For Us, Christmas Eve, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016

Christmas Eve (Year A)

Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016

Theme: For Us

Reflection: The genius of Luke's story, of course, is that he portrays all this through the simple, sympathetic, and even everyday characters of a young mother and common shepherds. If God can work in and through such ordinary characters, we are bid to wonder, perhaps God can also work in and through us. Luke wants, I think, to make sure we realize that it is not just human flesh "in general" that God takes on in Christ; it is our flesh. And it is not simply history "in general" that God enters via this birth, it is our history and our very lives to which God is committed.

-David Lose, President, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia

Who receives a gift and doesn’t unwrap it? Or unwrapping it, sets it aside and doesn’t take full advantage of it?

Perhaps a recipient who doesn’t think the gift is for him or her.

I remember one Christmas, being handed a gift by my mother-in-law that she thought was mine. I can’t remember exactly what happened, either the tag had fallen off or she misread it. But when I opened it, I recall immediately realizing it wasn’t for me. I set it aside, and eventually the mystery was sorted out and the gift given to its intended recipient.

But who doesn’t love a gift that the giver hands to you, saying “This is for you.” Of course, you are going to open it immediately and enjoy what was meant for you.

This is the night for gift-giving. Imagine this Christ-child being handed to you by God: “For you.”

Most people think of the Christmas story in terms of a historical narrative of our faith, retold each year as a nostalgic account of events that happened to Mary and Joseph, the people of Bethlehem, some shepherds and visiting kings.

Our part of that story? Like that misdirected Christmas gift, we are quick to set it aside. “This isn’t my story. This happened 2,000 years ago. It’s for someone else.

Read Luke’s words closely. God’s angel messenger didn’t misplace this gift at all – it is for you. “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 gift is for all the people. That gift has your name written all over it.

Unwrap, give thanks, and don’t set it aside. Fall in love with that gift, and the giver. Merry Christmas!

Faith App: You don’t receive a gift without saying “thank you.” If you were going to send a thank-you note to God for the gift of Jesus, what would you write? Ponder it, jot it out, then share it with God in prayer.

HYMN/SONG SUGGESTIONS

Infant Holy, Infant Lowly, ELW 276

Love Has Come, ELW 292

Silent Night, Holy Night, ELW 281

O Come, All Ye Faithful, ELW 283

O Little Town of Bethlehem, ELW 279

Angels from the Realms of Glory, ELW 275

Unto Us, Matthew West

Unto Us, Aaron Shust (You will want to play this! Aaron Shust, David Hamilton and George Frederick Handel team up for a beautiful contemporary Christmas hymn): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia58Qr4XGYI )

For All the World, Phillips, Craig & Dean

Light of the Stable, Selah

LESSONS

Isaiah 9:2-7 For a child has been born for us, a son give to us.

Psalm 96 O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, ALL the earth.

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to ALL.

Luke2:1-14 (15-20) Good news of great joy for ALL the people.

Summary of the Lessons: This story is for all people, from this time onward and forevermore. The child foretold by Isaiah, who filled the Psalmist with hope, who was God’s plan always, has entered this world, given to us, for us, God-with-us.

OPENING LITANY based on Psalm 96

L:  Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!

C:  Out of the darkness, our great hope appears!

 

L:  Can you hear it? Everything is changing.

C:  Sing it out, sing a new song to the Lord!

L:  Everyone join in the refrain – bless God’s name;

C:  Go, tell someone what the Lord is doing for us!

L:  Can you feel it? Our God is amazing!

C:  Nothing we know even comes close.

L:  The Lord made the heavens – so awe-inspiring;

C:  Earth’s majesty and wonder, God created for us!

L:  Can you sense it? Soon, our God is arriving!

C:  Come before the Lord with everything you have.

L:  Everything on earth trembles with excitement;

C:  The word is out – God’s grace abounds for us!

L:  Can you see it? Now, God is reigning!

C:  The stars are dancing, the earth celebrating,

L:  The sea creatures reveling, the forests swaying.

C:  Celebrating God’s kingdom, a gift for us!

CONFESSION

L:  After all these years, we know the words by rote,

C:  In Bethlehem, a child is born, and the angels proclaim –

L:  The Wise Men come and worship, and shepherds go and tell,

C:  Beautiful story – but what difference does Christmas make?

 

L:  Presents under the Christmas tree, families gather for a meal,

C:  Holiday parties, children’s programs, the calendar is full,

L:  Candlelight worship, a chance to sing our favorite hymns.

C:  Festive holiday – but what difference does Christmas make?

L:  Salvation has appeared, hope is born this night;

C:  God abiding with us, still a love we cannot fathom,

L:  Teaching us what it means to live for one another.

C:  Perfect love – but what difference does Christmas make?

(Silent reflection)

L:  In our confession, we pray together,

C:  Most Merciful God … we celebrate the birth of the Messiah with expectation that is overwhelming, with events and obligations, shopping and gift-giving. What we really need is time to ponder what kind of gift this is:

- Not a gift that’s here today and gone tomorrow, but a gift for us for all time.

- Not a gift bought on sale in a mad rush, but one of great worth planned since time began.

- Not a gift to return because it’s the wrong size, but a relationship that we keep growing into.

- Not a gift for just those on the “nice” list, but a gift for all people that we can’t possibly earn.

Hear this Good News: And the angel said to them, “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.” Grace, peace and love, gift-wrapped in swaddling clothes, this God-with-us – a gift given for all time. So by this gift, you are set free from your sins and set right with God.

In the name of…

Amen. 

PRAYER OF THE DAY

L:  We pray together, 

C: Loving God … Help us to look at this night differently, that instead of picturing a nostalgic manger scene in Bethlehem, we see you drawing near out of your great love for us, finding the ultimate way to demonstrate your love for us by becoming one of us – that vulnerable human baby born into a troubled world this night.  Amen.

COMMUNION BLESSING

L:  We pray together,

C:  We give thanks, most gracious God, for this meal of new birth, as we open ourselves to this Savior, given for us. Help us, like Mary, to treasure this gift in our hearts and ponder it in the days to come. Send us, like the shepherds, to return to our lives overflowing with a story to tell.  Amen.

SENDING

L:  Sing to the Lord a new song,

C:  A melody of new life and new hope,

L:  A refrain of boundless love and mercy,

C:  A God-song composed this night for us.

L: Go now, filled with great joy, to love and to serve the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God!

First Reading Isaiah 9:2-7 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: Isaiah addresses the people of the eighth century B.C., as Israel has been split into a northern and southern kingdom and conquered by the Assyrians. A new king is coming, Isaiah says, who will bring the people out of these dark times.

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 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.

Second Reading Titus 2:11-14 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: This text connects the birth of Christ with the awaited second coming of Christ. In the meantime, church-builder Titus and his followers are encouraged to be good examples.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.

Gospel Luke 2:1-14 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: Luke’s gospel has the most detail about the circumstances that brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem and what transpired when they arrived. It is the traditional Christmas Eve reading.

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.]