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!
Joyful, all ye nations rise—join the triumph of the skies!
With the angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!
Welcome & Announcements
*Welcome to our annual Christmas Eve Service! We pray that you will discover the true meaning of Christmas tonight.
*Four of our five recently baptized and new church members along with our Deacons are participating in tonight’s 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 “Silent Night,” we ask that you be extra careful to keep the candle wax from dripping onto the carpet. Thank you.
*Following the service, there will be a reception of home-baked cookies upstairs in the Fellowship Hall (4th fl).
*Caroling in Chinatown will follow after the reception led by Deacon Suzanne Mak.
*Our church wishes you a blessed Christmas and look forward to having you join us for Sunday worship this coming Sunday.
No Darkness Here
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’t like to be in the dark.
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’s 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.
Isaiah spoke about God’s people during the time of failure and oppression under the rule of King Ahaz. Ahaz assumed that Israel’s future was his problem. But he was told that God has made it God’s problem. They were walking in darkness—full of distress, gloom and anguish.
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’t know the difference when there is light.
On this Christmas Eve, we have much darkness around us—and it’s just not the Winter Solstice. The darkness of preparing for war in Iraq;
the darkness of a nuclear threat from North Korea;
the darkness of murders in Oakland;
the darkness of homelessness and hunger in San Francisco;
the darkness of terrorism threats;
the darkness of corporate unethical business practices;
the darkness of the lies and dishonesty that we may have in our personal relationships;
the darkness of … 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?
On this Christmas Eve, the answer is “No!” The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; they who lived in a land of deep darkness—on 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.
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’s love permeates and transforms all of our society’s 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.
Don’t be afraid of the darkness. And don’t let the darkness surround you for God has called you as his disciples to walk in the light.
God’s great light is shining on us.
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.
Pastoral Prayer
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.
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.
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.
Offertory
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.
Offertory Prayer
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.
Lessons & Carols
Read the printed introduction.
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).
Benediction
Do not be afraid as you leave and go out into the darkness, for you see—I 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.
God bless you and Merry Christmas to all!