A Christmas Lovefeast in the Moravian Tradition Offered by the Youth of Binkley Baptist Church December 13, 2015

Transcription

1 A Christmas Lovefeast in the Moravian Tradition Offered by the Youth of Binkley Baptist Church December 13, 2015 EXPLANATION OF THE TRADITION: THE MORAVIAN LOVEFEASTS The early Christians met and broke bread together to signify their unity, fellowship and love. In 1727, the Moravian Church revived this practice and established the custom of celebrating the great church festivals by partaking together of a simple meal known as a "lovefeast". The first lovefeasts of the Moravian Church in North America were held in Savannah, Georgia, during the years 1735 to The first lovefeast in Wachovia was held on the evening of the arrival of the first Moravian colonists in North Carolina, November 17, 1753, at Bethabara. The Christmas Lovefeast, with its lighted candles, is one of the most beautiful services of the Moravian Church. The custom originated on the European continent at Marieborn in the year 1747, and spread throughout the Moravian world. The first Christmas Lovefeast held at Bethabara was in 1753, and at Salem in In North Carolina, the candles were used for the first time in the children's lovefeast of Bethabara and Bethania in Every person is given a lighted candle to remind him or her that Christ said, "I am the light of the world", and "You are the light of the world -- let your light so shine before humankind, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Creator who is in heaven." THE CHRISTMAS STAR The Christmas Star is a many-pointed star which originated in Germany in The rays of the star symbolize the greatness of God who made the universe, the star which led the wise ones to the Christ Child, and the Divine Star, Christ himself. PRELUDE Carols of the Season Brass Band & Bell INTROIT Sing We Now of Christmas arr. Mark Patterson

2 *CALL TO WORSHIP Sarah Walker Leader: Rejoice with song, all people, and fill the earth with glad voices! People: The light of the world shines on us and through us, so that we no longer walk in darkness. Leader: Celebrating this faith, let us join with glad hearts in this feast of love, proclaiming with hearts and hands and voices the good news of Christ's birth. *CONGREGATIONAL CAROL O Come, All Ye Faithful 1. O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem; Come and behold him, born the King of angels; O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him O come let us adore him, Christ, the Lord! *OPENING PRAYER 2. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest; (Repeat refrain) 3. Yea, Lord we greet thee, born for our salvation, Jesus, to thee be all glory given; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing; (Repeat refrain) Jessica Rabalais SCRIPTURE Luke 2: 1 20 Anna Butler CONGREGATIONAL CAROLS "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" 1. It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old, from angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold; "Peace on the earth, good will to all, from heaven's all gracious King." The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing. 2. Still through the cloven skies they come, with peaceful wings unfurled, and still their heavenly music floats o'er all the weary world; above its sad and lowly plains they bend on hovering wing, and ever o'er its Babel sounds the blessed angels sing. 3. And you beneath life's crushing load whose forms are bending low, who toil along the climbing way, with painful steps and slow, look now, for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing; O rest beside the weary road, and hear the angels sing! 4. For lo, the days are hastening on, by prophet seen of old, when with the evercircling years shall come the time foretold; when peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling, and the whole world send back the song which now the angels sing. Angels, From the Realms of Glory 1. Angels from the realms of glory, wing your flight o er all the earth; You who sang creation s story, now proclaim messiah s birth: Come and Worship, come and worship, worship Christ the newborn King. (Refrain) 2. Shepherds, in the fields abiding, watching o er your flocks by night, God with us is now residing, yonder shines the infant light: (Refrain) 3. Sages, leave your contemplations brighter visions beam afar; seek the great Desire of nations, you have seen the natal star: (Refrain)

3 MUSICAL CELEBRATION Carols Around (And Around) arr. Carl J. Nygard, Jr. Youth Choir MORAVIAN TABLE BLESSING Nia Simpson PARTAKING OF THE LOAVES AND COFFEE MEDLEY OF CAROLS CONGREGATIONAL CAROLS "Joy to the World" Brass Band & Bells 1. Joy to the world! the Lord is come: 3. He rules the world with truth and grace, Let earth receive her King; And makes the nations prove; Let every heart prepare him room. The glories of his righteousness, And heaven and nature sing, And wonders of his love, And heaven and nature sing, And wonders of his love, And heaven, and heaven and nature sing. And wonders, wonders of his love. 2. Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns: Let us our songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy. 1. The first Noel, the angel did say, was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; in fields where they lay keeping their sheep, on a cold winter's night that was so deep. Refrain Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel. 2. They looked up and saw a star shining in the east, beyond them far, and to the earth it gave great light, and so it continued both day and night. Refrain "The First Noel" 3. And by the light of that same star three wise men came from country far; to seek for a king was their intent, and to follow the star wherever it went. Refrain 4. This star drew nigh to the northwest, o'er Bethlehem it took its rest, and there it did both stop and stay, right over the place where Jesus lay. Refrain CONTEMPORARY READING The Unreachable Star Linnea Van Manen CONGREGATIONAL CAROL "Silent Night" 1. Silent night! Holy night! 2. Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright, Son of God, love's pure light, Round yon Virgin Mother and Child, Radiant beams from Thy holy face Holy infant so tender and mild; With the dawn of redeeming grace, Sleep in heavenly peace! Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth, Sleep in heavenly peace! Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

4 *CONGREGATIONAL CAROL "Morning Star" (This hymn is sung antiphonally, the congregation singing the words in bold italic type. On the final stanza please raise your candles as you sing.) 1. Morning Star, O cheering sight! 2. Morning Star, My soul's true Light, Ere Thou cam'st how dark earth's night! Tarry not, dispel my night; Morning Star, O cheering sight! Morning Star, My soul's true Light, Ere Thou cam'st how dark earth's night! Tarry not, dispel my night; Jesus mine, In me shine; Jesus mine, In me shine; In me shine, Jesus mine; In me shine, Jesus mine; Fill my heart with light divine. Fill my heart with light divine. *BENEDICTION Jackson Snider POSTLUDE Carols of the Season Brass Band We are grateful to Ashley Nissler and Heather Rabalais (co-chairs) and the Youth Committee for their dedication to the Youth Group this past year and tonight. We thank God for Daniel Cherrix and his gift of music, and for Teeta West who led the beeswax candle wrappers admirably. God has also blessed us with a dedicated sound engineer in Nape Baker. We are grateful for the musical gifts offered tonight by the Bell Choir, Youth Choir, and Nan Pardington, piano. The Ministry of Music wishes to express deep gratitude for the participation of Youth members of the Salvation Army Brass Band from Durham: Kelly Rodriguez, Justin Earp, David Rodriguez, and Alex Earp, cornet; Brayden Thomas, tuba; and Binkley s own James Jernigan, percussion. The Band is completed by Binkley members Adams Wofford, horn; Bill Harris, baritone; and Scott Van Manen, trombone. We thank you all for attending this service and for keeping Christ close to your heart, mind and soul at Christmas. Please extinguish your candle before leaving your seat. You may deposit it in one of the boxes provided in the narthex or take it home as a sign of the Light of the World in your home. *The congregation standing in body or spirit.

5 The Christmas Lovefeast is a gift to you from the Youth of Binkley Baptist Church The gift is offered joyfully by the sixth through twelfth grade students who comprise our youth group. It is also offered appropriately as a way of saying "thank you" to our parents, our youth leaders and our church for supporting us throughout the year. Below are the names of our caring and courageous leaders who make our youth group experiences safe, challenging, educational, spirit-filled and fun. Youth Leaders: Jen Stockwell, Judy Sordean, Mark Walters, Tessa Benjamin, Jordan Hale, Dale Osborne

6 The UnReachable Star It s way too high, and so far off; The star that made King Herod scoff Maidens shuddered, shepherds sought; This star that left them lost in thought. What does it mean, who truly cares? About the birth all Christians share. Ages ago, dreams gone by, Eased on forward in the blink of an eye. A child is born, a son is given; All the earth receives from heaven, A little light, a little hope, A divine marriage of eternal scope. God is with us, God is near. Yet, our world is gripped by fear. We still condemn and fuss and fight, Yearning to show that our side s right. Tears flow from the sky as each day ends. A weeping, wailing Creator sends Echoes of mercy, teardrops of fright Why O why does humanity fight? Are they too high and out of our reach, The lessons sweet Jesus tried to teach. Love God, with all your heart, Love to self and neighbor richly impart. Dale Osborne