You can watch tonight’s service here.
If you are watching our live stream tonight, you are invited to find a candle, so that we can all light candles at the same time.
CALL TO WORSHIP (written by Sarah Are for A Sanctified Art, LLC)
One: This year, we dreamed of world peace.
All: We dreamed of deep breaths and restful sleep.
One: We dreamed of love that lasts and suffering that passes.
All: We dreamed of doors open wide and a cure to disease.
One: We dreamed, because to dream is to believe.
All: For to dream is to hope; to dream is to see.
One: So make room in your being to dream yet again,
All: Of a world without fear, and a God that draws near.
One: For it is almost Christmas.
All: Love is almost here.
One: May we dream to see, and hope to believe. Let us worship Holy God.
Lighting the Christ Candle (written by Sarah Are for A Sanctified Art, LLC)
A: In the beginning, God dreamed of a beautiful world.
B: In Egypt, the Israelites dreamed of freedom.
A: In the wilderness, the people dreamed of safety.
B: In Jerusalem, the people dreamed of a Messiah.
A: In Bethlehem, the shepherds and Wise Men dreamed of a new beginning.
B: Then, several years later, Jesus walked this earth and dreams came true.
A: The sick were healed.
A: The poor had food.
B: The forgotten and ignored were seen.
A: The children were welcomed.
B: Everyone was invited to the table, and the world has never been the same.
A: So tonight, we are those who dream.
B: Tonight, we dream the same dreams of our ancestors before us.
A: Tonight, we dream of justice and mercy, of love and kindness, of peace and hope.
B: Tonight we dream of a God that draws near to us out of unfailing love.
A: May this candle be a reminder that there will be a day when every dream will be fulfilled. And until then, we will be those who dream.
Light candle.
B: Let us worship holy God.
HYMN Silent Night
1 Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
’round yon virgin mother and child!
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
2 Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight;
glories stream from heaven afar,
heavenly hosts sing “Alleluia:
Christ the Savior is born; Christ the Savior is born!”
3 Silent night, holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light
radiant beams from thy holy face,
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
4 Silent night, holy night!
Wondrous star, lend thy light;
with the angels let us sing
Alleluia to our King:
Christ the Savior is born; Christ the Savior is born.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray: Great God, as you came at night when all was still, so enter our lives this night. Illumine our paths with the light of Christ’s presence, that we may clearly see the way, the truth, and the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the name of God the original dreamer, Jesus the dream come true, and the Holy Spirit who enables us to be those who dream, we pray. Amen.
CALL TO CONFESSION
We know that we have sinned before God and others; yet we also know that if we confess our sin we can be restored to a right and just standing before God and others. Let us therefore confess our sin, trusting God’s promised mercy.
Please join me in the prayer of confession, followed by a silent personal prayer.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (written by Sarah Are for A Sanctified Art, LLC)
One: Ever-present God, from time to time we dream radical dreams.
All: We dream of freedom for the imprisoned, food for the hungry, and equality for all.
One: We dream bold, radical dreams, until the world tells us that these dreams are impossible.
All: And when that happens, we are tempted to tuck our dreams into coat pockets and let them collect dust on the shelves of our hearts. Forgive us for giving up so easily.
One: Forgive us for giving up so easily, for on this night we remember and celebrate a radical dream—that you dwelled among us.
All: Give us the courage to dust old dreams off the shelf with the confidence that with you, the impossible is possible.
One: With you, a light always shines in the darkness.
All: With you, even an unwed teenage couple and a band of shepherds can bring joy to the world.
One: Thanks be to God for a dream like that. Amen.
Moment of silent prayer–people of God, what do you confess this week?
Assurance of Pardon
Friends, hear the good news of the gospel: God’s grace is stronger than any anger and fear that may hold us in their grip. God’s grace liberates us, freeing us to live in love and compassion. Thanks be to God who in Christ empowers us to live fully and freely.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION (written by Sarah Are for A Sanctified Art, LLC)
Holy God,
If we listen closely, we can almost hear the angels sing.
If we listen closely, we can almost hear the bleats of sheep following shepherds,
And the hooves of confused barn animals.
If we listen closely, we can almost hear the innkeeper say, “No room.”
If we listen closely, we can almost hear the star whisper, “Follow me.”
If we listen closely, God, we can almost hear you.
Pause for a moment of silence.
So as we turn to your Word, Holy Writer, don’t let us miss a thing—
The smell of the hay, the cool of the air, the way Mary cherished this wild dream in her heart.
We want to hear it all; we don’t want to miss a thing.
So today we pray—can you help us listen closely?
Amen.
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING
Isaiah 9:2-7
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.
You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For all the boots of the tramping warriors
and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counsellor, 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 onwards and for evermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
HYMN O Come, All Ye Faithful
1 O come, all ye faithful,
joyful and triumphant;
O come ye; O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come, and behold him, born the King of angels!
O come, let us adore him;
O come, let us adore him;
O come, let us adore him,
Christ, the Lord!
2 True God from true God,
Light from light eternal,
born of a virgin, a mortal he comes;
very God, begotten, not created!
O come, let us adore him;
O come, let us adore him;
O come, let us adore him,
Christ, the Lord!
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING
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 Saviour, 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 God favours!’
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.
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’
Consider:
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What dreams—both hopeful and broken—do we carry with us to the manger this night? Now imagine the hopeful and broken dreams of each character in the Christmas story—Mary, Joseph, the shepherds. How did Christ’s birth disrupt, fulfill, and sustain each of their dreams?
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Study the beginning of Luke’s gospel up through chapter 2 verse 20. How many people are visited by angels? How many characters experience divine intervention or transformation? How many people are touched by God’s emerging dream made manifest in Jesus’ birth? What does this show us about God’s expansive power?
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Mary “treasures up” the divine messages from the shepherds, “pondering” them in her heart. She internalizes God’s dreams, storing them like precious gold. But what does she ponder? Is she, like every parent, pondering the future of her child? Is she carefully considering the trials he will face, the goodness and joy he will bring? Is she internalizing the weight of her new calling—to parent and nurture not just her child, but the world’s child?
You can listen to Pastor Leia’s sermon, “This Night, We Are Those Who Dream,” here.
HYMN Hark, the Herald Angels Sing
1 Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King:
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th’angelic hosts proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King”
3 Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King”
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (written by Sarah Are for A Sanctified Art, LLC)
We come to you tonight with dreams tucked into our pockets, admitting that at times it feels risky to dream. At times it feels risky to ask for too much, to believe in that which we cannot see. So instead we make wishes on stars and search for luck in clover fields. Instead of sinking into you, we try to control the narrative.
However, somewhere rumbling deep in our heart, there is a dream of a better world, trapped like a caged bird.
Open our eyes to you in our midst.
Give us the confidence of Mary to sing into the mystery.
Dust your dream for us off the shelves of our hearts until once more, we are those who dream. Amen. We pray these things in the name of the one who taught us to pray…
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
INVITATION TO OFFERING
Just as the shepherds heard the Good News the angels brought, they responded by going to see God’s great gift of Jesus, and by glorifying and praising God. In the same way, we respond to the amazing things God is doing when we bring our gifts, too, praising God and giving God glory.
OFFERING
If you are able to, please consider mailing your offerings to the church (210 Smith Street) or dropping them in the mail slot of the church office in person. Alternatively, there is a link at the top of this page that will take you directly to a secure page where you can make a one-time donation. If you received your pledge card for 2021 but haven’t filled it out, we would be very grateful to receive it as we plan for the year ahead. We appreciate your generosity as we seek to continue our mission and ministry throughout the community during this difficult time.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
O God, we offer our gifts to you that may they be used to further the promise of hope, peace, love and justice in our community and in our world. Empower us, O God, to follow these gifts into our community and world so that they, and we, may become bearers of peace, love and justice on the earth. Amen.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (written by Sarah Are for A Sanctified Art, LLC)
One: We believe in hope.
All: We believe that to hope is to dream with our eyes wide open.
One: We believe in peace.
All: We believe that peace is not found by accident. Prepare the way.
One: We believe in joy.
All: We believe that joy is angel choruses and gifts from the Magi, as well as soul food, big tables, open doors, candle light, fireside, singing in the shower, and the body of Christ gathered as one.
One: We believe in love.
All: We believe that God loves us so much that God could not stay away. So God showed up as a child. We believe that that love is real, and we know that it changes us.
One: Therefore, we believe in the power of dreams,
All: And we believe that nightmares, which are all too real here and now, will have no place in God’s promised day.
One: Until then, we believe in passing the light, in showing up, in doing the work, in listening for angel choruses, and in learning from the youngest among us.
All: We believe. Help our unbelief. Amen.
HYMN Joy to the World
1 Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her king;
let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing.
2 Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let all their songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
repeat the sounding joy.
4 He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
Friends, may your heads be full of dreams this Christmas Eve.
May your hearts be full of hope, of peace, of joy, and of love.
May you feel the arms of God around you,
even if you are worshipping alone tonight.
This isn’t the Christmas that anyone wanted,
but even so,
to us is born a savior who is the Messiah, the Lord
and he is with us
and he has come to live among us
and of his kingdom, there will be no end.
Next year, we will be together again,
but for now,
from wherever you are,
go in peace
and serve the Lord: Creator, Son, and Holy Spirit.