Reflecting the Sacred: Sacred Being
You are welcome here…come and worship!
Welcome Rev. Paula Norbert
Gathering Music: Upon this Moment
(by Marcia McFee) -Michelle & The Congregation
Upon this moment, upon this people,
upon this place, the holy comes.
And sacred knowing brings sacred being
for sacred doing of God’s plan. -Michelle Currie
Call To Worship:
Leader: We pray for Hope this night.
All: We pray for Love this night.
Leader: We pray for Joy this night.
All: We pray for Peace this night.
Leader: We open our hearts to see the Sacred
Reflected in all things.
All: We open to see our deepest selves as a gift
of holy presence.
Leader: This is the gift of the Christ Mystery,
All: lighting the way to Christ’s peace in our hearts and in our world.
Advent Wreath: Lighting the wreath
Music: What Child Is This (by WM. Chatterton Dix) -Ada Goff
Opening Prayer:
Holy Living One, You who are our Joy,
Let wonders of your love rule our hearts this day.
Let wonders of your love rule our community this day.
Let wonders of your love rule the world this day…
in the name of Compassion. Amen.
Lord’s Prayer
Opening Hymn: Angels We Have Heard on High #113
Scripture: Luke 2: 1-20 -Cris Hudson
Meditation: “And the soul felt its worth” Rev. Paula Norbert
Music: O Holy Night (by Adolfe Adam)
-Michelle Currie & The Union Church Choir
A Christmas Prayer for Peace:
Offertory: The offering received at this Service each Christmas supports the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund, providing emergency assistance for the local community throughout the year. We are deeply grateful for your generosity.
Offertory Music: Mary Did You Know (by Mark Lowry)
-Michelle Currie
Prayer of Dedication:
Candle-Lighting:
Leader: We come to a special part of tonight’s service
As Christ comes bringing the light of God’s love,
we light our individual candles to signify our individual and collective commitment to live as Christ’s faithful in the world.
Hymn: Silent Night, Holy Night #122 vs. 1 & 2
*Repeat vs. 1
Leader: As the lights are dimmed, let us hold up our candles…
One candle is but a flicker, but together, we create a bright flame
of Christ’s light in the world. May we be witnesses of the light
Christ brings. Amen.
As you gently extinguish your candle, may you carry the light of Jesus’ love with you. You may take your candles with you into the night…
Blessing:
When you see lights twinkle or a candle glowing in the darkness, let these be signs that the Christ Light is revealed again and again in and through this world. Know that your brilliant presence
is pouring more peace into a weary world.
God loved us by becoming us. This means you are
already reflecting the sacred. In the name of the Creator,
Christ, and Spirit of Hope. Amen.
Recessional: Joy To The World vs. 1, 2 & 4
With Great thanks to Music Director, Michelle Currie, Musician Rob Duquette, Soloist Ada Goff, The Union Church Choir and to our Zoom Host and Reader tonight.
Worship Notes: Worship series design © Worship Design Studio by Marcia McFee.
New Year’s Day: Sunday, January 1, 10am Service.
Thank you for joining us this evening. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and every Blessing for the New Year!
For Your Reflection…
When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among others,
To make music in the heart.
+ Howard Thurman
Christmas Poem
from spiralling ecstatically this
proud nowhere of earth’s most prodigious night
blossoms a newborn babe:around him,eyes
— gifted with ever keener appetite
than mere unmiracle can quite appease —
humbly in their imagined bodies kneel
(over time space doom dream while floats the whole
perhaps less mystery of paradise)
mind without soul may blast some universe
to might have been,and stop ten thousand stars
but not one heartbeat of this child;nor shall
even prevail a million questionings
against the silence of his mother’s smile
— whose only secret all creation sings
+ E. E. Cummings
A Christmas blessing (by Joyce Rupp)
May you give and receive love generously.
May this love echo in your heart like
the joy of church bells on a clear December day.
May each person who comes into your life
be greeted as another Christ.
May the honor given the Babe of Bethlehem
be that which you extend to every guest who enters your presence.
May the hope of this sacred season settle in your soul.
May it be a foundation of courage for you
when times of distress occupy your inner land.
May the wonder and awe that fills the eyes of children
be awakened within you.
May it lead you to renewed awareness and appreciation
of whatever you too easily take for granted.
May the bonds of love for one another be strengthened
as you gather around the table of festivity and nourishment.
May you keep your eye on the Star within you and trust
this Luminescent Presence to guide and direct you each day.
May you go often to the Bethlehem of your heart
and visit the One who offers you peace.
May you bring this peace into our world.