Setup:

Greeters to hand out candles?

Pulpit light

Put put buckets to pick up candles and return candles

Candles in Windows, across soundbooth, & one in nativity under cross (One in manger?)

Bring my baby doll

Fix story area

Bags of goodies for kids?

Christmas CD playing as people arrive.

Gift bags for guests/postcards with ornament

Light Advent candles 1-4

Christmas Eve 2021

Welcome: Pastor Lauri

Lighting of Advent candles- Dale & Frankie Thamert

WELCOME HOME

Reader One:

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.

Reader Two:

Luke 2:1–20 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. 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.” 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.

Reader One:

This night, this night is a night to remember. A night when home broke in on us. A night when we were not forgotten or alone or abandoned. This night. This night is the night when here and there became one, when past and future combined in a breathless present. This is a night when we are home, in ourselves, in this family, in the God who loved us enough to walk beside us.

Reader Two:

We gather in the night to proclaim the light. We shrug off despair and embrace hope. We set aside conflict and choose peace. We push away despair by claiming joy. We overcome hate by rising into love. Because this night we know, even in the shadows of our doubts, we know that we are loved. That’s what it means to be home.

Reader One:

We light these candles, hoping to become the light, hoping to radiate light by how we live. We light these candles to create a space called home in this place, in our place, in inner places. We light these candles to declare that unto us a Savior is born, who is Christ the Lord. Welcomed home by angels singing and shepherds kneeling. Welcomed home by those like us who have worshiped for thousands of years. Welcomed home again tonight, right here, right now, in us.

Reader Two:

It’s time to be home. Light the Christ Candle

Children’s Story:

Christmas Celebration:

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

Angels We Have Heard on High

O Come, All Ye Faithful

Sermon:

The Pauper King

Master storyteller, Mark Twain, wrote a story about two boys. They were born on the same day. They were the same height & coloring. In fact, they looked enough alike to pass as twins. However, they were each born to a different class. The one was a pauper, though his mom had fought hard to give him a proper education. The other was a prince born to all the extravagances that can come with that title.

They each had their own set of difficulties and thought the state of the other looked better than their own. The pauper envied the luxury and what looked like easy living for the prince. The prince envied the freedom to play and be a young boy without the concerns of the court.

It was an adventure at first, but each soon found themselves in a pickle in their reversed roles, and circumstances made it a challenge to return to their proper positions. What made it even more complicated was the sudden death of the king and the prince was to be elevated to that role. The wrong prince was very nearly crowned but for the forethought of the true prince who had thought to hide a key piece of evidence of his true identity.

Eventually the situation was corrected, and the proper prince was crowned king, but his experiences as a pauper softened his heart to the plight of the poor and he made changes to better serve his people.

This is a fun story, and we all know that there is no way this could ever really happen. However, there is a true story about a King who humbled Himself to a lower station. Not because He envied His people, but because He loved them. He came to them in their form so they could get to know Him, and He could help them understand His love for them and the better life He was preparing for them.

This baby King who came as a pauper was Jesus Christ. He did not need to get to know us. He knows each and every one of us through-and-through because He created us. However, He knew we would relate to Him better if we could know Him in human form. So,

The first time He came, He laid down His crown and He put on the garment of a pauper baby.

It is this birth, the incarnation, we celebrate at Christmas. Incarnation literally means that God, laid down everything that made Him God, to be like us. To live like us. To die like us. The only crown He wore on earth was a crown of thorns.

Philippians 2:5–8 (NIV) ...Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

He came according to Father God’s plan to accomplish three major objectives:

1. The first thing was to help us understand God’s love and God’s plan for us. He literally came to reveal God to us.

2. He came to bring clarity & correct our understanding of the events of the Old Testament that we could make better use of God’s Word. God’s Word had been twisted and misused for far too long. He came as a teacher to bring us the proper understanding of God’s Word that we could grow in the light of its truth.

3. The most important thing He did was to establish the means by which we could be saved from the darkness of sin that had separated us from our loving heavenly Father. In order to do this, He had to experience death. Even then, He didn’t take the easy road, but had to live the worst there is. That of being unjustly charged, beaten, and killed for something He never did.

You see, He stepped into the court of justice for each of us and paid the price for the wrong things we have done. We have all failed in one way or another. You may wish to defend your honor, but the truth is, if we are all honest, we have all committed some offense and when we do so, we offend the holy God who created us. These offenses separate us unless the offenses are paid for, but none of us can do the job. We are not righteousness enough to make the proper sacrifice. There was only one person perfect enough to pay the price, and it was Jesus.

His birth was the heart of this plan to pay that price and it was accomplished when He died and conquered death by being raised from death to live again. Only then was He able to take up His royal crown once again.

When the time came that He left this earth, He said He would come again and for us to watch for His coming.

The Second time He comes, He will be wearing the royal garment of King.

It will not be a donkey He is riding, but a royal white horse. A sash across his chest will identify Him as well as the crown upon His head. This is not the rapture I am talking of, but His literal return as head of His army to put down Satan for all time. It will be the final deliverance.

Isaiah 52:7–10NIV

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the Lordreturns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes. Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the Lordhas comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.

Conclusion:

As we celebrate His birth, His first coming, we are not just celebrating a past event, but we are looking expectantly for His second coming. When that time comes, in the fullness of all time, we will see a glorious change. The old way of life will pass away, and a new way of life will bring peace forever more. No more sin, no more sickness, no more pain or tears. This new life will be filled with love. We will be loved. We will know how to love others in a way we never dreamed we could.

It is worth waiting for and worth celebrating, bringing us hope in this time of darkness in our world.

Hebrews 2:9NIV

But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

Philippians 2:9–11 NIV

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Pray

Heavenly Father,

We have a difficult time humbling ourselves even for those we know and love deeply. It makes it difficult to relate to the kind of selfless sacrifice you made on our behalf of all people, throughout all time. You laid down your crown and then you laid down your life. We may understand this when someone seems good, but you did it for everyone. We deem certain people deserving and others not so much. But the truth is, we have all failed you Father God. Even when we wanted to do right, we still have done wrong. Yet, you never did anything wrong. You were loving and compassionate to all. When you were angry, it was because people were mistreated and because the ones doing the mistreating were harming themselves most of all. It was out of love for both that you came and died. John 3:16-17 share your intent and it was not to condemn the world, but to save the world and this could only be achieved by sacrificing Your Only Son. You did this for Adam, for Noah, for Abraham & Lot…Down through the ages, each century of people all the way to us. You came for each of us here in this sanctuary tonight.

Thank you for coming and providing our salvation. May we be faithful as we look for your return. Amen

Carols by Candlelight

The First Noel

Away in a Manger

Silent Night

Pray and dismiss - Please drop your candles off in the buckets. Thank you and have a Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Cd-Christmas music.