Christmas Eve 11 P.M. Service

Intro

I have always had a fondness of the Christmas Eve Candlelight service, and I think I know why. I think it is because it is the darkest part of the night

And that is why the candle shine so bright, it is because there is such a vast darkness

This is now the 4th service that this church has done this week with candles at the end of each one, the same candles, we even refill the oil on them and yet they burn brighter because it is the darkest time that we worship together.

We are Weary

As we gather on this sacred Christmas Eve, we find ourselves in a world that, for many, feels burdened and weary. The challenges we face, both individually and collectively, cast shadows that sometimes seem too dark to even come face to face with.

[Pause, allowing a moment for reflection]

The weariness is palpable—the weight of a world grappling with uncertainties, division, and the daily struggles that mark our human journey.—a world longing for something more, something transformative. And as we stand on the threshold of this midnight hour, I invite you to envision a different scene.

What would it look like if in this very room in this very moment hope and joy were to enter?

What would it look like if in this next day we saw a light enter a dark world?

What would it even look like to rejoice as a weary world?

Scripture

Friend’s these are exactly the questions that God’s great story is an answer to:

John 1:1 NRSV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

In this verse we find ourselves at the very beginning of the story of Creation

And at that moment was the pressence of the eternal word

This is not just some lofty theological concept that seminarians bicker over, it is at that moment that God was incarnate in a weary world

Incarnate - God is here with us

John 1:3 NRSV

3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being

John 1:14 NRSV

14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

God is with us

The word became flesh and dwelt (tabernacled) among us (set up camp with us)

We are able to witness in a direct way the glory of god

Emmanuel means God is....help me out....(with us)

Emmanuel does not mean God was with us, or God used to be with us. It means that God is with us now

Not only does Christ set up tent set up shop next to the people, but God in God’s own self wants to shine/work through you

Light

John 1:4 NRSV

4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.

John 1:5 NRSV

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

God’s light shines in our darkness

The darkness of ignorance, and prejudice, and superstition

God’s light shines into

The darkness of fear, of loneliness, and feelings of inadequacy, God’s light shines into

And yes even the darkness of grief, and anger, and guilt God’s light shines into those as well

What does it mean that the weariness will not snuff out the joy

The God of the universe see’s our weariness because the God of the universe feels our weariness.

God is not far off but present and participatory

Often I think we are primed by our culture to ask the question what we ought to do to get close to God?

The scandal of the Gospel is not what we have to do to get close to God, the Scandal of the Gospel is that God gets close to us

So close in fact that God’s light shines through us

And though we are in a weary world we have reason to rejoice because God is close to us.

Benediction

Know that you carry God’s light with you wherever you go. May you go forth from this place with the boldness and the courageousness to allow God’s light to shine through you so that others can know of God’s love. Feel free to take as time as you need in this place, I invite you when you are ready to depart in silence.

Communion Liturgy

Lewis

On this special night of nights once again we celebrate the Creative Mystery we name God. On this night God's creativity and present-ness was seen as one of us: a baby needy and naked, wrapped in a blanket in a manger, born into exile,

to proclaim the good news to the poor, and to let the broken people go free.

All Holy, holy, holy, vulnerable God, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God. Hosanna in the highest.

Mary:

On this Christmas Eve, we remember what our tradition says: at the end of a journey, among friends, gathered round a table... Jesus took bread, said a blessing, broke it and said, 'This is the bread of life, given to sustain the people of the world'. Bread broken After they had eaten, he poured the cup of the New Covenant and said: 'This is the cup of life, given to sustain the people of the world'. (Peter Lawson/jc)

All Let us share this cup in solidarity with all the peoples of the world, so peace and justice may prevail everywhere.

Let us take the bread together Let us drink the Cup together

After Communion

Lauren:

Let us give thanks for this sharing in community. May it sustains us in our desire to be followers of Jesus in our own time and place. Let us acknowledge that partaking of the bread and wine joins us to a great company of people throughout history and around the present world. And let it renew our sense of belonging to this fellowship.

All May true knowledge increase in our minds. May compassion increase in our hearts.

May there be energy and strength for good actions that serve a suffering world. And may peace be our portion and the portion of all who live on this small planet which is our human home. (Robert V Jones)