Blue Christmas
Service of the Longest Night
Monday, December 10
Prelude
Barb Jones
Greeting and
Words of
Welcome
Rev. Rhodie
Jacobson
Call to Worship
LEADER: Jesus said,
“come to me all you
who labor and are
heavy laden and I will
give you rest.” And so
we invite each other
to this time of
peaceful worship.
Flee for a while from
your tasks;
ALL: Take
sanctuary from
the turmoil of
your thoughts.
Leader: Come
bind your
burdens to
God.
All: Give ;your
time over to
God and find
rest in Him.
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Prayer of Invitation
Hymn 211: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Evening Prayer
Special Music
Your Love is
Like a River
Scott Garvin
Prayer for Illumination
Lord, open our
hearts and minds
by the power of
your Holy Spirit,
that, as the
Scriptures are
read and your
Word proclaimed,
we may hear with
joy what you say
to us today.
Amen.
New Testament Lesson
Revelation 21:1-5
Then I saw a new heaven and a
new earth; for the first heaven and
the first earth had passed away,
and the sea was no more.
And I saw the holy city, the new
Jerusalem, coming down out of
heaven from God, prepared as a
bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from
the throne saying, "See, the home
of God is among mortals. He will
dwell with them; they will be his
peoples, and God himself will be
with them;
he will wipe every tear from their
eyes. Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will
be no more, for the first things
have passed away.".
And the one who was seated on
the throne said, "See, I am making
all things new." Also he said,
"Write this, for these words are
trustworthy and true.”
“Gospel Lesson
Luke 2:25-35
Now there was a man in Jerusalem
whose name was Simeon; this man
was righteous and devout, looking
forward to the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit rested on him.
It had been revealed to him by the
Holy Spirit that he would not see
death before he had seen the Lord's
Messiah.
Guided by the Spirit, Simeon
came into the temple; and when
the parents brought in the child
Jesus, to do for him what was
customary under the law,
Simeon took him in his arms
and praised God, saying,
"Master, now you are
dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your
salvation,
which you have prepared in the
presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the
Gentiles and for glory to your
people Israel."
And the child's father and
mother were amazed at what was
being said about him.
For my eyes have seen your
salvation, which you have
prepared in the sight of all people,
a light for revelation to the
Gentiles and for glory to your
people Israel." The child's father
and mother marveled at what was
said about him.
Then Simeon blessed them and
said to his mother Mary, "This
child is destined for the falling and
the rising of many in Israel, and to
be a sign that will be opposed
so that the inner thoughts of
many will be revealed—and a
sword will pierce your own soul
too."
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Leader: This is
the word of
God for us the
people of God
All: Thanks be
to God. Amen
Special Music
Bring on the
Rain
Jean Kraft and
Kevin Jepson
Homily
Pastor Rhodie Jacobson
Special Music
Hold on to Jesus
Kevin Jepson
Remembrance
LEADER: We light
these candles to
remember. We
remember those
who have been
loved and lost. We
pause to remember
their name, their
face, their voice.
ALL: Hold them
in your love,
Dear Lord
Leader: We light
these candles to
redeem the pain
of loss: the loss
of relationships,
the loss of jobs,
the loss of
health. As we
acknowledge
the pain , we
offer it to You, O
God, asking that
into our open
hands, You will
place the gift of
peace.
ALL: Refresh,
restore, renew
us, O God.
Leader: We light
these candles to
remember
ourselves this
Christmas time.
We pause and
remember the
past weeks,
months and for
some of us,
years of down
times. We
remember the
bitter and the
sweet, the grief,
the sadness,
the hurts, the
pain of
reflecting on our
own mortality.
ALL: Hear the
stirrings of
our hearts, O
God.
Leader: We light
these candles to
remember your
promise, your
promise made
sure through
Jesus Christ.
ALL: Help us
remember that
your son, the
true light,
shines in the
darkness and
the darkness
does not
overcome him.
Amen
Lighting of
Candles
As you take a candle and light it,
please pray quietly or join in singing
“Silent Night.”
We will continue to sing until all have
had time to light candles.
Time for
Remembering
Hymn #239
Silent Night
Holy Night
Passing the
Peace of Christ
Benediction:
Amen!
Alleluia!
Postlude