December 24, 2002<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hark! The herald angels sing! Glory to the newborn King!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Peace on earth, and mercy mild! God and sinners reconciled!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Joyful, all ye nations rise\u2014join the triumph of the skies!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the angelic host proclaim, \u201cChrist is born in Bethlehem!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*Welcome to our annual Christmas Eve Service! We pray that you will discover the true meaning of Christmas tonight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*Four of our five recently baptized and new church members along with our Deacons are participating in tonight\u2019s traditional service tonight. Some of the readings will be in English and others will be in Chinese. We invite you to follow by turning to the pages listed in the bulletin. When we light our candles during the singing of \u201cSilent Night,\u201d we ask that you be extra careful to keep the candle wax from dripping onto the carpet. Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*Following the service, there will be a reception of home-baked cookies upstairs in the Fellowship Hall (4th<\/sup> fl).<\/p>\n\n\n\n *Caroling in Chinatown will follow after the reception led by Deacon Suzanne Mak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n *Our church wishes you a blessed Christmas and look forward to having you join us for Sunday worship this coming Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We lost power for 12 hours. Some of you lost power much longer than that. We found the flashlight, lit candles, huddle under blankets, and sip a cup of hot tea to keep warm. And when the power came back on, you can hear a symphony of cheers around the neighborhood. We don\u2019t like to be in the dark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From our various dark neighborhoods, we have gotten into our cars, turned on our headlights to drive down to a sometimes very dark place called Chinatown. With the help of each other\u2019s hands and arms, we made our ways along dark alleys and streets to come into this brightly lit church home. We feel safe here from the dark world outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Isaiah spoke about God\u2019s people during the time of failure and oppression under the rule of King Ahaz. Ahaz assumed that Israel\u2019s future was his problem. But he was told that God has made it God\u2019s problem. They were walking in darkness\u2014full of distress, gloom and anguish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When we get used to living in this darkness, we soon learn to adjust to it as normal and okay. The darkness around us becomes who we are and we are consumed by it. We begin to get used to it and pretty soon we don\u2019t know the difference when there is light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this Christmas Eve, we have much darkness around us\u2014and it\u2019s just not the Winter Solstice. The darkness of preparing for war in Iraq;<\/p>\n\n\n\n the darkness of a nuclear threat from North Korea;<\/p>\n\n\n\n the darkness of murders in Oakland;<\/p>\n\n\n\n the darkness of homelessness and hunger in San Francisco;<\/p>\n\n\n\n the darkness of terrorism threats;<\/p>\n\n\n\n the darkness of corporate unethical business practices;<\/p>\n\n\n\n the darkness of the lies and dishonesty that we may have in our personal relationships;<\/p>\n\n\n\n the darkness of \u2026 We can name so many dark situations in our world that we seem to accept and adjust to its reality. Will we let darkness surround us and become a people who walk in darkness?<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this Christmas Eve, the answer is \u201cNo!\u201d The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; they who lived in a land of deep darkness\u2014on them, light has shine. We have lit candles around the church so that no dark corner remains hidden. We have lit luminaries to light up the dark streets of Chinatown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Jesus Christ came unto us, his authority is above all governments. God is going to take the government, the rule of the world off our shoulders and put all authority on the back of a baby and will call his name, Emmanuel. Christ\u2019s love permeates and transforms all of our society\u2019s institutions and values. He will establish and uphold justice. He will lift the yoke off your shoulders. In Jesus Christ there shall be endless peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t be afraid of the darkness. And don\u2019t let the darkness surround you for God has called you as his disciples to walk in the light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God\u2019s great light is shining on us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a child has been born for us, a son given to us;<\/p>\n\n\n\n authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God of glory, Lord of light, on this solemn night we come before you and confess the darkness in which we live. The gloom of doubt dims our souls. The dreariness of evil blots out the glow of your goodness. On this holy evening, dispel the darkness, and lead us into the healing warmth of your light. For we trust that even in our darkest hours, your light continues to shine, and the darkness cannot overcome it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God of glory, on this holy night, the heavenly angels lift their voices in praise. The stars dance for joy at the sacred birth. Shepherds hurry from their lonely fields to offer their awe. May we this night, join with them, and with all creation, in rejoicing that our Savior has come. Lead us to Bethlehem, that we might behold the wondrous gift that you have given us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We pray that all the world might know you tonight. Cause the people of every land to kneel before the Prince of Peace. Silence the gunfire and explosions that mar this night. Comfort the fearful. Take us from the darkness of hatred and destruction, and lead us into the light of the new day that you have ordained, a day of life and peace and joy. At times that day seems so far removed from us. But just as you did at Bethlehem, break into your world yet again and send forth your saving power. In the name of the Holy One, the Lord of lords, the King of kings, whose birth we celebrate this night, we pray. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We, who have seen the Light of the world, are invited to share together in the ministry for those who have dedicated their lives for life-long discipleship and servanthood. Our offering will be used to show our support for retired ministers and missionaries in the American Baptist churches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Offertory Prayer<\/p>\n\n\n\n God of glory and wonder, what gift can we offer? For you have given us the greatest gift of all. Along with shepherds and wise men and companies of angels, we bow before you this night and offer what we have as a celebration of the joy of the world! Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read the printed introduction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We will proceed in the hearing of the 9 lessons and anthems, and the singing of the carols without any other announcements. The carols can be found in both the red English hymnals (E) and the brown Chinese hymnals (C).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do not be afraid as you leave and go out into the darkness, for you see\u2014I am bringing you good news of great joy for all people: to you is born on this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord, the Light of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God bless you and Merry Christmas to all!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Christmas Eve Candlelight Service December 24, 2002 Call to Worship Hark! The herald angels sing! Glory to the newborn King! Peace on earth, and mercy mild! God and sinners reconciled!No Darkness Here<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Pastoral Prayer<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Offertory<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Lessons & Carols<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Benediction<\/h6>\n\n\n\n