One thing you cannot say about this sermon (of a sort) on Zechariah and Elizabeth from conservative demographer Mark Steyn is that it is "individualistic."
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Two of the best Christmas songs you have probably never heard
... or maybe just forgotten:
Bruce Cockburn, "Christmas Song"
Pat Metheny and Anna Maria Jopek, "Lulajze Jezunis (Polish Christmas Carol)"
Bruce Cockburn, "Christmas Song"
How did I miss this?
I'm not sure how I missed this BBC video on Dubuque, but here it is ... (just don't tell all the folks bailing out of ... you know ... elsewhere).
Christmas Day
Isaiah 6:8-13 OR Jeremiah 10:1-16 (17-25)
Psalm 35 OR Psalm 94
John 12:17-19, 37-50
Romans 11:2(b)-28 (29-32) 33-36
CALL TO WORSHIP
The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth
shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens.
They are both stupid and foolish;
They are both stupid and foolish;
the instruction given by idols is no better than wood.
They are worthless, a work of delusion;
They are worthless, a work of delusion;
at the time of their punishment they shall perish.
Not like these is the Lord, for the Lord is the true God;
he is the one who formed all things, the living God and the everlasting King.
At his wrath the earth quakes;
the nations cannot endure his indignation.
It is he who made the earth by his power,
who established the world by his wisdom,
and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.
When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens;
When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens;
he makes lightning for the rain and summons wind from his storehouses;
he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth.
The Lord of hosts is his name!
INVOCATION
There is none like you, O Lord, whose name is mighty and powerful. Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For that is your due. Among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is no one like you, who have sent your Son, Jesus Christ, as light into the world, that everyone who believes in him should not remain in darkness. For whoever sees and believes in the Son sees and believes in you, our Heavenly Father. Grant us, therefore, by the gift of your Holy Spirit, the light to see you clearly and the faith to believe in you fully, that we might testify to your truth and your love, for the service of your glory and for the sake of those lost in sin, crippled by fear, and weighed down by the cares of this world.
CALL TO CONFESSION
The Lord knows our thoughts, that they are but an empty breath. He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see? He who disciplines the nations, he who teaches knowledge to humankind, does he not chastise? As Jesus has said, “The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge.” Yet he gives them respite from trouble; they are counted happy and blessed who welcome his discipline, for the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage. Let us, therefore, confess our sins to God in penitence and faith, who banishes ungodliness and takes away sins.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Remember, O Lord, what your prophet has said, that the way of human beings is not in their control, that mortals as they walk cannot direct their steps. Remember, O Lord, and have mercy. Correct your children, O Lord, but in just measure; not in your anger, or you will bring us to nothing. For we confess not only our sins and misdeeds; we confess that, although you have performed countless signs in our presence, we have not always believed in your power, trusted in your grace, or remembered your mercies toward us; and when we have believed in you, we have often let the fear of human opinion keep us from testifying to your grace and glory. Forgive us, O Lord, for every sin we have committed, every affront we have caused; set us free from every illicit or frustrating bond; liberate your people for new life, as was and is your intended purpose in sending your Son Jesus Christ in the flesh to
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Shout for joy and be glad; say evermore, “Great is the Lord, who delights in the welfare of his servants.” Let those whom Christ has redeemed tell of his righteousness and praise the Lord all day long. For God has commanded eternal life for all who believe in Christ Jesus, who has said, “I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” Therefore, let us rejoice in the Lord, exult in his deliverance, and give thanks forevermore that in Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Christmas Morning
Ecclesiastes 7:15-29 OR Micah 7:1-20
Psalm 44
Matthew 10:9-23 OR Luke 12:1-12
Romans 3:1-22a
CALL TO WORSHIP
Jesus said, “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others,
the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God;
but whoever denies me before others
will be denied before the angels of God.”
You are my King and my God;
you have saved us from our foes;
In you we have boasted continually,
and we will give thanks to your name forever.
“Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light,
and what you have whispered behind closed doors
will be proclaimed from the housetops.”
We have heard with our ears, O God, our ancestors have told us,
what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old.
Rouse yourself! Why do you sleep, O Lord?
Awake, do not cast us off forever!
“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?
Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight.
But even the hairs of your head are all counted.
Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
Rise up, O Lord, and come to our help.
Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love.
Let not your righteous perish in righteousness,
or the wicked prosper in evil-doing.
Let us not spend our days in vanity.
INVOCATION
O Holy Savior, Son of God and Son of David, shepherd your people with your staff, as in the days of old, the flock that belongs to you, which abides in the midst of a garden land; show us marvelous things, as in the days when you came out of Egypt, so that the nations shall see, cover their mouths, and be ashamed of all their might. For you came into this world with nothing, and you have called us to go forth with nothing but your Spirit to teach us what to say, speaking peace to those who receive you and remaining at peace in the face of rejection. Give us, therefore, strength and sustenance for this earthly life, that we may have hope and courage to endure, for you have promised that those who endure to the end will be saved.
CALL TO CONFESSION
Surely there is no one on earth so righteous as to do good without ever sinning. For though God made human beings straightforward, he knows the secrets of the heart, and how inclined it is to devise many schemes. Truly, nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing is secret that will not become known. For all are under the power of sin, as it is written: There is no one who is righteous, not even one; all have turned aside; there is no one who shows kindness; there is no fear of God before their eyes. Truly, the faithful have disappeared from the land, and there is no one left who is upright; but the whole world will be held accountable to God. Therefore, let us repudiate sin and confess our need of our forgiving and redeeming Savior, Jesus Christ, born to save, now in our midst, and coming again.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
O Lord, God of our salvation, who is like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of your possession? For you have shown faithfulness to Jacob and unswerving loyalty to Abraham, as you swore to our ancestors from the days of old. We confess that we have not been true to your covenant; we have not always welcomed your prophesies and your prophets; neither have we obeyed your Word, your only begotten Son; we have allowed worldly desires to distract us from your will; and we have resisted the reign that Jesus came to preach, establish, and fulfill. Forgive us, Heavenly Father, for every sinful thought, every careless word, and every sinful deed, whether of action or inaction. Have mercy, O Lord; cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Bring us out from our darkness and into the light of your Son, that we may see and rejoice in his vindication and glory. This we ask, confident that your faithfulness is greater than our faithlessness, certain that, even if everyone is a liar, you will be proven true!
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
The Lord does not retain his anger forever, but delights in showing clemency. Forgiving, gracious, and compassionate, he hears the cries of those who wait for the God of salvation. If for a time we have borne the indignation of our Lord, he will soon execute judgment on our behalf, establishing his people, setting us free, delighting in us, and commanding our victory. For now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe in him. As for those who are in Christ: though we may fall, we shall rise again. Therefore, I declare to you in the name of Jesus Christ, you are redeemed, forgiven, and free.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
A Festival of Lessons and Carols
Amidst all the other seasonal demands, this liturgical orchestration can often feel burdensome, and in the process of attending to many details, certain other ones can be easily overlooked.
Even though this service traditionally relieves the preacher of the need to prepare a sermon, the preacher should keep his or her exegetical lenses near at hand, and attend to the following considerations in order to ensure the service is decent, orderly, and coherent:
(1) If there is a printed bulletin and the readings are listed therein, ask your readers to refrain from announcing the readings, and also from saying "The Word of the Lord/Thanks be to God" at the end of each reading. This practice is fine for a Sunday morning, but it grows tiresome and redundant in a service where there are nine lessons or so.
(2) Pay attention to where you ask people to sit and stand. The first time I planned such a service, I made the mistake of having people stand for every carol and sit for every reading. About halfway through the service, I realized this was ridiculous, and the congregation found ways of confirming it! Group your standing elements as best you can, as well as your sitting elements. If your tradition asks people to stand for the Gospel readings, you need to bear that in mind. I generally consider the quieter carols those that are best sung while seated, and the more lively, joyful, and triumphant carols best sung on one's feet. This is not always easy to arrange when you are seeking to ensure that readings and carol texts tell the story with a certain progression and coherence, but it is a good general rule of thumb.
(3) Obviously the choice of Carols can be endlessly adapted, and will depend on the hymnal(s) and songbook(s) you have available in the pews. So too can different scripture selections be made so as to include other passages not traditionally read on Christmas Eve. No doubt there will be complaints if the readings depart too markedly from, say, the infancy narratives (as would occur if you used Year D texts right off the page, with no regard to "tradition").
(4) There is an old tradition that provides for a progression through the ecclesial hierarchy when it comes to the ordering of readers, so that the first reader is a child or youth, and the last is the bishop, the vicar, or the "highest ranking" minister on hand. This seems to me to get things the wrong way around where the gospel is concerned.
I have tried to consider the nature of the reading, sometimes going from eldest to youngest, so that the reading of the Gospel is offered in a young voice with what we might call "the Linus effect." Or I simply do away with such progression and work to match the reading with the vocal quality of the reader. A (theologically) hard reading, e.g., may go down better, or at least invite people to listen more receptively, when the reader has a softer, pleasing, "innocent" voice. As a practical matter, I have generally led both opening and closing elements, in part because this allows me to both set the tone and ring the last note of the service, as it were.
(5) A significant, if not quite the primary, aim of the service should be to ensure that those who come but once or twice a year hear the gospel anew, and not merely in the same word-for-word fashion to which they may be accustomed.
The following liturgy is adapted from a service that was punctuated with several other solos, anthems, and items of "special music," so the interweaving of read and sung elements was even more intricate. The form I have printed below is stripped of those extra musical elements, so you may wish to assess how well you think these elements fit together at the transition points, bearing in mind the musical tempo and key, opening and closing lines, dominant images, etc., all in relation to the content of the readings that will either precede or follow them.
Several traditional readings are included here, but others are also included, notably the Romans and Hebrews texts, that frame things in (I think) a fresh way. I hope this at least helps you get started on planning such a service, and gives you some new texts to consider for reading within this lovely traditional liturgy.
Christmas Eve, December 24
Words of Introduction:
Our worship service this night follows roughly the liturgy of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols as first held on Christmas Eve 1918 at King’s College Cambridge, originally planned by Dean Eric Milner-White. The service this evening, however, incorporates a significant revision of that service where the selection of the lessons is concerned, seeking as it does, to recount the story of the birth of our Savior and Lord on the grand stage of salvation history, the whole drama, from Genesis to Revelation, of God’s plan to redeem the cosmos, the nation of Israel, the church, and the individual from the powers of sin, death, and the devil. May you find it conducive to your worship of God and may the Holy Spirit inspire you to ever greater joy, humility, and gratitude as you offer worship and adoration to him, our Wonderful Counselor, our Almighty God, our Everlasting Father, and to Jesus Christ, our Prince of Peace. To God be the glory. Let us worship God.
*Prologue: 1John 1:1-10
*Carol: “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”
*Bidding Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer:
Beloved of God in Christ, on this holy night, let us undertake to be reminded, to understand, and to delight in the great, mighty, and loving purpose of our holy and gracious God, from the first days of our primeval temptation, our fall, and our banishment from the Garden, to the final victory won for us by Jesus Christ, a victory that is foretold and promised in holy scripture, and by all indications is coming soon to its fulfillment. Let us hear again the story of the Incarnation of the Word of God, of the birth in Bethlehem of our glorious redemption, Jesus Christ, who came to save. And let us ask the Lord to guide, quicken, and enliven our listening, by laying before him all concerns and offering him our full devotion and attention this night. Let us pray:
O Lord our God, surely it pleases you when we remember before you the needs of the whole world, especially the need for peace on earth and good will toward all people; the need for unity and love, for gentleness and fellowship, and all the fruit of the Spirit, within the church that your Son Jesus came to build, and especially, here in this congregation, in this denomination, and in all churches where you are sought.
Lord, we are reminded of the poor and the homeless, the cold, the hungry, the lonely, the sick, those who mourn, those whose relationships have suffered in this year that is passed and those whose faith has been sorely tested. We are reminded of the needs of the aged and the infirm, of the young and impressionable, and of those who care for one or the other, and sometimes both. Give rest to your weary servants, O Lord.
We pray as well, for those who do not know you, those who do not love you, and for all who have, by sin, grieved your loving heart.
Lastly, O Lord, we give you thanks for all who rejoice with us this night, but upon other shores, your church across the world, and especially those who rejoice in your presence on that heavenly shore, in a greater light, those for whom there are no longer tears or suffering, those who comprise that great multitude that no one can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh and with whom, in the Lord Jesus, we are forever and ever made one. These things we pray in the name of above all names, who taught us to pray, saying:
Our Father …
*Carol: “Angels from the Realms of Glory”
First Lesson: Hosea 6:1-7
The Lighting of the Christ Candle
Second Lesson: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:4-6, 22-24
Third Lesson: Psalm 132
Carol: “Once in Royal David’s City”
Fourth Lesson: Revelation 12:1-12, 17
Carol: “What Child is This?”
Presentation of Tithes and Offerings
Offertory
*Doxology
*Prayer of Dedication
O Christ our King, you received gifts from the wise kings of old, and we would likewise offer you these gifts. May they be to you a fragrant offering, to bring healing and hope, relief and aid, to those in need, and may they be administered wisely, in accordance with your will. Amen.
*Carol: “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice!”
Fifth Lesson: Romans 5:12-21
Carol: “See, Amid the Winter’s Snow”
*Sixth Lesson: Matthew 1:18-25
*Carol: “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
*Seventh Lesson: Luke 2:8-20
Carol: “Angels We Have Heard on High”
Eighth Lesson: Revelation 22:1-7, 10-21
*The Collect for Christmas Eve:
God of Hope, who sent Christ Jesus, our true light and our living our hope, into this dark and dreary world for our forgiveness, our redemption, our reformation, and our joy, fill us now with all joy and peace in believing in him, so that we may abound in hope by the power of your Holy Spirit, for the glory of your name and for the completion of your godly joy; in Jesus’ name. Amen.
*Carol: “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen”
*The Sharing of the Light of Christ
*Carol: “Silent Night, Holy Night”
*Ninth Lesson: Hebrews 1:1-4, 14; 2:1-3a
*The Blessing (Jude 24-25):
Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
*Postlude
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).
Monday, December 19, 2011
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