“Midnight Mass 2009”
GATHERING MUSIC
Our worship begins with the first note of our Gathering Music.
If you must whisper, let it be a prayer.
* CALL TO WORSHIP (Isaiah 9:6)
For a child has been born for us,
A son given to us;
Authority rests upon his shoulder, and he is named:
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,Prince of Peace.
* CALL TO CONFESSION
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of grace and truth, in Jesus Christ you came among us as light shining in darkness. We confess that we have not welcomed the light, or trusted good news to be good. We have closed our eyes to glory in our midst, expecting little, and hoping for less. Forgive our doubt, and renew our hope, so that we may receive the fullness of your grace and live in the truth of Christ the Lord. (Moment for silence for personal confession) Amen.
* ASSURANCE OF PARDON
* GLORY TO GOD
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, Amen.
* PASSING OF THE PEACE
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Almighty God, this holy night marks the start of something very special. Help us to know the peace of the coming of the Lord. Send the Holy Spirit to open our ears, open our minds, and open our hearts, to the message that you have for us this day. Amen.
Tonight is a worship service of light, as we approach Midnight… we get closer and closer to the one true light. With every candle lit… we remember one of the characters in the Nativity narrative. Their lives enlighten the message of hope, the message of love, the message of joy, and the message of peace for us this holy night.
Opening Scriptures: John 1:9-14
“The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
The First Candle is Lit (Remembering Mary)
Luke 1:26-38
26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." 34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God." 38 "I am the Lord’s servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
Lighting the Candle
As we light the first candle… we remember Mary. We remember the young girl rejected by her community… shunned for her condition… placed in a terrible position. Yet she served… willingly… enthusiastically… she followed the call of God. We light this first candle, and remember how hard it was for Mary to follow the will God. May we be so inspired… as to follow the will of God in our own lives. Remembering Mary, we light the first candle. [Light the First Candle]
*SONG “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” #199
The Second Candle is Lit (Remembering the Shepherds)
The coming king was not first announced to kings, he was not first announced to religious leaders, he was first announced to lowly shepherds… people despised in their day. Rogues, bandits, and thieves… these were the least likely men to receive this special message of hope and joy. This stressed the fact that this king would be different… he would be a king for all people.
Luke: 2:8-20
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
SO they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”
Lighting the Candle
As we light the second candle of advent… we remember these lowly shepherds. We remember how they were despised and outcast. We remember how God chose THEM, of all people to give the greatest news on earth. We celebrate with joy… the fact that Jesus came for ALL people… that none should be excluded. Remembering the shepherds, we light the second candle. [Light the Second Candle]
*SONG “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night” #197
The Third Candle is Lit (Remembering the Magi)
This amazing gift of light was foretold long before that first Christmas. The prophets had long prophesied the coming of our King… the coming of our savior… the coming of the one true light.
Isaiah 7:14
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
Wisemen also foretold his coming, as they saw the star and understood what it meant. They knew that the new king had been born!
Matthew 2:1-12
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “For this is what the prophet has written: “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their county by another route.”
Lighting the Candle
We remember how these three very important men came to visit Jesus… yet scripture doesn’t even bother to remember their names. These kings among men could not even come close to comparing with the almighty king lying in the manger. As we remember the three kings, we light the third candle. [Light the Third Candle]
*SONG “We Three Kings of Orient Are” #220
It is almost time. The nation of Israel had waited for centuries for the coming of their messiah… and their wait was about to come to an end. We have been waiting for weeks, as we have lit candle after candle… and our wait is also about to come to an end. We now remember the angels… and their special message for all of us!
The Fourth Candle is Lit (Remembering Bethlehem)
Bethlehem, was not prepared for the arrival of a king! During the great census, Mary and Joseph would find no room in the inn. They would resort to staying in a lowly stable. We are reminded that we must prepare ourselves, or we too will be found unprepared for the arrival of the king.
Luke 2:1-7
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her first born, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Lighting the Candle
As we light the third candle… we remember the city that was unprepared for a king’s arrival, and we are reminded to prepare ourselves! Remembering Bethlehem, we light the fourth candle. [Light the Fourth Candle]
*SONG “Away in a Manger” #213
OFFERING (The Offering tonight goes to the Joy Offering)
OFFERTORY
*PRAISE TO GOD
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give our thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
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.
COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE
The Christ Candle is Lit (Remembering Christ)
As midnight now approaches… we look to the final candle… the Christ candle… to be lit. Now is the time we have waited for all these weeks… the arrival of the true light… the arrival of the baby boy… the arrival of our king!
Isaiah 9:2-7
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder. 4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. 5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
Lighting the Candle
As we light the Christ candle… we remember the small babe, born for us that we may know peace… that we may know reconciliation… that we may know heaven! Remember the Christ child, we light the Christ Candle. [Light the Christ Candle]
As we sing our closing song, we will light our own candles… and carry the light of Christ with us tonight as we go out into the world. We invite you to dip the unlit candle towards the candle that is lit… and pass the light of Christ to everyone within these walls.
*SONG “Silent Night” #189
CHARGE AND BLESSING
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace both now and forevermore. Alleluia! Amen!
