Blue Christmas - 2018

Welcome to our Blue Christmas.

Our hope tonight is that each one of us would take time to remember, to mourn, to reflect and honour the memories, the love, the people that we miss especially in this Christmas season. For some, the grief is fresh, close to the surface, tears barely held back. For others, the pain is running deeper, a memory that comes back year after year. Your tears are welcome here. You are safe here. Jesus came to us in the dark. He came to us in the chaos. To bring peace, to be comfort, to give us hope. Our prayer tonight is that in the midst of our sorrow, we would find hope, peace, love and yes even joy. This is necessary work for our souls. And you are among fellow travellers that share in the struggle. And Christ is with us as well. For he is Immanuel. God with us.

So there will be moments where you can join in with the readings...your parts will be marked in bold. If you are able, you can participate with us. If it is too much for you, feel free to opt out. There is no pressure to go through the motions or to engage with those things that might be too difficult for you to do honestly this evening. We merely want to create a space where we can be together in this moment as we anticipate the coming of our Messiah. You can feel free to sing along with the pre-recorded carols, or just let them wash over you. If you choose not to pray out loud, that is ok too...allow these words to work in your hearts tonight. We begin with the Word.

Slide 2

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

All things were made by God, and without God nothing came to be.

What came to be through God was life, and this life was the light of the world.

The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

O Holy Night

Slides 3-10 (No blank slide)

O holy night

The stars are brightly shining

It is the night of our dear Savior's birth

Slide 4

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

Till he appear'd and the soul felt its worth

Slide 5

A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn

Slide 6

Fall on your knees

And hear the angel voices

O night divine

O night when Christ was born

Slide 7

Slide 7

Truly He taught us to love one another

His law is love and His gospel is peace

Slide 8

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother

And in His name all oppression shall cease

Slide 9

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we

With all our hearts we praise His holy name

Slide 10

Fall on your knees

And hear the angel voices

O night divine

O night when Christ was born

O night divine

O night divine

Our First Reading:

Slide 11

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

Slide 12

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

What do workers gain from their toil?

Slide 13

I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

NIV

(All read the boldface verses together)

Slide 14

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Why are you so far from helping me, so far from the words of my groaning?

O my God, I cry by day but you do not answer,

and by night, but I find no rest.

Slide 15

In you, our ancestors trusted. They trusted and you delivered them.

It was you who brought me from the womb,

you who kept me safe on my mother's breast.

Since my mother bore me, you have been my God.

Slide 16

Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.

God does not despise the affliction of the afflicted.

God does not hide from me.

When I cry to God, God hears me.

Thanks be to God.

Slide 17

(All read together)

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

he refreshes my soul.

Slide 18

He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Slide 19

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

O Come O Come Emmanuel

Slides 20-26 End with blank slide

Litany of Remembrance

(The first candle is lit)

Slide 27

We light this first candle to remember those whom we have loved and lost.

We pause to remember clearly, their faces, their voices, their bodies.

We embrace and give thanks for the memories that bind them to us in this season of expectation,

when all Creation waits for the Light.

We remember them with love. May God's eternal love surround them.

(A period of silent reflection)

Slide 28

(The second candle is lit)

We light this second candle to remember the pain of loss:

loss of relationships, loss of trust, loss of jobs, loss of health, loss of faith, the loss of joy.

We acknowledge and embrace the pain of the past, O God, and we offer it to You,

asking that into our wounded hearts and open hands You will place the gift of peace, shalom.

We remember that through You all things are possible.

Refresh, restore, renew us, O God, and lead us into Your future.

(A period of silent reflection)

Slide 29

(The third candle is lit)

We light this third candle to remember ourselves this Christmas time.

We pause and remember the past weeks, months, and for some of us years, that have been heavy with our burdens.

We accept and lay before you, God, the sharpness of memory, the sadness and grief, the hurt and fear, the anger and pain.

Slide 30

We accept and lay before you the ways we feel we have fallen short, and the times we have spent blaming ourselves, and you,

for all that we have suffered.

We accept and lay before you the time we have walked alone, in darkness; and in knowledge of our own mortality.

We remember that though we have journeyed far, and that, while lost, we may have turned away from the light,

the light itself has not failed.

Slide 31

We remember that though winter be upon us and though the night be dark,

with the turning of the earth the dawn will come, and dawn defeats the darkness.

(A period of silent reflection)

Slide 32

(The fourth candle is lit)

We light this fourth candle to remember faith, the gift of light and hope that God offers to us in the story of Christmas,

which began in abandonment, insecurity, and humility,

in a poor stable.

We remember that the loving God who came to share this life with us promises us comfort and peace.

We remember the One who shares our burdens, who shows us the way to the Light,

and who journeys with us into all our tomorrows.

(A period of silent reflection)

Slide 33

The Prayers of the People

God of wisdom, we come to you this Christmas Season tired, in turmoil, and in pain.

As the nights have grown longer, so has darkness grown and wrapped itself around our hearts.

In this season of longest night, we ask your healing blessings upon all that we carry in our hearts --

sorrow we fear may never end, wounds we cannot even put into words.

Lord, hear our prayer,

And in Your merciful love, answer.

God of mercy and compassion, there are those among us who are grieving over what might have been.

Death or loss or terrible hurt has changed our experience of Christmas.

We remember that once it was a special day for us, too, but someone or something precious has gone away from us in this life.

We have lost a beloved, a job, a goal, a cause, a dream. We find ourselves adrift and alone.

We are weary from the journey, and we have found no room at the inn.

We come to you seeking rest, and peace, and shelter from the storm. Lord, hear our prayer.

And in Your merciful love, answer.

God of grace, in the spirit of the season, grant us all that we need to comfort us as we journey through this Christmas season.

We ask that you shelter and sustain all those of us, both here and throughout the world, who wander or want or weep or are heavy laden,

that we may be lifted up in courage and journey on in Your peace. Lord, hear our prayer.

And in Your merciful love, answer.

God of love, in this Christmas Season we embrace and offer up to you all that used to be which is now lost to us, and cannot be again.

With celebration all around us, memories of what was, and fears of what may be, weigh heavy on our hearts.

Please hold us close in your embrace, be near to us this night, until the light returns and morning comes.

Lord, hear our prayer,

And in Your merciful love, answer.

We have placed a table here for you to come and remember your specific need. You can light a candle in memory of your loved one or as a symbol of your grief...pause to share it with Jesus...pray and give it to Him. So as Away In A Manger plays...feel free to come light a candle...just pick up the tea light and light it from the large center candle.

Away In A Manger

Slides 34-39

Slide 40

the little lord Jesus laid down his sweet head

The stars in the sky looked down where he lay

the little lord Jesus asleep in the hay

The cattle are lowing, the poor baby wakes

but little Lord Jesus no crying he makes

I love thee, lord Jesus, look down from the sky

And stay by my side until morning is nigh.

Be near me Lord Jesus I ask thee to stay

Close by me forever and love me I pray

Bless all the poor children in thy tender care

And fit us for heaven to live with thee there.

Amen.

Our Final Reading:

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. NIV

NIV

Slide 41 - Blank

Lighten our darkness, O God;

give us light in the night season;

and by your great mercy defend

us from all perils and dangers of this night. Amen.

As we have been united tonight in our common grief, may we also be united by the promise that God is with us. That the light of his hope, peace, love and joy might burn bring among each one of us. You will have received a candle when you came in this evening. And from the the candle of our common grief, we light our candles of hope. May the shalom...the ultimate peace of God be yours tonight and throughout this Christmas season.

Let's stand

Let's stand

Slide 42

(All read together.)

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—

he who watches over you will not slumber;

Slide 43

indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you—

the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

Slide 44

The Lord will keep you from all harm—

he will watch over your life;

the Lord will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore. NIV

Let us pray.

Slide 45

Almighty God, we thank you for your constant love and for the blessings of this day.

We know that even when we cannot see or feel you, still you are there.

Help us to remember you and to listen for your voice in the words of family, friends, and strangers.

Kindle our hearts and awaken hope, that we may know you as you reveal yourself in the world and in our lives.

Let the light of your holy Spirit shine like these candles in the darkness,

lighting the way for all who feel despairing, lost, or forgotten,

and grant that it may come to dwell so deeply in our hearts

that when we leave this place it may shine on, for us and for those we meet along the way. Amen.

Silent Night

Slides 46-48

Slide 49 - Blank Slide

All is calm all is bright

Round yon Virgin Mother and Child

Holy Infant, so tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night holy night

Shepherds quake at the sight

Glories stream from heaven afar

Heav'nly hosts sing alleluia

Christ the Saviour is born

Silent night holy night

All is calm all is bright

Round yon Virgin Mother and Child

Holy Infant so tender and mild

Christ the Saviour is born

If you would remain standing as we close in prayer.

Another day will come, O God.

I do not know what it may bring, but make me ready, God, for whatever it may be.

If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely.

If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly.

If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently.

And if I am to do nothing, help me do it peacefully.

Make these words more than words, and give me the Spirit of your Peace. Amen.

Benediction

And now...May the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace both now and forever more. Amen.

Slide 50

Merry Christmas Everyone.