Westminster United Church - Christmas Eve, 2008
Welcome to this 8:00 P.M. Communion Service
Ministers: Rev. James Farrell & Jane Clarke, LPM
Cold is the earth, stone cold; no hope, no change, just cold relentless. Yet, cold in the earth is the seed, hidden, waiting for the warmth of spring to bring it alive. In a cold cattle stall, a baby stirs.
Opening Prayer (Unison)
From the east to the west, flowing towards all people on earth, comes the gentle light of hope born in human form. On this Christmas Eve, among friends and strangers, may we celebrate the richness and diversity of life, in the presentness of God.
The Christ Candle (Responsive)
One: During Advent we light four candles. The candle of hope, joy, peace and love. Tonight we light the Christ candle.
Christ is the one whose example we follow in hope, joy, peace and love.
All: May we reflect the light of Christ in our lives everyday. Amen.
Hymn: Advent Candle Lighting Song
A candle is burning, a flame warm and bright, a candle of hope in December's dark night. While angels sing blessings from heaven's starry sky, our hearts we prepare now for Jesus is nigh.
A candle is burning, a candle of joy, a candle to welcome brave Mary's new boy. Our hearts fill with wonder, and eyes light and glow as joy brightens winter like sunshine on snow.
A candle is burning, a candle of peace, a candle to signal that conflict must cease: for Jesus is coming to show us the way; a message of peace humbly laid in the hay.
A candle is burning, a candle of love, a candle to point us to heaven above. A baby for Christmas, a wonderful birth, for Jesus is bringing God's love to our earth.
We honour Messiah with Christ Candle’s flame, our Christmas Eve candles glad tidings proclaim. O come, all you faithful rejoice in this night, as God comes among us, the Christians true light.
Prayer of Transformation (unison)
May this time together lead us to the heart of the season, which is peace. May we breathe deeply of peace in this safe place, and let our hearts be open to the evening's story. Like the wandering couple, may we find that our greatest trials issue forth from our greatest joys. Like the harried innkeeper, may we find ways to be of help to others. Like the lumbering beasts, may we be silent witnesses to the unfathomable glory of life. Like the shepherds on the hill, may we know that we need never be afraid. Like the journeying wise, may we always have the courage to follow our stars. Like the angels, may we cry peace to a troubled world…(Silent Reflection)
Words of Assurance (One)
May this season of peace and goodwill nudge our world towards its ideals, for then will Christmas truly dawn. Amen.
Reading from the Hebrew Scriptures
First Lesson: ISAIAH 9:2, 6-7
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. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Senior Choir Anthem
From the Christian Scriptures
Gospel: LUKE 2:1-20
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.
Christmas Eve Reflection
Our Church Tithes and Offerings
Offertory
What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give him – give my heart.
Prayer of Dedication: (One)
May our gifts be received in hope and thanksgiving as we offer them this night. Amen.
Hymn “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear”
Invitation to the Table
One: Friends, on this special night of nights, we are sharing in a sacred story, and celebrating community with gifts of
bread a
wine.
All: May we come glad to this
celebration.
Thanksgiving
One:
On this special night of
nights once again we celebrate a CreativeMystery we name God. A ‘serendipitous
creativity’ beyond our words and beyond our images.
A creativity which undermines our human existence in all its complexity and all its diversity. All our collected human
wisdom is a visible expression of this Creative Mystery.
On this night God's creativity and presentness was seen as one of us: a baby needy and naked, wrapped in a
woman's blood, born into poverty and exile, to proclaim the good news to the poor, and to let the broken victims go free.
Like one of us he grew in wisdom as he aged.
He questioned.
He searched for meaning.
He shaped his convictions.
He dreamed of a better humanity.
He experienced love.
He stood firmly in his own religious tradition.
Therefore, on this night, with the woman who gave Jesus birth, the woman who befriended him and fed him, who
argued with him and reached out to touch him; the woman who anointed him for death, the woman who met him in
the garden, and with all women and men throughout the ages, we ay:
All :
Holy, holy, holy, vulnerable God,
heaven and
earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in
the highest.
One:
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
All:
Hosanna in the highest.
Bread and wine
One:
On this night, we remember what our tradition says:
at the end of a journey, among friends, gathered round a table...
Jesus took bread, said a blessing, broke it and said,
'This is the bread of life, given to sustain the people of the world'.
Bread broken
All:
Let us share this bread and be strengthened
to bring
peace and justice to the world.
One:
Later he poured a cup of wine said a blessing and said,
'This is the cup of life, given to sustain the people of the world'.
Wine poured out
All:
Let us share this cup in solidarity with all the peoples of the world, so
peace and justice may prevail everywhere Communion
Bread and wine served from the single station at the Table
As you come forward to partake of the Communion elements from this table, please collect a candle before returning to your seat.
Prayer after Communion (Responsive)
One:
Let us give thanks for this sharing in community.
May it sustain us in our desire to be followers of Jesus
In our own time and place.
Let us acknowledge that partaking of the bread and wine
joins us to a great company of people throughout history
and around the present world.
And let us renew our sense of belonging to this fellowship
as we seek to bring the words and ways of Jesus into relevant connection with
life as we live and understand it today.
All :
May true knowledge increase in our minds.
May
compassion increase in our hearts.
May there be
energy and strength for good actions
that serve a
suffering world.
And may peace be our portion and the portion of all who live on this small planet which is our\
human home.
Hymns by candle light:
Silent Night
Joy to the World
Commissioning (One)
Go from this sacred space with eyes and hearts open to seeing the presence of the Christ child in all areas of your life.
Postlude
Christmas Blessings to All