Christmas Eve Notes – 2019
Beloved children of God: Peace be with you.
And also with you.
Hear these words of the Prophet Isaiah (I am reading from the King James Version) 9:6
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace”.
Good evening and welcome to this Christmas Eve Service at Texada Island United Church. I am Karen May, and our pianist tonight is Maureen Northrop.
Tonight we not only acknowledge the story of Jesus’ birth 2000 years ago, but, more importantly, the truth that is at the heart of its meaning, the coming of Emmanuel, God-with-us.
May you find an opportunity during our service tonight to reflect and wonder about the mystery of Christmas, the mystery of God-with-us. For tonight, I invite us all to put aside the cares and busyness of holiday preparations and other distractions, and enter into the story of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a story that has inspired the spreading of the great light of peace, generosity, joy, and love throughout the land, every year for over 2000 years.
We begin this evening with song for the children among us – a song to teach the kids that Christmas is about way more than Santa Claus!
Freida Gilmore with “Long time before Santa Claus”
Lighting of Advent Candles p.37 Barb Wells
Reflection: “Living in the Light”
Some of you may be aware that last night was the “longest night” of the winter, and now we celebrate the return of the light as our days get gradually longer.
We human beings understand the symbolism of the seasons – we say things like “in the autumn of our years”, “the winter of our discontent”, “fresh as the springtime” or “midsummer madness”.
Just so, all over the world people of differing religious traditions or cultures celebrate the coming back of the light after the winter solstice. Jews have just been celebrating their “Celebration of Light” which they call Hanukkah. Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains celebrate a festival of lights called Diwali. There are Festivals of Light in Japan, China, America, France, Germany, Hawaii, Australia, and Mexico. Many places hold secular festivals as well, such as the Festival of Light in Vancouver and the Festival of Northern Lights in Owen Sound, Ontario. The darkness of mid-winter is equated with pain and evil and suffering. The return of the light to many means a welcome relief from the cold, long, dark nights of winter, and a return of joy, happiness, hope and goodness to the earth, along with the promise of spring and new life.
Christmas is our “Celebration of Light” in the Christian world. We associate the birth of Jesus with the coming of Light into a world too long suffering in the darkness of ignorance and spiritual immaturity and hopelessness.
For as the gospel writer John says, “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.” And then, “The true light which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.” As Christians we know Jesus as “the Light of the world”. His teachings brought his people hope, new understanding, new direction, a new way to live a new kind of life – a life of kindness and integrity, a life where justice matters and where loving one another became the prime commandment.
We are the fortunate inheritors of this new Way – the Way of Love, lived as God’s faithful people, charged to take care of the poor, seek justice for the oppressed, heal one another, forgive one another, so that a new life could be born on earth – something we call “the kingdom of God”.
This tiny Christ Child, born to us tonight, has become part of us, and in some mysterious way, we have become part of him. He lives in us as we live in him, and so his work continues to change the way we live, and the world we live in.
We are, each and every one of us beloved children of a God who is love. When we respect and honour the Divine presence within us, and when we reach out in love to each other, then we are blessed to be Christ’s embodiment in this world.
The Light of the Christ Child enters us once again this hallowed Christmas. We are so blessed.
Let us pray a prayer of blessing by Janice McLean of “The Prayer Bench”.
Beloved children of God: Peace be with you.
And also with you.
Hear these words of the Prophet Isaiah (I am reading from the King James Version) 9:6
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace”.
Good evening and welcome to this Christmas Eve Service at Texada Island United Church. I am Karen May, and our pianist tonight is Maureen Northrop.
Tonight we not only acknowledge the story of Jesus’ birth 2000 years ago, but, more importantly, the truth that is at the heart of its meaning, the coming of Emmanuel, God-with-us.
May you find an opportunity during our service tonight to reflect and wonder about the mystery of Christmas, the mystery of God-with-us. For tonight, I invite us all to put aside the cares and busyness of holiday preparations and other distractions, and enter into the story of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a story that has inspired the spreading of the great light of peace, generosity, joy, and love throughout the land, every year for over 2000 years.
We begin this evening with song for the children among us – a song to teach the kids that Christmas is about way more than Santa Claus!
Freida Gilmore with “Long time before Santa Claus”
Lighting of Advent Candles p.37 Barb Wells
Reflection: “Living in the Light”
Some of you may be aware that last night was the “longest night” of the winter, and now we celebrate the return of the light as our days get gradually longer.
We human beings understand the symbolism of the seasons – we say things like “in the autumn of our years”, “the winter of our discontent”, “fresh as the springtime” or “midsummer madness”.
Just so, all over the world people of differing religious traditions or cultures celebrate the coming back of the light after the winter solstice. Jews have just been celebrating their “Celebration of Light” which they call Hanukkah. Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains celebrate a festival of lights called Diwali. There are Festivals of Light in Japan, China, America, France, Germany, Hawaii, Australia, and Mexico. Many places hold secular festivals as well, such as the Festival of Light in Vancouver and the Festival of Northern Lights in Owen Sound, Ontario. The darkness of mid-winter is equated with pain and evil and suffering. The return of the light to many means a welcome relief from the cold, long, dark nights of winter, and a return of joy, happiness, hope and goodness to the earth, along with the promise of spring and new life.
Christmas is our “Celebration of Light” in the Christian world. We associate the birth of Jesus with the coming of Light into a world too long suffering in the darkness of ignorance and spiritual immaturity and hopelessness.
For as the gospel writer John says, “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.” And then, “The true light which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.” As Christians we know Jesus as “the Light of the world”. His teachings brought his people hope, new understanding, new direction, a new way to live a new kind of life – a life of kindness and integrity, a life where justice matters and where loving one another became the prime commandment.
We are the fortunate inheritors of this new Way – the Way of Love, lived as God’s faithful people, charged to take care of the poor, seek justice for the oppressed, heal one another, forgive one another, so that a new life could be born on earth – something we call “the kingdom of God”.
This tiny Christ Child, born to us tonight, has become part of us, and in some mysterious way, we have become part of him. He lives in us as we live in him, and so his work continues to change the way we live, and the world we live in.
We are, each and every one of us beloved children of a God who is love. When we respect and honour the Divine presence within us, and when we reach out in love to each other, then we are blessed to be Christ’s embodiment in this world.
The Light of the Christ Child enters us once again this hallowed Christmas. We are so blessed.
Let us pray a prayer of blessing by Janice McLean of “The Prayer Bench”.
