John H. Westerhoff, III - Service of the Lord's Supper: Communion Meditation (December 30, 1984)
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Transcript
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(soft music) | 0:07 | |
(choir singing foreign language) | 0:18 | |
(soft music) | 2:33 | |
♪ I heard the bells on Christmas Day ♪ | 2:42 | |
♪ Their old familiar carols play ♪ | 2:50 | |
♪ And mild and sweet their words repeat ♪ | 2:59 | |
♪ Of peace on earth good will to men ♪ | 3:08 | |
♪ I thought as how this day had come ♪ | 3:18 | |
♪ The belfries of all Christendom ♪ | 3:26 | |
♪ Had rolled along the unbroken song ♪ | 3:35 | |
♪ Of peace on earth, good will to men ♪ | 3:44 | |
♪ And in despair I bowed my head ♪ | 4:05 | |
♪ There is no peace on earth, I said ♪ | 4:12 | |
♪ For hate is strong and mocks the song ♪ | 4:21 | |
♪ Of peace on earth, good will to men ♪ | 4:29 | |
♪ Then pealed the bells more loud and deep ♪ | 4:40 | |
♪ God is not dead, nor doth he sleep ♪ | 4:48 | |
♪ The wrong shall fail, the right prevail ♪ | 4:57 | |
♪ With peace on earth, good will to men ♪ | 5:06 | |
♪ Good will to men ♪ | 5:31 | |
(singing in foreign language) | 6:14 | |
♪ Jesus Christ was born ♪ | 6:32 | |
(choir singing) | 6:46 | |
(singing in foreign language) | 8:27 | |
♪ Jesus Christ was born ♪ | 8:47 | |
♪ Hark how the bells ♪ | 9:10 | |
♪ Sweet silver bells ♪ | 9:12 | |
♪ All seem to say ♪ | 9:13 | |
♪ Throw cares away ♪ | 9:14 | |
♪ Christmas is here ♪ | 9:15 | |
♪ Bringing good cheer ♪ | 9:16 | |
♪ To young and old ♪ | 9:17 | |
♪ Meek and the bold ♪ | 9:18 | |
♪ Ding dong ding dong ♪ | 9:20 | |
♪ That is their song ♪ | 9:21 | |
♪ With joyful ring ♪ | 9:22 | |
♪ All caroling ♪ | 9:24 | |
♪ One seems to hear ♪ | 9:25 | |
♪ Words of good cheer ♪ | 9:26 | |
♪ From everywhere ♪ | 9:27 | |
♪ Filling the air ♪ | 9:28 | |
♪ Oh how they pound ♪ | 9:29 | |
♪ Raising the sound ♪ | 9:31 | |
♪ O'er hill and dale ♪ | 9:32 | |
♪ Telling their tale ♪ | 9:33 | |
♪ Gaily they ring ♪ | 9:35 | |
♪ While people sing ♪ | 9:36 | |
♪ Songs of good cheer ♪ | 9:37 | |
♪ Christmas is here ♪ | 9:38 | |
♪ Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas ♪ | 9:39 | |
♪ Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas ♪ | 9:41 | |
♪ On on they send ♪ | 9:44 | |
♪ On without end ♪ | 9:45 | |
♪ Their joyful tone ♪ | 9:46 | |
♪ To every home ♪ | 9:48 | |
♪ Hark how the bells ♪ | 9:49 | |
♪ Sweet silver bells ♪ | 9:50 | |
♪ All seem to say ♪ | 9:51 | |
♪ Throw cares away ♪ | 9:52 | |
♪ Christmas is here ♪ | 9:54 | |
♪ Bringing good cheer ♪ | 9:55 | |
♪ To young and old ♪ | 9:56 | |
♪ Meek and the bold ♪ | 9:57 | |
♪ Ding dong, ding dong ♪ | 9:58 | |
♪ That is their song ♪ | 9:59 | |
♪ With joyful ring ♪ | 10:01 | |
♪ All caroling ♪ | 10:02 | |
♪ One seems to hear ♪ | 10:03 | |
♪ Words of good cheer ♪ | 10:04 | |
♪ From everywhere ♪ | 10:05 | |
♪ Filling the air ♪ | 10:06 | |
♪ Oh how they pound ♪ | 10:07 | |
♪ Raising the sound ♪ | 10:08 | |
♪ O'er hill and dale ♪ | 10:09 | |
♪ Telling their tale ♪ | 10:10 | |
♪ Gaily they ring ♪ | 10:11 | |
♪ While people sing ♪ | 10:12 | |
♪ Songs of good cheer ♪ | 10:14 | |
♪ Christmas is here ♪ | 10:15 | |
♪ Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas ♪ | 10:16 | |
♪ Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas ♪ | 10:18 | |
♪ On on they send ♪ | 10:20 | |
♪ On without end ♪ | 10:21 | |
♪ Their joyful tone ♪ | 10:22 | |
♪ To every home ♪ | 10:24 | |
♪ On on they send ♪ | 10:25 | |
♪ On without end ♪ | 10:26 | |
♪ Their joyful tone ♪ | 10:28 | |
♪ To every home ♪ | 10:29 | |
♪ Ding dong ding dong dong ♪ | 10:34 | |
(soft music) | 11:21 | |
- | Good morning and welcome to this service of worship | 14:50 |
at Duke University Chapel. | 14:54 | |
It is a pleasure to welcome to our pulpit today | 14:57 | |
Dr. John Westerhoff, who is Professor of Religious Education | 14:59 | |
at Duke University Divinity School. | 15:03 | |
Dr. Westerhoff is a beloved figure, | 15:06 | |
not only here at Duke, but throughout the world | 15:08 | |
where he is well known as an author, | 15:11 | |
as a teacher, and as a retreat leader. | 15:14 | |
Dr. Westerhoff, we extend a warm welcome to you today. | 15:17 | |
We are also privileged to honor as our guest choir today, | 15:21 | |
the Raleigh Boy Choir under the direction | 15:24 | |
of conductor Thomas Sibley. | 15:26 | |
This very fine choir has assisted us | 15:29 | |
in the leadership of worship before, | 15:32 | |
and we are truly delighted to have them back | 15:35 | |
with us again today. | 15:37 | |
And now let us join our hearts as one as we worship God. | 15:40 | |
Grace and peace to you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. | 15:46 | |
Come, let us worship the Lord who established | 15:52 | |
a new covenant through His son, Jesus Christ. | 15:55 | |
(congregation speaking) | 15:59 | |
("O Come All Ye Faithfull") | 16:05 | |
♪ O Come All Ye Faithful ♪ | 16:47 | |
♪ Joyful and triumphant ♪ | 16:52 | |
♪ O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem ♪ | 16:56 | |
♪ Come and behold Him ♪ | 17:06 | |
♪ Born the King of Angels ♪ | 17:10 | |
♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ | 17:14 | |
♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ | 17:18 | |
♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ | 17:23 | |
♪ Christ the Lord ♪ | 17:28 | |
♪ O Sing, choirs of angels ♪ | 17:35 | |
♪ Sing in exultation ♪ | 17:39 | |
♪ Sing all ye citizens of heaven above ♪ | 17:43 | |
♪ Glory to God ♪ | 17:53 | |
♪ Glory in the highest ♪ | 17:57 | |
♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ | 18:01 | |
♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ | 18:06 | |
♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ | 18:10 | |
♪ Christ the Lord ♪ | 18:16 | |
♪ Hail Lord, we greet Thee ♪ | 19:46 | |
♪ Born this happy morning ♪ | 19:50 | |
♪ Jesus for evermore be Thy name adored ♪ | 19:54 | |
♪ Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing ♪ | 20:04 | |
♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ | 20:12 | |
♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ | 20:17 | |
♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ | 20:21 | |
♪ Christ the Lord ♪ | 20:27 | |
Let us pray. | 20:51 | |
Let us worship our creator, the God of love. | 20:55 | |
God continually preserves and sustains us. | 20:59 | |
We have been loved with an everlasting love. | 21:03 | |
Through Jesus Christ we have been given | 21:07 | |
complete knowledge of God's glory. | 21:09 | |
(congregation speaking) | 21:12 | |
Let us glory at the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. | 21:18 | |
Though He was rich, for our sakes He became poor. | 21:22 | |
He was tempted in all points as we are, | 21:26 | |
but He was without sin. | 21:30 | |
He went about doing good and preaching the Gospel | 21:32 | |
of the kingdom. | 21:35 | |
He accepted death, death on a cross. | 21:37 | |
He was dead, and is alive forever. | 21:40 | |
He has opened the kingdom of heaven | 21:44 | |
to all who trust in Him. | 21:46 | |
He sits in glory at the right hand of God. | 21:49 | |
He will come again to be our judge. | 21:52 | |
(congregation speaking) | 21:56 | |
Let us rejoice in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. | 21:59 | |
The Lord, the giver of life. | 22:03 | |
Through the Spirit we are born into the family of God. | 22:06 | |
And made members of the body of Christ. | 22:09 | |
The witness of the Spirit confirms us. | 22:13 | |
The wisdom teaches us. | 22:16 | |
The power enables us. | 22:18 | |
The Spirit will do far more for us than we ask or think. | 22:20 | |
All praise to you, Holy Spirit. | 22:26 | |
You may be seated. | 22:29 | |
- | Let us say together in unison. | 22:42 |
Open our hearts and minds, oh God. | 22:46 | |
By the power of your Holy Spirit. | 22:49 | |
So that as the word is read and proclaimed | 22:52 | |
we might hear with joy what you say to us this day. | 22:55 | |
Amen. | 23:01 | |
The first lesson is taken from Isaiah chapter 61, | 23:03 | |
verse 10 and chapter 62, verse three. | 23:08 | |
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord. | 23:14 | |
My soul shall exalt in my God. | 23:18 | |
For he has clothed me with the garments of salvation. | 23:22 | |
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness. | 23:26 | |
As a bride groomed ex himself with a garland. | 23:29 | |
And the bride adorns herself with her jewels. | 23:33 | |
For as the earth brings forth its shoes, | 23:37 | |
and as the guarding causes what is sown in it to spring up, | 23:41 | |
so the Lord God will cause righteousness, | 23:45 | |
and pray to spring forth before all the nations. | 23:47 | |
For Zion's sake I will not keep silent. | 23:51 | |
And for Jerusalem's sake, I will not rest. | 23:55 | |
Until heard of indication goes forth as brightness | 23:58 | |
and her salvation as a burning torch. | 24:01 | |
The nations shall be called by a new name. | 24:05 | |
Which the mouth of the Lord will give. | 24:08 | |
You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord. | 24:11 | |
And a royal diadem in the hand of your God. | 24:14 | |
This ends the reading of the first lesson. | 24:19 | |
(soft music) | 24:28 | |
♪ Lord, now let us-- ♪ | 24:35 | |
(muffled singing) | 24:44 | |
♪ Glory be the father and to the son ♪ | 25:14 | |
♪ And to the Holy Ghost ♪ | 25:19 | |
♪ As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be ♪ | 25:24 | |
♪ World without end, amen ♪ | 25:31 | |
The second lesson is taken from Galatians chapter four, | 25:53 | |
verses four through seven. | 25:58 | |
But when the time had fully come | 26:02 | |
God sent forth His son, born of woman, born under the law. | 26:05 | |
To redeem those who were under the law | 26:11 | |
so that we might receive adoption as sons. | 26:16 | |
And because you are sons, God has sent the spirit | 26:20 | |
of His son into your hearts, crying abba father. | 26:24 | |
So through God you are no longer a slave, but a son. | 26:29 | |
And if a son, then an heir. | 26:33 | |
This ends the reading of the second lesson. | 26:36 | |
(soft music) | 26:50 | |
(choir singing) | 26:59 | |
- | In respect for the Gospel, let us rise. | 32:59 |
The holy Gospel of the Lord according to Saint Luke. | 33:08 | |
And when the day came for Mary and Joseph | 33:14 | |
to be purified as laid down by the law of Moses, | 33:16 | |
they took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord, | 33:20 | |
observing what stands written in the law of the Lord. | 33:25 | |
Every first born male must be consecrated to the Lord. | 33:28 | |
And also to offer in sacrifice in accordance | 33:33 | |
with what is said in the law of the Lord. | 33:36 | |
A pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons. | 33:39 | |
Now in Jerusalem, there was a man named Simeon. | 33:43 | |
He was an upright and devout man. | 33:47 | |
He looked forward to Israel's comforting | 33:50 | |
and the Holy Spirit rested on him. | 33:52 | |
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit | 33:56 | |
that he would not see death until his eyes | 33:59 | |
had set on Christ the Lord. | 34:02 | |
Prompted by the Spirit he came to the temple. | 34:06 | |
When the parents brought in the child Jesus, | 34:08 | |
to do for him what the law required, | 34:11 | |
he took Jesus into his arms and blessed God and said, | 34:14 | |
now master, you can let your servant go in peace, | 34:19 | |
just as you promised because my eyes have seen | 34:23 | |
the salvation, which you have prepared | 34:28 | |
for all the nations to see. | 34:31 | |
A light to enlighten the pagans | 34:34 | |
and the glory of your people, Israel. | 34:36 | |
As the child's father and mother stood there | 34:40 | |
wondering at the things that were being said about him, | 34:43 | |
Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, | 34:47 | |
you see this child? | 34:51 | |
He is destined for the fall and for the rising | 34:54 | |
of many in Israel. | 34:57 | |
Destined to be a sign that is rejected. | 35:00 | |
And a sword will pierce your own soul too, | 35:04 | |
so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare. | 35:08 | |
There was a prophetess also, Anna, the daughter. | 35:13 | |
Of the tribe of Asher. | 35:15 | |
She was well on in years, her days of girlhood over. | 35:18 | |
She had been married for seven years | 35:21 | |
before becoming a widow. | 35:23 | |
She was now 84 years old and never left the temple, | 35:25 | |
serving God night and day with fasting and prayer. | 35:29 | |
She came by just at that moment and began to praise God | 35:34 | |
and she spoke of the child to all who looked forward | 35:38 | |
to the deliverance of Jerusalem. | 35:41 | |
When they had done everything the law of the Lord | 35:44 | |
required they went back to Galilee, | 35:46 | |
to their own town of Nazareth. | 35:49 | |
Meanwhile the child grew to maturity, | 35:51 | |
and he was filled with wisdom and God's favor was with him. | 35:54 | |
It is the Gospel of the Lord. | 36:00 | |
Upon seeing the infant Jesus, Simeon exclaims, | 36:14 | |
my eyes have seen the savior. | 36:19 | |
Anna, looking on confirms Simeon's vision | 36:24 | |
and offers thanks to God. | 36:27 | |
On this first Sunday after the celebration of Christ's birth | 36:32 | |
we gather to pray for the grace to see in His birth | 36:38 | |
both the establishment of God's reign of peace | 36:43 | |
and the possibility of its fulfillment in our lifetime. | 36:48 | |
We pray for the grace of sight | 36:55 | |
because God's gift of abundant, personal and social life | 36:57 | |
is not self-evident. | 37:02 | |
Either to those who are self-conscious | 37:05 | |
or to those who watch the evening news. | 37:08 | |
Indeed, if we are completely honest | 37:13 | |
we might well confess that we gather to sing carols | 37:15 | |
and retell the story, not because we see | 37:20 | |
what Anna and Simeon saw. | 37:23 | |
But because we wish we could. | 37:27 | |
It is extremely difficult to maintain faith | 37:31 | |
in the Gospel of God's presence and reign among us. | 37:34 | |
We are nearing 2000 years of proclaiming | 37:39 | |
the birth of a new humanity. | 37:42 | |
And the establishment of God's reign in human history. | 37:45 | |
For all these years, the faithful have waited | 37:50 | |
and watched for war to end and peace to come. | 37:53 | |
For inequality to end and justice to come. | 37:59 | |
For estrangement to end and reconciliation to come. | 38:05 | |
For oppression to end and freedom to come. | 38:10 | |
For poverty, hunger, and sickness to end and health to come. | 38:15 | |
For death to end and life to come. | 38:21 | |
It is not easy to maintain faith in what | 38:26 | |
never seems to come. | 38:30 | |
It is difficult to keep trying to make | 38:33 | |
the invisible, visible. | 38:36 | |
Christmas is but four days passed, | 38:41 | |
on that festival day the church represented | 38:45 | |
the story of how God has entered into the poverty, | 38:48 | |
brokenness, and incompleteness of our personal | 38:52 | |
and social lives. | 38:56 | |
Entered into them and transformed them. | 38:58 | |
It was due to happen one day. | 39:03 | |
For as Saint John reminds us in the beginning was the word | 39:06 | |
and the word was with God, and the word was God. | 39:10 | |
He was in the beginning with God, | 39:15 | |
all things were made through Him. | 39:17 | |
And without Him was not anything made. | 39:19 | |
In Him was life and the life was the light of humanity. | 39:24 | |
The light shines in the darkness | 39:29 | |
and the darkness has not overcome it. | 39:32 | |
And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us | 39:36 | |
full of grace and truth. | 39:40 | |
And so with Saint John at Christ's mass, | 39:45 | |
the church gives thanks for the mystery | 39:49 | |
of the saving power of God in our lives and history. | 39:52 | |
Gives thanks for a candle in the dark. | 39:58 | |
Gives thanks for the birth of possibilities. | 40:03 | |
It is no longer doubtful how our human drama will end. | 40:08 | |
Indeed it is now certain that our human tragedy | 40:13 | |
is a divine comedy. | 40:17 | |
God has taken the lead in this play called history | 40:20 | |
and God will speak the decisive word. | 40:25 | |
And so on this Sunday following the celebration | 40:31 | |
of the eternal coming of Christ, | 40:34 | |
the church retells the story of Simeon and Anna | 40:38 | |
and reminds us of Simeon's faithful words, | 40:41 | |
which are to become this day, our words of faith. | 40:46 | |
My eyes have seen the salvation | 40:51 | |
which God has prepared for all to see. | 40:54 | |
We gather as the faithful have gathered | 41:00 | |
for generations to tell the story | 41:02 | |
and pray for the gift of faith. | 41:04 | |
We come because in the world that makes faith difficult, | 41:08 | |
we want to be able to proclaim in word | 41:13 | |
and example the good news of God in Christ. | 41:16 | |
The world, of course, is not much better | 41:21 | |
since that first Christmas. | 41:24 | |
The larger part of humanity does not suffer less. | 41:27 | |
Peace is no more within easy grasp. | 41:32 | |
To say we can see it is to be vulnerable | 41:37 | |
to the charge of madness. | 41:40 | |
To what can we point? | 41:43 | |
What can we say to our children | 41:47 | |
when children all over the world die | 41:49 | |
of poverty, hunger, and war? | 41:51 | |
While Christians worry about military preparedness. | 41:55 | |
What can we say to the remnant of the Jews | 42:00 | |
who survived the Holocaust in the land of Luther and Bach? | 42:03 | |
What can we say to Japanese Buddhists | 42:10 | |
who witnessed the fruits of a power developed | 42:12 | |
and first used by those who call themselves Christians? | 42:16 | |
Only Simeon and Anna have an adequate reply. | 42:23 | |
The presence of salvation is a mystery. | 42:30 | |
The mystery of a baby, | 42:34 | |
a baby born to suffer and die. | 42:37 | |
So that we might know the way to abundant life | 42:41 | |
and world peace. | 42:46 | |
At Christmas we celebrate the birth of possibility. | 42:50 | |
Possibility manifested not in strength and independence. | 42:54 | |
But in childlike weakness and dependence. | 43:01 | |
Today's Gospel calls us to a rebirth of faith. | 43:07 | |
Mary and Joseph bring Jesus their gift of new life | 43:12 | |
as a sacrifice of thanksgiving. | 43:16 | |
Old Simeon and Anna, who faithfully waited, | 43:21 | |
prepared, and watched for God's revelation. | 43:25 | |
See the baby Jesus and proclaim our eyes | 43:31 | |
have seen God's saving power within our lives and history. | 43:34 | |
And having seen it, | 43:41 | |
they predict his suffering and death | 43:44 | |
as the way to salvation. | 43:48 | |
Today as the Duke Chapel celebrates the 200 year history | 43:52 | |
of the founding of the Methodist Episcopal Church, | 43:55 | |
our prayer is appropriate, the colic assigned | 43:59 | |
by the Episcopal Church for the festival | 44:02 | |
of John and Charles Wesley. | 44:05 | |
Kindle in your church just ferver | 44:08 | |
that those whose faith has cooled, may be warmed. | 44:12 | |
And those who have not known Christ may turn to Him. | 44:17 | |
Christian faith is a way of perceiving life in our lives. | 44:24 | |
A way of being conscious to the world. | 44:29 | |
A way of life, founded on the conviction | 44:32 | |
that no matter how deep the world might fall, | 44:35 | |
blessed are the eyes that see the mystery | 44:39 | |
of a baby born to suffer and die | 44:43 | |
as the way to salvation. | 44:47 | |
In the Book of Common Prayer, the colic of this Sunday reads | 44:52 | |
almighty God, you have poured upon us | 44:56 | |
the light of your incarnate word. | 44:58 | |
Grant that this light enkindled in our hearts | 45:02 | |
may shine forth in our lives. | 45:05 | |
If only we could see with the eyes of faith, | 45:10 | |
we might be willing to give up our false notions | 45:13 | |
that this is the best of all possible worlds. | 45:17 | |
Give up our false notions that our life | 45:22 | |
in this country is worth perpetuating | 45:24 | |
and protecting at all cost. | 45:27 | |
If only we could see with the eyes of faith, | 45:32 | |
we might be willing to give up the false notion | 45:34 | |
that the power of political, economic, | 45:38 | |
and military might are the way to peace and justice. | 45:41 | |
If only we could see with the eyes of faith, | 45:47 | |
we might be willing to give up the false notion | 45:49 | |
that it is our responsibility to make history | 45:52 | |
come out right. | 45:55 | |
It is difficult to see the divine child | 45:59 | |
in the manger of poverty or the divine man | 46:02 | |
on the cross of suffering. | 46:05 | |
It is difficult to see that God conquers evil, | 46:08 | |
only through the power of weakness. | 46:13 | |
The power of non-violent resistance. | 46:17 | |
To see that God establishes His reign | 46:22 | |
of peace and justice through simple gestures | 46:25 | |
of hospitality, feeding, compassion, | 46:29 | |
reconciliation, caring, healing, and forgiving. | 46:34 | |
Only the eyes of faith can make the invisible, visible. | 46:40 | |
Only the eyes of faith can see through | 46:44 | |
what the world calls reality to the truth. | 46:47 | |
Only those who are willing to risk living | 46:51 | |
as if faith were true, will ever know if it is. | 46:53 | |
And so as we come to renew our covenant with God | 46:59 | |
who comes to us in the mystery of a baby, | 47:02 | |
and in the mystery of bread and wine, | 47:06 | |
with Nicholas Herman, the 16th century Christian hymn writer | 47:10 | |
in his Christmas tide eucharistic hymn put it | 47:15 | |
that all together praise our God upon His lofty throne, | 47:19 | |
for He uncloses heaven today and gives to us His son. | 47:24 | |
Behold the wonderful exchange, our Lord with us doth make. | 47:30 | |
Lo He assumes our flesh and blood, | 47:35 | |
and we of heaven partake. | 47:39 | |
Then let us come to this holy meal. | 47:44 | |
Let us-- | 47:48 |
- | And which we offer, God will transform our lives, | 0:03 |
and give them back to us infused with the life of Christ, | 0:08 | |
and with this gift of grace, will come the grace | 0:14 | |
of faith to see God's presence and reign among us, | 0:17 | |
in the mystery of a baby born to die. | 0:22 | |
The grace of hope and the fulfillment of God's promises, | 0:26 | |
and the grace of love to sustain us in our suffering. | 0:31 | |
Come and pray for the grace | 0:38 | |
of renewed faith and refreshed lives. | 0:39 | |
Come and receive the gift of new sight and new life. | 0:44 | |
Come and receive the courage and strength | 0:49 | |
to witness to the birth of possibilities. | 0:52 | |
Come, and through bread and wine, | 0:57 | |
that your lives be infused with Christ's life. | 0:59 | |
Come and become | 1:05 | |
the birth of possibility, | 1:08 | |
a sign of salvation for all to see | 1:10 | |
that the world might yet believed | 1:13 | |
and God's promises fulfilled. | 1:17 | |
In the name of the Father and of the Son | 1:21 | |
and of the Holy Spirit | 1:23 | |
Amen. | 1:25 | |
(organ music) | 1:39 | |
(muffled singing) | 2:05 | |
- | The Lord be with you. | 4:00 |
- | And also with you. | 4:02 |
_ Let us pray. | 4:04 | |
Almighty and ever loving God, | 4:18 | |
you have poured upon us the new light | 4:22 | |
of the incarnate word | 4:25 | |
which we celebrate this Christmas tide. | 4:28 | |
As we behold the wonderful exchange you have made with us. | 4:31 | |
We truly adore you with our praise. | 4:36 | |
We offer now these prayers for others. | 4:41 | |
Beseeching you gracious God to look with compassion | 4:44 | |
on the entire human family. | 4:48 | |
Look with pity, oh God | 4:52 | |
upon the people in this land and abroad | 4:54 | |
who live with injustice, | 4:57 | |
terror, disease, | 4:59 | |
and death as their constant companions. | 5:02 | |
Have mercy upon us. | 5:06 | |
Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. | 5:08 | |
And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion | 5:13 | |
of the riches of this earth. | 5:17 | |
We remember before you, most merciful God, | 5:21 | |
all poor and neglected persons. | 5:25 | |
The homeless, the destitute, the old and the sick. | 5:29 | |
The hungry, all who have none to care for them. | 5:35 | |
Empower us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit, | 5:41 | |
and to somehow turn their sorrow into joy. | 5:46 | |
Remember all prisoners and give them hope for their future. | 5:51 | |
Grant us all the conviction to improve their lot. | 5:56 | |
Remember those who work in such institutions. | 6:00 | |
Keep them humane and compassionate | 6:03 | |
and sustain them through the most trying times. | 6:07 | |
We pray for all nations, eternal God. | 6:12 | |
That you might take away the arrogance and the hatred | 6:16 | |
which infect our hearts. | 6:19 | |
Break down the walls that separate us. | 6:22 | |
Unite us in the bonds of love. | 6:25 | |
That in your good time, all nations and races | 6:29 | |
may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne. | 6:33 | |
These things we pray, | 6:39 | |
in the name of Jesus Christ, the prince of peace | 6:41 | |
in whose perfect kingdom, no sword is drawn, | 6:45 | |
but the sword of righteousness. | 6:48 | |
Amen. | 6:51 | |
Let us humbly confess our sins to God. | 6:55 | |
Oh God, you have shown us the way of life | 7:00 | |
through your son Jesus Christ. | 7:03 | |
We confess with shame our slowness to learn of Him. | 7:06 | |
Our failure to follow Him. | 7:10 | |
And our reluctance to bear the cross. | 7:12 | |
- | Have mercy on us Lord and forgive us. | 7:16 |
- | We confess the poverty of our worship. | 7:20 |
Our neglective fellowship and of the means of grace, | 7:24 | |
our hesitating witness for Christ, | 7:28 | |
our evasion of responsibilities in our service, | 7:32 | |
our imperfect stewardship of your gifts. | 7:36 | |
- | Have mercy on us Lord and forgive us. | 7:40 |
- | Let each of us, in silence, make confession to God. | 7:44 |
Have mercy on us Lord and forgive us. | 8:05 | |
Have mercy on me, oh God, | 8:10 | |
according to your steadfast love | 8:12 | |
in your abundant mercy, | 8:15 | |
blot out my transgressions, | 8:17 | |
thoroughly wash my iniquity from me | 8:20 | |
and cleanse me from my sin. | 8:22 | |
Create in me a clean heart, oh God. | 8:25 | |
And put a new and right spirit within me. | 8:28 | |
Now the message we have heard from God's son, | 8:32 | |
and that we announce is this: | 8:35 | |
God is light and there is no darkness in Him. | 8:38 | |
When we live in the light and He is the light, | 8:42 | |
then we have fellowship with one another | 8:46 | |
and the blood of Jesus, His son, purifies us from every sin. | 8:49 | |
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. | 8:54 | |
There is no truth in us. | 8:58 | |
But if we confess our sins to God, | 9:00 | |
He will keep His promise. | 9:03 | |
He will forgive us all our wrongdoing. | 9:05 | |
Amen. | 9:09 | |
Thanks be to God. | 9:10 | |
Let us pray. | 9:14 | |
Father, you have appointed our Lord Jesus Christ | 9:16 | |
as mediator of a new covenant. | 9:20 | |
Give us grace to draw near with fullness of faith | 9:23 | |
and join ourselves in a perpetual covenant with you, | 9:26 | |
through Jesus Christ our Lord. | 9:30 | |
Amen. | 9:32 | |
In the old covenant, God chose Israel | 9:36 | |
to be a special people and to obey the law. | 9:39 | |
Our Lord Jesus Christ by His death and resurrection | 9:44 | |
has made a new covenant with all who trust in Him. | 9:47 | |
We stand within this covenant and we bear His name. | 9:51 | |
On the one side, God promises | 9:56 | |
to give us new life in Christ. | 9:58 | |
On the other side, we are pledged to live not for ourselves, | 10:02 | |
but for God. | 10:06 | |
Today, therefore, we meet to renew this covenant | 10:08 | |
that binds us to God. | 10:12 | |
Would the congregation please rise? | 10:15 | |
Friends, let us claim the covenant God has made | 10:24 | |
with His people and accept the yoke of Christ. | 10:27 | |
When we accept the yoke of Christ | 10:30 | |
we allow Him to guide all that we do and all that we are | 10:32 | |
and Christ Himself is our only reward. | 10:37 | |
Christ has many ways for us to serve Him. | 10:40 | |
Some are easy. Others are difficult. | 10:43 | |
Some receive applause. | 10:47 | |
Others bring only reproach. | 10:48 | |
Some we desire to do because of our own interest. | 10:51 | |
Others seem unnatural. | 10:55 | |
Sometimes we please Christ and meet our own needs. | 10:58 | |
And other times, we cannot please Christ | 11:02 | |
unless we deny ourselves. | 11:04 | |
Yet Christ strengthens us and gives us the power | 11:07 | |
to do all these things. | 11:11 | |
Therefore, let us make this covenant with God our own. | 11:14 | |
Let us give ourselves completely to God. | 11:18 | |
Trusting in His promises and relying on His grace. | 11:21 | |
I give myself completely to you God. | 11:26 | |
Assign me to my place in your creation. | 11:30 | |
Let me suffer for you. | 11:33 | |
Give me the work you would have me do. | 11:35 | |
Give me many tasks or have me step aside | 11:38 | |
while you call others. | 11:41 | |
Put me forward or humble me. | 11:43 | |
Give me riches or let me live in poverty. | 11:46 | |
I freely give all that I am and all that I have to you. | 11:49 | |
And now Holy God, creator, redeemer, Holy Spirit, | 11:54 | |
you are mine and I am yours. | 11:59 | |
So be it. | 12:01 | |
May this covenant made on earth, continue for all eternity. | 12:03 | |
Amen. | 12:07 | |
Christ invites to His table all who love Him | 12:10 | |
and who desire to live in peace with one another. | 12:13 | |
Let us offer each other signs of God's peace and love. | 12:17 | |
(muffled speaking) and ourselves to God. | 12:50 | |
(soothing music plays) | 12:55 | |
(vocalizing) | 14:07 | |
("Doxology") | 20:26 | |
♪ Praise God from whom all blessings flow ♪ | 20:44 | |
♪ Praise Him all creatures here below ♪ | 20:49 | |
♪ Hallelujah ♪ | 20:55 | |
♪ Hallelujah ♪ | 20:58 | |
♪ Praise Him above ye heavenly host ♪ | 21:03 | |
♪ Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost ♪ | 21:09 | |
♪ Hallelujah ♪ | 21:14 | |
♪ Hallelujah ♪ | 21:17 | |
♪ Hallelujah ♪ | 21:20 | |
♪ Hallelujah ♪ | 21:23 | |
♪ Hallelujah ♪ | 21:27 | |
♪ Amen ♪ | 21:35 | |
- | The peace of the Lord be always with you. | 21:48 |
- | And also with you. | 21:50 |
- | Lift up your hearts. | 21:53 |
- | We lift them up to the Lord. | 21:54 |
- | Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. | 21:56 |
- | It is right to give Him thanks and praise. | 21:59 |
- | Eternal God, you have made covenants with your people | 22:05 |
through all generations. | 22:09 | |
You have been faithful from the beginning of time, | 22:11 | |
therefore we join with all your people everywhere | 22:15 | |
as we give you thanks and praise. | 22:18 | |
Holy, holy, holy Lord | 22:22 | |
God of power and might. | 22:25 | |
Heaven and earth are full of your glory | 22:27 | |
Hosannah in the highest. | 22:30 | |
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. | 22:32 | |
Hosannah in the highest. | 22:35 | |
We remember with thanksgiving, Holy God | 22:38 | |
that you sent your son Jesus a babe in a manger | 22:41 | |
to establish a new covenant with us, | 22:45 | |
through the shedding of blood on the cross. | 22:48 | |
Before His death, He gathered a fellowship. | 22:51 | |
They ate at the same table with Him, | 22:54 | |
and He taught them. | 22:56 | |
You asked your son to give up His life for them and for us | 22:58 | |
and He did. | 23:02 | |
He called us also to take up our cross and to wear His yoke. | 23:04 | |
He promised to comfort this fellowship in suffering | 23:09 | |
and to be with it for eternity. | 23:12 | |
On the night His followers deserted Him, he took bread, | 23:16 | |
gave thanks, broke it, gave it to His disciples and said, | 23:21 | |
"Take. Eat. This is my body, which is given for you." | 23:25 | |
When supper was over, He took the cup. | 23:33 | |
Gave thanks, gave it to His disciples and said, | 23:36 | |
"Drink from this all of you. | 23:39 | |
This is my blood of the new covenant poured our for you | 23:42 | |
and for many for the forgiveness of sins." | 23:45 | |
By dying, He freed us from unending death. | 23:52 | |
By rising from the dead, He gave us everlasting life. | 23:55 | |
When we eat this bread and drink from this cup, | 24:00 | |
we experience anew the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. | 24:03 | |
And we look forward to His coming in final victory. | 24:08 | |
Christ has died. | 24:12 | |
Christ is risen. | 24:14 | |
Christ will come again. | 24:15 | |
Holy Father, we have freely entered into a covenant with you | 24:18 | |
and now we again commit ourselves to live in complete union | 24:22 | |
with your son. | 24:27 | |
Send your Holy Spirit on our fellowship. | 24:28 | |
And on these gifts of bread and wine | 24:31 | |
that as we join in this covenant, | 24:34 | |
we will truly be the body of Christ. | 24:36 | |
By the gift of your son, oh God | 24:40 | |
you have established a new covenant. | 24:43 | |
Through Him, with Him, in Him, | 24:45 | |
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, | 24:48 | |
all glory and honor is yours almighty father, | 24:50 | |
now and forever. Amen. | 24:54 | |
Our father, who art in heaven. | 24:57 | |
Hallowed be thy name. | 25:00 | |
Thy kingdom come. | 25:02 | |
Thy will be done. | 25:04 | |
On earth as it is in heaven. | 25:05 | |
Give us this day our daily bread. | 25:07 | |
And forgive us our trespasses, | 25:10 | |
as we forgive those who trespass against us. | 25:13 | |
And lead us not into temptation, | 25:16 | |
but deliver us from evil. | 25:18 | |
For thine is the kingdom, the power, | 25:20 | |
and the glory forever. | 25:23 | |
Amen. | 25:25 | |
The gifts of God for the people of God. | 25:42 | |
(soothing music plays) | 25:52 | |
(singing in foreign language) | 29:49 | |
(soothing organ music) | 34:39 | |
(muffled singing) | 34:40 | |
Let us give thanks to the Lord. | 37:20 | |
Lord we give thanks for the gifts of this holy meal. | 37:28 | |
We praise you for sending your son, | 37:31 | |
that through Him we might be reconciled | 37:34 | |
completely to you. | 37:36 | |
Christ sacrificed Himself. | 37:38 | |
We offer the sacrifice of our lives | 37:41 | |
that all that we do be a response to the sacrifice | 37:43 | |
Christ made for us. | 37:47 | |
Amen. | 37:49 | |
("Joy to the World") | 37:51 | |
♪ Joy to the world, the Lord is come ♪ | 38:06 | |
♪ Let earth receive her King ♪ | 38:12 | |
♪ Let every heart ♪ | 38:19 | |
♪ prepare Him room ♪ | 38:22 | |
♪ And Heaven and nature sing ♪ | 38:25 | |
♪ And Heaven and nature sing ♪ | 38:28 | |
♪ And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing ♪ | 38:32 | |
♪ Joy to the World, the Savior reigns! ♪ | 38:41 | |
♪ Let men their songs employ ♪ | 38:47 | |
♪ While fields and floods, ♪ | 38:54 | |
♪ rocks, hills and plains ♪ | 38:57 | |
♪ Repeat the sounding joy ♪ | 39:00 | |
♪ Repeat the sounding joy ♪ | 39:04 | |
♪ Repeat, repeat, ♪ | 39:07 | |
♪ the sounding joy ♪ | 39:11 | |
♪ No more let sins and sorrows grow ♪ | 39:17 | |
♪ Nor thorns infest the ground ♪ | 39:22 | |
♪ He comes to make ♪ | 39:29 | |
♪ His blessings flow ♪ | 39:33 | |
♪ Far as the curse is found, ♪ | 39:36 | |
♪ far as the curse is found ♪ | 39:39 | |
♪ Far as, far as the curse is found ♪ | 39:42 | |
♪ He rules the world with truth and grace ♪ | 39:52 | |
♪ And makes the nations prove ♪ | 39:58 | |
♪ The glories of ♪ | 40:05 | |
♪ His righteousness ♪ | 40:08 | |
♪ And wonders of His love, ♪ | 40:12 | |
♪ and wonders of His love ♪ | 40:15 | |
♪ And wonders, wonders of His love ♪ | 40:18 | |
- | May the God who established a covenant | 40:31 |
with those who seek to enter the kingdom, | 40:34 | |
be always present with you. | 40:36 | |
- | Amen. | 40:39 |
May Jesus Christ who sealed the new covenant | 40:40 | |
with His sacrifice on the cross bring you peace. | 40:43 | |
- | Amen. | 40:47 |
- | May God's Holy Spirit guide your life. | 40:48 |
- | Amen. | 40:51 |
- | Go in peace to serve God and your neighbor | 40:53 |
in all that you do. | 40:56 | |
- | Amen. | 40:59 |
- | Thanks be to God. | 41:00 |
(upbeat music) | 41:03 |