December 20, 2023

Prelude
Stephanie Shorden

Welcome
Rev. David Petty

*Hymn
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
v. 1-4 UMH #211
 
1. O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lowly exile here
until the Son of God appear.
 
Refrain
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.
 
2. O come, thou wisdom from on high,
and order all things far and nigh;
to us the path of knowledge show
and cause us in her ways to go.
 
Refrain
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.
 
3. O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient times once gave the law
in cloud and majesty and awe.
 
Refrain
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.
 
4. O come, thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
an ensign of thy people be;
before thee rulers silent fall;
all peoples on thy mercy call.
 
Refrain
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.

Greeting
Pastor Donnie Sturgill: The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

All: And also with you. 

Pastor Donnie Sturgill: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow, a light has shone. For the yoke that was weighing upon them, and the burden upon their shoulders, you have broken in pieces, O God, our Redeemer.
Today we sit on the Eve of the longest night, that day when the sun seems farthest away, and the dark night at its most oppressive. So too do we sit on the edge of Christmas, that season of light, family, and jollity.

But even as we sit on the cusp of celebration, so we remember that Christmas is not always a season of light and joy, that for many of us there will be an empty seat in the living room, someone missing from Christmas table: a voice now silent, laughter not heard.

In this service we remember those who we love but will not see: those from whom we are separated by sickness, death, or some other reason, and we remember them and name them before God. Let us pray:

All: God of mercy, hear our prayer in this Advent season for ourselves and for our families who live with painful thoughts and memories.

We ask for strength for today, courage for tomorrow and peace for the past. We ask these things in the name of your Christ, who shares our life in joy and sorrow, death and new birth, despair and promise. Amen.

Special Music
Stay With Me
Dominick Nors
 
Scripture Reading
Isaiah 40:1, 25-31
CLM Twinkle Gordon

Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. To whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these?
He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name; because he is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is missing. Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel,
‘My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God’? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
The Word of God for the people of God.

All: Thanks be to God.

Scripture Reading
Psalm 121
Rev. David Petty

 I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from where is my help to come? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth He will not let your foot be moved and he who watches over you will not fall asleep. Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord himself watches over you; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. So that the sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; it is he who shall keep you safe. The Lord shall watch over your going out and your coming in, from this time forth for ever more.

The Word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.

Scripture Reading
Matthew 11:28-30
CLM Twinkle Gordon

‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’
The Word of God for the people of God.

All: Thanks be to God.

Hymn
Come and Fill Our Hearts
TFWS #2157
WORDS & MUSIC: Jacques Berthier
© 1982, 1991 Les Presses de Taizé (France), admin. by GIA Publications, Inc.
 
Come and fill our hearts
with your peace.
You alone, O Lord,
are holy.
 
Come and fill our hearts
with your peace,
Alleluia!
 
Reflection
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

Introduction
Pastor Donnie Sturgill
 
First Candle
CLM Twinkle Gordon

Leader: The first candle we light to remember those persons whom we have loved and lost. We pause to remember their name, their voice, their face, the memory that binds them to us in this season. We hold them before God, giving thanks for their lives in ours. Please take a moment to remember those who have died. I invite you to name them, aloud or in the silence of your hearts….

People: Lord, each of us takes our loved one by the hand and leads them to you, the God of love. Here we present them to you. Accept our love and thanksgiving as we entrust them to your loving care. Thank you for the gift each of these people has been in our lives. We want to believe that we will celebrate the treasure of love with them again, when we are all in your presence forever.

May this truth sustain us in the days to come. Take our sad and aching hearts and comfort us. Comfort us, for we only feel hollowness and emptiness. God of sorrowing, draw near! Amen.

Chant
Oh Lord, Hear My Prayers
TFWS #2200
WORDS & MUSIC: Jacques Berthier
© 1984 Les Presses de Taizé (France) admin. by GIA Publications, Inc.

O Lord, hear my prayer.
O Lord, hear my prayer.
When I call, answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer.
O Lord, hear my prayer.
Come and listen to me.
 
O Lord, hear my prayer.
O Lord, hear my prayer.
When I call, answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer.
O Lord, hear my prayer.
Come and listen to me.
 
Second Candle
Rev. David Petty

Leader: The second candle we light tonight is to redeem the pain of loss; the loss of relationships, the loss of jobs with the security they bring, the loss of health in ourselves or in family members, the loss of joy and peace in our lives from the stresses which surround us, the loss and loneliness we experience when our loved ones do not share our faith.

As we gather up the pain of the past we offer it to you, O God, asking that into our open hands you will place the gift of peace. Please take a moment to remember the losses. I invite you to name them, aloud or in the silence of your hearts….

People: God of mystery, we turn our hearts to you. We come before you in need of peace, grateful for the mystery of life and ever keenly aware of your promises of guidance and protection.

We want to place our trust in you, but our hearts grow fearful and anxious. We forget so easily that you will be with us in all that we experience. Teach us to be patient with the transformation of our lives and to be open to the changes which we are now going through. Amen.

Chant
Oh Lord, Hear My Prayers
TFWS #2200
WORDS & MUSIC: Jacques Berthier
© 1984 Les Presses de Taizé (France) admin. by GIA Publications, Inc.

O Lord, hear my prayer.
O Lord, hear my prayer.
When I call, answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer.
O Lord, hear my prayer.
Come and listen to me.

O Lord, hear my prayer.
O Lord, hear my prayer.
When I call, answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer.
O Lord, hear my prayer.
Come and listen to me.

Third Candle
CLM Twinkle Gordon
 
Leader: The third candle we light for those who experience a loss of direction in their lives. God of the Exodus, you led Moses and your people through the wilderness to a new land. Hear our prayer. We want so much to have a sense of direction, to know where we are and where we ought to be headed. But the darkness and the questions stay.

You ask us to be full of faith, to believe deep within that you are our signpost, that you are our wisdom and our guide, and to trust in your presence. Your words to us are clear: “Do not fear, I go before you.”

People: God of our depths, we cry out to you to be our guide. Help us to have a strong sense of inner direction and grant that we may have the reassurance of knowing that we are on the right path. Take our lives and use them according to your will. Take all that is lost in us and bring it home with you. Amen.

Chant
Oh Lord, Hear My Prayers
TFWS #2200
WORDS & MUSIC: Jacques Berthier
© 1984 Les Presses de Taizé (France) admin. by GIA Publications, Inc.

O Lord, hear my prayer.
O Lord, hear my prayer.
When I call, answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer.
O Lord, hear my prayer.
Come and listen to me.
 
O Lord, hear my prayer.
O Lord, hear my prayer.
When I call, answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer.
O Lord, hear my prayer.
Come and listen to me.

Fourth Candle
Rev. David Petty

The fourth candle we light as a sign of hope, the hope that the Christmas story offers to us. We remember that God, who shares our life, promises us a place and time of no more pain and suffering.
 
People: O God whose spirit is known by those whose hearts are thankful, and who makes cheerfulness a companion of strength, lift up our hearts, we pray, to a joyous confidence in your care. Guide us when we cannot see the way.

Teach us to know that a shadow is only a shadow, because the light of eternal goodness shines behind the object of our fears. Where there is love in life, teach us to find it; help us to trust it and enable us to grow in the power of love.

 So may our lives bring comfort and encouragement to others. We ask it, in the name of Jesus Christ whose life is our light. Amen.

Chant
Oh Lord, Hear My Prayers
TFWS #2200
WORDS & MUSIC: Jacques Berthier
© 1984 Les Presses de Taizé (France) admin. by GIA Publications, Inc.

O Lord, hear my prayer.
O Lord, hear my prayer.
When I call, answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer.
O Lord, hear my prayer.
Come and listen to me.
 
O Lord, hear my prayer.
O Lord, hear my prayer.
When I call, answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer.
O Lord, hear my prayer.
Come and listen to me.
 
Lighting of Individual Candles
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

Leader: Each of us comes bearing our own hurts, sorrows, broken places. I invite each of you to offer your personal wound to the God who loves each of us deeply and wants to carry our pain.
God waits patiently, gently calling out: “Give me your pain, come to me… all who labour and are heavy laden, I will refresh you!”

I invite you now to light your candle. As you light the candle, remember that it is God who lights a candle in our darkness and holds us close until we are able to shine.

These lights in their brightness are only symbols, but as they burn and will eventually go out, we remember that suffering passes, though memory remains forever.

Closing Prayer
Rev. David Petty

Together, we embrace and claim the darkness that is present both in the world and in our own lives.

As people who are familiar with the darkness, we also know that we gather to be illumined by the light of the Christ Child this Christmas season.

May the Christ Child, born in a lowly stable, himself an outcast and on the margins of society, bring light, comfort, peace, and joy this Christmas season.

As you look at the flame of your candle, may you ponder the mystery and wonder of how grief can exist in a season such as this and how we hope for the intervention of joy as well. As you leave the sanctuary, we invite you to keep your candle lit as long as you like and when you are ready, you may blow it out.

*Sending Hymn
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
UMH #196
WORDS: Charles Wesley, 1744
1. Come, thou long-
expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears
and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
 
Israel’s strength
and consolation,
hope of all
the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.
 
2. Born thy people
to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign
in us forever,
now thy gracious
kingdom bring.
 
By thine own
eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all
sufficient merit,
raise us to
thy glorious throne.

*Benediction
Pastor Donnie Sturgill
Hear this blessing and benediction as I leave you with these words and together, we affirm our hope for the future.
Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you, scatter the darkness from before your path, and make you ready to meet him when he comes in glory; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.

May the hope of the Christ Child sustain us through this darkness.
Together we share in the hope that we may shine again. Amen.

Postlude
Stephanie Shorden