Service of Lessons and Carols
December 24, 2021 Call to Worship This is the night we have waited for. It is the most beautiful night in all the year. Is the night of shepherds and a stable, of angels and heavenly songs. It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth. O come, let us adore him! Carol Joy to the World Cedarmont Kids https://youtu.be/6GjOer3TlD4 Opening Prayer Heavenly Father, on us who have lived in darkness, there shines this night a great light. We thank you for the incredible gift you have given us. We love you, and we thank you for saving us in Jesus Christ. As we kneel at the manger to worship the newborn King, pour out your Holy Spirit on every heart gathered in this place. Open our eyes to the true meaning of Christmas. We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen. Carol O Come, All Ye Faithful Laura Osnes and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir https://youtu.be/b0F_sVaSVqI First Lesson Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 (NIV) To Us a Child is Born The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. Carol O Come, O Come, Emmanuel The Piano Guys https://youtu.be/iO7ySn-Swwc Second Lesson Micah 5:2-5a (NIV) A Promised Ruler from Bethlehem But you, Bethlehem, Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace. Carol O Little Town of Bethlehem Cedarmont Kids https://youtu.be/vfGjYoQJnN4 Third Lesson Luke 1:26-35 (NIV) The Angel Appears to Mary In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her. Carol All That I Am David Haas https://youtu.be/34ikYPM7EZY Fourth Lesson Matthew 1:18-25 (NIV) The Angel Appears to Joseph This is how the birth of Jesus came about. His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” – which means “God with us.” When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. Carol Joseph’s Lullaby Mercy Me https://youtu.be/9ehZ5s_icFE Fifth Lesson Luke 2:1-7 (KJV) The Birth of Jesus And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Carol Away in a Manger Rosemary Siemens https://youtu.be/3dxzdsfJp2s The Lighting of the Christ Candle Advent peace stills us, Advent hope moves us, Advent love leads us, Advent joy stirs us, to affirm Jesus our King. It is time we set flame to this Advent affirmation by lighting the Christ Candle. We believe that Jesus is the Son of God. He was born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem of Judea. He was the long-awaited Messiah whose coming was foretold by the prophets. Jesus lives today in our hearts. In Jesus Christ our peace is sealed, our hope is fulfilled, our love is consummated, and our joy is complete. Rejoice, a Savior is born! A Savior is born! Joy to the world! Sixth Lesson Luke 2:8-14 (KJV) The Angels Announce Good News And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, “Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Carol Hark! the Herald Angels Sing Amy Grant https://youtu.be/djh02-DP9r8 Seventh Lesson Luke 2:15-16 (KJV) The Shepherds Go to Bethlehem And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known to us.” And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. Carol Angels, From the Realms of Glory Steven Curtis Chapman https://youtu.be/x5obZeHgg4M Eighth Lesson Luke 2:17-20 (KJV) The Shepherds Share the Good News And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning the child. And all that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. Carol Go, Tell It on the Mountain Josh Turner https://youtu.be/HCDswefIGdQ Ninth Lesson John 1:1-14 (NIV) The Word Became Flesh In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all people might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the Only Begotten, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Carol Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Fernando Ortega https://youtu.be/8wl4u8lnDQs Candle Lighting Carol Silent Night Rosemary Siemens https://youtu.be/91aX3qBUm6I Benediction Go now in wonder. Go to bring light to those in darkness, joy to those who can find no joy, magic to a world steeped in realism. Go with the songs of angels in your ears, and the love of God in your hearts. Go and spread the word – unto us a child is born! Amen. Postlude
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December 19, 2021
Fourth Sunday of Advent Welcome! We’re so glad you have joined us today! Gathering Gathering Song Angels From the Realms of Glory The Wilds https://youtu.be/TyAqVRFj5a8 Announcements Thursday, 7:00 PM Advent Study via Zoom Elisabeth Smith is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Advent Study Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86066732644?pwd=emorNUc2RlJkWEN4UUdrZHJZY0o2Zz09 Meeting ID: 860 6673 2644 Passcode: 762435 One tap mobile +19292056099,,86066732644#,,,,*762435# US (New York) +13017158592,,86066732644#,,,,*762435# US (Washington DC) Dial by your location +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 860 6673 2644 Passcode: 762435 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcyTFEtQFq Friday, 9:00 PM Christmas Eve Service Opening Prayer With laughing hearts and joyous hope, we come to you, O God. With tired souls and withered dreams, we come to you, O God. In our joy and in our sorrow, we turn to you, O God. Renew us with your love. Gather us into your strong embrace, that we may know your presence and rejoice in your promised coming. With hopeful expectation, we pray. Amen. Carol Joy to the World Nat King Cole https://youtu.be/jgAZVgfUxcg Lighting of the Advent Candle: Joy Joy is the characteristic of Advent that imbues us, stirs us, and charges us with excitement. The candle of joy is a light of God’s generosity to all people. It is time we set flame to this kind of joy. In the fullness of time, in fulfillment of prophecy, in Spirit and in truth, in all places everywhere, joy is coming. We open our hearts, we await the joy. The joy of the Lord is at hand. Alleluia! Carol Angels We Have Heard on High Josh Groban https://youtu.be/dtByTy_5jqI Hearing the Word Scripture Luke 1:39-56 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. (NRSV) Sermon The Heart That Grew Three Sizes 4 The Heart That Grew Three Sizes What is your favorite Christmas carol or song? Why? My favorite seems to be different depending on when you ask me, but certainly one of my favorites over the years has been “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1863. It’s powerful message of hope for the day when God’s peace will indeed prevail in this world inspires me every time I hear it. And it reinforces my belief that the song of the angels on that first Christmas night, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,” was a message that can be fulfilled. We have been reflecting together on the story of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” for three weeks prior to this morning. We have remembered how the Grinch hated Christmas, even though the story does not tell us why. And we have been reminded that the Grinch really hated the way that the Whos celebrated Christmas, with their over-the-top decorations, their indulgent feast, their piles of presents, their noisy toys, and their constant joyous singing. We talked about how the Grinch made up his mind to stop Christmas from happening, and so he snuck into Whoville and stole everything from the Who’s houses that had anything to do with Christmas: the gifts, the decorations, the food, and the trees. He piled it onto his sleigh, and he forced his little dog Max to haul the sleigh up to the top of Mt. Crumpit, where he had it hanging over the edge, ready to push it off and destroy all of it. But then he paused, and he listened as dawn broke on Christmas morning, waiting to hear the weeping and wailing that was bound to ensue when the Who’s discovered that their Christmas had all been stolen. Except for one thing. To the Grinch’s surprise, there was no sound of weeping and wailing. What he heard on that Christmas morning was joyful singing. Christmas had come anyway! The Whos were singing their Christmas song in spite of not having their toys, their trees, their presents, or their feast. And something changed the Grinch’s heart. Something happened and the Grinch’s heart grew three sizes that day. And it had something to do with that song, with the music. And the Grinch hurried to take the things he had stolen back to Whoville. Music is a powerful gift from God. I love all kinds of music, and it has been an important part of my life since I was born. My grandmother was a church organist for over 30 years, and my mother played the piano at her church. She and my dad also sang in the choir, as did my mother’s four aunts. My brother is an excellent guitar player. I play piano and guitar, and write music. I can’t imagine my life without music. And I can’t imagine worship without music, either, although this past year and a half we had to imagine worship without singing! And at Advent and Christmas, especially, we need music. I love all the familiar carols, and some of the unfamiliar ones, too. I have been fortunate enough to attend several marvelous performances of “The Messiah” around the Christmas season. And a couple of years ago, Pennie and I attended a Holiday Pops concert in Boston’s Symphony Hall, a long-time dream of mine. I know that music flows out of the powerful emotions of our hearts. Often that emotion is joy. Many of the songs I have written have been born in my need to praise God. It’s like the time when Mary and Elizabeth meet in Luke 1. The child in Elizabeth’s womb – who would be John the Baptist – leaps for joy. And then Mary sings a song that has come to be known as “The Magnificat,” which begins as a song of joy. But music can also come from places of pain or anger or grief. It can come from love and happiness and contentment. I have a cross-stitch picture hanging near my piano at home that says, “Music is love in search of a word.” The truth is, music is many emotions in search of a word. Music allows us to express what words are not able to say sometimes. The power of music comes not only in the power of writing it, of expressing our emotions in that way, but also in the listening to it and feeling that emotion that was written by someone else, and allowing it to express what is in our own hearts. Music can even transform us by its very essence and the way that we experience it. Scientists and music therapists say that humans are “hard-wired” for music, and that it stimulates our brains. In fact, music stimulates more parts of the brain than any other human function. Listening to music increases the amount of dopamine produced in the brain, which makes it a treatment for depression. Music may reduce pain and anxiety for patients who have undergone surgery, especially if patients get to choose the music that they listen to. Studies have found that music may be beneficial for patient with fibromyalgia, which causes muscle and joint pain and fatigue; listening to calm, relaxing music of a patient’s own choice can reduce pain and increase mobility significantly. This is because listening to music triggers the release of opioids in the brain, which are the body’s natural pain killers. Music may be used to aid memory recall for adults who are in the early stages of dementia. And music can also be used to help patients recover from brain injury, such as from a stroke. For example, music may aid in speech recovery. Music has also been shown to help treat epilepsy. Music therapy has been used to successfully treat PTSD in war veterans and abuse victims. There is an organization called “Resounding Joy” in San Diego which uses music therapy to treat depression, PTSD, brain injury, Down’s Syndrome, congenital heart disease, or other disease. Their music therapists study biology, psychology, and neurology, as well as training in voice, guitar, piano, percussion, and often other instruments. Last year they served almost 3,000 individuals, using music to address physical, emotional, social, and cognitive goals. Clearly, there is great power in music. But I don’t need to read scientific studies or hear research results to know that there is healing power in music. I have experienced that healing power many times in my life. At no time was that healing power needed more than in the days and weeks and months after my mother passed away. We had been so close and her passing left such a big hole in my life, in my heart, in the depths of my soul. The pain was so big I Hospice chaplain who was a member of my church and got some helpful advice and suggestions, but still that wound remained raw and unhealing. I began to listen to more instrumental music. There were no words to express what was in my heart. I particularly was drawn to classical music, the piano concertos of Rachmaninoff and the violin performances of Itzhak Perlman and cello music of Yo Yo Ma. I found that somehow there were moments in the music that touched those places in me that nothing else had found a way to reach, and slowly, agonizingly, the emotions that I had held onto for so long worked their way out, and the tears came, and the healing started. And I can listen to those same pieces today and find the same comfort and peace that they brought me 25 years ago. It was a song that transformed the Grinch that day on Mt. Crumpit. And the Grinch immediately acted on his change of heart. He raced down the mountain with his sleigh to return all that he had stolen from the Whos. The Whos didn’t reject or punish the Grinch for what he had done to them. In fact, they welcomed him as a guest at their table and allowed him the honor of carving the roast beast. They trusted that he really was a changed Grinch and welcomed him into the life of their community. It reminds me of the story of Paul. Immediately after his conversion experience on the road to Damascus, he wanted to get to work for the cause of Christ. He began preaching in the synagogues there in Damascus, and was so effective that he was perceived as a threat by the Jewish leaders. They began to plot against him, so that he had to escape the city at night, lowered over the wall in a basket. He returned to Jerusalem and wanted to join the disciples of Jesus, but they were all afraid of him. They didn’t believe that he was really a follower of Jesus. But then Barnabas spoke up for him and told them how Paul had met Jesus, and they changed their minds about him. It may be that we are sometimes called to make room for reformed Grinches to come into our community of faith. We might be asked to welcome them with joy at their change of heart. And we will have to trust them, just like the Whos had to trust the Grinch and just like the disciples in Jerusalem had to trust Paul. And we ourselves might be transformed in the process, finding that our hearts have to grow three sizes in order to make room for these reformed Grinches! Carol Hark! the Herald Angels Sing Amy Grant https://youtu.be/djh02-DP9r8 Praying Together Concerns and Celebrations: Please share any concerns or celebrations you may have with Pastor Elisabeth. Please note if you do not want this shared with this faith community. Pastoral Prayer O Lord, whose presence alone makes Christmas, and without whom all our efforts at joy are doomed to failures, we wait before you now as those who have dwelled in darkness but have caught a glimpse of a great light. Help us to follow the narrow visions we have had until they lead us to the fullness of your love and mercy. Let the song of the angels at Bethlehem be heard once more in our hearts, that our faith may be renewed and our commitment rekindled. Fill us with compassion for one another – for children bright with wonder, for widows and widowers saddened by memories of loved ones, for the sick and the tired and the broken, for people who are struggling. Show us how to share our strength and peace with them, as you have shared yours with us. Through him whose coming has changed the world. (John Killinger, adapted) We pray this in Jesus’ name, as we pray the prayer he taught his disciples: The Lord’s Prayer 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Responding Offertory: You may send your offerings to Grantham United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 152, Grantham, NH, 03753. Doxology UMH #95 Prayer of Dedication Generous God, you have given us all that we have and all that we are. We thank you for the opportunity to respond to your love and generosity by sharing our gifts with others. Our hearts sing with joy as we work with you to bring true peace and justice to the world. As we prepare for the coming of your Son, may our lives proclaim your good news fo all throughout the earth. Amen. Carol O Come, All Ye Faithful Laura Osnes and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir https://youtu.be/b0F_sVaSVqI Benediction Now may God, who brightened the night skies over Bethlehem, and filled shepherds’ hearts with mysteries, and transformed a stable into a thing of beauty, brighten your skies, fill your hearts with mystery, and transform your lives forever. Amen. December 12, 2021
Third Sunday of Advent Welcome! We’re so glad you have joined us today! Gathering Gathering Song Hail to the Lord’s Anointed Aldersgate Chorale https://youtu.be/wmgVTuFk5NU Announcements Wednesday, 6:00 PM Zoom SPRC Meeting 7:00 PM Zoom Church Conference Meeting Thursday, 7:00 PM Advent Study via Zoom Elisabeth Smith is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Advent Study Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86066732644?pwd=emorNUc2RlJkWEN4UUdrZHJZY0o2Zz09 Meeting ID: 860 6673 2644 Passcode: 762435 One tap mobile +19292056099,,86066732644#,,,,*762435# US (New York) +13017158592,,86066732644#,,,,*762435# US (Washington DC) Dial by your location +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 860 6673 2644 Passcode: 762435 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcyTFEtQFq Opening Prayer God of hope and encouragement, we come before your throne of grace not trusting in ourselves, but in your marvelous and gracious love as it seeks expression among us. May we listen for your still, small voice as it speaks to us today and as it boldly proclaims the undeniable reality of your love that will not let us go. Stir our hearts and our imaginations that we may see beyond the appearances of what is to the bold reality of all that can possibly become. In the name and spirit of the holy child, Jesus our Lord, we pray. Amen. Carol When Love Was Born Mark Schultz https://youtu.be/aKSU9Dbxvrw Lighting of the Advent Candle: Love Love is the characteristic of Advent that fills us, aligns us, and joins us in humble praise of our Redeemer. The candle of love symbolizes God’s transforming power to seek and to save lost sinners through our Lord Jesus Christ. It is time we set flame to this kind of love. Love one another. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. So faith, hope, and love abide – these three; but the greatest of these is love. Carol Away in a Manger Cedarmont Kids https://youtu.be/h4Jcl_ax2OE Hearing the Word Scripture Luke 1:26-38 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. . Sermon The Heart That Grew Three Sizes 3 God’s Blind Spot One of my least admirable qualities is that I hate to admit that I am wrong or that I don’t know something. For example, I love to play “Trivial Pursuit.” I have loved it since it first came out, back in the 70s. I used to get together with my best friend, Lori, and we would play. And I would usually win. One day we were at her house, sitting at the kitchen table, having another contest. I had earned all of my pie wedges and was trying to get into the center of the board to answer a final question and win the game. I finally managed to roll the right number on the dice and land in the center. Lori chose my worst subject, “Sports and Leisure,” as my category. I inwardly groaned. Who knew what kind of question I would get? She read the question on the card: “In water polo, how many players are there on each side?” , Well, I had no idea. I couldn’t even make an educated guess. But I didn’t want to surrender too easily, so I decided to stall for time. I asked, in all sincerity, “Counting the horses?” Well, Lori nearly fell off her chair she was laughing so hard. And the more she laughed, the madder I got, because I couldn’t figure out what she was laughing at. Finally, with tears rolling down her cheeks, she managed to get out, “Swim, baby, swim!” And it dawned on me. Horses. In water polo. You idiot. I still don’t know how many players there are on each side in water polo. And I really don’t much care. Because one of my blind spots is that I am practically unwilling to admit, “I don’t know.” There is a scene in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” when the Grinch has entered a Who house and has been stealing anything and everything related to Christmas, from gifts and decorations, to candy canes and food for the feast. He has stuffed it all in bags and tossed it up the chimney to Max, who has loaded the bags on the sleigh. Finally, the Grinch starts shoving the Christmas tree up the chimney. As he pushes on the tree, an ornament falls off and rolls across the floor, stopping beside the children’s bed, waking up little Cindy Lou Who. She comes out of her room and stands there watching the Grinch. Finally, she asks him, “Why are you taking our tree away?” Very quickly, the Grinch comes up with a lie: “The lights on one side aren’t working, so I’m taking the tree to my workshop. I’ll repair it there and then bring it back here.” He gets the little girl a glass of water and sends her back to bed, and then takes the tree and moves on to the next house. But perhaps this encounter has revealed one of the Grinch’s blind spots: deep down he knows that what he is doing is wrong, but his heart is too small to do him much good about it. He wasn’t seeing the entire situation clearly. We all have blind spots, don’t we? We don’t always see everything as clearly as we should. It is all part of our being human. We sometimes make assumptions based on our blind spots that turn out to be dead wrong. And, much to our surprise, Jesus also had blind spots. Because Jesus was human. He didn’t see everything; he didn’t know everything. You might remember when he was lost in Jerusalem when he was twelve and it turned out that he had been in the Temple the whole time. His parents took him home, and it says that he grew in wisdom. He couldn’t grow in wisdom unless there were some things he didn’t already know. And in Mark, when he is talking to the disciples about the end times and when they will come, he says, “I don’t know. Only the Father knows.” Jesus experienced everything we experience, our emotions, our limitations, our struggles. Jesus was fully human, just as he was fully divine, and sometimes it is the human part of him that we have a hard time grasping. Frederick Buechner writes, “The claim that Christianity makes for Christmas is that at a particular time and place God came to be with us himself. When Quirinius was governor of Syria, in a town called Bethlehem, a child was born who, beyond the power of anyone to account for, was the high and lofty One made low and helpless. The One who inhabits eternity comes to dwell in time. The One whom no one can look upon and live is delivered in a stable under the soft, indifferent gaze of cattle. The Father of all mercies puts Himself at our mercy.” Buechner is touching on what Matt Rawle refers to as God’s blind spot: God’s greatest weakness is his love for us. That love is so powerful that it caused God to become completely vulnerable and utterly dependent, to be born as a baby. Max Lucado writes in his book, God Came Near: Heaven opened herself and placed her most precious one in a human womb. The omnipotent, in one instant, made himself breakable. He who had been spirit became pierceable. He who was larger than the universe became an embryo. And he who sustains the world with a word chose to be dependent on the nourishment of a young girl. God as a fetus. Holiness sleeping in a womb. The creator of life being created. God was given eyebrows, elbows, two kidneys, and a spleen. He came, not as a flash of light or as an unapproachable conqueror, but as one whose first cries were heard by a peasant girl and a sleepy carpenter … Angels watched as Mary changed God’s diaper. At this point in history, the person who best understands who God is and what he is doing is a teenage girl in a smelly stable. She can’t take her eyes off him. Somehow Mary knows she is holding God. He looks like anything but a king. His face is prunish and red. His cry, though strong and healthy, is still the helpless and piercing cry of a baby. And he is absolutely dependent on Mary for his well-being. It is amazing to think that our God loved us so much that he willingly took on the form of a little baby. I can’t begin to explain it to you. I have studied the Bible and theology for the better part of 42 years, but all I can tell you is you either believe it or you don’t. I happen to believe it. God – in Jesus – became one of us. Lucado writes: For thirty-three years he would feel everything you and I have ever felt. He felt weak. He grew weary. He was afraid of failure … He got colds, burped, and had body odor. His feelings got hurt. His feet got tired. And his head ached. To think of Jesus in such a light is … almost irreverent … It is much easier to keep the humanity out of the incarnation. Clean the manure from around the manger. Wipe the sweat out of his eyes. Pretend he never snored or blew his nose or hit his thumb with a hammer … But don’t do it. For heaven’s sake, don’t. Let him be as human as he intended to be. Let him into the mire and muck of our world. For only if we let him in can he pull us out. It is through God’s blind spot – his love for us – that God ended up doing his best work. It was through this vulnerability that risked itself that in the end brought us to him. The Grinch also learned eventually from his blind spot. His heart did grow three sizes and he was able to realize that he had a blind spot when it came to Christmas and the Whos. And the Grinch returned all that he had stolen from Whoville. We can choose to grow and learn from our blind spots, so that they do not control us forever. And we can be thankful for the blind spot that God had toward us, that vulnerable willingness to love us to the point of becoming one of us in order to save us. Carol Some Children See Him Andy Williams https://youtu.be/ifgnXSB4M60 Praying Together Concerns and Celebrations: Please share any concerns or celebrations you may have with Pastor Elisabeth. Please note if you do not want this shared with this faith community. Pastoral Prayer O God, who is known in the bleakness of wilderness as well as in the magic of this Christmas season, who abides with your children in times of suffering and hardship as well as in times of joy and plenty, hear now the prayers we make from our various places in life. Give peace and strength to those who are lonely or distressed or angry. Grant rest and renewal to those who are tired. Touch with healing bodies that are sick, minds that are disturbed, hearts that ache. Make whole relationships that have been broken. Create your kingdom inside us, and help us to share it with others. Teach us to be imaginative with all our gifts, that they may bless the world, and bless us as well. Anoint our children with a sense of wonder and reverence that will never leave them, and enable those of us who are older to rediscover a feeling for mystery during this special season of the year. Make us aware of your presence. (John Killinger, adapted) We pray this in Jesus’ name, as we pray the prayer he taught his disciples: The Lord’s Prayer 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Responding Offertory: You may send your offerings to Grantham United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 152, Grantham, NH, 03753. Doxology UMH #95 Prayer of Dedication Abundant God, in this time of buying and selling and overindulgence, draw us closer to you. Help us to share out of our abundance. Help us to proclaim your good news in our words and in our actions. Baptize us with your love, that we may be your loving presence in the world. Amen. Carol The Birthday of a King Judy Garland https://youtu.be/77gzd1vjfE8 Benediction Now may God, who gave us his Son in the stable of Bethlehem, continue to show us his mercy in the love and graciousness of Christmas; and may the Christ Child dwell in each of us today. Amen. December 5, 2021
Second Sunday of Advent Welcome! We’re so glad you have joined us today! Gathering Gathering Song O Come, O Come, Emmanuel The Piano Guys https://youtu.be/iO7ySn-Swwc Announcements Tuesday, 10:00 AM Advent Study at Sunapee Wednesday, 7:30 PM Zoom Visioning Board Meeting Thursday, 7:00 PM Advent Study via Zoom Elisabeth Smith is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Advent Study Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86066732644?pwd=emorNUc2RlJkWEN4UUdrZHJZY0o2Zz09 Meeting ID: 860 6673 2644 Passcode: 762435 One tap mobile +19292056099,,86066732644#,,,,*762435# US (New York) +13017158592,,86066732644#,,,,*762435# US (Washington DC) Dial by your location +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 860 6673 2644 Passcode: 762435 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcyTFEtQFq Sunday, 7:30 AM Visioning Board (in person) 9:00 AM Worship Opening Prayer O God, whose nature is beyond finding out, yet who has revealed yourself in the child of Bethlehem, we come to you in praise and adoration for the gift of yourself to the world. We are deeply aware of the darkness around us – of hate and strife, envy and deceit, greed and selfish ambition. Therefore we are grateful for moments such as this, when we bow in your presence and know the hope of redemption. Tune our hearts to sing a new song this day – the song of your coming among us – and let it be heard in the lives of our families and friends and all those around us. Through Jesus, who was born in a manger and reigns forever and ever. Amen. (John Killinger, adapted) Carol Star-Child Young Vox https://youtu.be/jVcZBUP63qw Lighting of the Advent Candle: Hope Hope is the characteristic of Advent that brings us around, moves our spirits and nurtures us in expectation. The candle of hope is a light of God’s promise come to pass. It is time we set flame to this kind of hope. Our hope is in God, who made heaven and earth, breathing the breath of life into all creation. Our trust is in the Lord, who promised a Messiah for our world. We await the birth of our Deliverer. Our hope draws nigh, we watch and pray. Carol Away in a Manger King’s College Choir https://youtu.be/pbQpEdwGEXo Hearing the Word Scripture Matthew 3:7-12 But when [John the Baptist] saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” . Sermon The Heart That Grew Three Sizes 2 Looking the Part `Have you ever known anyone who just went overboard at Christmas? They over-decorated, over-cooked, over-partied, over-dressed, over-gifted? They just overdid everything? I know I have known people like that over the years. If you were looking for Christmas with them, you didn’t have to look very far. For example, I’ve known people who decorated everything inside and outside their homes. Take the home of one of my parishioners in South Carolina. Inside, there were those carolers everywhere, on the mantle, on the end tables, even on the edge of the stairs. There were multiple Nativities, arrangements of candles, greenery over the mantle and over the doors, lighted candles in the windows, and stockings hung by the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. And outside there were blowups galore, Santa and his sleigh, Santa in a helicopter, Santa in a train, snowmen, angels, dogs and cats, and even a Nativity tucked in the midst of it all. It was like Home Depot and the Martha Stewart department of Macys had an explosion and it all landed at this particular home! There are lots of people who just can’t help themselves when it comes to Christmas. And there are lots of things that we enjoy during the Christmas season that are fun and enjoyable and pretty, but really don’t have anything to do with Christmas at all. They look the part, I guess, but there is not much depth to them. Sleigh bells and cookies, flavored coffees, red and green decorations, snowmen, Santa and Rudolph and The Night Before Christmas. The candle I put on my front porch to light the wreath on the door. Eating the Rice Krispies treats my Aunt Mary made for me every year. The train that went around the Christmas tree. The silver icicles that had to be hung one at a time, one at a time, as my mother instructed us. Sometimes we may focus so much on getting the outward appearance of Christmas right that we miss the deeper meaning of the season altogether. Or some people never get it at all. For them, Christmas is only about the outward celebration. The real meaning never penetrates into their hearts and spirits. Kind of like the Grinch, they have not been touched by the true spirit of Christmas and their hearts are simply two sizes too small. But before we too quickly judge other people, perhaps we would do well to ask ourselves a question that Matt Rawle poses in his book, The Heart That Grew Three Sizes: Finding Faith in the Story of the Grinch. He talks about how the Grinch got his ideas about Christmas from watching the Whos and their elaborate celebrations, the multitude of gifts, the huge feast, and the lavish decorations. And then he asks, “If the Grinch were looking down at your house during the holidays, what would he think was most important to you?” Look around your house in your mind. What do you see? We have a Christmas tree with lots of ornaments on it. Some were gifts from loved ones. Others were homemade when we were kids, and take their places for purely sentimental, and not artistic, reasons. There are beautifully wrapped gifts under the tree, that we probably spent more on than we should, but that were selected with love and lots of thought as to what the recipient would enjoy. There are colored lights on the fence out back and a lighted Snoopy watching over the bird feeder. We have a new addition in front this year: an inflated dachshund with a multi-colored sweater. We don’t have a Nativity out, because the cats would knock down the pieces or make off with Mary and the baby. There is Christmas music on the piano waiting to be played and the Advent study book is on the table. We have Christmas sweaters hanging in the closet and a Christmas hat that lights up. There are many Christmas DVDs, including “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (which does include a portion of the Christmas story from Luke), “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer,” and many, many versions of “A Christmas Carol,” as well as “The Little Drummer Boy.” So, all in all, I think the Grinch would conclude that the secular celebration of Christmas is important to us, as well as the sacred celebration. How about at your house? The complaint that John the Baptist had about the Pharisees and Sadducees was that they were hypocrites. Their religious practice was all about putting on a good show, looking the part. They appeared to be deeply committed to God, but on the inside they were not. Their spirits, their hearts, were not godly. They did not practice what they claimed to believe. And sometimes, even at Christmas, we are guilty of the same thing. We talk a good game, we look the part, but we are not really committed on the inside. Our hearts, our spirits, are not really filled with Christ. Our houses may be the best-decorated on the block, we may have the most beautiful Nativity ever made, we may sing the carols with the best voices in the choir, but if we don’t have hearts full of love for Jesus, then it is all just about appearances, there is no depth to it. You know, last Christmas looked a lot like Christmas, but it didn’t really feel like Christmas to me. My house, and probably yours, was decorated for the holidays. I enjoyed driving around and seeing people’s yards all lit up with lights and blowups. But there was something missing. We were nine months into COVID, we were not meeting in person for worship, and everything just felt out of whack in so many ways to me. I missed gathering in the sanctuary with you. Yes, I lit an Advent candle every week, but it wasn’t the same standing there in the sanctuary alone. Preaching via Zoom I could see some of your faces, but they were so tiny on the computer screen that I couldn’t really see your reactions. We had recorded music, but it wasn’t like singing carols together. And Christmas Eve was so hard with remote worship! That’s usually my favorite service of the year, my favorite moment of the year, when we light the candles and turn off the lights and sing “Silent Night.” And it didn’t happen. We spent a lot of time last year, at least I did, trying to figure out what was absolutely essential about worship, and in particular, about worship in Advent and Christmas. What could we not do without? Well, we had to have scripture and a sermon, we needed to light Advent candles, we absolutely had to have music. So how could I provide those necessary elements? It wasn’t perfect, but it was the best we could do. And it was a way to be together and celebrate the birth of Jesus. This year, we are blessed to be able to be together in person to enjoy the rituals and the decorations and the music. We can see each other’s faces and hear each other’s voices. We can see the Advent candles, we have the beautiful decorations. It still isn’t perfect, because we can’t sing the carols, but we can listen to them together. We have figured out how to do this the best way that we can for now. And we will do the best that we can for Christmas Eve, in order to be able to meet in person. Because what matters most is celebrating the coming of Jesus into the world. We may not be able to sing, we may not have a traditional candle-lighting, we may have to wear masks and practice social distancing, but the important part of worshiping at Christmas will happen. This is the Sunday of hope, and I, for one, am in need of hope. Hope that the pandemic will end in the coming year. Hope that there will be no more deaths from COVID. Hope that we can finally get rid of our masks for good. Hope that we can sing in church again. Hope that the divisions in our country will be bridged, that hearts will be softened and families will be healed. Hope that racism will be named and addressed and driven out of our public life. Hope that peace will come on the whole earth. Hope that peace will come in all our homes. And hope that Christmas will be something we celebrate with more than superficial gestures, that we will do more than just look the part. Hope that we will celebrate the birth of Jesus with love in our hearts for the Christ-child and for all of God’s children. Carol O Little Town of Bethlehem Carlos Zapien https://youtu.be/J4L9FAFFGg8 Praying Together Concerns and Celebrations: Please share any concerns or celebrations you may have with Pastor Elisabeth. Please note if you do not want this shared with this faith community. Pastoral Prayer Those who have waited in darkness, O Lord, have seen a great light, and on them has a light descended. Send the light again, Lord, to shine in our darkness – the darkness of doubt, the darkness of sin, the darkness of loneliness, the darkness of fear and confusion, the darkness of COVID. Let the presence of the One laid in a manger illumine our hearts and minds, that our whole lives may be transformed. May the simplicity of his entrance into the world call us again to the simple way of living. May the coming of the shepherds remind us that there is more to do in life than tend our flocks or mind our business. May the adoration of the Magi teach us that we, too, have gifts to bring. May the joy of the aged Anna and Simeon suggest patterns for our own aging and its relationship to your eternal kingdom. And as the Christmas bells ring out once more across the land, publishing good tidings of great joy, let our small hearts respond with excitement and love, that the light has shined in darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. (John Killinger, adapted) We pray this in Jesus’ name, as we pray the prayer he taught his disciples: The Lord’s Prayer 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Responding Offertory: You may send your offerings to Grantham United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 152, Grantham, NH, 03753. Doxology UMH #95 Prayer of Dedication Immanuel, God with us, in gratitude for the mercy you showed our ancestors in faith, and in thanksgiving for your holy covenant with all your people, we offer you these gifts and offerings. Amen. Carol In the Bleak Midwinter Rise Up Children’s Choir https://youtu.be/YziRJVEx_6o Benediction Now may God, who was celebrated by angel’s song and worshiped by shepherds from the hillsides, anoint us with the true spirit of Christmas, that we too might sing and worship, now and forever. Amen. |
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