. And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn: The pastor may lower hands. Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. The pastor may raise hands. Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. As Mary and Joseph went from Galilee to Bethlehem and there found no room, so Jesus went from Galilee to Jerusalem and was despised and rejected. As in the poverty of a stable Jesus was born, so by the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit. The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the bread, or touch the bread, or lift the bread. As your Word became flesh, born of woman, on that night long ago, so, on the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: "Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the cup, or touch the cup, or lift the cup. When the supper was over he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said: "Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." The pastor may raise hands. And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith. Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the bread and cup. Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood. The pastor may raise hands. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet. Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father (God ), now and for ever. Amen. Copyright: “The Great Thanksgiving for Christmas Eve, Day or Season,” Copyright © 1972 The Methodist Publishing House; Copyright © 1980, 1981, 1985 UMPH; Copyright © 1986 by Abingdon Press; Copyright © 1987, 1989, 1992 UMPH. Used by permission.” Passing the Light Silent Night UMH 239 Benediction “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 others, To make music in the heart. ________________________________________