Do You Hear What I Hear?

GATHERING

WELCOME: Rob

PRELUDE: Charlie Brown Christmas Music: Current Band

WORD AND RESPONSE

HYMN: “Joy to The World Unspeakable Joy” Current Band

CALL TO WORSHIP: Karen L: On this night, Christ is born!

P: Now the Savior has appeared!

L: On this night, the heavenly chorus resounds!

P: All creation rejoices!

L: On this night, the church throughout the world joins their cry:

P: Glory to God in the highest! Alleluia!

ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING: Durrence Family PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION: Chris Hester Open us, O God, to hear again the message of the angels, and to go in heart and mind with the shepherds to Bethlehem to see the glorious redemption you have brought to pass through the Newborn lying in a manger. Amen.

CHOIR SPECIAL: Do You Hear What I Hear?

Scripture: Garry Glenn

Luke 2:1-20

Luke 2:1–20 NRSV

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

CHOIR SPECIAL: Do You Hear What I Hear?

Introduction

We have reached the end of this series tonight. For our guests tonight let me take a second to catch them up. For the past four weeks our sermons have been wrapped around the Christmas song “Do You Hear What I Hear?” A song written during the Cuban Missile crisis, October 1962. It was written during the time when we thought the end of the world could happen at any moment. I was 6 years old, but I remember it vividly. The song was written by Noel Regney and Gloria Shayne and is a plea for peace in the midst of chaos and the unbelievably close threat of nuclear war.

Just like then we live in an uncertain world today. For many this time of the year is not one of joy and wonder, but depression and anxiety, spending too much, drinking too much, eating too much, all contribute to anxiety this time of the year. Today’s headlines We have a president who’s been impeached and headed to a senate trial, 28 people were wounded in shootings across 3 states, the CEO of Boeing resigned, 2 children are missing in Idaho, and also this morning where a number of civilians died in Syria from bombing in that country’s ongoing civil war.

This is why this series was based on the carol, “Do You Hear What I Hear?”

The song tells the story of the Nativity based on Matthew which we will be talking about each Sunday in Advent. And it incorporates the annunciation to the shepherds which we will look at on Christmas Eve.

The husband and wife team never performed this song in public, as Gloria Shayne said “Our little song broke us up. You must realize there was a threat of nuclear war at the time.”

Just like in 1962, or 5BC when we think Jesus was born, we are a people in need of a savior. A savior to bring us from darkness to light.

Now with that said, let’s take a look at the story of Jesus’ birth according to Luke.

Exegesis

I think we need to spend a moment on how messy and chaotic the events surrounding Jesus birth were according to Luke. Mary and Joseph were not married yet, they were still betrothed. It would have taken them a week to walk from Nazareth to Bethlehem as you can see here. She would not have been riding a donkey, they would have walked. They may have been by themselves, but most likely they were traveling in a group because it was safer that way. Mary is in her last weeks of pregnancy, Joseph did not have to bring her! Today doctors do not like Mothers that far along to travel. Maybe he did not want to miss the birth.

They arrive in Bethlehem and find out that the guest room is full. Notice I did not say Inn. There probably wasn’t an Inn in Bethlehem. In fact there weren’t many so called Inns in Israel. The Greek word actually means guest room. What scholars have also discovered is that when Israeli women were going to give birth it was normally done where the animals were, the lower floor of the house. This birth in the stable/cave was not that unusual and it may have been why they couldn’t stay in the guest room. In other words they were probably told you can’t do that in there! But the actual birth was a normal delivery. Luke only devotes 2 verses 6 & 7 to the actual birth. Mary most likely was assisted by other women or perhaps even a mid wife.

What is so messy here, is that the Son of God, the King of the universe was born in such an ordinary way. Mary and Joseph knew Jesus’ Identity. I wonder if they were surprised that God came into the world as any peasant in Israel would have come into the world?

Then the birth announcement is made to shepherds in the fields. It is not made to Kings or the religious elite. It is made to ordinary Shepherds who were not highly thought of and would have been considered unclean under Jewish law!

Luke uses this announcement to the shepherds to make the theological case of what this birth means. We learn that Jesus is of the royal line of David, he is a savior, he is messiah or Christ, and he is Lord! Lord was a term usually reserved for the emperor. Second the heavenly host sing of shalom, a peace that does not mean the absence of conflict, but echoes a world that is whole, like God intended.

The shepherds then are the first visitors that the Holy Family receives. They tell the family what happened in the fields and all were amazed and Mary treasured these things in her heart.

Application

So what does this event really mean for us? Well I want to zero in on

Luke 2:9

Luke 2:9 NRSV

Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

It says that “the glory of the Lord shone around them.”

Isaiah wrote about the Messiah:

Isaiah 9:2 NRSV

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.

John wrote about the Messiah

John 1:1–5 NRSV

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. 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 1:1–3 NRSV

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. What has come into being

John 1:1-5

The glory of the Lord is God’s presence. Moses wasn’t allowed to look at it. But it would light his face up so much he had to wear a veil! God’s glory is the splendor that is Associated with God’s presence. And it lit up the darkness of that night! God came into the ordinary world, in an ordinary way, to ordinary shepherds, and to an ordinary couple.

John 1:

John 1:3 NRSV

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

This is the same glory in the burning bush, the pillar of fire that lead the Israelites in the desert, the disciples and Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration!

This is the good news of Christmas:

God comes to us in the ordinary. God seeks us out.God doesn’t care about wealth. God doesn’t care about status. God cares about us because we are His children, and he even became a child to lead us to salvation. It is God’s doing, to be in the ordinary days of our ordinary lives.

When we pick up the kids from school, God is with us. When we play golf God is with us. When we go on vacation God is with us. When we get bad news from the doctor, God is with us. When we witness or experience suffering and injustice God is with us. When we bury our loved ones God is with us. God is with us in the ordinary. God is with us just like he was with Joseph. Just like he was with Mary. Just like he was with the shepherds. And our joy in Christmas comes not from stuff or our current life situation. Joy comes from God with us, no matter what! Joy comes not from our circumstances, but from who God is and what God does in the ordinariness of life!

Everyone stands at the manger tonight. No one is excluded. This is good news of great joy for all the people! We are there at the manger, looking at God in the face of a tiny baby and in that face in the manger is the promise of the Kingdom of God. We are like the shepherds surround by the light of God’s glory!

Mary and Joseph, proud parents. Ordinary parents, of an extraordinary son. They are sought out by God to be the parents. They are common people, that will make an uncommon difference. With God, you and I common people, can make an uncommon difference too.

Every time we come to this table we remember the coming Kingdom of God announced by Jesus in The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to preach good news

to the poor, to proclaim release to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind,

to liberate the oppressed, 19 and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

We, us ordinary people are welcome and invited to this ordinary table, for an extraordinary meal. Our invitation comes from an amazing God. The invitation is for all, everyone, no one is exclude from God’s grace.

God comes into our everyday lives, that is how much God cares for us. From the chaos of the 5th centuryBC, to the Cuban Missile crisis to the present day chaos God’s glory brings us shalom.

Life is not so much about stamping a ticket to heaven, as it is about heaven coming here! That is Christmas! That is the incarnation.

Said the king to the people everywhere Listen to what I say Pray for peace people everywhere Listen to what I say The child, the child Sleeping in the night He will bring us goodness and light He will bring us goodness and light

He will bring us goodness and light

In fact, he will guide us to the perfect light:

In fact, he will guide us to the perfect light:

because the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to preach good news

SPECIAL: Star of Wonder: Current Band

THANKSGIVING AND COMMUNION

to the poor, to proclaim release to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind,

CONFESSION: Karen

to liberate the oppressed, 19 and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

We, us ordinary people are welcome and invited to this ordinary table, for an extraordinary meal. Our invitation comes from an amazing God. The invitation is for all, everyone, no one is exclude from God’s grace.

ALL: We do not presume to come to this your table Lord, trusting in our own goodness, but in your unfailing mercies. We are not worthy that you should receive us, but give your word and we shall be healed, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

WORDS OF ASSURANCE: Karen

Hear the Good News: Christ died for us while we were yet sinners; that is proof of God's love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. AMEN.

OFFERING INTRODUCTION: Rob

OFFERTORY PRAYER: Karen

Great God, our Redeemer, we sing your praises. Your glorious love shines in the face of Jesus, born a babe in this dark world. We marvel that he generously humbled himself to bring salvation. How precious is your gift of love! Let the light in our sanctuary and our songs of praise spill through the windows to neighbors dwelling in darkness. May our gifts and offerings reflect the light of Christ and, as beacons in the night, draw people far and near closer to you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

OFFERTORY HYMN #196 Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

*DOXOLOGY

INVITATION TO THE TABLE AND DIRECTIONS: Rob

We, us ordinary people are welcome and invited to this ordinary table, for an extraordinary meal. Our invitation comes from an amazing God. The invitation is for all, everyone, no one is excluded from God’s grace or God’s glory.

Explain Process

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

Rob: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Rob: Lift up your hearts.

People: We lift them up to the Lord.

Rob: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Karen: Father, at this blessed Christmas feast it is right that we give you thanks and praise. You created light out of darkness and brought forth life on the earth. You make us in your image; and though we all have sinned and fallen short of your glory, you loved the world so much you gave your only Son Jesus Christ to be our Savior.

As Mary and Joseph went from Galilee to Bethlehem and there found no room, so Jesus went from Galilee to Jerusalem and was despised and rejected. As in the poverty of a stable Jesus was born, so from suffering and death you raised him to bring us life.

Therefore, with the angels who sang glory to you in the highest and peace to your people in all ages and the whole company of heaven, we join in the song of unending praise, saying:

People: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Rob: Truly holy are you and blessed is your Son Jesus. As your Word became flesh, born of woman, on that night long ago, so on the night he offered himself up for us he took bread (Karen lifts bread) gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: "Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

Karen: When the supper was over he took the cup (Rob pours and lifts cup), gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said: "Drink from this, all of you; for this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many, for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." Therefore, in remembrance of your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, which we offer in union with Christ's sacrifice for us, as a living and holy surrender of ourselves.

Rob: Send the power of your Holy Spirit on us and on these gifts, that in the breaking of this bread and the drinking of this wine we may know the presence of the living Christ; be one body in him, cleansed by his blood; faithfully serve him in the world; and look forward to his coming in final victory. Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory is yours, Almighty God, now and forever. Amen.

THE BREAKING OF BREAD AND TAKING OF THE CUP

RECEIVING THE BREAD AND CUP

SENDING FORTH

Have communion stewards light candles

HYMN #239 Silent Night Current Band lead into Congregational

DISMISSAL Karen: Christ the Savior is born. Go and spread the good news everywhere! People: Thanks be to God.