A Church House Christmas
“City Lights”
Amistad Chapel

GATHERING MUSIC							         
                                                                 									     
WELCOME                                                                                                                        

SCRIPTURE – Isaiah 40:1-5                                                                                           
(After a period of isolation from God, Isaiah 40 speaks to an audience who had lost hope.
God takes a new direction and commands that the people be comforted.
God says “enough” and offers a homecoming for those who have lost their way.)

“Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.  Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of God’s hand double for all her sins.  The voice of them that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.   Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of God shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of God hath spoken it.”
-King James Version - adapted

PRAYER  (Includes verses from  Hymn No. 116 from The New Century Hymnal)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
Like the ancient audience in Isaiah, we hunger for hope.
Will you come, God?  Will you forgive and forget what we have done?
Will you create reconciliation?  A highway for the lost traveler to find home?

Sung:
O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Child of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!

Like those who stepped away from your prophets, we hunger for peace.
Will you come, God?  Will you push us to listen more and war less?
Will you offer wholeness?  A way back to relationship through your comfort?

Sung:
O come, Desire of Nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind;
Make envy, strife, and quarrels cease; fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!

Like those who thought they knew better but knew little at all, we hunger for joy.
Will you come, God?  Will you show us that we look to shallow pools to satisfy our thirst?
Will you offer blessedness?  New eyes to see all that is given in grace?

Sung:
O come, O Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by your advent here;
Love stir within the womb of night, and death’s own shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!

And like those who have lost meaning, we hunger for love.
Will you come, God?  Will you cause our hearts to burn with passion and purpose?
Will you offer love?  A powerful invitation to create new possibilities? 

Sung:
O come, O Wisdom from on high, and order all things far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show, and help us in that way to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!

O come, Emmanuel, come.  
Bring reconciliation, wholeness, blessedness, and love.
O come, Emmanuel, come.  Amen.

*HYMN		            “It Came upon the Midnight Clear”                               No. 131 TNCH

THE STORY 	Luke 2: 1-20                                                                                              
“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.  (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)  And all went to be taxed, every one into their own city.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 
And, lo, the angel of God came upon them, and the glory of God shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

SONG                                                        “Silent Night”    
                                 
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, and on earth peace, good will toward all.

HYMN                                     “Angels We Have Heard On High”                              No. 125 TNCH
                                                     
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which God hath made known unto us.  And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.  And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.  And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.   And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”
King James Version - adapted
SONG		                                  “Follow the Star”
Words by Mary Kay Beall, Music by Lloyd Larson
The Church House Singers

MESSAGE				                                  

*HYMN                                                   “Silent Night, Holy Night”                                   No. 134 TNCH

*BENEDICTION                                                                                                                  
Hear the voices of the angels, proclaiming the birth, celebrating a new way.
…the whisper of God, nudging your heart, offering joy beyond measure.
…the cry of a child, needing our care now, caring for us forever.
And feel the Spirit lifting away sadness, offering blessing, and gifting hope.
Rejoice!  Jesus is born!

(Please join in singing the Postlude.)		
*POSTLUDE			                   “Joy to the World”                                        No. 132 TNCH

        ∞

City Lights: A Church House Christmas, was written by the Rev. Scott A. Ressman, Minister for Worship, Music and Liturgical Arts.

Copyright 2010 Local Church Ministries, Congregational Vitality and Discipleship Ministry Team, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH  44115-1100.  Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved.