The Longest Night: A Blue Christmas Service7pm Monday, December 21, 2020

Many of us are acquainted with the paradox of the Advent and Christmas seasons – a time when we feel we are supposed to celebrate hope, love, joy and peace, and yet a time that we are experiencing depression, sadness and grief. And, of course, adding to the weight of our sorrows this year is the pandemic with its illness, fear, isolation, turmoil, death, and loss. This service offers special recognition of the struggles that many of us face during this season. Its somber tone also testifies to the struggles of Mary, Joseph and Jesus that are often overlooked.   We invite you now to a special time of music and worship in the midst of any sadness; a time of togetherness in the midst of any loneliness; a time to acknowledge any grief in the midst of a caring, supportive community.

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Leader: The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

People: And also with you.

Leader: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow, a light has shone. For the yoke that was weighing upon them, and the burden upon their shoulders, you have broken in pieces, O God, our Redeemer.

Leader: Let us pray:People: God of mercy, hear our prayer in this Advent season for

ourselves and for our families, friends, and neighbors who live with painful thoughts and memories. We ask for strength for today, courage for tomorrow and peace for the past. We ask these things in the name of your Christ, who shares our life in sorrow and joy, turmoil and calm, death and new birth, despair and promise. Amen.

Psalm 25:16-20Look toward me, and have pity on me,     for I am alone and afflicted.

Relieve the troubles of my heart,     and bring me out of my distress. 

Put an end to my affliction and my suffering,     and take away all my sins. 

Behold, my enemies are many,     and they hate me violently. 

Preserve my life, and rescue me;     let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. 

Litany of Complaint

Leader: Hear the cries of your people, O God. People: We will lament and not hold back. We refuse to be

comforted until we have made known to you our sorrows. We are bereft.

Leader: Our souls cling to the dust.

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People: Our eyes are wasted with grief. We are drenched with tears. Our hearts melt like wax.

Leader: Our souls melt away for sorrow. People: We are poured out like water. Our bodies are racked.

Leader: Our eyes have failed for watching for your promise. People: When will you comfort us?

Leader: We open our mouths and pant in pain. People: Why do you stand so far off, O Lord, and hide yourself in

time of trouble?

Leader: Our eyes shed streams of tears. People: Our indignation consumes us.

Leader: We cry out to you. People: We grow weary with our groaning.

Leader: Early in the morning we call to you. People: Let our cry come before you, O Lord. Deliver us according

to your promise of mercy.

Leader: O Lord, we wait for you. People: More than watchers wait for the morning, our souls wait

for you alone.

Hymn 56, verses 1 and 5 - 8 O come, O come, Emmanuel (bulletin p 10)

Leader: Into your hands, O God, I commend my spirit, People: for you have redeemed me, O God of truth and love.

Leader: Keep me, O God, as the apple of an eye; People: hide me under the shadow of your wings.

Preserve us, O God, while waking, and guard us while sleeping, that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep may rest in your peace.

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. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every

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way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:6-10

Homily

Hymn 105 God rest ye merry gentlemen (bulletin p 11)

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Litany of Remembering

Leader: We light this first candle to remember those whom we have loved and lost. We pause to remember their names, their faces, their voices, the memories that bind them to us in this season.

People: May God’s eternal love surround them.

Leader: We light this second candle to redeem the pain of loss: the loss of relationships, the loss of jobs, the loss of health. We pause to gather up the pain of the past and offer it to God, asking that from God’s hands we receive the gift of peace.

People: Refresh us, restore us, and renew us, O God. Lead us into your future.

Leader: We light this third candle to remember ourselves this Christmastime. We pause and remember these past weeks and months: the disbelief, the anger, the down times, the joy and sorrow of memories, the hugs and handshakes of family and friends who care for us. We give thanks for all the support we have known.

People: Let us remember that even after night has fallen, the dawn of a new day will follow.

Leader: We light this fourth candle to ask for healing of disappointment. We pause remember those things we desired most but which remain unobtained, unfulfilled, or unmet. We remember that scripture speaks of Jesus’ great love and regard for children and women, but not of a wife or family. Could it not be that he, too, desired these things, but they were somehow denied him? How many other things was he denied?

People: Let us remember our longings and desires, unfulfilled yet made holy by the One who experienced all things human.

Leader: We light this fifth candle to remember our faith and the gift of hope that the Christmas story offers to us. We remember that God, who shares our life, promises o be with us in all our times, places, conditions, and situations, and to bring us, one day, to a place and a time where there is no more pain and suffering.

People: Let us remember the One who shows us the way, who brings truth, and who bares the light for us all. Amen

Hymn 95 While shepherds watched their flocks by night (bulletin p 12)

Psalm 31

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O God, I have come to you for shelter: let me never be put to shame.

Deliver me in the justice of your ways: incline your ear to me and be swift to save me.

Be for me a rock of refuge, a fortress to defend me: for you are my rock and my stronghold.

Lead me and guide me for your name’s sake: deliver me out of the net that they have laid secretly for

me, for you are my strength.

Into your hands I commit my spirit, for you will redeem me, eternal God of truth.

Blessing the Light

Leader: In this darkness we call for Light. People: This Light brought forth from the beginning of creation to

shine in the shadows of our souls.

Leader: We yearn for this gracious Light to warm us, to nourish us, and to give us strength.

People: We call on this brilliant Light to show us our pain, so that in seeing it more clearly we might have the courage to bring it to you.

And we ask you, O Holy One, to be with us here in our healing walk on this darkened earth.

You are invited to light a candle in remembrance of your sorrow or pain.

Hymn 111 Silent night, holy night (bulletin p 13)

Leader: Dear God, People: thank you for all that is good,

for our creation and for our humanity, for the stewardship you have given us of this good earth, for the gifts of life and of one another, for your love which is unbounded and eternal. O thou, most holy and beloved,

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my Companion, my Guide upon the way, my bright evening star.

Leader: We stumble in the darkness. People: Light of the world transfigure us.

Leader: We forget that we are your home. People: Spirit of God, dwell in us.

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Leader: Eternal Spirit, living God, People: in whom we live and move and have our being,

all that we are, have been, and shall be is known to you,to the very secret of our heartsand all that rises to trouble us.Living flame burn into us,cleansing wind blow through us,fountain of water well up within us,that we may love and praise in deed and in truth. Amen.

Psalm 85:8 - 10

Show us, O Lord, your kindness,     and grant us your salvation.

I will hear what God proclaims;     the Lord—for he proclaims peace.

To his people, and to his faithful ones,     and to those who put in him their hope.

Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,     glory dwelling in our land. 

Leader: Lord, have mercy.People: Christ, have mercy.Leader: Lord, have mercy.

The Lord’s Prayer Eternal Spirit,Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,Source of all that is and that shall be,Father and Mother of us all,Loving God, in whom is heaven:

The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!The way of your justice be followed by the peoplesof the world! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!Your commonwealth of peace and freedomsustain our hope and come on earth.

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With the bread we need for today, feed us.In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.From trials too great to endure, spare us.From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and for ever. Amen.

Psalm 134We your servants bless you, O God,

as we stand by night in your house.

We lift up our hands towards the holy place,and give you thanks and praise.

Bless us from all places where you dwell,O God, creator of the heavens and the earth.

Leader: Be present, Spirit of God, People: within us, your dwelling place and home,

that this house may be one whereall darkness is penetrated by your light,all troubles calmed by your peace,all evil redeemed by your love,all pain transformed in your suffering,and all dying glorified in your risen life. Amen.

Hymn 109 The first Nowell (bulletin p 14-15)

A Prayer for the End of the Day

Lord, it is night.

The night is for stillness. Let us be still in the presence of God.

It is night after a long day. What has been done has been done; what has not been done has not been done; let it be.

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The night is dark. Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own livesrest in you.

The night is quiet. Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,

all dear to us, and all who have no peace.

The night heralds the dawn. Let us look expectantly to a new day,

new joys, new possibilities.

In your name we pray. Amen.

Hymn 87 Hark the herald angels sing (bulletin p 16)

The Song of SimeonLuke 2:29-32

Lord, you now have set your servant free *    to go in peace as you have promised;For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *    whom you have prepared for all the world to see:A Light to enlighten the nations, *    and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *    as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Blessing Leader: Go in peace and faith.

If you are tired, may you find rest, if you are anxious, may you find peace, if you are lonely, may you find comfort. Know that nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus.And the blessing of God Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, remain with you always. AMEN.

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Many say, “Oh, that we might see better times!”     O Lord, let the light of your countenance shine upon us! You put gladness into my heart,      more than when grain and wine abound. As soon as I lie down, I fall peacefully asleep,    for you alone, O Lord,      bring security to my dwelling. (Psalm 4:7-9) 

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