FHCC
20241224 Christmas Eve Worship
  • Revelations 19:1
  • Here I Am To Worship
  • King Of Kings
  • Joy To The World

  • Introductory setting

    I learned about a month ago of a service in England that was started at Christmas time in England during the first World War. This same collection of Scripture readings and Carols have been used for over 100 years. So I thought we might be able to transport ourselves beyond Chase County to consider how Christmas is celebrated beyond our borders, since Christ came for ALL people.
    I then wanted to consider how my words could avoid clouding the beauty of God speaking to His creation. So I landed upon an exercise that has been used since the 3rd Century called Divine reading. The process involves reading, meditating, responding and contemplating the words. So I will read as you listen (and hopefully allow the words to ruminate in your mind) then we will sing to one another one final song and continue to contemplate the wonder of it all as we disperse.
    If this all sounds a little mystical or liturgical, I simply suggest that it is a practice that goes back before the Orthodox/Catholic schism and it sure predates the Roman/Protestant reformation and diet of 500 years ago. If you need Biblical authority to simply listen to Scripture I offer Acts 6:4 (ESV) — But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
    As the plan of God for humanity progressed from all creation to one descendant of one man then broadened to all peoples, you may notice the translations I have chosen may increase and decrease in Jewish sounding words. I am doing this to help us realize that ALL who were at the Nativity were descended from Abraham, but that all who are descended from Christ are children of the universal God.
    ‌ Tonight’s story spans all continents and all ages.

    First lesson from Genesis 3:8–19

    Genesis 3:8–19 ESV:2016
    8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” 16 To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.” 17 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

    Second lesson from Genesis 22:15–18

    Genesis 22:15–18 TLV
    15 The angel of Adonai called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “By myself I swear—it is a declaration of Adonai—because you have done this thing, and you did not withhold your son, your only son, 17 I will richly bless you and bountifully multiply your seed like the stars of heaven, and like the sand that is on the seashore, and your seed will possess the gate of his enemies. 18 In your seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed—because you obeyed My voice.”

    Third lesson from Isaiah 9:2, 6–7

    Isaiah 9:2 TLV
    1 The people walking in darkness will see a great light. Upon those dwelling in the land of the shadow of death, light will shine.
    Isaiah 9:6–7 TLV
    5 For to us a child is born, a son will be given to us, and the government will be upon His shoulder. His Name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God My Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace. 6 Of the increase of His government and shalom there will be no end— on the throne of David and over His kingdom— to establish it and uphold it through justice and righteousness from now until forevermore. The zeal of Adonai-Tzva’ot will accomplish this.

    Fourth lesson from Isaiah 11:1–4a, 6–9

    Isaiah 11:1–4 TLV
    1 Then a shoot will come forth out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch will bear fruit out of His roots. 2 The Ruach of Adonai will rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and insight, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Adonai. 3 His delight will be in the fear of Adonai. He will not judge by what His eyes see, nor decide by what His ears hear. 4 But with righteousness He will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the poor of the land. He will strike the land with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.
    Isaiah 11:6–9 TLV
    6 The wolf will dwell with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the kid, the calf and the young lion and the yearling together, and a little child will lead them. 7 The cow and the bear will graze, their young ones lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like an ox. 8 A nursing child will play by a cobra’s hole, and a weaned child will put his hand into a viper’s den. 9 They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of Adonai, as the waters cover the sea.

    Fifth lesson from Luke 1:26–35, 38

    Luke 1:26–35 TLV
    26 Then in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by Adonai into a town in the Galilee named Natzeret 27 and to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Miriam. 28 And coming to her, the angel said, “Shalom, favored one! Adonai is with you.” 29 But at the message, she was perplexed and kept wondering what kind of greeting this might be. 30 The angel spoke to her, “Do not be afraid, Miriam, for you have found favor with God. 31 Behold, you will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you shall call His name Yeshua. 32 He will be great and will be called Ben-Elyon. Adonai Elohim will give Him the throne of David, His father. 33 He shall reign over the house of Jacob for all eternity, and His kingdom will be without end.” 34 Miriam said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am not intimate with a man?” 35 And responding, the angel said to her, “The Ruach ha-Kodesh will come upon you, and the power of Elyon will overshadow you. Therefore, the Holy One being born will be called Ben-Elohim.
    Luke 1:38 ESV:2016
    38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

    Sixth lesson from Luke 2: 1–7

    Luke 2:1–7 TLV
    1 Now it happened in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the world’s inhabitants. 2 This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 Everyone was traveling to be registered in his own city. 4 Now Joseph also went up from the Galilee, out of the town of Natzeret to Judah, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and family of David. 5 He went to register with Miriam, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. 6 But while they were there, the time came for her to give birth— 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped Him in strips of cloth and set Him down in a manger, since there was no room for them in the inn.

    Seventh lesson from Luke 2: 8–16

    Luke 2:8–16 TLV
    8 Now there were shepherds in the same region, living out in the fields and guarding their flock at night. 9 Suddenly an angel of Adonai stood before them, and the glory of Adonai shone all around them; and they were absolutely terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I proclaim Good News to you, which will be great joy to all the people. 11 A Savior is born to you today in the city of David, who is Messiah the Lord. 12 And the sign to you is this: You will find an infant wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly a multitude of heavenly armies appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth shalom to men of good will.” 15 And when the angels departed from them into the heavens, the shepherds were saying to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which Adonai has made known to us!” 16 So they hurried off and found Miriam and Joseph, and the Baby lying in the manger.

    Eighth lesson from Matthew 2:1–12

    Matthew 2:1–12 LSB
    1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” 3 And when Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he was inquiring of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 And they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: 6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For out of you shall come forth a Leader Who will shepherd My people Israel.’” 7 Then Herod secretly called the magi and carefully determined from them the time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” 9 Now after hearing the king, they went their way; and behold, the star, which they had seen in the east, was going on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. 10 And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And after coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi departed for their own country by another way.

    Ninth lesson from the Gospel of John 1:1–14

    John 1:1–14 LSB
    1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it. 6 There was a man having been sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to bear witness about the Light. 9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens everyone. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to what was His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
    The Word of God for the people of God.
  • Silent Night (Stille Nacht)

      • John 8:12ESV

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