The Light Has Come-- Christmas Eve Service-- my first as a pastor... reflections and the message

photo by Chuck Crabtree

This was my first Christmas Eve as a pastor.  Though I wouldn't be spending it with family, I had prepared myself for that last year.  I knew that my Christmas Eve traditions would change once I stepped into the role of being a pastor.  It's not a bad thing, it's just different.  For us, it meant taking our teenager to my parent's house on Christmas Eve, visiting for a little while, and then heading up to begin the Christmas Eve service journey.  We would have Christmas dinner on Christmas day with family.

I was really looking forward to the evening with my co pastor, Tommy Messer.  We were going to be at all three services in the Holston GaP Parish together, serving communion and taking turns preaching.  However, as the day neared, Tommy got the "crud" that was going around... bronchitis.

Therefore, I had the unique experience of preaching my first Christmas Eve in three different churches.  I am very grateful for the laity that stepped up to the plate when grabbed at the last minute to help with the various readings and communion.

I missed the opportunity to share this holy night with my brother in Christ and co pastor.  At each church, we started the service in prayer for him.  In spite of not being able to be the paired pastors of the parish on Christmas Eve, it did turn out to be a very special evening.

Each church service was special and unique in its own way.  There were a few visitors at each service from the community and some family members who attended from out of town.  There was a sweet spirit in each of the services and I couldn't have asked for a better first experience of a Christmas Eve as a pastor.

Part of the great experience was that my husband was able to be with me the entire evening since it was his day off.  He was able to be with me and attend all three services.  Until he retires, that won't always be the case.

Those are my reflections from the evening.  Services were 5pm, 7pm, and 9pm.  I tried to take a picture at one of the churches and got a blurred view of candles.  I did a better job at the last church.  Someone else took some decent pictures and I'll post his here too.

As it always goes with sermons, what you will see below isn't necessarily 100% accurate of what was shared that evening.  It is a basic format and was added to or taken away from, depending on how things went and where I was.

May the light shine brightly this year!

Peace on your journey!

Debra

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"The Light Has Come!"

December 24, 2015 (Christmas Eve)

Isaiah 9:2-7, Luke 2:1-20 (NRSV)

Simpson UMC, Fort Oglethorpe UMC, Flintstone UMC

Isaiah 9:2-7 (NRSV)

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.
³ 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.
⁴ 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.
⁵ For all the boots of the tramping warriors
    and all the garments rolled in blood
    shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
⁶ 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.
⁷ 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.

Luke 2:1-20  (NRSV)

2 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. ² This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³ All went to their own towns to be registered. ⁴ 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. ⁵ He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. ⁷ 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. ⁸ In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ 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: ¹¹ to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

¹⁵ 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.” ¹⁶ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD.

THANKS BE TO GOD.                                                                          

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It is finally here.  Christmas Eve.  The day we have been moving toward through the Advent Season.  Slowly but surely we are made our way through the Advent season toward the celebration of the birth of Christ.  Our Advent Wreath became brighter each week as we added to the light.  Tonight we light the Christ Candle.  It is Christmas Eve.  Christmas time is finally here.

Rueben Job: "Christmas holds the key to unlocking the deepest mysteries of our lives: Who are we, where did we come from, is there meaning to our lives, and where are we going? [...] The birth of Jesus allows an experience of God with us and within us. [...] The great mystery of God unfolds in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.  Now we know who we are-- God's beloved children; to whom we belong--our faithful redeemer; and where we are going in our journey of life--to a place prepared for us.  Thus the Christmas story is such great news." (47, A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God)

The light has come!

In tonight's passages, we read first from Isaiah.  In that passage we read about the light in the midst of darkness and the hopeful proclamation and rejoicing.

I don't know what darkness you experience in your life, but know tonight, that the light has come!  We have gathered tonight to focus on the newborn infant, recognizing that we enter once again into the mystery of the Incarnation, God with Us, Emmanuel.  We respond with wonder and amazement.  It is a time for us to allow the light and love of Christ into our hearts once again, to fill us to overflowing, so that the love and light of Christ that fills us spills into those around us.

The second passage you heard is what is best known as the Christmas story, from Peanuts to Christmas plays.  Mary and Joseph have travelled far.  They are weary.  It has been a rough week for them.  Can you relate to them?  Verse 7 tells us that it was time for Mary to deliver her first born, but they were not staying in an inn, so she laid him in a manger. The angel brings the glorious news to the shepherds: " ¹¹ to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord." and they make their way to see the child. Mary took everything in that the shepherds told her and treasured it in her heart.

As we take these two passages together this evening, from Isaiah and Luke,  let's recognize that the light has come and the newborn child, God with Us, Emmanuel, has come. Let us treasure these things in our hearts and allow God to illuminate everything.

At the end of this Advent season, we are reminded again that the light has come and has overcome the darkness.  One other reminder of this is from the Gospel of John 1:1-5 in which we read about Jesus' entry into the world, the Word made flesh: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being ⁴ in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it." 

In closing, I want to share with you the lyrics to a song that has been on my mind this week, "No More Night" by David Phelps.  David Phelps sang with the Gaither Vocal Band, but has toured on his own too. 

Though in a way this song is more appropriate for when Christ is resurrected, it can also be appropriate tonight as we recognize Christ's place in our lives, God with us, Emmanuel.  We have watched the light grow brighter through the Advent season as we approached the celebration of the Savior's birth.  There is now light.... no more night nor darkness.

NO MORE NIGHT by David Phelps

The timeless theme, Earth and Heaven will pass away
It's not a dream, God will make all things new that day
Gone is the curse from which I stumbled and fell
Evil is banished to eternal hell

No more night, no more pain
No more tears, never crying again
And praises to the great, "I AM"
We will live in the light of the risen Lamb

See all around, now the nations bow down to sing
The only sound is the praises to Christ, our King
Slowly the names from the book are read
I know the King, so there's no need to dread

No more night, no more pain
No more tears, never crying again
And praises to the great, "I AM"
We will live in the light of the risen Lamb

See over there, there's a mansion
Oh, that's prepared just for me
Where I will live with my Savior eternally

No more night, no more pain
No more tears, never crying again
And praises to the great, "I AM"
We will live in the light of the risen Lamb

All praises to the great, "I AM"
We're gonna live in the light of the risen Lamb

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God has come here to be with you, with me.  God chose to be with us. The light has come!

May we live in the light of the newborn and risen Lamb!

Amen.