Christmas Eve on Vulnerability

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The Child Born in the Night Among Beasts

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2-4, 1 Kings 19:11-13, Luke 2:6-7, Philippians 2:5-8, Psalm 22:6-8 , Matthew 1:22-25

In this excerpt, Frederick Buechner shares a meditation on the vulnerability of Jesus’ birth: The child born in the night among beasts. The sweet breath and steaming dung of beasts. And nothing is...

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The Choreography of Childbirth

Author

Lauren F. Winner

Keywords

Scripture

John 1:14, Isaiah 53:3-5, Luke 2:7, Psalm 22:9-10, Revelation 12:4-5, Genesis 35:16-20

I don’t have the nerve to stand up on Christmas Eve and preach about the choreography of childbirth, but I wish I did. I wish I had the nerve to preach about Mary’s increased estrogen production, a...

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The Lowliest Tree

Author

The Pastor's Workshop

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 2:4-5, Luke 2:

God’s love for the vulnerable is beautifully portrayed in the beloved animated classic A Charlie Brown Christmas . The climactic moment, when Linus walks into the spotlight with his blanket and r...

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Prayer of Confession for Christmas

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 2:22-35, Isaiah 9:2, Matthew 2:1-12, John 1:14, Matthew 1:18-25

Leader: Today, we celebrate that Jesus has come, and that He promises to come again! We know He came to bring light and hope, People: but our hearts are often shrouded by darkness and despair. ...

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Long-awaited Messiah

Author

Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 1:null

Based on the prayers of Mary and Zechariah found in Luke 1 Long-awaited Messiah Lord of Hope Have mercy Long-awaited Messiah Defender of Compassion Have mercy Long-awaited Messiah Provider, Protect...

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Flourishing Faith in Persecuted Places

Author

Tom Nelson

Keywords

Scripture

Daniel 6:16-23, Jeremiah 29:4-7, Genesis 39:20-23, Acts 16:25-34, Matthew 5:10-12 , Psalm 23:4

On Christmas Eve in Tehran, house-church pastor Farshid Fatah and his family were awakened to the frightening sounds of the Iranian security police pounding at their door. After the police searched hi...

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Setting Up a Tent

Author

Nancy Guthrie

Keywords

Scripture

John 1:14, Revelation 21:3, Matthew 1:23, Philippians 2:6-8, Colossians 1:19-20, Ezekiel 37:27, Hebrews 2:14-15

It can be great fun to put up a tent in your backyard to play in or sleep in. Imagine what it would be like for someone else to put up a tent in your backyard and begin living there—right in your back...

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Leader: God of HOPE, Your message calls us to let go of our fears

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 2:1-20, John 1:1-14, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-25, Isaiah 11:1-10

Leader : God of HOPE, Your message calls us to let go of our fears and place our trust in You. Sustain us in Your hope as we await Your coming. We ask for hearts to worship You fully, not only i...

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Christmas: Nativity of the Lord

Author

Allen Thompson

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 2:1-14, (15-20)

As we've been progressing through Advent, we've been asking: How do we prepare for Jesus? Where is Jesus when the waiting hurts? Where is Jesus when our needs are great? Where is Jesus when li...

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Dear Lord, We come to you this evening

Author

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 9:2, John 1:4-5, Luke 2:8-14, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Corinthians 13:13, Luke 19:1-10, Philippians 1:6, Matthew 6:33, Luke 10:38-42, Luke 2:11, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 2:1-12

Dear Lord, We come to you this evening with great expectations. Expectations that your Son Jesus has been born, and that his life is a light for us and all people. We come with expectations that He c...

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We confess, O God, that the Christmas

Author

Chip Hardwick

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 26:30, Ephesians 4:31-32, John 15:11, Hebrews 4:15, Psalm 46:10, Colossians 3:17, Luke 2:13-14

We confess, O God, that the Christmas rush is typical of our efforts to live the Christian life. We pursue peace on earth, but we end up with frayed nerves and short tempers. We wish good will to all,...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Luke 2:1-20 (Guide B)

Author

Allen Thompson

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 2:1-20

How do we prepare for Jesus? Where is Jesus when the waiting hurts? Where is Jesus when our needs are great? Where is Jesus when life turns upside down? The real answer to those questions is offered ...

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Holy Lord, in this time of Advent, we

Author

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 10:41-42, Isaiah 55:2-3, Luke 10:38-42, Matthew 25:44-45, Psalm 46:10, Luke 2:7, Isaiah 9:6, Matthew 5:9, Luke 10:1-12, Romans 8:24-25, Luke 2:25-32, Luke 2:25-38, Philippians 2:10-11, Colossians 3:17, Luke 2:13-14

Holy Lord, in this time of Advent, we confess we often are distracted by the season’s busyness, by the stress of commitment, and even by putting our own traditions ahead of the true meaning of Christm...

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Lord of Christmas Peace, we have done

Author

Nathan Decker

Keywords

Scripture

Romans 3:23-24, James 1:22, 1 John 3:17, John 15:11, Luke 19:1-10, Luke 1:, Luke 2:, Matthew 2:

Lord of Christmas Peace, we have done wrong. We have tarnished the gift you gave freely. We have buried you so deeply in our hearts, the world doesn't see you. We have not followed Christ, we have...

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Star: A Poem

Author

Eugene H. Peterson

Keywords

Scripture

Numbers 24:17, Isaiah 9:2, Psalm 119:105, John 8:12, Malachi 4:2, Luke 2:25-32

I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh:a star shall come out of jacob. Numbers 24:17 KSV No star is visible except at night, Until the sun goes down, no accurate north. Da...

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Assurance of Pardon for Christmas

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Malachi 4:2, Isaiah 9:6, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Hebrews 4:16, Titus 2:11, John 1:16, Isaiah 9:6

Leader: People of God, rejoice! The sun of righteousness has dawned with healing in His wings. To us a Child has been born; to us God’s Son has been given! His eternal reign has broken throug...

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God, you come to us and meet us in the

Author

Ruth C. Duck

Keywords

Scripture

1 Kings 19:11-12, Isaiah 41:10, Luke 2:19, Isaiah 52:7, Micah 6:8, Acts 2:17

God, you come to us and meet us in the strangest ways: sometimes in the stillness at the eye of the storm or in the midnight of our lives; sometimes in the raging whirlwind or in the high noon of our ...

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Be near us Lord Jesus we ask you to

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 28:20, John 14:23, Luke 24:13-35, Isaiah 7:14, John 1:14, Luke 2:1-20, Psalm 23:4, Zephaniah 3:17, Mark 4:35-41, John 14:2-3, Revelation 21:3-4, Matthew 17:1-8

Be near us Lord Jesus we ask you to stay, close by us forever and love us we pray. Immanuel, we invite you to draw near and dwell with us. Surround and sustain us with your tender caring presence tha...

liturgy

In the midst of darkness, candles have shone.

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 1:26-38, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 11:1-10, John 1:1-14, Isaiah 9:6, Luke 1:39-45, Matthew 1:18-25, Micah 5:2

Pastor: In the midst of darkness, candles have shone. Congregation: Glory to God in the highest! Pastor:: In the midst of darkness, we have seen the light of Christ. Congregation: ...

liturgy

On this holy night we come to worship and adore

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 2:1-20, Matthew 1:18-25, Galatians 4:4-6

Pastor: On this holy night we come to worship and adore the One we have been waiting for – Christ the Lord! As we prepare to hear once again the story of that first Christmas, let us come to the light...

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Receive and Rejoice!

Author

Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 2:20

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. – Luke 2:20 Receive and Rejoice! A joy greater than words A great and glorious joy....

lectionary

Christmas: Nativity of the Lord

Author

C. Hassell Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 98:, Genesis 1:12, Hebrews 1:1-2

Psalm 98, for both Israel and the Church, is an intriguing statement about God’s work in Israel and the world, especially in regard to how they are related. Ancient Lens What's the historical c...

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In our prayers this morning, when I

Author

Richard Herman

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 40:11, Isaiah 52:7, 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, Micah 4:3-4, Ephesians 2:14

In our prayers this morning, when I say, “Lord of all glory,” please respond by saying “Hear our prayer”. Lord of all glory... hear our prayer . Our God speaks tenderly to His people and cares for th...

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God of majesty and power, Who spoke and

Author

John Birch

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 1:1-3, Genesis 2:7, Matthew 10:30, Psalm 139:1-4, Romans 5:8, Luke 19:1-10, Hebrews 13:15

God of majesty and power, Who spoke and this world was, Who breathed and this world lived, Who counts the hairs upon our head, Who sees our thoughts and reads our hearts, Who loves us more than we des...

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A Christmas Prayer of Intercession

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

1 Peter 2:9, Isaiah 9:6, John 16:13, Psalm 72:11, Psalm 133:1

Leader: On this Christmas [morning/eve], let us pray to our incarnate Lord Jesus, who has brought us out of darkness and into His own marvelous light. Jesus, you were born for us and given to us: ...

blog

A Blessed Christmas to All

Author

The Pastor's Workshop

Keywords

Christmas Eve

An End to Waiting Advent is all about waiting. But the waiting is almost over. Christmas is almost here. The church is decorated, the songs have been picked, and the prayers selected. The sermon is ...

liturgy

Lord Jesus Christ, at your birth the

Author

Chip Hardwick

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 2:13-14, Isaiah 9:6, Luke 2:8-20, Proverbs 16:18, John 12:43, Matthew 23:1-12, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, Matthew 5:9, Luke 10:25-37, 1 John 1:9, Psalm 51:10, Luke 22:54-62, Psalm 46:10, Matthew 26:36-46, John 14:13-14

Lord Jesus Christ, at your birth the angels gave glory to God in the highest heaven, and offered peace on earth to all humankind. We struggle to follow the heavenly host. All too often we focus on giv...

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The Anti-Gift League

Author

The Pastor's Workshop

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 6:19-21, Isaiah 9:6, Luke 2:10-11, Matthew 2:1-12, 1 Timothy 6:6-7, Luke 12:16-21

If you ever find yourself sympathizing with Charles Dickens’ character Ebenezer Scrooge regarding the commercialization of Christmas, you’re not alone—this has been a common complaint for quite some t...

liturgy

Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born;

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 2:11, John 1:5

Pastor: Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born; People: He is Christ the Lord! Luke 2:11 Pastor: Let us go from this place proclaiming that we have seen the glory of G...

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Star Song

Author

Luci Shaw

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 19:1-2, John 1:9, Luke 2:13-14, Revelation 22:16, Matthew 17:1-8

We have been having epiphanies like suns, all this year long. And now, at its close when the planets are shining through frost, light runs like music in the bones, and the heart ke...

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