Celebrate
Be Light
Advent Worship Series – Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
December 24, 2015
In the same way, let your light shine before others. (Matthew 5:16a, NIV)
[NOTE: Congregation receives a candle upon entering the chapel]
Welcome
Invocation:
Lord Jesus, we come with praise and thanksgiving for the marvel and miracle of
your birth we celebrate this season. Come once again to us this hour that we may
rejoice because you have been born in our hearts. We pray that in all our labors, in
all our relationships, in all of our life, you will live and love through us, in all our
seasons of life, as our Savior and Lord. In your name, we pray. Amen.
(Colonel Henry Gariepy)
TB-322 – same
SB#82 – Hark! the herald angels sing
Additional Optional Songs
SB#75 – Angels, from the realms of Glory TB-423 – Regent
Square
CF-14
CF#14 – Good Christian Men, Rejoice
Lighting of Advent Candles
The Candle of Hope
Based on Psalm 130
Leader:
All:
Leader:
All:
Leader:
All:
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in His word I put my hope.
My soul waits for the Lord
for with the LORD is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
He himself will redeem His people from all their sins.
The Candle of Love
Based on Psalm 136:1-3; 23-26
Leader:
All:
Leader:
All:
Leader:
All:
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
HTD4-T5 (3 vs.)
HTD4-T12 (4 vs.)
No CD
The Candle of Joy
Based on Psalm 33:1-5
Leader:
ALL:
Leader:
All:
Leader:
All:
Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
Praise the LORD with the harp;
he is faithful in all he does.
The LORD loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of his unfailing love.
The Candle of Peace
Based on Isaiah 26:3-4; 12-13
Leader:
All:
Leader:
All:
Leader:
All:
Lord You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in you.
Trust in the LORD forever,
for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.
LORD, you establish peace for us;
but your name alone do we honor.
The Christ Candle
Based on Isaiah 9:2-3
Leader:
All:
Leader:
All:
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest as people rejoice when
dividing the plunder.
HC#10 – The Light Has Come
SB#84 – Joy to the world!
HC-10
Additional Optional Songs
TB-103 – same
HCD1a-T20
HTD4-T9 (3 vs.)
Reading #1: Philippians 2:5-11 (The Voice)
5
In other words, adopt the mind-set of Jesus the Anointed. Live with His attitude in your hearts.
Remember:
6
Though He was in the form of God,
He chose not to cling to equality with God;
7
But He poured Himself out to fill a vessel brand new;
a servant in form
and a man indeed.
The very likeness of humanity,
8
He humbled Himself,
obedient to death—
a merciless death on the cross!
9
So God raised Him up to the highest place
and gave Him the name above all.
10
So when His name is called,
every knee will bow,
in heaven, on earth, and below.
11
And every tongue will confess
“Jesus, the Anointed One, is Lord,”
to the glory of God our Father!
Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem
HC#140 – O Come, All Ye Faithful
SB#85 – O come, all ye faithful
HC12-T20
HTD3-T1 (3 vs.)
CF#20 – O Come, Immanuel
No CD
HC-140
TB-552 – Adeste
Fideles
Additional Optional Songs
CF-20
Reading #2: Luke 2:1-5 (The Voice)
Around the time of Elizabeth’s amazing pregnancy and John’s birth, the emperor in Rome,
Caesar Augustus, required everyone in the Roman Empire to participate in a massive census—
2
the first census since Quirinius had become governor of Syria. 3 Each person had to go to his or
her ancestral city to be counted.
1
Mary’s fiancé Joseph, from Nazareth in Galilee, had to participate in the census in the same
way everyone else did. Because he was a descendant of King David, his ancestral city was
Bethlehem, David’s birthplace.
4-5
Special Music (or Video Clip) – “Joseph’s Song” by Michael Card
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BARVAg0gl6w
Additional Optional Songs
CF-30
No CD
Special Music – O Holy Night
The Birth of Jesus
Reading #3: Luke 2:6-7 (The Voice)
Mary, who was now late in her pregnancy that the messenger Gabriel had predicted,
6
accompanied Joseph. While in Bethlehem, she went into labor 7 and gave birth to her firstborn
son. She wrapped the baby in a blanket and laid Him in a feeding trough because the inn had no
room for them.
SB#77 – Away in a Manger
TB-564
Additional Optional Songs
HTD6-T3 (3 vs.)
CF#15 – What Child Is This?
CF-15
No CD
The Shepherds’ Story
Reading #4: Luke 2:8-16 (The Voice)
Leader:
8
Reader 1:
10
Leader:
13
All:
14
Leader:
15
Men:
Let’s rush down to Bethlehem right now! Let’s see what’s happening! Let’s
experience what the Lord has told us about!
Leader:
16
Nearby, in the fields outside of Bethlehem, a group of shepherds were guarding
their flocks from predators in the darkness of night. 9 Suddenly a messenger of the
Lord stood in front of them, and the darkness was replaced by a glorious light—
the shining light of God’s glory. They were terrified!
Don’t be afraid! Listen! I bring good news, news of great joy, news that will
affect all people everywhere. 11 Today, in the city of David, a Liberator has been
born for you! He is the promised Anointed One, the Supreme Authority! 12 You
will know you have found Him when you see a baby, wrapped in a blanket, lying
in a feeding trough.
At that moment, the first heavenly messenger was joined by thousands of other
messengers—a vast heavenly choir. They praised God.
To the highest heights of the universe, glory to God!
And on earth, peace among all people who bring pleasure to God!
As soon as the heavenly messengers disappeared into heaven, the shepherds
were buzzing with conversation.
So they ran into town, and eventually they found Mary and Joseph and the baby
lying in the feeding trough. After they saw the baby, 17 they spread the story of
what they had experienced and what had been said to them about this child.
18
Everyone who heard their story couldn’t stop thinking about its meaning.
19
Mary, too, pondered all of these events, treasuring each memory in her heart.
CF-4
CF#4 – While Shepherds Watched
Additional Optional Songs
TB-816 – same
SB#90 – The first Noel the angel did say
TB-153 – same
SB#83 – It came upon the midnight clear
CF-17
CF#17 – Angels We Have Heard on High
CF#22 – God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen CF-22
The Magi’s Story
Reading #5: Matthew 2:1-12 (The Voice)
No CD
HTD6-T18 (3 vs.)
HTD9-T7 (3 vs.)
No CD
No CD
Leader:
Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem, in the province of Judea, at the time
when King Herod reigned. Not long after Jesus was born, magi, wise men or
seers from the East, made their way from the East to Jerusalem. These wise men
made inquiries.
Reader 1:
These men from the East come looking for the One who has been born who will
save His people from sin.
Men:
2
Leader:
3
Reader 1:
5
An ancient Hebrew prophet, Micah, said this:
Men:
6
But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are no poor relation—
For from your people will come a Ruler
who will be the shepherd of My people Israel.
Leader:
From that prophecy we learn that the Savior would be born in the town of
Bethlehem, in the province of Judea. This information in hand, Herod orders the
wise men to come to his chambers in secret; and when they arrive, Herod quizzes
them.
Reader 1:
7
Reader 2:
Go to Bethlehem and search high and low for this Savior child; and as soon as you
know where He is, report it to me so that I may go and worship Him.
Leader:
9-10
Reader 1:
12
Where is this newborn, who is the King of the Jews? When we were far away in
the East we saw His star, and we have followed its glisten and gleam all this way
to worship Him.
King Herod began to hear rumors of the wise men’s quest, and he, and all of his
followers in Jerusalem, were worried. 4 So Herod called all of the leading Jewish
teachers, the chief priests and head scribes, and he asked them where Hebrew
tradition claimed the long-awaited Anointed One would be born.
Herod called the wise men to him, demanding to know the exact time the special
star had appeared to them. 8 Then Herod sent them to Bethlehem.
The wise men left Herod’s chambers and went on their way. The star they had
first seen in the East reappeared—a miracle that, of course, overjoyed and
enraptured the wise men. The star led them to the house where Jesus lay; 11 and as
soon as the wise men arrived, they saw Him with His mother Mary, and they
bowed down and worshiped Him. They unpacked their satchels and gave Jesus
gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And then, just as Joseph did a few months before, the wise men had a dream
warning them not to go back to Herod. The wise men heeded the dream. Ignoring
Herod’s instructions, they returned to their homes in the East by a different route.
TB-156 – same
SB#86 – O little town of Bethlehem
Additional Optional Songs
TB-306 – Dix
SB#76 – As with gladness men of old
CF-7
CF#7 – We Three Kings
HTD3-T5 (3 vs.)
No CD
No CD
Devotional: Be Light
The Spreading of the Light
[Congregation will move to form a large circle around the room. Candles will then be lit during
the singing of Silent Night.]
SB#89 – Silent night! Holy night!
TB-800 – Stille
Nacht
HTD4-T15 (3 vs.)
Benediction: Lord, we have received “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face
of Christ.” You have given us the light of Your presence, Your very own glory,
to shine on us, in us, through us, and around us. And now in these days when
darkness covers the earth, you call us to action—shine before all humanity, that
they may see our good deeds and give praise to you. While we await the ultimate
consummation of this promise in the second coming of our Lord, help us to do all
we can to dispel the darkness from the world around us. Amen.
(The NIV Worship Bible, page 988)
Celebrate
Advent Sermon – Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
December 24, 2015
Be Light
In the same way, let your light shine before others. (Matthew 5:16a, NIV)
TEXT: John John 1:6-8, 19-34; Matthew 5:13-16
Introduction
One of the first things God did when he created the world was to make light so that we could see.
He did this by saying, “Let there be light.” We all know that things didn’t go as God intended,
and through the sin of Adam and Eve the world became a dark place. John’s gospel starts the
story of God’s new creation by showing the Light that God has provided for us to walk by. Once
again, God has said “Let there be Light”; only this time instead of sun and moon, our Light is
God’s Son Jesus Christ.
Illustration: “One of the Seven Wonders of the World was the Pharos Lighthouse at Alexandria.
The world's first skyscraper, it was said that the light could be seen 30 miles out to sea. It shone
for 1700 years -- but shines no longer. Jesus' light shines to the ends of the earth. He is the Light
of the World. His light shines longer. It will shine to the end of time and beyond the end of time.
That lighthouse was a warning, Jesus warns us of the dangers that lie ahead for us. That light was
a directional beacon, and Jesus tells us in which direction safe harbor lies. That light is gone. His
light still shines. He is the greatest Wonder of the World!”1
Let’s look at our role of testifying to the light.
Read John 1:6-8, 19-34 and Matthew 5:13-16
Witness to the Light
This passage tells us the story of John the Baptist. In Jesus’ day there were some people who
thought that John the Baptist might have been the Messiah. However, John’s role was to witness
and testify about Jesus (who is referred to as “the light” in this passage). John’s aim was that
others would come to believe in the light through his witness.
John’s testifying to the light is similar to the role of the angels and the shepherds in the
Christmas story (Luke 2:8-21). The angels appeared to the shepherds and shared the good news
of the birth of Jesus, the Savior and Lord. In turn the shepherds then went out to see for
themselves what the Angels had told them. They also shared the good news with others, so that
everyone was amazed. This is a job that as Christians we all share. If we have seen the Light,
seen Jesus’ glory, then we should bear witness to others about the Light.
Illustration: “When the great Church of Holy Wisdom (the Hagia Sophia) was completed in
Constantinople they hung thousands of lamps in it. The lights shone through a corona of
1
http://www.preaching.com/sermon-illustrations/11572915/
windows in the dome, so that a sailor on the Bosporus could find his direction not only by the
stars but by the light from the church. One writer of the time said, ‘It not only guides the
merchant at night, it also shows the way to the living God.’ The concept of church as a
lighthouse is not limited to location or architecture. Spiritually, every church must send out such
true light that those who have wandered far from God can find their way home”2
Let Your Light Shine
Later in Jesus’ ministry he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk
in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). In the Sermon on the Mount, he also gave
that title to his followers he said “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). This is a great
honor, and a great calling.
Jesus said that a city on a hill cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14). If you drive through country
roads at night, far away from the city, there are no street lights. It’s pitch black. And when you
are a fair distance from the towns, the lights from the town shine brightly. You can’t miss them!
Similarly Jesus says we are to be like that, we can’t be hidden.
Jesus gives another example, of a lamp. He says you wouldn’t put a lamp under a bowl. Rather
you put it up on a stand where it can give light to everyone in the house. Similarly he instructs
us to let our light shine so that others can see.
But how can we let our light shine? Jesus specifically mentions doing “good deeds” in this
passage. Many of us give regularly to The Salvation Army World Services, in addition to our
tithes and offerings. That’s one way we can let our light shine. What are some others? How
about sharing the gospel with friends—especially as we talk about Christmas? How can we show
the love of Jesus?
Letting our light shine can be a bit of a challenge for some people. Sometimes we believe we
aren’t that special, what do we have to offer? For others this can seem like an opportunity to get
a lot of attention for ourselves, like an opportunity to show-off. That is not what Jesus is
advocating. If we are lights it is only because He has “lit” us. What we have to offer is not
ourselves, it is Jesus!
Make Way for the Lord
There are many ways that we can let our light shine, but we need to make sure that the goal is
that people will glorify God (Matthew 5:16) and not us. This is also something we can learn from
John the Baptist. He was a popular guy. People came out to him in the desert to hear him preach.
He preached a tough message, calling people to repentance; still they came out to see him! It was
enough to give a person a big head.
However John didn’t let it get to him. He didn’t start believing his own PR. When people wanted
to know if he was the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, he gave it to them straight—“I am not”
(John 1:21). John knew who he was; he knew what his job was. It was to cry out in the
wilderness, “Make straight the way for the Lord.”
2
http://www.preaching.com/sermon-illustrations/11573571/
That’s our job too. God sends us out to witness to Jesus, to tell people about all Jesus has done,
to show them what Jesus looks like through our good deeds. At the end of the day though, we
have to make way for the Lord. He is the Messiah, we are not. Sometimes people can become
too attached to the people who minister to them, and give them the love that is due only to Jesus.
So we need to become practised at deferring all the glory back to Jesus. That’s what it means to
be a witness rather than a messiah!
Conclusion
Tonight we celebrate the birth of Jesus. It’s something we do every year. But why is Jesus’ birth
significant? It is significant because in Jesus God has started to remake all of creation, to return it
to his original design.
To start his new creation, God has given us a new Light. Instead of sun, moon and stars the new
creation is lit by God’s Son Jesus Christ. As John the Baptist did, so we, too, must be a witness;
testify to the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This is something that all Christians are
called to do. If we have seen the light of the glory of God in the face of his Son Jesus, then we
are qualified and called to be witnesses.
We have some unique opportunities to witness. We can get involved with “Acts of Mercy,” we
can share the gospel with our friends and family, we can volunteer and serve the poor. When we
do so, we need to make sure all the glory goes to Jesus, not to ourselves. That is what it means to
be a witness.
Will you be a witness—shining your light?