Christmas Eve (Ashtabula)

Welcome

Friends, welcome to Ashtabula First United Methodist Church. Tonight is a night unlike any other. It is the night where we hold our breath in anticipation. Whether you have traveled miles to be here with family, or you walked across the street; whether you are filled with joy tonight or carrying a heavy heart—you are welcome here.

The shopping is done. The wrapping is finished. The hustle is behind us. Now, it is time to be still. It is time to receive the Gift that changes everything.

Opening Prayer

Let us pray. Holy God, the night is dark, but You are the Light. We come into this sanctuary seeking the peace that the world cannot give. Quiet our minds. Open our hearts. As we hear the ancient story and sing the familiar songs, may we be surprised again by grace. May the Christ child be born in us anew tonight. In His holy name, we pray. Amen.

Prelude

Lighting of the Advent Candle

We have journeyed through Advent, seeking redemption. We lit the candle of Peace, reminding us that Christ’s peace is not just the absence of conflict, but the fire that burns away our fear. We lit the candle of Hope, declaring that hope is the destination of our faith, keeping us from wandering aimlessly in the dark.

We lit the candle of Love, celebrating the beautiful mystery that Love came down and put on flesh to walk among us. We lit the candle of Joy, defying the 'shadows of things that may be' with the deep assurance that no matter what tomorrow brings, Christ is already there.

Tonight, the circle is complete. We light the Christ Candle. The Light of the World has come to banish the darkness of our past, present, and future. As the angels promised, 'Do not be afraid.' The Savior is born.

Prayer: Gracious God, ground us in hope, calm our fears with peace, surround us with love, and fill us with joy. Be born in us tonight. Amen."

Hymn “O come All Ye Faithful” UMH #234

Scripture Reading Isaiah 9:2-7

Isaiah 9:2–7 NIV

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Hymn “the First Noel” UMH #245

Scripture Luke 2:1-7

Luke 2:1–7 NIV

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Hymn “What Child Is This” UMH #219

Anthem “Still, Still, Still”

Scripture Reading Luke 2:8-14

Luke 2:8–14 (NIV) And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Invitation to the Offering

The shepherds didn't have much, but they brought themselves. The Wise Men brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Tonight, we have received the greatest gift of all—God with us. In gratitude for that gift, let us offer our gifts and tithes to the work of the church, so that this Good News can continue to be shared in Ashtabula and around the world. The ushers will now come forward.

Offertory

Prayer

Holy and Generous God, we offer these gifts to You tonight—not just our money, but our hearts. We ask that You bless them and use them to bring light to dark places, hope to the hopeless, and bread to the hungry right here in our community.

We also lift up our neighbors to You this holy night. We pray for those who are celebrating with full houses, and we pray for those whose tables have an empty chair this year. We pray for the sick, the lonely, and those who feel forgotten. Remind them that they are seen and loved by the Good Shepherd. We pray for peace on earth—not just in our hymns, but in our streets and in our homes.

Bind us together as Your family, as we join our voices to pray the prayer that Jesus taught us, saying:

The Lord’s Prayer

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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Scripture Reading Luke 2:15-20

Luke 2:15–20 NIV

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Hymn “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” UMH #218

Anthem “Listen”

Homily “The Shepherds Secret”

I. The Silence Before the Song

We know this scene by heart, don’t we? If we close our eyes, we can almost paint the picture from memory.

The dark, rolling hills of Judea. The heavy curtain of a December sky, perhaps pierced by a few cold, distant stars. The sleepy shuffling of sheep. And the shepherds themselves—huddled around a small, crackling fire, trying to stay warm against the biting wind that sweeps up from the valley.

Usually, when we imagine these men, we cast them as the outcasts of the ancient world. We picture them as rough, uneducated men living on the absolute fringe of polite society. We imagine them smelling of wet wool and woodsmoke, hands calloused from labor, faces weathered by the sun. And all of that is likely true—they were humble men. They were not princes; they were not priests in silk robes.

But tonight, I want to invite you to look a little closer at who these men might have been. Because there is a fascinating historical insight—a piece of the puzzle often lost to time—that suggests these weren't just random shepherds. And this wasn't just any flock grazing on a random hillside.

II. The Watchtower in the Fields

Historians and scholars of ancient Jewish life tell us that the fields just outside of Bethlehem were not ordinary pasturelands. They were home to a specific, significant structure known as Migdal Eder, or the "Tower of the Flock."

Picture a sturdy, two-story stone watchtower standing guard over the fields. It was a landmark mentioned all the way back in the book of Genesis and the prophecies of Micah. From the top floor, watchmen could scan the horizon for wolves, thieves, or predators that might threaten the herd.

But the bottom floor? That space was often used for something much more delicate. It served as a birthing room.

And the sheep raised in these specific fields, under the shadow of this tower, were not destined for the wool market. They weren't being raised for the butcher shop in the village. Historically, the flocks around Migdal Eder were special. They were the Levitical flocks—the lambs raised specifically for the Temple sacrifices in Jerusalem, just six miles down the road.

Suddenly, the picture changes, doesn't it? These men huddled around the fire weren't just keeping sheep; they were keeping a promise. They were employed by the Temple. Their job was heavy with responsibility. The law of Moses was strict: a lamb offered to God for the Passover had to be perfect. It had to be "without spot or blemish."

Imagine the pressure of that job. In a world full of sharp rocks, thorny bushes, and predators, their task was to raise a creature that remained absolutely perfect. They understood the high cost of holiness. They knew that God required an offering that was pure.

III. The Angelic Interruption

So there they sat, watching over these sacred flocks, likely discussing the same things we discuss—the weather, their families, the troubles of the world under Roman occupation. It was an ordinary night of duty.

Until the sky tore open.

Scripture tells us "the glory of the Lord shone around them." It wasn't just a light; it was the heavy, terrifying weight of God's presence breaking into the mundane. And like anyone would be, they were terrified.

But listen closely to what the angel says to them. The angel gives them the "Good News of great joy," but then he gives them a set of instructions. He gives them a sign. And a sign is only useful if the person receiving it knows how to read it.

The angel says:

"This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

To you and me, that sounds like a sweet Christmas card. A baby in a blanket. But to a Levitical shepherd, standing in the shadow of the Tower of the Flock, those words would have hit like a thunderclap.

IV. The Secret Code

There is an old rabbinical tradition that sheds light on this moment. It suggests that when one of these special "Temple Lambs" was born at Migdal Eder, the shepherds had a specific protocol. To ensure the newborn lamb didn't thrash about on the stone floor and injure itself—rendering it blemished and unfit for the Temple—they would immediately wrap it.

They would swaddle the lamb in strips of cloth. And often, they would place it in the clean, stone depression of a manger to keep it safe and calm until it could be inspected by the priests.

Do you see the connection?

When the angel said, "You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger," he wasn't just giving directions. He was speaking their professional language. He was giving them a code they understood in their bones.

They didn't need a GPS. They didn't need a map. When they heard "swaddled and in a manger," they knew exactly what they were looking for. They were looking for a Sacrificial Lamb.

V. The Journey to the Manger

Scripture says they went "with haste." I imagine them running, stumbling over the rocky ground, breathless not just from the exertion, but from the sheer awe of the message. They left the 99 behind to find the One.

They made their way into the village, likely to a cave or a stable very much like the bottom floor of their own watchtower. And there, amidst the smell of hay and the sounds of animals, they found Him.

They found Mary, exhausted but glowing. They found Joseph, watchful and protective. And they found the Baby.

Imagine that moment of realization. These rough men, who had spent their lives inspecting animals for spots and blemishes, leaned over the manger. And what did they see?

They saw an infant, wrapped tight in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough. It looked exactly like the work of their own hands.

To anyone else, it was just a baby. But to them? It was the completion of everything they had ever done. The Cradle was connected to the Cross. They realized, perhaps with tears streaming down dusty faces, that God hadn't sent a warrior to conquer Rome. He hadn't sent a judge to condemn the world.

He had sent a Lamb.

They were looking at the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."

VI. The Application for Us

Why does this matter to us tonight, sitting in our comfortable pews in [Amboy/Ashtabula]?

It matters because it tells us who God is. The God of the Universe didn't choose to reveal His son first to the High Priests in Jerusalem. He didn't reveal Him to the scholars or the kings. He revealed Him to the workers who knew what it meant to care for a lamb.

[For the Rural Heart] He revealed Himself to people who knew the mess of the barn. People who knew that life is fragile and needs to be handled with gentle hands. God chose the humble to hold the Holy.

[For the Searching Heart] And He revealed Himself as a Lamb because He wants us to know that we can approach Him. We don't have to be afraid of a lamb. We don't have to clean ourselves up to visit a stable.

The shepherds spent their lives trying to produce something "perfect" for God. It was hard work. It was impossible work. And tonight, the message is that the work is done. You don't have to be perfect to come to this altar. You don't have to have a "blemish-free" record.

The Perfect Offering has already been given. The Lamb has arrived.

VII. Benediction

So tonight, as we leave this place and go out into the cold darkness of our own silent night, carry this secret with you.

The sign the angels gave wasn't just for the shepherds. It is for you. God has come into the world, swaddled in our humanity, vulnerable enough to be held, and strong enough to save.

Whether you feel like a rough shepherd on a dark hill, or a wise person traveling from afar, the invitation is the same: Come to the manger. Behold the Lamb. And go in peace.

Amen.

Service Of Light

(The sanctuary lights are dimmed)

Pastor: "The shepherds returned to their fields, but they carried the light of that night with them forever. Tonight, we share that light with one another."

(The Pastor lights a candle from the Christ Candle. The ushers come forward to receive the light.)

Pastor: "As the light is passed to you, please remember: always tip the unlit candle into the flame of the lit candle. Keep the lit candle upright. This ensures we pass the light safely to our neighbor."

(The light is passed throughout the congregation as the music begins.)

Hymn “Silent Night” UMH #239

Benediction

As you go from this place, remember: the darkness is not the end of the story. The Light has come. Go in the confidence of the shepherds who saw the Lamb. Go in the peace of Mary who held the Promise. And go in the love of the Father who sent the Son. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Merry Christmas!

Postlude