Liturgy
The impossible is about to happen in a stable.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
Those who lived in a land of deep darkness,
on them has the light shined!
This is the evening when creation stood still and held its breath,
for God was doing the most unbelievable, dangerous thing.
This is the evening when God embraced humanity
from the inside, as one of us, from birth to death.
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
full of grace and truth.
Amen!
Community Confession
Arise, shine: for your light has come.
O God, we live as if the light
had never defeated the darkness in the world or in us.
And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
We confess that we ignore the Christ
you sent to be among us, to be in us.
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord
will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.
We’ve kept the birth of your Son confined to the Christmas season
and do not yearn for his birth each moment in our waiting hearts.
And nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Lord, you came to us in the fullness of time.
Forgive us for not opening our eyes to your coming.
It’s time that we prepare for your coming.
Let the earth ring with song.
Let the light break forth.
Let all rejoice in the miracle of love.
Let Christ come into the fullness of our time.
We pray to our God in community, holy in One, Amen.
What is a word or phrase in the passage that stands out to you? Why?
How does this text speak to you in your current situation and environment?
What is this text inviting you to do and to be this coming week?
Benediction
It has been done!
The News has been shared!
A young maiden has borne a child,
and she named him Jesus.
But that is the beginning of the story,
a story that has not yet ended.
A story that includes us,
a story of which we are a part.
So we go out to live the story,
to tell of the Hope that is being born among us this Christmas,
to share the Love of the season with the world,
to be agents of Peace in times of trouble,
to sing songs of deep and abiding Joy.
Go in peace and live the church.
See you throughout the week.