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Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? #5

Reflections and Worship for Christmas and Advent

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LIGHT SHINES IN DEEPEST NIGHT

Meditations by Marjorie J. Thompson
Services by Larry J. Peacock
Activities by Kathleen Connolly

Table of Contents

Reflections for Advent and the Christmas Season

Reflections for Advent and the Christmas Season

LIGHT SHINES IN DEEPEST NIGHT

INTRODUCTION:

Even when we realize Christmas is too hectic, too commercialized, too tiring, it's difficult to know how to make our Christmas celebrations more meaningful and fulfilling. We have difficulty wading through the holiday chaos to find the Child hidden in a manger.

We can refocus our Christmas celebrations by scheduling time during Advent to prepare our hearts for the Christ Child. We can then celebrate a joyous Christmas and Epiphany.

These seven weekly sessions are designed to help you refocus your Christmas activities. Each session includes a meditation, a household service and several activities. Set aside time each week beginning with Advent and ending with Epiphany for those in your household to gather. Single adults can use the resources for quiet meditation and prayer. They can also gather with other single people or with a family for weekly sessions. We encourage families to invite others to join in their weekly gatherings.

Depending on the ages of participants, either alone or as a group, participants can review the Bible passages listed for each week and read the meditation. Those in the group can then take turns reading the different parts of the service. (If you are observing the service alone, you might want to read the service aloud as well.) The suggested activities can be done immediately following the services or during different days throughout the week. All parts of the sessions can be tailored to meet your needs or the needs of your family.

You will need to bring a Bible, an Advent wreath and matches to each of the sessions. Depending on what activities you choose to do, you may need other materials. Read over the activities and gather materials ahead of time.

If you do not have an Advent wreath, you will need to construct one sometime before Advent begins. The wreath can be made with a variety of materials. One way that avoids the use of styrofoam is as follows: Take a large flat shallow bowl (at least nine inches in diameter) and fill it with sand or coarse salt. Place four purple candles around the edge of the bowl. Place a large candle, either red or white to symbolize Christ, in the center. Stick the candles down in the sand or salt so they are placed securely. Make a circle of evergreens and place them around the bowl. Place your finished wreath in a prominent place where it can stay throughout the season.

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About the Authors

Marjorie J. Thompson is an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church USA. She currently serves as Adjunct Faculty for Vanderbilt Divinity School, teaches in the United Methodist Academy for Spiritual Formation, and leads retreats, workshops and seminars for those of various denominations. Her first book, Family: The Forming Center (Upper Room, 1989) explores spiritual formation in the family. Her writings have appeared in Worship, Weavings, and the Upper Room Disciplines.

Larry J. Peacock serves as co-pastor of Malibu United Methodist Church (Malibu, California) with his wife Anne Broyles. He has lived in a Quaker community, has led numerous spiritual growth retreats, and has written a guide for spiritual formation for local churches. Some of the prayers used here have been adapted from Water Words, a quarterly worship resource published by Peacock.

Kathleen Connolly, formerly Director of Family Life for a large Catholic parish and Volunteer Coordinator for Meals on Wheels and the Council on Aging, and former Alternatives board member, has lead many workshops on simple lifestyle and family ritual in the Orlando, Florida area.

 

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 FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT

God's Sovereign Reign: Judgment and Promise

FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT: Isaiah 2:1-5, Matthew 24:36-44

REFLECTION

Our readings for this first week of Advent point us to God's sovereign rule in human affairs. Promise and judgment are found side by side in these passages. It is sometimes hard for us to hold God's promise and God's judgment together in our minds. They seem to move in opposite directions, one holding out hope and joy, the other full of menace and anguish. Yet Jesus himself joins the prophets of Israel in binding judgment and promise together.

The divine promise spoken by Isaiah tells of a day when people of every nation will stream to God's temple in Jerusalem. Their disagreements will be settled not by force but by "the word of God." Imagine a world where people trusted God's word to solve their disputes! Surely it takes divine wisdom to judge fairly in the complicated hurts and misunderstandings between people. What if we sought out God's will in every matter of conflict within and between nations? Do you think it is possible for our fear and suspicion to be truly changed through common trust in God? This is Isaiah's vision: a world finally recognizing God's sovereign rule, willing to learn God's way of life, and trusting divine judgments to bring about justice and peace.

Remember, however, this inviting promise comes only after a judgment of God's wrath. In Scripture, judgments of wrath are the natural consequences of human foolishness. They are also a cleansing of sin which makes possible God's promise for new life. In a sinful world, then, judgment and promise cannot be separated. The new cannot come unless the old has been purified and healed.

Now perhaps we can better understand Jesus' words about "the end of the age" in Matthew's gospel. The Human One* will return to bring divine judgment upon an unrepentant world, but also to usher in the promised new age of justice and peace. Our all-knowing God will divide one human being from another without error; God reads the heart and cannot be fooled by outward appearances. One person will be accepted and preserved while another will be left to the fate lying within a way of life that freely chooses to oppose God.

The question is, what choices are we making in our lives now that accord with God's will? Do we consciously live in love - accepting all persons as of equal value, thinking of others before ourselves, being compassionate toward the weaknesses of others, forgiving those who hurt us, asking forgiveness of those we hurt, and being generous to all, especially those with special need? Are we alert to fairness and equity in our dealings with others, whether at home, at work, or at play? Do we pray not only for personal blessings, but for the healing of our families, our schools, our churches, our nation, and our world? Do we join with others to make our communities more faithful to the love and justice of God?

This is how we stay awake, prepared for the coming of the Human One. "Staying alert" does not mean rejecting normal life while we wait for God's kingdom to drop upon us. It means living our daily lives in a way that helps us remember to whom we belong. It means not getting so caught up in surface things that we forget God's loving presence and demanding claim on our lives. When we have eyes to see the "little comings" of God in our midst, and ears to hear the divine whispers of warning, guidance, and assurance that remind us who and whose we are, then we have nothing to fear. We are prepared for both the judgment and promise of our sovereign God. 

SERVICE

Reader:
Lighting a candle is a simple yet profound act. It is a testimony to the power of light over darkness. Even the light of one candle can reveal our faces as we are seated around this table in the darkness.

(Make the room dark and designate someone to light the first Advent candle. Take a minute of silence to notice the light reflected on each others' faces. You may wish to add a little more light to read the Blessing of the Light and the rest of the service.)

Blessing of the Light
One candle, burning bright,
Chasing away the darkness with light.
One candle, glowing light,
The blessing of God, giving new sight.
Reader:
One way to prepare for the coming of Christ is to light candles. It is the custom in many parts of the world to place a candle in the window so Mary and Joseph would know this home was waiting and ready to welcome the Christ Child. Let us reflect for a moment and then share places we can put a candle in our home to show hospitality. What other ways are we getting ready for the Child who inaugurates the new reign of God?
Prayer
God of Light,
place a candle in our hearts,
so we may walk as children of the Light,
treading gently on the paths of peace
and ever ready to welcome the signs of new life.
Amen.

ACTIVITIES

1. Collect samples of holiday advertising from papers, magazines, and catalogs. Carefully study a few ads. Does the product featured in the advertisement make promises about what it can or will do for you? What props were used to convey the message (e.g., models, clothing, fancy cars, furniture, etc.)? What is the ad really trying to say? If young children are involved, have them choose some ads that appeal to them. Look closely at the ads; how do they target children? Discuss.

2. Think of a time when you made a promise and broke it. Could this have been avoided? Try to remember a time when someone broke his/her promise to you. How did you feel? During this holiday season, be mindful of the promises you make.

3. Recall and discuss an Advent or Christmas ritual or tradition from your childhood which fostered a sense of security or belonging. Is this ritual a part of your family tradition today? Why or why not? If there are young children in your group, ask them to talk about Christmas traditions they find most meaningful.

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SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT

Preparing fore the Messiah: Repentance

SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT: Isaiah 11:1-10, Matthew 3:1-12

REFLECTION

This week, Isaiah moves us from God's direct reign over all people to the vision of an ideal human leader - God's Messiah - ruling with justice and compassion by "the spirit of God."

Messiah simply means "anointed one." In early Israel, it was the peoples' fervent hope that every king of David's line would embody the ideal leader described by Isaiah: one who would not judge by appearance or hearsay, but who would be fair and trustworthy toward the helpless.

How different this sounds from the rulers and power-brokers we know in our world! Sadly, the hope of Israel for such spirit-led rulers was never fully met in the days of her kings either. When the last king of David's line died in exile, the hope for such an ideal leader was pinned on a future Messiah.

Isaiah knows wise and unbiased governing can only come from someone gifted with insight, strength, and grace by the spirit of God. The harmony of this reign will go beyond peoples and nations to include all creatures. What a magnificent promise we have here! It is the peaceable kingdom, a vision of the whole created order restored. How desperately we need hope for a healed creation today!

Advent is a gift of time to prepare ourselves for the coming of God's anointed one. The message of John the Baptist helps us see how to prepare for a Messiah whose reign brings universal peace. Preparation begins with repentance.

Repentance has several dimensions. It asks of us: 1) the humility to name our sins for what they are; 2) true remorse for what we do to grieve God; and 3) honest confession before God and one another of the sins we would rather hide. Yet repentance goes beyond confession; it also asks us to "turn around" with a firm resolve to choose God's way rather than our own. Real repentance demands a changed life, one more in keeping with the divine will. That is why John the Baptist stresses that we must "bear fruit worthy of repentance." If repentance expresses real sorrow for disappointing God and genuine desire to please God in our way of life from now on, the results will be evident. If our confession is more like a child's ploy to avoid punishment, it will not result in serious change.

Most of us are good at fooling ourselves, which makes it easier to deny our faults. This is often true for our families, churches, and nations as well. Sometimes even when we suffer from guilt, we resist healthy sorrow for our destructive or careless behavior. And sometimes the deadly combination of guilt and despair blocks our effort to live in a new way. Despair reveals that we have lost our faith.

To change bad habits in our attitudes and behaviors is hard work. It takes courage, persistence, and trust in God's powerful grace at work in us. Change is easier in a community of faith where we can be supported and challenged in love. Yet each of us personally must choose afresh to prepare the way of God. No one else can choose for us, and Christ will not come unless preparation has been made. What can we do, then, to clear the way for Jesus' entry into our lives? The challenge of repentance is the path of preparation for God's Messiah.

SERVICE

Reader:
The peaceable kingdom described by Isaiah fills our eyes with wonder and kindles in us a deep yearning. Advent is filled with longing for a new world of harmony and a deep desire for God to rule in all hearts and minds and nations. (You may wish to sing a verse or two from the Advent hymn "Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus" or "O Come, O Come, Immanuel.")

Lighting the Candles
(Relight the first Advent candle and then light the second candle. Read the Blessing of the Light.)

Blessing of the Light
Two candles, burning bright,
Chasing away the darkness with light.
Two candles, glowing bright,
The blessing of God, giving new sight.
Reader:
What would a peaceful world look like? (Take some time sharing what that harmony would look like to those gathered here.)
Reader:
John the Baptist proclaims that the new reign of God is near and we need to turn from our sins. Advent is a time to reflect on what we can do to make this world more like "the peaceable kingdom." What are some things we can do to make this a better world?

Prayer
One:
Come, Holy God, come and save us.
All:
Turn our worries into butterflies and our fears into dancing clouds.
One:
Come, Holy Child, come and touch us.
All:
Fill us with newborn delight and childlike wonder.
One:
Come, Holy Wind, come and revive us.
All:
Renew our commitment to justice and strengthen our steps toward peace.
One:
Come, thou long expected Jesus,
All:
Born to set all people free. Amen.

ACTIVITIES

1. Is there a friend or family member with whom you've had a disagreement? Now is a good time to set aside misunderstandings or resentments. Make an effort to heal the relationship, perhaps by writing a letter, drawing a picture or making a phone call.

2. Talk about ways your family has reached out to help others during Christmas. What are three ways you can reach out to those in need this Advent? (Make sure you note children's ideas as well.) Make a commitment to follow through on at least one of those on your list.

3. As a family or a group, make handcrafted Christmas cards. One suggestion is to go to a beach or lake, write a Christmas message in the sand, such as "Joy to the World" or "Peace on Earth," and photograph it. Attach copies of the picture to recycled paper, and handwrite a message. Fold it into thirds and staple or tape to form a self-mailer.

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THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT: 

Signs of the True Messiah

THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT:  Isaiah 35:1-6 and 10, Matthew 11:2-11

REFLECTION

A ragged remnant of Jews returns from exile in Babylon to their home in Zion. Isaiah celebrates the joy and relief of exhausted prisoners being brought from captivity into the sunlight of freedom and new life.

The prophet's poetry paints a striking picture of redemption. Desolate places of the earth and broken human spirits are both renewed by the wonderful power of God's presence. The desert blooms profusely and dry places spring to life; fear is melted and trembling becomes confidence; the lame leap for joy and the mute find tongues to glorify God. Healing and praise come naturally with God's redeeming love!

For Matthew, the promise of life restored to beauty and vitality is made real in Jesus. This restored life is offered now for anyone who can receive and enter into its truth.

Our reception of this gift of restored life may depend on the kind of Messiah we are expecting. Even John the Baptist, who came to prepare people for Christ, was confused by Jesus' ministry. John had preached with fiery zeal about a Messiah who came with "his winnowing fork in hand," ready to separate wheat from chaff and burn the chaff "with unquenchable fire" (Mt. 3:12). But where was the fire? Where was the "axe laid to the root" in Jesus visible ministry? The expectation of a Messiah who would bring God's wrath on all enemies of the humble Jewish remnant; the hope for God's anointed to establish a great messianic empire over all the earth by conquering the opponents of God's elect: these traditional expectations of the Messiah were not being met in Jesus.

When John sends word by his disciples asking Jesus, "Are you the one who is to come . . . ," Jesus invites John to listen to reports of his works. They are the very works predicted of the Messiah in Isaiah 35 and 61: the blind receive sight, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the poor receive good news. Jesus adds two new signs: lepers are cleansed and the dead are raised. These appear to take the place of "liberating the captives" and "releasing prisoners," signs associated with God's vengeance on Israel's captors. Jesus seems to be saying that his earthly messiahship is not about bringing God's wrath on Israel's enemies. It is rather about healing all that is ill; it is about bringing blessing in place of curse, life instead of death, mercy not vengeance.

Such a Messiah was a stumbling block to his own people. What about for us? Do we expect a God who will take our side in a war we consider "just"? Do we long for a Savior who condemns our "enemies"? Do we want a God who supports our political ideas? Would we prefer a Christ who promises security and comfort?

Our expectations for a savior are shaped by what we want to be saved from. What do we want to be saved from? What does God want to save us from? What is our poverty, deafness, blindness, lameness, and leprosy? Is it possible that when we ourselves have been healed, we may be able to participate in the ministry of Jesus' mercy? Jesus seems to say that even the least of those who have received the light of the gospel and the power of faith will do greater things than John the Baptist, the greatest of all prophets (v. 11). What an invitation!

SERVICE

Reader:
Jesus is coming. Shout for joy! The blind will be able to see and the deaf will hear. Shout for joy! The lame will leap and dance. Shout for joy! Those who cannot speak will shout for joy! Joy permeates the Scriptures for this Sunday. We are waiting for the birth of joy.

(Darken the rooms where you are gathered and have someone come from another room with a lighted candle to relight the first and second candles and to light the third Advent candle. Read the Blessing of the Light.)

Blessing of the Light
Three candles, burning bright,
Chasing away the darkness with light.
Three candles, glowing bright,
The blessing of God, giving new sight.
Reader:
Joy comes in a thousand different ways: a well chosen gift; a child who succeeds at jumping rope; cotton candy at a circus; a friend released from prison; a piece of legislation passed; a letter from a friend. Let us reflect a few moments and then share an experience when joy touched each of us and led us to a deeper awareness of God.

Prayer
Holy One, who causes deserts to bloom and the blind to see,
Create in us a fountain of joy,
Stir in us a spirit ready to dance,
Kindle in us the fire of gladness,
Set loose in us songs of praise.
For you are the One who comes with healing and blessing.
Amen.

Close
(To close this time of worship, you may wish to stand in a circle holding hands as you sing one verse of "Joy to the World." Encourage those inclined to dance or skip to lead a circle dance.)

ACTIVITIES

1. Consider the gift of your eyesight. Recall the sights of Advent and Christmas you have experienced. Talk about or think about what you envisioned.

2. Spend some time with a senior citizen from your family, neighborhood, church, or local nursing home. Offer to address Christmas cards, wrap gifts, assist with baking. Spend some time talking with the person. Ask the person about his/her favorite Christmas traditions.

3. Show mercy to those less fortunate. Contact your local shelter, food bank, prison, or other group. In what ways could you support or join in their work?

4. Reread the last paragraph of the meditation for this week. What do you want to be saved from? Make a list of your "poverty . . . lameness and leprosy." How can you achieve serenity and peace in these areas? Is there anything your family or group can do to assist or support you?

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 FOURTH WEEK OF ADVENT

God with Us: Salvation from Sin

FOURTH WEEK OF ADVENT:  Isaiah 7:10-16, Matthew 1:18-25

REFLECTION

In this final week of Advent, our readings help us explore more deeply Jesus' peculiar messiahship. Matthew reinterprets the traditional Jewish expectations of what it means for God to be "with us."

Isaiah shows us Ahaz, king of the southern province of Judah, cowering before the forces of the Syrians and the northern province of Israel. God has assured Ahaz that his enemies' invasion scheme will fail, but Ahaz and his court are in a panic and in no mood to believe. When Isaiah invites Ahaz to ask a sign from God for proof, Ahaz refuses with false piety: a sign would either commit him to faith or expose his lack of faith! Exasperated, Isaiah cries, "You shall have a sign, want it or not!" The sign is that a young woman who is pregnant will bear a son and will call his name Immanuel. The prophet clearly meant a child soon to be born to the royal house, who would scarcely reach age three (knowing good from bad) before Syria and Ephraim were ruined.

Any heir to the throne would have assured people of God's continued presence among them. The name Immanuel, "God with us," simply reinforces this understanding. Matthew, however, uses the "sign" as if it were a prediction of Jesus' birth. Although this is not what Isaiah intended, Christians will always connect Isaiah's prophecy with the birth of Jesus because we believe that Jesus fulfills the meaning of the title "Immanuel" more fully than any other human being. Indeed, we believe Jesus realizes God's presence among us in a completely new and profound way. What is unique about Jesus, in Matthew's words, is that "he will save his people from their sins." He will save his people from their state of separation from God, offering a life of right relationship with God.

Saving the people of Israel from their sins was not very central to the role of the Messiah in Jewish thought. God's deliverance of Israel had been understood primarily in terms of external threat or natural danger. To be saved meant to be delivered from enemies or disaster; this vindicated Israel's faith in God, and meant national survival. As we have seen, expectations for what God's anointed would do for the nation were quite different from Jesus' ministry. Yet the gospels firmly claim that Jesus was God's anointed (the Christ), and that his primary task was to save people from their sins, to offer right relationship with God.

Later in Matthew's gospel, Jesus makes clear whom to fear and why: "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul: rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (10:28). In other words, to be delivered from sin is far more important than to be saved from physical harm. Jesus reinterprets what it means for God to be "with us."

It is sin, a separation from God, that causes us to threaten, oppress and endanger one another. Likewise, those external threats we most fear from others are the product of sin. There are also sins within ourselves and our communities that threaten us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. What are we afraid of in ourselves? What threatens us in our families . . . our churches . . . our nations? What makes us afraid in our relationship with God? How are all these things we fear related to sin?

Jesus is God present among us to save us from sin, the root of evil-doing. Christ came to save us from separation from God. No wonder the angels' messages begin with the words, "Don't be afraid!" This is new news and it is good news! Can we receive it?

SERVICE

Pray together:
How hard it is to wait for you, O God. We long for the stillness of a holy night. We eagerly want to feel the radiant joy of your birth once again. We want peace on earth and peace in our families to last for longer than a day. Help us, holy Child, to wait with a patience that is mixed with expectation. Amen.
Reader:
Waiting is hard in a fast-paced society. We want the stoplight to change quickly, the grocery line to move fast, and Christmas morning to arrive soon. We forget that good things can happen in the waiting. While Joseph was thinking and planning what to do, he received a dream from God. Let us each take a moment to remember a dream or an experience of waiting in which we received clarity on which path to take or a fear of which to let go.

Lighting the Candles
(As you light the four candles, either confess some anxiety about this last week before Christmas or celebrate a time of vision which came during a waiting period. Read the Blessing of the Light.)

Blessing of the Light
Four candles, burning bright,
Chasing away the darkness with light.
Four candles, glowing bright,
The blessing of God, giving new sight.
(Sing the third verse of "O Little Town of Bethlehem.")

Prayer
God of angels and sheep, God of the poor and meek,
in these few days before the celebration,
quiet us to hear where new life is struggling to be born,
slow our rush so we may hear the faint sound of angel wings
and the words whispered in dreams.
Open our hearts to the wonder of Immanuel--God with us.
Amen.

ACTIVITIES

1. Discuss or ponder the effects of commercialism on our environment. Share with your family some of the ways you can modify your Christmas traditions and festivities to be kinder to the environment. (Consider calling your utility company for a free or low-cost energy audit.)

2. Make time this week and next to nurture your relationships and your self. Bake cookies for a friend. Visit an aunt. Spend time in quiet meditation. Children can read a book to a younger brother or sister. Busy parents can make arrangements for a quiet evening alone. Discuss the obstacles to doing this. List the obstacles and ways you can overcome them.

3. Give thanks for the gift of touch. Be generous with hugs and pats on the back. Bring out a few special Christmas decorations. As you hold them in your hands, discuss or think about: Where did the decoration came from? Who did it come from?

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CHRISTMAS EVE/DAY

A Child Is Born: The Light of the World

CHRISTMAS EVE: Isaiah 9:2-7, Luke 2:1-21

REFLECTION

Some of the most vivid and beloved images of the Bible are found in our readings for this holy night. In these passages we find the great movement from darkness to light, the glorious promise of God's salvation, the mystery hidden within an infant.

We know all too well the forms of darkness in our time. The world is filled with greed and violence, deceit and hatred. Bitter divisions lead people into war; lust for power leads to terrible oppression of the powerless; needless consumerism in wealthy nations causes poor nations to strip their resources bare; the earth suffers pollution and destruction; anger, despair, and apathy lead many to substance and sexual abuse; our society has valued military might over education, health care, and human services.

Like it or not, we are all part of a web of relations that make up both the good and the evil in our society. Our best personal solutions are compromised by unjust social structures; yet new structures often simply pose new problems. How we yearn for the glory of God to break in on our darkness, to transform our world into a place of light!

Isaiah declared that light had dawned in the birth of a child who was given the titles due a king upon his enthronement. But this was no known ruler; these titles described the future Messiah who would embody the essence of all royal virtues: "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

This prophecy has long been treasured by Christians as a song of God's glory revealed in Jesus Christ: "For it is the God who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (II Cor. 4:6)

Such was the divine radiance that terrified and amazed simple shepherds on that first Christmas night. The angelic message was that the long-awaited Messiah had been born! The sign by which they would know this great joy to be true was that the child would be found in a manger. Swaddling clothes were traditional enough for a newborn, but a common feeding trough for a cradle? Such an unthinkable place to find the great messiah-leader of Israel made quite a sign!

Moreover, the first to hear this phenomenal news for which all Israel had waited were shepherds, those who came from the poorest rung of society. It is true, many Hebrew heroes like Abraham, Moses and David started out as shepherds. Yet shepherds were the poorest of people, precisely those to whom Jesus would preach good news. The Light of the World was hidden in a manger, yet shepherds saw the glory. Perhaps they saw because they were innocent and humble; perhaps because they had something in common with the Good Shepherd. Still, people must have wondered at common shepherds telling of a Savior discovered in a manger!

Perhaps we need to ponder in our hearts, as Mary did, the strange marvel of this Savior, born under such unwelcoming conditions. And wonder, too, at the strange people who are witnesses to such a Savior. Who are the poor and common, the simple, innocent, and sometimes ignorant among us who have been given eyes to see the glory of God? Who, today, might be able to point us to the manger of Bethlehem? May our eyes and ears be open!

SERVICE

Reader:
In the darkness of Mary's womb, the Holy Child grew. In the darkness of the world's pain, there has come a blessed Light. In the midst of our own darkness of doubts and fears, insecurities and tears, the Child of radiant light has been born. This is a night of joy and light.

Blessing of the Light
Christ candle, burning bright,
Chasing away the darkness with light.
Many candles, glimmering bright,
The blessing of God, this Holy night.
(Make plans to attend a worship service this holy night or on Christmas morning.)
Reader:
Would someone like to tell the Christmas story in his or her own words? (If you have a creche or manger scene, place the figures near the candles as you sing a verse of "Silent Night.")

Prayer
Holy Child, source of smiling joy and eternal hope,
  look upon us with tender eyes.
Holy Child, bring your gentle light to the hidden corners of our lives
  so our fears are rendered small and powerless.
Holy Child, touch our wounds
  and lift the hurts and resentments we carry.
  May our words be clear and our actions kind.
Holy Child, draw close to those who celebrate on this holy night
  without a special loved one, and be near
  to those whose health or poverty
  dims the angelic chorus.
In all and in each, cause our hearts to leap in wonder,
 our eyes to tear with joy and our soul to swell   with love.
O Holy Child of Bethlehem, be born in us today.
Amen.

ACTIVITIES

1. Write down some of the "forms of darkness in our time" you have witnessed or become aware of. What efforts are being made to bring "light" to these issues/areas? What else could you or your family do?

2. Imagine yourself at the manger. What do you suppose you would hear, smell, and see? How does this compare with what you are in fact experiencing?

3. Spend some quiet time alone this evening taking a walk or looking out a window.

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FIRST WEEK AFTER CHRISTMAS

Our Intimate God: Trusting and Trustworthy

FIRST WEEK AFTER CHRISTMAS: Isaiah 63:7-9, Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

REFLECTION

This week our readings lift up the intimate, protecting, guiding love of God through human history. It is a love we as Christians see most clearly in the life of Jesus.

In a chapter filled with holy wrath, the prophet recalls God's steadfast love for a tiny, motley band of Hebrews. God has chosen Israel to fulfill a divine purpose for the world: she is "to be a light to the nations." How ever often she fails in her task or is punished for her sins, God will not break the relationship. The Eternal One remains very close, trusting Israel to respond to the divine presence, "lifting them up and carrying them" (see also Hosea 11:3,4).

The story of the flight into Egypt strongly resembles God's saving acts of old. If we substitute the newborn infant Jesus for the tiny nation of Israel, a clear parallel emerges. As God lifted up Israel and carried her safely through generations against impossible odds, so Joseph takes up his wife and child, carrying them safely out of the reach of Herod's wrath. Obeying the angel's warning, Joseph becomes a vehicle for God's tender, protective care - not only for God's Child, but for the world God desires to save through that Child.

For Matthew, Jesus is "the new Israel," one who relives the call of Israel out of Egypt. Many ancient rabbis believed the miracles of the Exodus would recur in the messianic age. Early Christians saw the Exodus as a pattern for Jesus' redeeming work. There are, indeed, interesting parallels between the infancy stories of Moses and Jesus. Moses, chosen to deliver Israel from bondage, was saved from Pharaoh's death sentence on all Hebrew male babies. Jesus, chosen to deliver the world from bondage to sin, is snatched away from Herod's brutal slaughter of all male children two years and under. In both cases, God uses Egypt (or Egyptians) to preserve the human vehicle of God's saving will.

These redemption stories show that God's purposes cannot be defeated by the powers of the world. God finds hidden and humble ways to confuse evil schemes. Unknown to Pharaoh, Moses' own mother nurses him in secret. Unknown to Herod, the child he seeks has escaped his net and lives safe in his parents' keeping. The holy family will live and grow together in a little out-of-the-way town that people did not esteem (see Jn. 1:46). Joseph and Mary rest secure in God's loving design through their simple obedience and humble trust. It is not their strength or cunning that evades the cruelty of Herod, but God's protective love that takes care of each step needed to fulfill the divine promise.

What have we to fear with such a God? Here is the Eternal One, vaster than mind or imagination, personally present with us to guide and save. Here is the Compassionate One, stooping down to lift us up and carry us through deep waters. Here is the Incarnate One, dwelling with us so completely that no temptation, sorrow, or suffering is unknown to him. Here is our God, who trusts us to respond to the faith God has put in us; who trusts us not to disappoint the love God has for us.

Joseph trusted God's life-saving message in his dreams. His obedience was an expression of faith and love. Do we love the lover of our souls? Do we find this God worthy of our trust? God desires our love and trust more than anything. From these come free obedience to the mysterious ways of the Holy One. No one but you and I can offer such a gift to the heart of God. What a Christmas present that would be! 

SERVICE

Reader:
A baby needs hours of care, weeks of nurture and bundles of love. Mary and Joseph wrapped the Holy Child in a blanket of care and laid him in a cradle of love. But more care was needed. God protected Jesus from the raging violence of Herod and sheltered him in Egypt so he might return to be our Prince of Peace, our source of light and hope.

Lighting of the Candles:
(Relight the Christ candle. Read the Blessing of the Light.)

Blessing of the Light
One candle, burning bright,
Chasing away the darkness with light.
Christ candle, glimmering bright,
The blessing of God, peace for this night.

(Keep the figures of Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus near the Christ candle this week. If possible, provide something soft for the manger, like a piece of felt, to show your care for the Christ Child.)

Reader:
Let us share some ways we care for one another. (Begin by saying, "I care for you when I . . ." or "I feel cared for when you . . .")

Prayer:
Wondrous God, your most precious gift was given on Christmas.
A Child of peace to troubled souls and
  dangerous streets.
A Child of joy to troubled hearts and cautious     lives.
A Child of hope to wearied brows and
  oppressed peoples.
We rejoice that as you cradled Jesus in the
  simplicity of a manger,
you hold us in our weakness,
you carry us in your heart,
you lift us from despair,
you look at us with love.
We rejoice and sing your praise.
Amen.

ACTIVITIES

1. Look up the word "trust" in a dictionary. (You may want to read the description aloud to your group.) Think about or discuss what "trust" means to you. Ask yourself: Do I offer God my loving trust? Reflect on a time when you trusted in God. Was this difficult to do?

2. Remember ways you have been guided. (Perhaps a guide led you through a museum or exhibit during a family vacation. Maybe a teacher guided you to the right classroom.) Ask yourself (or those in your group): Do I feel I am being guided by God? Write down or share a few examples of how you have experienced God's guidance.

3. Make plans to celebrate the Feast of Epiphany. Invite your family or group to participate in planning a simple meal. This week make a special tablecloth. Using fabric markers or paint, each family member can decorate a piece of muslin cloth or a cotton sheet with symbols representing his/her gifts (e.g., an ear for a good listener; needle and thread for someone who sews; a happy face for someone who's always cheerful, etc.). Allow the tablecloth to dry for several days.

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EPIPHANY

Your Light Is Come: Glorify God!

EPIPHANY: Isaiah 60:1-6, Matthew 2:1-12

REFLECTION

Epiphany means visible appearance or divine revelation. Our readings for this unique church season are bursting at the seams with the joyful mystery of divine glory unveiled.

Glory is the central word of Epiphany. Glory is the radiance of Divine Presence, the dwelling place of the Eternal. It is associated with light brighter and more awesome than any visible light, even that of the sun. Early church theologians spoke of God's light as "uncreated." In stark contrast to the "thick darkness" of the world and its people, this splendid light of God's self-disclosure is described in Isaiah as a glorious dawn breaking forth on Zion.

In response, Israel is called to rise and shine! She is to reflect the divine light being shed upon her, and to become light by God's grace. The splendor of God is to shine from her so brightly that it will attract nations irresistibly. Like moths to the light they will come, bringing the riches of their land to worship and glorify the one eternal and sovereign God. Does this remind you of the first reading from Isaiah seven weeks ago, where the prophet pictured all nations streaming to Jerusalem to learn God's ways?

Matthew's three magi represent foreign nations who come to worship "the king of the Jews." In Matthew's gospel, it is the wise from Gentile lands who are first to recognize and respond to the Jewish Messiah. Thus, they are the first to fulfill Isaiah's prophesy that all nations will stream to the light of God's glory in Israel. Through the story of the magi, we see that Jesus' birth points beyond the Jewish nation to God's saving grace for all people.

Jesus embodies the light of God's presence dawning on Israel, and through her on the world. John's gospel tells us that "in him was life, and the life was the light of all people." As if echoing Isaiah's words, it continues, "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it" (1:4,5). John's Jesus proclaims, "I am the light of the world." Other gospels tell of yet another epiphany - the mysterious transfiguration of Jesus in which his appearance is altered by the glory of divine light. For Christians, Jesus himself is the dawn of spiritual light, the beginning of God's restoration and redemption of a world engulfed in darkness.

Yet this same Jesus tells us that we are "the light of the world" (Mt. 5:14)! Just as Isaiah called Israel to shine before the nations with the reflected glory of God's presence, so Christ calls us to "let our light shine before others, that they may see our good works and glorify God." Christ is light for us so that we might be light for one another. Someone once said, "It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness." How practiced are we in the art of lighting candles of truth, hope, healing, and love? How do we become light in the darkness of our world?

The greatest challenge to the church, and to each of us as Christians, is to live the truth we know. No witness is so compelling as someone who embodies the good news of God's love in Christ. Who has been a source of light for you in your life's journey? How was that light expressed: in mercy, peace, justice, courage, guidance? Have you ever been told you were a vessel of God's light to someone at a critical time? Is it possible to be light for one another apart from the source of divine radiance? If not, how do we receive God's light into ourselves for the sake of the world God so loves?

*This term is the translation of "Son of Man" used in the Inclusive Language Lectionary, published for The Cooperative Publication Association by John Knox Press, Pilgrim Press and Westminster Press.

SERVICE

Reader:
Every flower turns toward the light.
Every creature blinks at a new brightness.
Every person is drawn to the radiance of God.
On Epiphany, three foreigners, following the light of a star, come to worship the Holy Child.

Lighting of the Candles:
(Make the room dark. Relight the Christ candle. Move three magi figures--the camels as well--to the table and let them journey toward the Christ candle. Read the Blessing of the Light.)

Blessing of the Light
One candle, burning bright,
Chasing away the darkness with light.
Christ candle, radiant light,
The blessing of God, hope for the night.
Reader:
The magi brought gifts to the Messiah. We, too, can bear gifts and be a gift for the world. How can we be light for those who experience darkness? What present might we offer the poor and the homeless? How could our words and actions be a gift to those in need this year?
All:
(Sing "This Little Light of Mine.")

Prayer:
God of star and sign,
lead us in this new year along the paths of peace,
guide us in the way of truth,
place in us the words of kindness,
kindle in us an everflowing joy.
God of the journey and God of home,
walk with us in times of trouble
and dwell with us in the stillness of each night.
May your love surround our resting and our hurrying,
our laughing and our worrying.
God of the winter sky and new dawn,
place a star on our horizon
and a song in our hearts.
Amen.

ACTIVITIES

1. Join with your family and friends to celebrate this feast with a simple meal.

2. Read the story of the visit of the magi aloud or ask children to tell the story in their own words.

2. Discuss the following saying: "Your life is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift to God." What gift(s) can you offer to God?

 

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