Christmas Eve - Be The Light

Welcome Lighting the Christ Candle Candle Lighting: The Christ Candle Our joy is complete. The light has come. On Christmas, we light the Christ candle. We have heard the message of John, who came to testify to the light. We have made ourselves ready. We are turning to God. We are changing our hearts and lives. We welcome and receive Christ with joy and gladness, and we commit ourselves to reflecting the light that he brings into the world. We seek to be a people prepared for the Lord Song "Angels We Have Heard on High" UMH #238 Call to Worship (Adapted from Malachi 3-4) Those who walk in darkness have seen a great light. On people living in a land of darkness, light has sprung forth. The light that shines on all people is coming into the world. The light is for all people. The darkness can't extinguish it. The light shines on us. We are witnesses to the light. You have made your people great. You have increased our joy. The light that shines on all people is coming into the world. Song "What Child is This" UMH #219 Scripture Reading John 1:1-14, John 3:22-30, Matthew 3:13-17 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without Him not one thing came into being... The Word became flesh and lived among us. John 1:1-3, 14 What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world... To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God. John 1:3-9, 12 May God bless this reading to our understanding, and to our living. Song "Joy to the World" UMH #246 Message Testifying to the Light MESSAGE - Witnesses, Testifying to the Light Christmas Eve Service. Isn't it wonderful. We gather each year, and we sing our favorite Christmas songs, and we hear the Christmas story, we light our candles at the end after sharing communion. It is beautiful. But the whole point of this service is to remind us about what the point of all of this really is. What is the whole point of this Christmas celebration? Well it's meant for us to try to understand the nature of the gift. Tomorrow morning, most of you will wake up and open up stockings and open up presents and stuff your faces afterwards. But here is the great fear. We can sit through four weeks of advent services, wishing the pastor would pick more Christmas Carols, listening to what may be useful in those four sermons, sitting through a children's program telling us about Christmas, and we can go through all of that, and not get it. What is the real meaning of Christmas, what is the real gift? Well the Gospel writers all want us to get this. They all tell a slightly different story. Mark, which was the first gospel written, skips the birth of Jesus. His telling of Jesus begins with Jesus at age 30, being baptized by John the Baptist. Mathew, Luke and John all tell the Christmas story. Luke tells it one way, he says, there was a census called. Mary was with child, and her and Joseph came to Bethlehem for the census and they were looking for a place to stay and a place for Mary to have the baby. Maybe a guest room in the family house, but there wasn't any room. But they had to stay in a stable. The first crib would be a feeding trough. Not anything like they expected I am sure. And then he says that an angel of the Lord came to the shepherds who were watching over their flocks by night, and he said, Behold I bring you good news of great joy for all the people, for unto you this day in the city of David is born a savior who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you, you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger. Now Matthew tells the story completely differently. He doesn't mention the Holy family traveling from Nazareth, he doesn't mention there not being any room in the inn. He doesn't mention shepherds. He talks of three wise men, who came from the East. And they came some time after the birth, and they brought gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. And John tells the story another completely different way. John wants us to understand the full meaning of Christmas. So I typically choose John to focus on each year. Listen to it again: "IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD!" What kind of Christmas story is this? What does that even mean? Well we will look at that tonight. In the beginning was the word. In Greek the word for WORD, was LOGOS You may have heard that word before. You see that word in our word Logic. You also have seen it if you have ever studies, geology, zoology, cosmetology, and of the ology at the end words. It means word, but more than that it means words about, or truth about, and even more it means more. In first century philosophy, the word logos meant basically the principle behind the universe, the intelligence behind the universe, it was a short way of meaning God. It meant, it was describing the one who thought up the universe. So we hear this in John. IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD. AND THE WORD (LOGOS) WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD. ALL THINGS CAME INTO BEING THROUGH HIM, AND WITHOUT HIM NOT ONE THING CAME INTO BEING.... AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US JOHN 1:1-3 & 14 So this is the first idea about logos, the animating principle behind everything in the universe, it is God. But then John goes on beyond philosophically saying in the beginning was the word, he takes it further, he says, the word became fresh and lived among us. The word became flesh, the source of everything in the universe, became flesh and lived among us. How scandalous to say. Another use of the word logos used by famous philosophers, is that it was one of the types of ARGUMENTS. So John is saying, God chose to make an argument to you, a case to you, by sending a child, Jesus. What was the argument? He was saying first of all, I AM. I exist. And this is what I am like. Look at this child and you will see what I am like, watch what he does and listen to what he says and you will know what I am like. And he didn't just want us to see what he is like, but he also wanted us to see what we are supposed to be like. So Jesus came to show us what it was to be the way and the truth and the life, to show us what it means to be a human being, created by the creator, a child of God, created in the image of God. And to show us that there is always hope for us, even when we screw up. As he hung on the cross, he said, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do. He came to us to tell us that no matter how bad you have been, God can and will forgive you. He is the God of second chances as we heard last year. And after his death, he was buried in the tomb and on the third day he was raised from the dead. And through his resurrection he was telling us that no matter how dark your days may be, no matter how terrible your circumstances, no matter how bleak it looks, the darkness, evil, hate, sin, even death, will never have the final word, there is always hope. This was the argument God was making. You know in ancient times, most people believed in God. Regardless of what he was called, they believed it. The had logic (that root word of logos again) they had logic to say all this life, nature, the stars in the heavens, how everything just seems to work together, even though it doesn't make any sense, where did that come from? How does it work? It was through logic that they said it couldn't just happen that way, there had to be a logos, an intelligence a creator behind it all. And God thought, maybe if I come to them, I can help them see, that I AM, and who I am, and what I want for them. He is the compelling argument. Christmas is his argument about His existence, and our existence and of hope. So John goes on. He says, WHAT HAS COME INTO BEING IN HIM WAS LIFE, AND THE LIFE WAS THE LIGHT OF ALL PEOPLE. THE LIGHT SHINES IN THE DARKNESS, AND THE DARKNESS DID NOT OVERCOME IT. JOHN 1:5 That imagery of light and darkness. To describe our lives, our experiences. Where light is good and beautiful and dark is scary and unknown. I mean going back to our early years, we were scared of the dark, some of us still are. And what do we do to help those fears, we buy our children what, a night light. Right? Going back to creation, God creates the universe, but it was dark. And God says what? He says let there be light. And then he separates the light from the darkness, brings light into our darkness. I mean sometimes our darkness it due to our own decisions. It brings us to a dark place because of bad decisions we make. Jesus goes to that cross after telling us over and over that there is forgiveness, he talks about that almost as much as anything. Sometimes our darkest times are our own fault. Sometimes, it's just part of our life. Life gives us crap sometimes. Circumstances of life, leave us into a dark place. Jesus was meant to show us it's okay. Jesus is saying I am with you no matter what, I am with you, I will never leave you, it may be dark right now, but it won't be dark forever. There is always light there is always hope because God came through Jesus to tell us that. This is what Christmas is about. The gospels say of Jesus, his name shall be called Emmanuel. Which means, God is with us. You just have to believe that, no matter how bad things are, God is with us. That God will deliver us from the darkness. Scripture says over and again, the people have seen a great light. Jesus is that light. So John continues by speaking of another John, John the Baptist. We have spent the last four weeks with John the Baptist. Listen to what the other John says of him. THERE WAS A MAND SENT FROM GOD, WHOSE NAME WAS JOHN. HE CAME AS A WITNESS TO TESTIFY TO THE LIGHT, SO THAT ALL MIGHT BELIEVE THROUGH HIM. HE HIMSELF WAS NOT THE LIGHT, BUT HE CAME TO TESTIFY THE LIGHT. JOHN 1:7 He came as a witness to the light, so that people might believe in the light through him. Listen to what Jesus says: "I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. WHOEVER FOLLOWS ME WILL NEVER WALK IN DARKNESS BUT WILL HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE." JOHN 8:12 So our task is to trust in him, to follow him, to allow his light to live in us and to illumine his light. That's what were gonna do here in a bit, when we pass the light, we are symbolically doing that. So Jesus as a grown man, told his disicples, you know I am here now, but I WON'T always be. I can do these things now, but will leave. And you will be left. And you will be the light of the world. Your task, much like John the Baptist, is to testify, bear witness to the light, let others see my light through you. Jesus told them "YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A CITY BUILT ON A HILL CANNOT BE HID.. LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE OTHERS, SO THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS AND GIVE GLORY TO YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN." MATTHEW 5:14-16 Listen. Listen carefully. This is your life purpose, your mission. Let God love you, and love God in return. And to walk in his light, and to let his light shine through you. We do that with our care and compassion and good deeds. We live in a world where most of humanity doesn't understand that this is our purpose. Many Christians don't understand this is our mission, so we are a world filled with darkness. But you are meant to be people who carry light into the world to PUSH BACK the darkness. And we can do that in big ways that light up a whole room or a community, or in small ways that just light up a single life. I want to give you examples of that. Adam Hamilton in the book we have been studying references a story on John McCain. For those of you haven't heard me talk before, I had the pleasure of meeting John McCain in my time in the Navy, I am a huge admirer of the late Senator. But during his time in the presidential election back in 2008, Adam referenced a story in Time Magazine, where John was asked about his faith. If you didn't know, John McCain was a prisoner of war, and he referenced that time as he talked of his faith. He described his time as a POW where guards would often tie him in a painful position with his arms behind his back and head between his knees and leave him for hours, sometimes overnight. Then he recounted a North Vietnamese soldier who would come in at night, and would put his finger to his lips to tell me to be quiet, and he then loosened the ropes and then before his shift ended the next morning would hurry in and tie him back up, without saying a word. He said this about it in that TIME Magazine article: he said: "A month or so later, on Christmas Day, I was standing in the dirt courtyard when I saw that same guard approach me. He walked up and stood silently next to me, not looking or smiling at me. Then he used his sandaled foot to draw a cross in the dirt. We stood wordlessly looking at the cross, remembering the true light of Christmas, even in the darkness of a Vietnamese prison camp." That article's title? A Light Amid the Darkness. Even in a North Vietnamese prison camp, this guard testified to the light with an act of kindness and a cross drawn in the dirt. That guard risked everything, surely, he would have been punished if not put to death himself for helping an American prisoner. He risked it all, just for a moment of relief for Senator McCain. But he didn't just want to do it, he wanted him to know why, and he made the sign of a cross in the dirt. That act profoundly impacted John McCain for the rest of his life. That is what Christianity looked like he thought. Alleviating suffering. We are meant to embody God. We incarnate the argument of who God is for the world. You've probably heard before that you are only Bible some people will ever read. You are the only light that some people will ever see. So the question is are you letting your light shine. When the people of this world, living in darkness, when they look at you, do they see the argument for the existence of God? Or life, or goodness, do they see that in you? We are called to be like John, witnessing TO the light, so that others may believe. You know every Christmas I talk about our giving, encouraging you to give so that our church may be the light. There are so many people in our back yard, who are in the darkness. There are homeless people right here. There are people starving, without clothing. People struggling with addiction, and suicidal thoughts. There are people in abusive situations. There is so much suffering, and so much darkness, and that's just here in our county. And yet we have very little impact as the church. Because our giving is just enough to keep doors open and lights on and pay staff. I pray someday, that we will be a church that is using it's resources not to give the pastor a raise, not to put cushions on pews or paint the church, but that is using the gifts we received, to make a difference, to shine the light of Christ to the world around us, so that others may know God. So, as you leave today, there is an offering basket back there OR AS you come for communion there are plates up on the front pews, I pray you might consider helping us to do that. I want to invite you to accept the light of Christ, so that we might share that light with the world, that together we can push back the darkness. Because that is the meaning of Christmas. God came to us in Jesus, to make an argument that He is, that he will never leave us, never forget us, that he will forgive us, that there is always hope, and that no matter how bad the darkness may seem, his light will ultimately prevail. How will you testify to the light this Christmas? How will you prepare the way for the Lord? Let's pray. And just whisper this prayer under your breath. Thank you, God, for loving me. Thank you for sending Jesus to be the light. Jesus, I want your light in me. Help me to walk in your light. Help me to reflect your light. And use me to push back the darkness. IN your holy name, Amen. Song The Great Thanksgiving The Invitation Tonight, heaven and earth meet. Tonight, a backyard shed is holy ground. Tonight, strangers gather as family. And so we come here, to the feast table of God, as Christ's invited friends, chosen and beloved. If you have been here often, if the memory of this table stretches back through all your Christmases, you are welcome. If you have been here rarely, if reverence for bread and juice is strange to you, you are welcome. If you have much faith, or little, or wouldn't know where to begin even if you wanted to believe, you are welcome here. For Christ does not hold himself back from us, but boldly enters every heart. Christ welcomes you to this table. That is all you need to know. The Great Thanksgiving The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. Let all mortal flesh keep silence, And with fear and trembling stand; Ponder nothing earthly minded, For with blessing in His hand, Christ our God to earth descendeth Our full homage to demand. We remember how Christ came- from the vast expanses of heaven to a world that barely made room for him fragile and vulnerable and tiny-we shudder to think of a child in a backyard shed in the cold of night with only the protection that the fierce love of his parents could give him. We remember how shepherds and kings knelt before him, before he could form words of blessing or raise his hand to heal how they adored him not for what he'd done but who he was God among us a miracle to hold in your hands. King of kings, yet born of Mary, As of old on earth He stood, Lord of lords, in human vesture, In the body and the blood; He will give to all the faithful His own self for heavenly food. We remember too, Christ of the upper room, gathered with his friends who seized a loaf of bread and a cup of wine as commonplace as anything and declared they too were a miracle a miracle to hold in your hands because they would be his signs for all eternity bread for new life new life rising out of the old and wine for forgiveness forgiveness unearned but complete. We remember with pain Christ's body broken, and with wild joy his rising again, and with faithful hope await his return. Rank on rank the host of heaven Spreads its vanguard on the way, As the Light of light descendeth From the realms of endless day, That the powers of hell may vanish As the shadows clear away. Light of the world, we give thanks that you came among us, with healing in your touch compassion in your voice and grace in your power. Darkness may seem so strong, but the slightest light disrupts it. Lord, Descend upon our world again, we pray, vanquish the powers of evil, sorrow, and despair shine for those who grieve tonight who are lost or lonely, ill or empty who dread the night and fear the morning. Shine in us, that we might shine for them that all shadows would clear away and we would meet each other in heaven's light, and call each other beloved as you do us. At His feet the six winged seraph, Cherubim with sleepless eye, Veil their faces to the presence, As with ceaseless voice they cry: Alleluia, Alleluia Alleluia, Lord Most High! Holy Spirit, presence of Christ in and among us, we praise you with our own Alleluias Rest yourself in these gifts of bread and cup that they may be sure signs of God's love for us, forgiveness and life abundant Unite us with all the saints in every time and place, all those who loved you and all those you loved Remind us that at this table are those we miss so dearly tonight those who are missing from our holiday tables but ever present at your heavenly banquet And most of all, unite us with Christ, the child of Bethlehem, that we might love as he loved so greatly that it changed the whole world. Alleluia, we sing tonight. Alleluia, Lord most high! And now we join together in the prayer Christ himself has taught us, saying 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. The Words of Institution Tonight we celebrate Christ, the Bread of Heaven, who, on the night before he was arrested for daring to love more boldly than others thought proper, took bread,
and after giving thanks to God, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, eat.
This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. In the same way he took the cup, saying:
This cup is the new covenant sealed in my blood, shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it,
do this in remembrance of me. And so, whenever we eat this bread and drink of this cup, we too proclaim the boldness of God's love, that will always come to us again. The feast is ready. All are welcome. Prayer after Communion Bread of heaven, let us not be unchanged by tonight. Let us not pass by the stable in silence; let us not leave the table empty. Dwell in our hearts, and shine in our lives, that we might know your deep, deep peace, and share it with the world. Fill us with your love, that we might walk hand in hand with you all our days. We pray in the holy name of the Christ-child, born for us this night. Amen. Spreading the Light (For those candles that are to be lit, turn your candle towards the lit candle and receive their light. As you sing, lift the light of Christ high. As you depart, walk out with your lit candle, a visible representation of your call to be the Light of the World in the world.) Carol of Light "Silent Night" UMH #239 Benediction The true light of all people is coming into the world. Go and be faithful witnesses to the light, reflecting God's love and sharing it with others. Amen Postlude