Freelton Strabane United Church
Horseshoe Falls Regional Council.
Christmas Eve
December 24 2023
Minister: Rev. Will Wheeler, B.A. M. Div.
905-659-3380 E Mail [email protected]
One: Oh she has yet come again. Her foot cold upon the sleeping landscape. Draped in a mantle of white and shades of blue the hollow wind sings her song.
All: She spends her days painting frosted patterns across our window, her nights scattering snowy diamonds to dance in the moon light while her teal white and red ribbons dance in the sky.
One: Her perfume the crisp sent of an iced morn. In deep swirls of drifts she dances her name is Winter. With icicled barren branches as her bouquet Winter comes in a long hours of the night.
All Winter’s longest night surrounds us and we have watched, waited and wished for a light into the darkness of the world.
One: This night gives us that light a promised gift Christmas is this night tomorrow and all year all time.
One: on the first Sunday of Advent we lit a candle for Hope
All on the second Sunday we lit a candle for peace
One On the third Sunday we lit a candle for joy
All Last Sunday we lit a candle for love
One now the time has come to light a candle for Christ as the flame of Christ candle begins to burn the angels sing, the shepherd draws near. The full spectrum of God’s love is revealed like a covenantal rainbow a promise of God in our lives. We come to this holy time to be here with Jesus to offer our gifts and to sing praise to God as they did so long ago in Bethlehem Let us pray.
All: God of light and love Let your Spirit shine in our hearts let your love shine in our world and let the wonder of this new day touch all of our hearts as the Christ child invites us into God’s love Amen
Prayer
All: God on this holy night you teach us abundant life in the birth of a child with the angels song echoing Glory to you in the highest. We remember your love shown in Mary and Joseph, We remember you hope in the awe of the shepherds. May we this night once more move from a world which has gift wrapped this joyful happening to once more hold the true gift of light and promise found in the peace of your coming in the new born Jesus. Amen
All: A Tiny family making its way to a town, to only find room in a simple stable.
One: Her pale light shadowing the silhouettes of sheep in fields. Shepherds bathed in her light.
All: But this night She would not be alone in her course across the sky for this night will be a night that will always be remembered.
One There in the stillness of quiet curve of night under the canopy of the heavens Moon is greeted by the full heavenly house to sing of a most wondrous gift.
All: A song that would touch all who heard it. A song sung as duet between the Moon and Winter A song first sung by angels a chorus echoed through time itself.
One A song greeted in the dawn with all the colours of creation singing glory to God. A song of a journey from Holly to Thorns. A song of promised life. A song sung in the moon of winter time.
One: The centuries has clouded the sky the song sung by Winter and Moon a song sung by angels has become lost to Holly Jollies, winter wonderlands and fevered wrapping of parcels packages and garish bows.
All: Who sees Winter’s gift? A gift from the one who created and is creating. Who is this that is revealed to us, who is this child?
One: Maybe this Christmas will mean something more.
All: Maybe this year love will appear deeper than ever before
One: And maybe forgiveness will ask us to call someone who we love someone we’ve lost.
All: Maybe this Christmas will find us at last in Heavenly peace
One: Maybe this Christmas will find us greeting the one who lead us home.
One: In the light of our story, filled with the spirit of God, let us ask God for a good Christmas.
All: That no powerful nation should tax the poor or uproot them; that all people will be accepted and loved as one of God’s children; that no door will be shut on those who need to find it open.
That shepherds and sheep and all of nature need not be afraid
That wise men and wise women might appear with justice in all those places of conflict.
That children may be protected from those would abuse them.
That this Christmas, we look beyond the ribbons, paper feasting and come to worship once more at a manger and that we God’s children may come to know that the rumor has become a reality that Christ has come among us. The Lord of Light, the Prince of Peace, the King of Love, and the Bringer of Hope has come down and crept in beside us.
These things we pray as we say together. . .
Our father . . . Amen.
One: Still here in this place, in this time, we still can be, and come and stand in the presence of the One who changes us and fills us with the love of the divine light of God, born this night, the Child, the King of glory. And here, long removed from that night, here in these strong stone walls, far from those crowded eastern streets, we come once more to remember God’s gift.
All: For us there are no gathered heavenly host, no angel’s choirs, only our familiar stars.
One: For us this night born for you in the city of David the son of God who will be the bringer of hope and joy and new life
Sending Forth and Blessing
One: A boy has been born for us.
All: A child has been given to us.
One: And his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace.
All: Now we are all God’s people.
One: Once we walked in darkness.
All: Now we have seen a great light.
Blessings May the Blessings of the Child born this night who shall be the light to world bless you all on your journey illuminating your way with his love.
Yesterdaywe honour our heritage.
Todaywe know that we are not alone,that we live in God's world.
Tomorrowwith God,we will discoverthe undiscovered country.
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