Service of Worship
Prelude – Hani
Silent Night, Holy Night
Franz Gruber
Public Domain
Welcome and Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
God is telling a story in our lives.
It’s quite a story-
full of the promises God makes
and our struggles to trust;
full of mystery and angels
with surprising news;
full of hard endings
and unexpected new beginnings.
Come, hear the story
pay attention to the angels’ message
in your heart
in this place and time.
Then join all creation
in worshipping the God
who tells it
full of grace and truth;
who comes in Jesus,
the Word made flesh,
and makes our story holy.
Opening Hymn — #245 The First Noel (v. 1, 2)
1. The first Noel the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
in fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Refrain
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
born is the King of Israel.
2. They looked up and saw a star
shining in the east, beyond them far;
and to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night.
Refrain
The First Noel
Traditional English Carol
Public Domain
Scripture Reading — John 1:1-5 (NRSV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
Children’s Time with Ms Becky
Joys and Concerns, Pastoral Prayer, and Special Presentation
Pastoral Prayer
Lord,
We come to you in a time of coldness and darkness,
Looking for warmth and light.
There are those whose homes are physically freezing,
And there are those whose lives are spiritually chilly
We know that we can help warm people’s homes.
We also know you can warm people’s lives.
We pray that there will be no more gloom for those who were in anguish
We pray that you lift away people’s burdens.
We pray you remove the things that oppress from people’s lives.
We pray you give courage to those who fear.
Lord your light calls us forth to follow and serve you.
Your light still shines for all to see in this world.
May we continue to reflect your light in our lives,
in our service, in our words and in our deeds. Amen.
Offering Our Gifts to the Lord
For those who are called and able, gifts and tithes can still be made through online giving, by mailing them in, and by dropping them off to the office through the secure mail slot to the left of the double door entry to the church hallway.
Offertory — Aaron Blake
Aaron Blake, featured artist, is a Metropolitan Opera tenor and appears courtesy of the Los Cancioneros Master Chorale.
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Used by Permission.
Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow (Old 100th)
Louis Bourgeois | Thomas Ken
Public Domain
Offertory Prayer
God of hope and joy, the gifts we offer to you pale when our minds try to grasp all we have been given in this season: wholeness in our woundedness, hope in our despair, peace in our turmoil, forgiveness in our rebellion. Like Simeon, our eyes have seen your salvation, and you give us light in our darkness. Help us embrace your extravagant generosity as we give ourselves to others. In our Savior’s holy name, we pray. Amen.
Sermon – Pastor Stacy Dickson
Dropping the Blanket
Closing Hymn — #224 Good Christian Friends, Rejoice
1. Good Christian friends rejoice
With heart and soul and voice
Give ye heed to what we say
News Jesus Christ is born today
All that gathered before Him bow
And He is in the manger now
Christ is born today
Christ is born today
2. Good Christian friends rejoice
With heart and soul and voice
Now you hear of endless bliss
Joy Jesus Christ was born for this
He has opened the heav’nly door
And ye are blest for evermore
Christ was born for this
Christ was born for this
3. Good Christian friends rejoice
With heart and soul and voice
Now ye need not fear the grave
Peace Jesus Christ was born to save
Calls you one and calls you all
To gain His everlasting hall
Christ was born to save
Christ was born to save
Good Christian Friends, Rejoice
Gary Alan Smith | John Mason Neale
Words: Public Domain
© Music: 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051
Benediction
May all wonder find a place in your soul
and dance with you unexpected steps;
May all joy be at home within your heart
and weave a sacred rhythm throughout this life and all to come;
May unsolved mysteries make your life an adventure
and pull you towards unknown places waiting for you since the very beginning;
May blessing be your forever-companion
and cradle you, strengthen you and love you always;
May all stillness snuggle into your soul
forging a peace that gives to all things a place;
May the ebb and flow of life be a daily gift
offering times of pain and celebration and healing;
and may God let you see what others miss:
promise cradled in every wonder,
the flow of life shaping a sacred story
where love, and you, dance together daily.
And when eyes that have seen all living
draw into focus salvation’s intent,
may they recognize at days end
a promise, a deed, a gift
fresh born in the world.
Postlude – Hani
Joy to The World
Arr. Lowell Mason
Public Domain