1 st Candle Challenged @ Christmas God, grant me... the courage to change the things I can...
Trust and Obey Verse 1 When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word, what a glory he sheds on our way! While we do his good will, he abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and Obey Refrain Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Trust and Obey Verse 2 Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share, but our toil he doth richly repay; not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, but is blest if we trust and obey.
Trust and Obey Refrain Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Reading #1: Jesus said, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her."
It takes courage to obey God.
1 st Candle God, grant me... the courage to change the things I can... Special Music: "Baby In A Manger"
2 Candle Sad @ Christmas nd God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change...
In the Bleak Midwinter Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain; heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign. In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.
In the Bleak Midwinter What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part; yet what I can I give him: give my heart.
Reading #2: Mat 1:19 and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
Mat 1:24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him...
It takes serenity to deal with people.
2 nd Candle God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change... Special Music: Away in a Manger
3 rd Candle Alone @ Christmas God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change...
O Little Town of Bethlehem Verse 3 How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given; so God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven. No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.
O Little Town of Bethlehem Verse 4 O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; o come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!
Luke 2:1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city.
Luke 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
Luke 2:6 And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. 7 And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Serenity.
Why were they alone @ Christmas?
The Holy Family Is Alone At Christmas - let's be sensitive to those who are likewise alone and in need at Christmas
There's no room at the inn, was all that he would say. There's no room at the inn, no place for you to today. Don't look at me so sadly, don't look at me that way. There's no room at the inn, no place for you to stay. C Am F G
There's no place at the table, was all that she would say. There's no place at the table, no meal for you today. Don't look at me so sadly, don't look at me that way. There's no place at the table, no meal for you today. C Am F G
Oh holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray. Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today. No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.
There's no room in our hearts, was all that they could say. There's no room in our hearts, so please just go away. Don't look at us so sadly, don't look at us that way. There's no room in our hearts, so please just go away.
Oh holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray. Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today. No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.
Here is the place prepared for you, King Jesus said to them. Here is the meal prepared for you, King Jesus said to them. When did we see you hungry, Lord, where did we see you then? King Jesus sighed and sadly said, "Let's start with Bethlehem..."
Oh holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray. Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today. We had no heart to help you, when we were on the path to hell... Forgive us, please, our hardened hearts, O Lord Emmanuel!
4 th Candle Sent @ Christmas God, grant me... the courage to change the things I can...
The First Noel Verse 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.
The First Noel Refrain Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel.
Reading #3
Luke 2:8 And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.
And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; 11 for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."
Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!"
The Angels Send The Shepherds to Help
Who are they sending YOU to this Christmas?
4 th Candle Special Music: Angels We Have Heard On High Samantha Tipton
5 Candle Loved @ Christmas th God, grant me... Serenity Courage And the wisdom to know the difference.
O Come All Ye Faithful Verse 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 All Ye Faithful Refrain O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
O Come All Ye Faithful Verse 4 See how the shepherds, summoned to his cradle, leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze; we too will thither bend our joyful footsteps;
O Come All Ye Faithful Refrain O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Prayer of Humble Access: We do not presume to come to Your table, Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but only in Your mercy.
We are not worthy to gather up crumbs under Your table, yet You welcome us as Your family.
Grant that, as we share in this Sacrament of Your Son Jesus Christ, we may walk in newness of life, may grow into His likeness, and may evermore dwell in Him and He in us. Amen.
Do this, in remembrance of Me
Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright Round yon virgin mother and child. Holy infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace. Sleep in heavenly peace. 4
Silent night, holy night, Shepherds quake at the sight, Glories stream from heaven afar, Heavenly hosts sing alleluia; Christ the Savior, is born! Christ the Savior, is born! 3
Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love's pure light Radiant beams from thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth. Jesus, Lord, at thy birth. 2
Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright Round yon virgin mother and child. Holy infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace. Sleep in heavenly peace. 1
Amen
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3 rd Candle Special Music: There's No Room At The Inn
O little town of Bethlehem How still we see thee lie Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting Light The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight
For Christ is born of Mary And gathered all above While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together Proclaim the holy birth And praises sing to God the King And Peace to men on earth
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The power of remembering in relationships: Remembering helps us keep the faith in hard times, because God is still with us.
Thanksgiving points us toward the greatest gift of all: Christmas
Messiah Hebrew annointed king Hope... some day... Christ Greek annointed one
What sort of problems would they want this little king to fix? economy war taxes politics Are these the real problems?
Only Christ can put the pieces back together. Just as he did in the beginning.
What holds life together? John 6 Jesus on the inside
Phil 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
Threefold purpose: reveal the image of God Genesis 1:27 So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them;
O holy Child of Bethlehem Descend to us, we pray Cast out our sin and enter in Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell O come to us, abide with us Our Lord Emmanuel
Luke 2:15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."
Luke 2:16 And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
Luke 2:17 And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; Luke 2:18 and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
Luke 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. Luke 2:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
4 th Candle Comments
How silently, how silently The wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may his coming, But in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive him still, The dear Christ enters in.
John 1:12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God;
John 1:12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God;
... He gave power to become children of God.
Why is this night different from any other night?
Phil 2:8 And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.
As long as you follow Jesus you will never be lost. Let him be your landmark.
John 3:17 For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Col 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation;
1 st Candle Comments
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