The Christmas Promise

Christmas Eve Isaiah 9:2-7 Year C Opening Song Welcome Home Lighting of the Advent and Christ candle Opening Prayer O wondrous God of the stars, we come tonight with breathless wonder to see the babe who will change our lives. We hear the names “Wonderful Counselor,” “Mighty God,” “Prince of Peace,” and we are in awe. You have touched the earth this night with your unconditional love. Touch us— touch our hearts and minds and souls. May we never tire of this story. May we never take it for granted. Make this night magical again. Amen. Song Hark the Herald Angels Sing UMH 240 Invitation to the Offering Come now and kneel before the Christ child. Bring all that you are and all that you have. Offer your gifts in wonder and surprise and awe. Offer your gifts in joy and delight. Prayer of Thanksgiving So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh, come, peasant, king, to own Him. The King of Kings salvation brings. Let loving hearts enthrone Him. This, this is Christ the King whom shepherds guard and angels sing. Haste, haste to bring him laud the Babe, the Son of Mary. Dear Lord, accept our gifts to your mission on earth. Amen. TELLING THE STORY (Please use leader and people instead of presider and assembly) Presider: The Light of Christ is born anew this night as your heart. Assembly: And also yours. Presider: In the beginning, Light shines in the darkness – Loving, Beautiful, Good – giving birth to all creation, the center, the heart, of unfolding life. The Light graces all creation as God’s presence. Assembly: The Light is Christ. Presider: The Light is the child of Mary and Joseph. Assembly: The Light is Love. Presider: The Light is a Jewish mystic, sage, and prophet. Assembly: The Light is Beautiful. Presider: The Light is life in the midst of death. Assembly: The Light is Good. Presider: May Christ, the Light, reveal to all who would see the wisdom and wonder of God’s boundless love. All: Amen. We sit. Scripture Isaiah 9:2-7 [a] The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. On those living in a pitch-dark land, light has dawned. 3 You have made the nation great; you have increased its joy. They rejoiced before you as with joy at the harvest, as those who divide plunder rejoice. 4 As on the day of Midian, you’ve shattered the yoke that burdened them, the staff on their shoulders, and the rod of their oppressor. 5 Because every boot of the thundering warriors, and every garment rolled in blood will be burned, fuel for the fire. 6 A child is born to us, a son is given to us, and authority will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be vast authority and endless peace for David’s throne and for his kingdom, establishing and sustaining it with justice and righteousness now and forever. The zeal of the LORD of heavenly forces will do this. Song Away in the Manger UMH 217 (verses 1, 3) Christmas Message Living By the Light Jesus Christ is the promise of Christmas. Steve Thomason is a Lutheran Pastor who tells the story of a promise that his older brother made to him as a child. He was a third grader and his brother was a junior in high school – you can predict how this promise will go. One year his mother was making his favorite cookies, thumbprint cookies. He loved the jelly inside of the thumbprint. So his brother promised him cookies if he went upstairs and cleaned his brother’s room and did all of his chores. Young Steve went upstairs and did the best that he could to make his brother happy. After he finished, he ran downstairs, his brother met him at the bottom of the steps with his hands behind his back. Steve waited in anticipation – and when his brother revealed his hand – sure enough there were thumbprint cookies. His brother laughed when he revealed that that the cookies had no jelly in them. Steve grew up and never forgot the so called promise that his brother made. Life is full of promises. The bible is full of promises. Christianity is full of promises Christmas is full of promises. Our scripture in Isaiah is a promise. Isaiah promises that the people who walk in darkness have seen a great light. People who were living in oppression and frustration will see freedom, as a leader is born who will lead them into a better life. This fortells the birth of Jesus. Christmas is full of promises. Christmas promises peace, joy, love and hope. Beautiful words that we hear every Christmas – but do you ever wonder if they will be fulfilled? Christmas eve in worship is perfect. But as soon as you watch the next newscast, we will be reminded that Christmas is not full of peace, joy, hope and love. Just last night I watched in horror as a shooting in Oakbrook mall occurred. All I could think of was being a parent sending my child Christmas shopping alone for the first time, only to hear that the mall was in lock down. I think that with all that is happening in our lives today – we can wonder if the Christmas promise even matters any more. And every year at Christmas we are reminded of the promises of Isaiah. It was a promise to the people of the time, but it was also a promise to the world. – that the current suffering would end. That promise manifested itself again thousands of years later when a baby was born in the manger. The promise manifest itself today – when we continue to have faith, even in the midst of a pandemic. We continue to hope that things will get better. Isaiah says that a son will be born and his name will be Immanuel – God is with us. he shall be called wonderful counselor, mighty god, eternal father, prince of peace. He shall be a savior. His name is Jesus. Does the Christmas promise still matter today – I think that is up to each of us. His Name at the Top _ missionary A Payne I had the nicest Christmas list, The longest one in town, Till Daddy looked at it and said, "You'll have to cut it down." I knew that what he said was true Beyond the faintest doubt, But was amazed to hear him say, "You've left your best friend out." And so I scanned my list again, And said, "Oh, that's not true!" But Daddy said, "His name's not there, That Friend who died for you." And then I clearly understood, 'Twas Jesus that he meant; For Him who should come first of all I hadn't planned a cent! I'd made a Christmas birthday list, And left the Saviour out! But, oh, it didn't take me long To change the list about. And though I've had to drop some names of folks I like a lot, My Lord must have the most---because His name is at the top! As long as we remember to keep Christ name at the top of our list, then God’s promises will come true. Is Christmas just a day in our life, or is our life contained in this day? Christ has to come first in all that we do, in order for the Christmas promise to make a difference for us all. If Christ is present in our hearts – then the promise will be fulfilled in the world. I leave you with the words of this poem May the Christmas GIFTS remind us of God’s greatest gift, His only Son. * May the Christmas CANDLES remind us of Him who is the “Light of the world.” * May the Christmas TREES remind us of another tree upon which he died. * May the Christmas CHEER remind us of Him who said, “Be of good cheer.” * May the Christmas FEAST remind us of Him who is “the Bread of Life.” * May the Christmas BELLS remind us of the glorious proclamation of His birth. * May the Christmas CAROLS remind us of the son the angels sang, “Glory to God in the Highest!” * May the Christmas SEASON remind us in every way of Jesus Christ our King! Let us celebrate the fact that the Christmas promise still lives today. Pastoral Prayer God of bright and shining stars, we come this evening with the reminiscences of the old, old story in our hearts. For many here, the story has been heard numerous times, flooding their lives with warmth and love; For others the story is new, surprising, causing wonder and surprise. All around us are symbols and reminders of the miraculous Birth. We see the greens which remind us of your eternal presence and love for us. The candles shed their glowing light helping us to remember the many ways in which you have brightened our lives and offered light to our journey. The colors, the music, and aromas, the people, invite us again into your wonderful presence in the world in the birth of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. In this world in which your holy land is in such turmoil, shed your light anew, that your healing Love may bring Peace and Hope to people in conflict. We ask that you protect all those who are in harm’s way; all those who live lives of anguish, poverty, oppression. We ask your loving presence to be with those who refuse to believe in you; who see your word through the church as a tradition, but see very little impact in their daily lives. Let the Light of Jesus Christ penetrate that darkness of alienation and bring Hope and Peace to all your people. May the light of the stars which sparkled in those dark skies, again illuminate our lives, guiding, healing, leading us to you, Blessed God.. As we gather in this time and place, hearing the story of the birth, remind us again that you are born continually in our lives. In gratitude we offer our praise and our love to you. AMEN. Invitation to Communion This is a magical night. God-with-us has come to touch our world, our lives. God-with-us has come to bring us out of darkness into a glorious light. God-with-us invites us now to come to the table, believing in the promises of God fulfilled tonight. Here we hear angels, and see shepherds, and are transformed by a baby. Here love is offered, and love is found, in the sharing of bread and cup. Here we find our journey’s end and its beginning. Communion – page 13 PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION We are filled with joy for we have heard good news of great joy. We are filled with love for we have tasted the sign of God's great love. We are filled with hope for the angels still sing in our world and there is a Light for us to follow. Passing of the Light Silent Night – UMH 239 Benediction May the light that began at creation, continued through the witness of the prophets, and has come to fullness at the Birth of Jesus Christ , be in your hearts and minds this evening. As you go from this place may your spirits be filled with joy and hope; for God’s precious Light has been given for you. Go in Peace and know that God’s peace always goes with you. AMEN. Additional illustrations Slow Down and Welcome Christmas “The Christmas spirit comes on me more slowly than it used to,” writes Joan Mills, a mother of three children, in her book Christmas Coming. “But it comes, it comes. Middle-aged (most of the time) and jaded (some of the time), I complain of plastic sentiment, days too brief, bones too weary. Scrooge stands at my elbow muttering, “Bah!” and “Humbug!” as I total the bills. But when I acknowledge the child I once was (and still am, somewhere within), the spirit of Christmas irresistibly descends.” “For Christmas is truly for children those we have, and those we have been ourselves. It is the keeping-place for memories of our age in lovely ritual and simplicities. “I’m tired,” I say fretfully. “There’s just too much to do! Must we make so much of Christmas?” “Yes!” they say flatly. “But bayberry, pine and cinnamon scent the shadowed room. Snow lies in quiet beauty outside. I hear someone downstairs turning on the tree lights while another admires. I lie very still in the dark. From the church in the village on the far side of the woods, carillon notes fall faint and sweet on winter clear air. “Silent night,” my heart repeats softly. Holy night. All is calm All is bright. “As I take the stairs lightly going down, no bones weary now, my whole self is thankful; once again, I am flooded with the certainty (call it faith) that there’s goodness in the world, and love endures.” Leonard Sweet, adapting Joan Mills, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com Pick Up the Baby Sam Levenson tells a wonderful story about the birth of his first child. The first night home the baby would not stop crying. His wife frantically flipped through the pages of Dr. Spock to find out why babies cry and what to do about it. Since Spock’s book is rather long, the baby cried a long time. Grandma was in the house, but since she had not read the books on childrearing, she was not consulted. The baby continued to cry. Finally, Grandma could be silent no longer. “Put down the book,” she told her children, “and pick up the baby.” Good advice. Put down the book and pick up the baby. Spend time with your children. Particularly at Christmastime. We have the mistaken notion that good parents give their children lots of things. Wrong. In a survey done of fifteen thousand schoolchildren the question was asked, “What do you think makes a happy family?” When the kids answered, they didn’t list a big house, fancy cars, or new video games as the source of happiness. The most frequently given answer was “doing things together.” Notice the joy with which Mary and Elizabeth greeted the news of their pregnancy. King Duncan, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com After unwrapping all of his presents, a little boy was asked, “Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas?” He thought a moment and said, “No, but then, it’s not my birthday.” Source: The Speaker’s Quote Book, Roy B. Zuck

Glory to the Newborn King

Christmas Eve Service December 24, 2012 Isaiah 9:2-7 Luke 2:1-20 Year C The expectations of the couple waiting for a baby I am sure when the couple found out that they were expecting, they were overjoyed. When they discovered that their first born would be a boy, they waited in anticipation. And as they raised him, they already knew that he was destined for greatness. They never knew that the government would be on his shoulders, they never dreamed that some people would call him wonderful counselor. They never guessed that people would celebrate his birthday the world over. Obama was a special baby His birthday, August 4th is certainly a date that lives on in history, and Barack Obama has certainly achieved great goals by becoming the most powerful leader in the world. But of course he is not the baby that we gather to honor on this special night. Every baby is special The coming of every new baby into a family is a wonderful occasion. Every child who comes into the world – is a special child in the eyes of God. Every child has a special purpose for their time on earth. Jesus is more than a baby in a manger The Lord Jesus Christ whom we exalt at Christmas is not just a baby in a manger. He is not a character in a children’s story. He is far more. The first time he came, he came veiled in the form of a child. The next time He comes, and we believe it will be soon, He will come unveiled, and it will be abundantly and immediately clear to all the world just who He really is. The first time He came, a star marked his arrival. The next time He comes, the whole heavens will roll up like a scroll, and all the stars will fall out of the sky, and He himself will light it. The first time He came, wise men and shepherds brought Him gifts. The next time He comes, He will bring gifts, rewards for His own. The first time He came, there was no room for Him. The next time he comes, the whole world will not be able to contain His glory. The first time He came, only a few attended His arrival – some shepherds and some wise men. The Next time He comes, every eye shall see Him. The first time He came as a baby. Soon He will come as sovereign King and Lord. (Autoillustrator.com, CHRISTMAS) We should all know the story of salvation On this night we retell the story of Jesus’ birth because it is an important story for us. It is a story that combines heaven and earth, it is a story where the rich and the poor come together, where darkness in our lives encounters the light, where our despair can meet our hope, and we can know that whatever challenges we have in life, if we have God in our lives, they come to make us stronger, not to hold us down. It is important to tell this story of salvation each and every year, because sadly there are so many people in our world who don’t know the story – and who don’t know the real gifts of Christmas for us. A Russian Orphan’s version of the story In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and (based on biblical principles) in the public schools. They were invited to teach at prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments, and a large orphanage. About 100 boys and girls who had been abandoned, abused, and left in the care of a government-run program occupied the orphanage. A Christmas story from their experience has been circling the globe since 1994. It was nearing the holiday season, time for our orphans to hear, for the first time, the traditional story of Christmas. We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem. Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger. Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened. Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word. Completing the story, we gave the children three pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was given a small paper square cut from yellow napkins I brought with me. No colored paper was available in the city. Following the instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw. Small squares of flannel, cut from a worn-out nightgown an American lady was throwing away when she left Russia, were used for the baby’s blanket. A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States. The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if they needed any help. All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat. He looked to be about 6 years old and had finished his project. As I looked at the little boy’s manger, I was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger. Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two He looked to be about 6 years old and had finished his project. As I looked at the little boy’s manger, I was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger. Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger. Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at this completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously. For such a young boy who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related the happenings accurately—until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger. Then Misha started to ad-lib. He made up his own ending to the story as he said, “And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay.” “I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don’t have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. But I told him I couldn’t, because I didn’t have a gift to give him like everybody else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I keep him warm, that would be a good gift. “So I asked Jesus, ‘If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift?’” “And Jesus told me, ‘If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody every gave me.’” “So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and he told me I could stay with him—for always.” As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed. The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him; someone who would stay with him—FOR ALWAYS. This story came by email with no source given. Isaiah 9 says that a child has been born just for us, just for our lives, just for our struggles, just for our salvation. Obamas time will come and go, but Jesus time will be forever. His gifts are for us and for all who come after us. And if we are able to receive those gifts, we will stay with Jesus forever. Jesus came to the earth to be a ransom for many who chose to live in sin, to provide an example of what it means to live a righteous life, to bring salvation to our dark lives, and more importantly to give us eternal life. How do we accept that gift? What does it mean to us tonight. The baby on the alter You can see that I have found a baby to put on the altar, to represent the newborn king coming into our lives. I am going to have to find someone to build me a manger for the baby. But I put him in a moses basket. And a receiving blanket instead of swaddling clothes. The legend of the swaddling clothes Of course the swaddling blanket it a lot bigger that a receiving blanket. There is a tradition that when a family was traveling – the swaddling blanket was made out of gauze. The gauze was used to mend the wounds of those who were hurt. If someone died, they could also be wrapped in gauze. It was used to take care of the community. Lay your burdens on the child Luke says that the baby was wrapped in swaddling clothes, scripture eventually says that he was bruised for our iniquity. He took our wounds, our hurts, our sins upon himself, so that we can heal. Tonight, I am going to invite you to once again write your hurts, your struggles, your wounds on a piece of swaddling cloth and put it in the basket. Knowing that there is no pain that Jesus cannot bear for us, there is no healing that God cannot do. As you put the piece of cloth in his bed, no that God hears your prayers, and that this baby has to the power to heal and make life all better. Let us listen to this carol during this time of prayer… THIS BABY IS FOR YOU Pastor and author Richard Foster writes about genuine, joyous giving. "Giving with a glad and generous heart has a way of rooting out the tough old miser within us. Just the very act of letting go of money or some other treasure does something great within us."1 Such genuine, joyous giving awakens us to the true message of Christmas and reminds us of God's free, unconditional gift of Jesus to us. God generosity toward us in Christ opens us up to new possibilities of being generous with others. It was like a beautiful tale from a storybook. The young couple had found each other and began their marriage together full of hope and anticipation. It all seemed so perfect. They were happy, with good jobs, a nice home, and a loving relationship. In time, they celebrated the incredible joy of the birth of their first and only child. They were loving, caring, and devoted parents. Life seemed rich and complete. They were a family. Then the unthinkable happened. The beautiful little baby who had filled their lives with so much joy died suddenly. Their lives turned from hope and joyful anticipation to numbing emptiness and pain. They were devastated and agonized over their loss and wondered what they could have done to prevent such a senseless tragedy. Life no longer seemed complete. Instead of the excitement of new beginnings they were consumed by endings, darkness instead of light, as they struggled to hold their fragile love together. It all seemed hopeless until a simple knock on their door changed their lives forever. There at the door, stood a Native man holding a small baby. He reached forward, handing the child to the couple. "Here, this baby is for you," he said and then he left. I still feel my tears as I think about th It all seemed hopeless until a simple knock on their door changed their lives forever. There at the door, stood a Native man holding a small baby. He reached forward, handing the child to the couple. "Here, this baby is for you," he said and then he left. I still feel my tears as I think about the young Native mother who gave her own baby to fill the lives of the grieving couple. Native people call it custom adoption. For me, it is much more. It is the ultimate gift of love. Christmas is our celebration of God's ultimate gift of love. God saw our pain, our devastation, our hopelessness, our brokenness, and our fragile love and he loved us so much that "...he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Jesus is God's ultimate gift. "Here, this baby is for you."2 "For a child has been born for us, a son given to us." Jesus, the greatest gift of Christmas--for you, for me, for everyone. Amen. (1 Cited from: Clergy Talk, December 1998 (Sequim, WA), p. 11. 2 Cited from: Lee Barry, "This Baby is For You," in: Come Let Us Adore Him: LAMP 1995 Advent Devotions, p. 30. From a sermon by Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson, Christ is the Greatest Gift, 12/20/2010 )