THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT WOODBURY

December 17, 2023

3^RD Sunday in Advent

 

WELCOME

 

OPENING PRAYER

We thank you, O God,
for all those in Scripture who have pointed to Christ:
for your prophets Elijah and Isaiah, for other prophets,
and for John.
We thank you, too,
for those in our lives who have pointed us to Christ:
pastors and teachers, strangers, and friends.
Give us eyes to see him today
among those who are oppressed, imprisoned,
brokenhearted, or beaten down,
and we will give our testimony, too:
how Christ releases and sets free;
how he turns ashes into garlands;
how he repairs and builds up what was ruined.
We, too, will point others to Jesus,
the Light of the world. Amen.

 

PRELUDE                   “All Praise to Jesus’ Hallowed Name”                    JS Bach

 

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES              Jeremy & Grace Landis

December 17 – JOY

 

Reader 1:         Watch and wait for Christ’s coming!

 

We light candles of hope, peace, joy, and love, remembering the promises of God with prayer.

 

Hear these words from the prophet Isaiah:

 

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; Like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

 

We light this candle in hope.              Light the first purple candle.

 

We light this candle in peace.             Light the second purple candle.

 

We light this candle in joy.                 Light the pink candle.

 

Reader 2:         Let us pray…

 

Most Holy God, on this day we wait for the coming of the Christ Child with joy. May we be reminded of the words of your prophets of old, as we also listen for prophets of your word today. We yearn for their visions of justice, peace, and salvation to be realized for all who thirst for your presence today.  Let us walk in the light of the Lord. Amen.

 

*HYMN No. 93                      “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates”

1 Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates;
behold the King of glory waits;
the King of kings is drawing near;
the Savior of the world is here.

2 Fling wide the portals of your heart;
make it a temple, set apart
from earthly use for heaven’s employ,
adorned with prayer and love and joy.

3 Redeemer, come! I open wide
my heart to thee; here, Lord, abide.
Let me thy inner presence feel;
thy grace and love in me reveal.

 

*CALL TO RECONCILIATION

When we come to worship God, we must first remember who we are, and we are people who often sin and turn from the ways of God. Relying on God’s abundant grace, let us offer our confession together, knowing that we will be offered forgiveness in Christ.

 

*PRAYER FOR CONFESSION

Gracious God, long ago you sent Christ to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, and to proclaim liberty to the captives. You then asked us to go and do the same for we are the church of Jesus Christ. Forgive us, we pray, for we have not continued to share the good news. We have focused on ourselves and neglected to help others. Help us to continue to share the healing and loving words of Christ to all the world and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Silence is observed.

 

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON

Hear the good news! Through the grace and love of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!

Thanks be to God! Amen.

 

*RESPONSE No. 84              “Creator of the Stars of Night”                    v4

4 To God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Spirit, Three in One,
praise, honor, might, and glory be
from age to age eternally. Amen.

 

*PASSING OF THE PEACE OF CHRIST

Since we are reconciled to God in Christ, let us share the sign of peace with one another:

May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

And also with you.

 

ANTHEM                   “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”                 arr. B. Talley

 

UNISON PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

Gracious God, for generations, your Word has brought love and life to your people. Speak to us now; we pray that we may hear, and in hearing, we may be transformed. Amen.                    

 

SERMON                   NO PRACTICE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT

 

Overview: The following is written to serve as a come-one, come-all, “no practice” Christmas pageant. The participants move and respond to lines prompted by the Narrator. The script is adapted from Eugene Peterson’s interpretation of the gospel narrative in his book The Message.

 

Cast:

narrator

Mary, Joseph and Jesus 

Herod 

shepherds – congregation

angels – congregation

wise people 

star

 

Props:

star

halo each for angels (50)

head scarf for sheepherders (50)

crown for Herod

camel costume (for two)

chair for Mary

manger for baby

3 crowns, 3 capes, 3 gifts for wise men

Reserved seats for worship leaders & cast

 

The Pageant

The Narrator speaks from __________________. Mary, Joseph and Jesus, the camel, the star, Herod, and the wise ones are in the narthex, ready to enter from the back.

 

Narrator’s Introduction

Following the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem we hear about visits from shepherds, angels and the wise. This morning we will re-tell the story involving everyone. Shepherds will be all of you with cloth headbands, and angels are all of you who have halos. In the pageant you will be directed to say short lines by saying: the angels said, or the shepherds said, then you are simply invited to respond by repeating your lines.

 

Gabriel’s Announcement, Luke 1:29-38

Narrator: In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph and the virgin’s name, Mary. (Mary enters and comes in and stands ______________________.) Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her: “Good morning! You’re beautiful with God’s beauty. Beautiful inside and out!” And the angels said, “God be with you.”

 

Angels: God be with you.

 

Narrator: She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. “Mary, you have nothing to fear,” the angels said to her. “God has a surprise for you. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call him Jesus.” As angels often do, the angels said, “Do not be afraid.”

 

Angels: Do not be afraid.

 

Narrator: After a short discussion with the angel, Mary knew it would be OK, saying “Yes, I see it all now: I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me, just as you say.” Then the angel left her. (Mary departs, returning to the narthex.)

 

Hymn No. 98             “To a Maid Whose Name was Mary”                      vs.1,2 & 6

1 To a maid whose name was Mary,
the angel Gabriel came.
“Fear not,” the angel told her,
“I come to bring good news;
good news I come to tell you,
good news, I say, good news.”

2 “For you are highly favored
by God the Lord of all,
who even now is with you.
You are on earth most blest;
you are most blest, most blessed;
God chose you, you are blest!”

6 As Mary heard the angel,
she wondered at his words.
“Behold, I am your handmaid,”
she said unto her God.
“So be it; I am ready
according to your word.”

 

The Birth of Jesus, Luke 2:1-7

Narrator: About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancé, who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.

 

Hymn No. 115             “Away in a Manger”              vs. 1 & 2

1 Away in a manger, no crib for his bed,
the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

2 The cattle are lowing; the poor baby wakes,
but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.
I love thee, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky,
and stay by my side until morning is nigh.

 

(After song, Mary, Joseph and Jesus enter, going to the chair located in pulpit area.)

 

The Shepherds and the Angels, Luke 2:8-18

Narrator: There were shepherds camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them, and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angels said, “Don’t be afraid.”

Angels: Don’t be afraid.

 

Narrator: Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger. At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praise. The angels said, “Glory to God!”

 

Angels: Glory to God!

 

Narrator: Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him. As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the shepherds talked it over. Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us. The sheepherders said, “Let’s go to Bethlehem.”

 

Shepherds: Let’s go to Bethlehem!

 

Narrator: The shepherds left, and they found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. The sheepherders said, “Angels told us of the Christ child.”

 

Sheepherders: Angels told us of the Christ child.

 

Narrator: All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.

 

Hymn No. 147                        “The First Nowell” #147                   vs. 1,2 & 4

1 The first Nowell 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:
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
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)

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)

 

(During the singing of stanzas  4, Herod walks up the center aisle, and stands in the middle of the aisle, half way down to the front. Star is carried in after him and then the wise men down the center aisle to face Herod.)

 

The Gifts of the Wise – Matthew 2:1-11

Narrator: After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory–this was during Herod’s kingship–a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. The wise asked, “Where can we find the newborn king of the Jews?”

 

The Wise: “Where can we find the newborn king of the Jews?”

 

Narrator: They had observed a star in the eastern sky (narrator points to the star held by ___________) that signaled his birth. When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified–and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?” They told him “Bethlehem.” Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East.

 

(Herod moves into the midst of the wise men and pretends to talk with them.)

Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, “Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I’ll join you at once in your worship.” Instructed by the king, they set off.

(The wise and star move down the aisle to the front of the congregation.)

 

Hymn No. 151                         “We Three Kings of Orient Are”                 vs 1 & 5

1 We three kings of Orient are;
bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain, moor and mountain,
following yonder star.

Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of night,
star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light!

5 Glorious now behold him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
sounds through the earth and skies. (Refrain)

 

Narrator: Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: they were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time! They entered the house… (The star and the wise go to the holy family. The star stands behind Mary and the wise kneel then present his or her gift to Jesus; Mary and Joseph thank each of them.) …and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Narrator: As the wise of old gave their gifts to the Christ Child, we too have gifts to bring, the gifts of our lives, in service to the one who willingly comes to dwell among us.

 

Hymn No. 121                         “O Little Town of Bethlehem”                    vs. 1 & 2

1 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.

2 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 all on earth.

 

Narrator: The shepherds and wise ones returned to their homes and the angels returned to heaven, glorifying God, and rejoicing in the mercy of God! Christ is born!

 

Hymn No. 134                        “Joy to the World”                vs. 1 & 4

1 Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her king;
let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.

4 He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.

 

THE PASTORAL PRAYER & THE LORD’S PRAYER

God of Advent, who promises to come again in restoration and whole- ness, we acknowledge that our needs are not so different from those peoples of long ago. We too wander in darkness, and we yearn for your light to come into our lives. Trusting in Christ, we bring our prayers for the world.

 

We pray for the world that is shaped by so much sin. We pray that those oppressed would be set free, that those who are bound by injustice would find new life. We ask that you help us form this world more closely into the image of your kingdom. Help us to be faithful, in things big and small, and be your people in the world.

 

We pray for our nation. May unity and goodwill have the last word. May we see ourselves not by what divides us but by our identity as your beloved creation. Particularly when it comes to political parties and affiliations, temper our desire to win or be right with a concern for the greater good.

 

We pray for those who are sick, lonely and without hope. Grant them the sure and certain knowledge of your love and care and may we each, as your people, be a community that cares and heals. For those who grieve, or are near to death, we ask a special blessing.

 

In all things Lord, may point toward you and your light in the world. We ask it all in the name of Jesus, and offer together the prayer that he taught us, saying, “Our Father….”

 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

OFFERING OF TITHES & OFFERINGS

In this holiday season, we find many demands made upon our time and resources. Yet in worship we are called to remember who is the author of all that we are and all that we have. In response to God’s gracious action in our lives, we are called to give an offering to God.

 

OFFERTORY

 

*RESPONSE No. 88              “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”                  v. 6

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.

           

* PRAYER OF DEDICATION

Thank you, God, for all that we have and all that we are. We take these gifts given today and dedicate them ever and only to you. Amen.

 

*HYMN No. 136                     “Go Tell It on the Mountain”

Refrain:
Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere;
go, tell it on the mountain
that Jesus Christ is born!

1 While shepherds kept their watching
o’er silent flocks by night,
behold, throughout the heavens
there shone a holy light. (Refrain)

2 The shepherds feared and trembled
when lo! above the earth
rang out the angel chorus
that hailed our Savior’s birth. (Refrain)

3 Down in a lowly manger
the humble Christ was born,
and God sent us salvation
that blessed Christmas morn. (Refrain)

 

*BENEDICTION

May you leave this place remembering that we are witnesses to Christ in our midst and let us share the ultimate hope we have for his Advent.

 

And may the peace of God, the love of Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you now and always. Amen.