Down and Out for Christmas

Opening Announcements — Rev. Johan Dodge

Good Morning and Welcome to Worship!

Worship is often the first place that new people come into contact

with this growing community of faith. And so if you are joining us for

the first time, I say to you what is said every Sunday. You are

welcome here. Here is a place where all are welcome. For such is

the love of God for God’s Very Good Creation.

LIGHTING OF THE SEVENTH CANDLE OF ADVENT- “Love”

Phyllis Spencer & Carol Olsen

Leader: Today, we come seeking Wisdom, Wonder, Hope, Peace,

Joy, and Love; and we find these things in a child, God made flesh as

a baby in a manger. To a people working in hope the prophet Isaiah

declared, 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.

People: We live as people of the in-between who celebrate the

arrival of the Light that shines in lost and broken places as we

work to overcome the darkness and live in the fullness of Gods

kin-dom.

Leader: May the Light burning in our hearts guide us, comfort us,

protect us, and tend us in all seasons and circumstances, reminding us that day and night, in the light and in the darkness, God is with us.

Our salvation has come! Amen.

Light all Seven candles on the Advent wreath.

CAROL: “Adeste Fideles” / “O Come, All Ye Faithful”

Holy One, giver of life and light, as your word is read and proclaimed, illumine our hearts and minds, that by the power of the Holy Spirit, our lives may reflect God’s glory. Amen. FIRST LESSON: Luke 1:26-35, 38 — Sandy Walker, Angel 26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 2’to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 2°?But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. °°The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. *‘And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. °?He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” **Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” **The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. *®Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. CAROL: “The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came” SECOND LESSON: Luke 2:1-7 — Alvin Knowles, Joseph, Virginia Olejnik, Mary Phyllis Spencer: 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. CAROL: “The First Noel” THIRD LESSON: Luke 2:8-16 — Mary Lee Thomsen, Patty Jo Schmitz, Shepherds MaryLee Thomsen: 8In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9Then 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—| 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.” ‘*Ands uddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” Patty Jo Schmitz: 15When 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. CAROL: “In the Bleak Midwinter” FOURTH LESSON: Matthew 2:1-11 — Lewis Hildreth, Steve Martinez, Prince Pierson, Wisemen Lewis Hildreth: ‘In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” ?When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. Steve Martinez: >They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.” “Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. ®Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” Prince Pierson: *When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. ‘When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. ‘On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. CAROL: “We Three Kings” FIFTH LESSON: John 1:1-14 — Rev. Johan Dodge ‘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. "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ’He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. ®He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. '°He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. ‘tHe came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. ‘But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, ‘’who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 4And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. CAROL: “O Holy Night’

Questions for Reflection: Rev. Johan Dodge

In Isaiah’s prophecy in chapter 9 and the birth narrative in Luke 2, the

glory of God is described as a light shining in the darkness. On this

eve of Christmas, where is there a deep need for God’s light to shine

with love, with hope, or with peace in your life; in the life of someone

you love; or in a troubled part of the world? What is your prayer for

light in this darkness?

INVITATION TO THE OFFERING — Phyllis Spencer

Because God so loved the world, God sent the Son into the world. In

response to this good news of great joy, we offer songs of praise,

tithes and offerings, and acts of service.

Great God, accept these gifts we offer — indeed use all that we have and all that we are as you bring light in every darkness, ease heavy burdens, and turn our endless warring into your endless peace. In Christ’s name, we ask it. Amen.

CAROL: “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen... and ALL!”

May the Christ who by his Incarnation gathered into One things earthly and heavenly, fill you with the sweetness of inward peace and goodwill; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always. Amen. Go forth in peace and joy. CAROL: “Silent Night”