Blue Christmas - December 21, 2020

Monday, December 21, 2020
Longest Night Blue Christmas Evening Prayer
 
Jeff Horvath
PRELUDE “Each Winter as the Year Grows Older”

SILENT MEDITATION
A chime will begin and end the silent meditation. 

Pastor Daniel welcomes the church to worship. 
GREETING
 From the one who was, who is, and who is to come:
Grace and peace be with you all.

Pastor Daniel will lead the assembly in our hymn of light. 
Hymn of Light “Come Light of Light” 
From Singing in Community: Paperless Music for Worship.
 
THANKSGIVING FOR LIGHT




Our psalm this evening is read by Deacon Tracy. 
Psalm 27
 
1The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2When evildoers close in against me to devour my flesh,
they, my foes and my enemies, will stumble and fall.
3Though an army encamp against me, my heart will not fear.
Though war rise up against me, my trust will not be shaken.
4One thing I ask of the Lord; one thing I seek;
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek God in the temple.
5For in the day of trouble God will give me shelter,
hide me in the hidden places of the sanctuary, and raise me high upon a rock.
6Even now my head is lifted up above my enemies who surround me.
Therefore I will offer sacrifice in the sanctuary, sacrifices of rejoicing; I will sing and make music to the Lord.
7Hear my voice, O Lord, when I call;
have mercy on me and answer me.
8My heart speaks your message “Seek my face.”
Your face, O Lord, I will seek.
9Hide not your face from me, turn not away from your servant in anger.
Cast me not away you have been my helper; forsake me not, O God of my salvation.
10Though my father and my mother forsake me,
the Lord will take me in.
11Teach me your way, O Lord;
lead me on a level path, because of my oppressors.
12Subject me not to the will of my foes,
for they rise up against me, false witnesses breathing violence.
13This I believe that I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living!
14Wait for the Lord and be strong.
Take heart and wait for the Lord!

Prayer
Lord God, our light and our salvation, grant that your servants who seek your face in times of trouble may see your goodness in the land of the living, and that we may be set safely on the rock of our faith, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.

The first reading is read by ???
First Reading: Isaiah 9:2-7

 9:2 The people who walked in darkness
 have seen a great light;
 those who lived in a land of deep darkness --
 on them light has shined.
 3You have multiplied the nation,
 you have increased its joy;
 they rejoice before you
 as with joy at the harvest,
 as people exult when dividing plunder.
 4For the yoke of their burden,
 and the bar across their shoulders,
 the rod of their oppressor,
 you have broken as on the day of Midian.
 5For all the boots of the tramping warriors
 and all the garments rolled in blood
 shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
 6For a child has been born for us,
 a son given to us;
 authority rests upon his shoulders;
 and he is named
 Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
 Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
 7His authority shall grow continually,
 and there shall be endless peace
 for the throne of David and his kingdom.
 He will establish and uphold it
 with justice and with righteousness
 from this time onward and forevermore.
 The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

The sung response is led by Allison Hearst. 
Hymn #257 O come, O come Emmanuel

1  O come, O come, Emmanuel, 
and ransom captive Israel, 
that mourns in lonely exile here
     until the Son of God appear. 
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 
shall come to you, O Israel.

The second reading is read by ???
Second Reading Isaiah 40:1-11

40:1 Comfort, O comfort my people,  
 says your God. 
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,  
and cry to her
that she has served her term, 
 that her penalty is paid, 
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
    double for all her sins. 
3 A voice cries out:  
“In the wilderness prepare the way of 
the Lord,
    make straight in the desert a highway 
for our God. 
4 Every valley shall be lifted up,     
and every mountain and hill be made low; 
the uneven ground shall become level,   
and the rough places a plain.
5 Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
    and all people shall see it together,
    for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
6 A voice says, “Cry out!”
    And I said, “What shall I cry?”
All people are grass,
    their constancy is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades,
    when the breath of the Lord blows upon it;
    surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades;
    but the word of our God will stand forever.
9 Get you up to a high mountain,
    O Zion, herald of good tidings;[a]
lift up your voice with strength,
    O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings,[b]
    lift it up, do not fear;
say to the cities of Judah,
    “Here is your God!”
10 See, the Lord God comes with might,
    and his arm rules for him;
his reward is with him,
    and his recompense before him.
11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd;
    he will gather the lambs in his arms,
and carry them in his bosom,
    and gently lead the mother sheep.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

The sung response is led by Karen Dahlke. 
Hymn #256 Comfort, comfort now my people

 1  "Comfort, comfort now my people;
     tell of peace!" So says our God.
     Comfort those who sit in darkness
     mourning under sorrow's load.
     To God's people now proclaim
     that God's pardon waits for them!
     Tell them that their war is over;
     God will reign in peace forever.


The third reading is read by ???
Third Reading Matthew 11:28-30

11:28 “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

The sung response is led by Karen Zicco.
Hymn #257: O come, O come, Emmanuel 

 6  O come, O Dayspring, come and cheer;
     O Sun of justice, now draw near.
     Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
     and death's dark shadow put to flight. 
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel