Section Title
If you're struggling to feel the joy and merriment of the Christmas season, know you are not alone. We invite you to join us for a short virtual service on the longest night of the year as we honor the Advent themes of mourning and waiting on God. Pastor Allison will lead this service via Zoom on Saturday, December 21 at 8pm. Together we will make space for the grief, doubt, and losses that persist this time of year.
Call to worship
LEADER: Many in this season aren’t ready to sing "Joy to the World." Whether this is the first Christmas without someone we love, or we are still hurting from loss or suffering for a long time, we gather this evening in the darkness of the longest night of the year to worship God in the midst of mourning. We gather to shed tears if they come, to hold space together for our grief, and to join our voices with one another and our forebears in the faith who still cry out, "How long?"
And so we pray:
Come, Holy Spirit.
Comfort us and all who mourn this night.
Give us strength to grieve as we must.
Help us receive your healing in the midst of our pain,
and find new order after the chaos of loss;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Scripture reading
1 Turn Your ear toward us, Shepherd of Israel,
You who lead the children of Joseph like a flock.
You who sit enthroned above heaven’s winged creatures,
radiate Your light!
2 In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh,
arouse Your strength and power,
and save us!
3 Bring us back to You, God.
Turn the light of Your face upon us so that we will be rescued from this sea of darkness.
4 O Eternal God, Commander of heaven’s armies,
how long will You remain angry at the prayers of Your sons and daughters?
5 You have given them tears for food;
You have given them an abundance of tears to drink.
6 You have made us a source of trouble for our neighbors—
our enemies laugh to each other behind our backs.
7 O God, Commander of heaven’s armies, bring us back to You.
Turn the light of Your face upon us so that we will be rescued from this sea of darkness.
scripture reading
32 Instead, think back to the days after you were first enlightened and understood who Jesus was: when you endured all sorts of suffering in the name of the Lord, 33 when people held you up for public scorn and ridicule, or when they abused your partners and companions in the faith. 34 Remember how you had compassion for those in prison and how you cheerfully accepted the seizure of your possessions, knowing that you have a far greater and more enduring possession. 35 Remember this, and do not abandon your confidence, which will lead to rich rewards. 36 Simply endure, for when you have done as God requires of you, you will receive the promise. 37 As the prophet Habakkuk said,
In a little while, only a little longer,
the One who is coming will come without delay.
38 But My righteous one must live by faith,
for if he gives up his commitment,
My soul will have no pleasure in him.[a]
39 My friends, we are not those who give up hope and so are lost; but we are of the company who live by faith and so are saved.
hymn
REFRAIN:
Holy darkness, blessed night,
Heaven’s answer hidden from our sight.
As we await you, O God of silence,
We embrace your holy night.
1. I have tried you in fires of affliction;
I have taught your soul to grieve.
In the barren soil of your loneliness,
there I will plant my seed.
2. I have taught you the price of compassion;
you have stood before the grave.
Though my love can seem
like a raging storm,
this is the love that saves.
3. Were you there
when I raised up the mountains?
Can you guide the morning star?
Does the hawk take flight
when you give command?
Why do you doubt my pow'r?
4. In your deepest hour of darkness
I will give you wealth untold.
When the silence stills your spirit,
will my riches fill your soul.
5. As the watchman waits for morning,
and the bride awaits her groom,
so we wait to hear your footsteps
as we rest beneath your moon.
For all who seek you for restoration, and all who eat the bread of sorrow…
Oh LORD, hear our prayer.
For all who are sick, weak, or worn down…
Oh LORD, hear our prayer.
For the sufferings of our ecosystems and our fellow creatures…
Oh LORD, hear our prayer.
For all who are abused and afflicted, and all those imprisoned, especially for the sake of the gospel…
Oh LORD, hear our prayer.
For all who have experienced loss through death, separation, or the ending of relationships…
Oh LORD, hear our prayer.
For those whose homelands are being torn apart by war…
Oh LORD, hear our prayer.
closing prayer
You came to us, O Lord,
as a lantern in our darkness.
Now illuminate our way.
You came to us as a song
in the midst of our sorrow.
Now kindle our hope.
You came to us as a balm
on the bed of our sufferings.
Now be our healing.
You came to us as a shelter
amidst the violence of storms.
Now grant us peace.
You came to us as mercy
in the place of our shame.
Now be our righteousness.
You came to us as a king
upon the fields of our defeat.
Now be our salvation.
You came to us as a child
in the midnight of our despair.
Now be our God.
Remembering these manifold joys
and blessings of your first advent,
how our hearts long to witness
the glories of your promised return.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
O come, O come, Emmanuel.
Amen.
Prayer request
Let us know how we can be praying for you.
