Christmas Eve

  

Ecclesiastes 5:1-20 OR 7:1-14 OR Ezekiel 33:23-33

Psalm 21

Matthew 12:22-50 OR Luke 11:14-36 (37-54)

James 1:17-27

CALL TO WORSHIP

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God.

Draw near and listen!

        Let us consider the work of God.

        Can anyone make straight what he has made crooked?

God is in heaven, and you on the earth;

therefore let your words be few.

        To draw near to listen is better than the sacrifice of fools;

        for they do not know how to keep from doing evil.

But every good and perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of lights,

Eternal and unchanging, who gave us birth by the word of truth.

        Therefore, let us welcome with meekness the implanted word,

        Jesus Christ, who has the power to save our souls!

        Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength!

        We will sing and praise your power.

OPENING PRAYER

Holy and Loving God, by your Holy Spirit, your son Jesus Christ came to expose the darkness of this world, to cast out demons, to deal death to death, and to inaugurate your new heavenly reign in the midst of our languishing earthly reality. Christ Jesus, the only begotten, has declared that everyone who does your will is his brother and sister, and he has blessed all who hear your word and obey it! Indeed, he himself is the Word of God. Help us, therefore, this night and always, to hear and receive him and all the good news concerning him, that we might forever be occupied with the true joy of hearts: Jesus Christ, the Son of David; greater than Solomon, greater than Jonah, greater than all, he is the Word and the Wisdom that gives life!

CALL TO CONFESSION

Jesus said, “On the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Therefore, let us not be rash or quick to utter a word before God, but consider carefully how to rid ourselves of all forms of wickedness that are harbored in the human heart: anger, sordidness, greed, and deception; for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. And let us confess before God our need for a transformation of our hearts, that we might brings good things out of a good treasure, and speak the Word of truth: the good news concerning the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Let us confess our sins and our need of Christ our Redeemer, first silently, and then in unison, using the prayer that is printed in your bulletin.

                                       

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

[… after a time of silence, simply say, “And now together ...”]

Eternal God, holy and merciful, we confess that our speech has often led us into sin; our unbridled tongues have spoken words with which we have deceived ourselves and others; and our hearts have been so weighed down by worldly concerns that we have been blinded to the needs of others, neglectful of our responsibility for them, and forgetful of our accountability to you. We have often lived as though the gospel of your good will toward this world had never been heralded or heard. Forgive us, we pray, and cleanse us in spirit, soul, and body, both inside and out. Renew in us the gift of faith, that our faith may be pure and undefiled before you as we live in response to your grace, care for those in distress, and keep ourselves unstained by the world. Give us your Holy Spirit of mercy, charity, peace, and love, that we may be generous in speaking, in sharing, and in telling the joyful truth to all the world: the good news of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Savior and Lord, in whose holy name we pray. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

Surely each day is a gift from God, and wisdom is a good inheritance. It is God alone who enables us to find enjoyment in life, who keeps us occupied with the joy of our hearts, and makes his children to be like good trees, bringing forth good fruit. This he does by the greatest gift of all, Christ Jesus, the word of truth implanted in our hearts, and the Savior of our souls. Receive, therefore, the grace of God in Jesus Christ, believe the gospel, and be doers of the word, practicing the perfect law, the law not of death, but of freedom and liberty and love. Know that in Jesus Christ you are forgiven and be at peace.

____

NOTE ON THE LECTIONS: These lections may seem peculiar for a Christmas Eve service, but I would urge the preacher to consider the possibilities that arise in light of the implicit logos Christology evident in the Epistle of James, in lieu of the more explicit logos Christology of the Johannine literature, then view the other texts through that theology of the Word. The contrast between careless, foolish, vain human speech and the divine and "implanted" word of truth is one that I think frames the whole feast of the Incarnation and the prospect of Epiphany (or Christophany) rather well, actually. In other words, do not be put off by the seeming lack of Christmas themes here. No, there are no nativity stories included, but neither is there a need to preach in isolation from them. The primary consideration, I think, is to approach these lections, not as though they have nothing to say of Christmas, but in the very light of Christmas itself, the Revelation of God in the Incarnation of Jesus: God's saving, embodied speech to the world. Let Christmas have its sway over these texts and vice versa, and new insights will undoubtedly emerge. Ezekiel will remind us that God's revelation is not merely beautiful, but true. Jesus and James will call us to live the faith and not merely profess it. The light of Christ shining amidst the darkness will be understood, not merely esthetically, but in terms of his mission to overthrow the cosmic forces of evil. Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

NOTE ON SUGGESTED RESOURCES: It may seem strange to include Kierkegaard's attack literature among the resources you may wish to consult here, but I have listed The Moment and Late Writings because you may enjoy and find inspiration in his last published discourse, one that he actually preached in 1851, entitled, "The Changelessness of God" (based on his favorite text, James 1:17-21).