+ Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols – December 24th, 2020 +
Genesis 3:8-15, 17-19; Isaiah 9:2-7; Luke 1:26-38; Luke 2:1-20; John 1:1-14
Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church
Milton, WA
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
More than any other holiday, the Christmas season is a time for many things, traditions old and new. Baking and eating. Family photo taking. Card and letter writing. Gift wrapping and gift giving. Decorating the tree and setting up the nativity. Gathering and singing. And the one thing that holds all of this together is a simple, yet wonderful story.
Yes, Christmas is a time for many things. And most of all, Christmas is a time for storytelling.
As the old Sunday School song goes, we love to sing the old, old story of Jesus and his love.
That’s the very heart of Christmas. An old, old story. It begins all the way back in the Garden of Eden and keeps unfolding until the final pages of the new creation in Revelation. Every story in Scripture, in one way or another, leads us to this night, to this day, to the little town of Bethlehem, to a manger, to the heart of the greatest story and the storyteller himself, Jesus born for you.
Christmas is the story of God’s salvation that is told and retold again and again by the patriarchs, prophets, and apostles. And every Christmas, we join in hearing and telling and retelling this great story of God’s love come down to us in Jesus.
For without Jesus there would be no family traditions, no reason to decorate, give gifts, or gather. Without Jesus there is no Christmas. And yet, with Jesus’ birth God gives us all good things. Because of Jesus’ birth and life and death and resurrection – the greatest story of all time because it is both true and marvelous all at once – God gives us every good gift in heaven, and on earth.
Christmas is the story of God’s unending, amazing, gracious love for you in sending Jesus.
Christmas is the story of God’s rescue promised to Adam and Eve – and all mankind – that one day a child – the promised Seed – would be born of a woman to destroy the ancient serpent under his feet.
And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”
Christmas is the story of God’s glorious arrival and his gracious reign, foretold by the prophet Isaiah.
The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined. For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name 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, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever.
Christmas is the story of God’s blessing and favor, conceived in the Virgin Mary’s womb, woven in human flesh that you would see God’s grace in the face, arms, hands and feet of this Holy Child born for you.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
Christmas is the story of God’s glory and goodness and grace revealed to and for humble, poor, lowly, nobody, nomad shepherds, and to you and for you.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, 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.
Christmas is the story of God’s illuminating, enlightening, enlivening Word – the Word made flesh for you.
the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Yes, Christmas is for storytelling.
The story of Christmas is the story of God’s unending, amazing, gracious love for you in sending Jesus. And that means that tonight we are more than casual readers and hearers of this story.
The Christmas story is our story as well. The story of your rescue and redemption in Jesus, of God’s grace and goodness given to you in Jesus; of God’s light and life sent to you in Jesus.
A blessed and merry Christmas to each of you…
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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