Bulletin – Wednesday, December 20, 2023 – 2023 Longest Night / Blue Christmas Service

2023 Longest Night/Blue Christmas Service
Windsor Park United Church

(adapted from a shared service by Rev. Jeffrey Spencer)

May your spirit be renewed during this time of worship.

Gathering music – “Come and Find the Quiet Centre”

Welcome and Introduction

Good evening.  Welcome to this Longest Night Service from Windsor Park United Church.  My name is Laura Steidl and joining me in leading tonight’s worship are Alana Davis, Sue Turley, Dave Anderson, June Kaan and Edna Erickson.

The winter solstice – or shortest day of the year is December 21.  Since the Fall equinox, in the northern hemisphere, the nights, longer than the days, have been getting even longer with each rotation of the earth.   Tonight, as we near the time when things are the darkest, we pause to remember that God’s light comes in the darkness, that, in fact, without the darkness, we will not notice the light.

I have a few suggestions in preparation for this service.  I invite you to lower the lights in your room, perhaps even lower the brightness of your computer screen, to allow yourself to experience the darkness.  We also hope that you have one main candle on one side of your computer.  We will light these main candles together in just a moment.  On the other side of your computer, I hope you have either six stones or six additional candles.  During the service, you will be invited, as an act of prayer, to move the stones or additional candles (whichever you have, and one at a time) around your main candle.  Also, if you have others in your home who are not watching with you, ask to not be interrupted.  Turn off your phone.  Take this time for your own healing.

Our hope is that this evening’s service will make a space for you that meets your needs.

Together we are creating a sacred and safe space for each other. Now, as we pause and notice our breathing, let us light our main candles.

Candle lighting

As we gather here in the darkness, let us all remember that we are in the protective shelter of God’s healing love.  We are free to pour out our grief, to release our anger, to face our emptiness and confusion, to feel our hurt, and to know that through it all, God cares.

During this service we will pray together and hear several readings from the Bible.  Some may speak to where you are, to the conditions that draw you to this service.  After each reading and a brief comment, we will invite you to move one of those stones or to move and light one of the additional candles to be by your main candle as an act of prayer – for yourself, for people you know, for people who are facing these issues on this longest night of the year – and as a sign of hope.

There are a few times during the service when we will pause for some music.  You are invited to sing along if you wish, or to allow the music to wash over you and touch your spirit.

Finally, throughout the service, there will be moments for quiet – to feel whatever it is you are feeling in the presence of God’s love.

Now, let us pause in one of those periods of quiet and open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, reflecting on the words of Leonard Cohen: “There is a crack in everything; that’s how the light gets in.”

Gathering quiet

Call to Worship

One:  In the beginning was the Word.  And the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
All: The Word became flesh and lived among us, full of grace and truth.

One:  In him was life, and that life was the light for humanity.
All:  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never been able to overcome it.

Opening Prayer

One:  Let us pray:
All:  Holy God, whose creation includes darkness and light, be with us, in each one of our situations; live among us, live with us and in us; fill the distances that divide and separate us; reconcile us with You and with one another. Open our hearts to the mystery of your love and invitation of your grace.  You, who are the light of the world, be light in our darkness. Amen.

Time for Quiet

Musical Meditation – “Longing for Light”

GOOD NEWS FOR THE EXCLUDED

A reading from Luke 14:15-23

¹⁵ One of the dinner guests, on hearing this, said to him, ‘Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!’ ¹⁶ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. ¹⁷ At the time for the dinner he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, “Come; for everything is ready now.” ¹⁸ But they all began to make excuses. The first said to him, “I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my apologies.” ¹⁹ Another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my apologies.” ²⁰ Another said, “I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.” ²¹ So the servant returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his servant, “Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.” ²² And the servant said, “Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.” ²³ Then the master said, “Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled.”

Comment:

This story offers hope for those who have no one to invite them.  It reminds us that in God’s divine order, no one is excluded.  All are invited; all are included; all are welcome.

Lighting of a candle

If you have been feeling excluded, if you need to claim and affirm the truth that God’s love includes you, if you have friends or family that are feeling alienated, or if you want to hold people around the world who are feeling excluded, we invite you to move one of your stones or to move and light one of your candles and place it near your main candle.  Let this act be an act of prayer – for ourselves, for our friends and for the world.

Prayer

Lord, may your fellowship be known by all, including those who feel excluded.  Amen.

Time for Quiet

GOOD NEWS FOR THE GRIEVING

A second reading from Luke 6:17-23

¹⁷ He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. ¹⁸ They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. ¹⁹ And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.

²⁰ Then he looked up at his disciples and said:

‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. ²¹ ‘Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. ‘Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

²² ‘Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. ²³ Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.

Comment

This passage reveals that Jesus was well aware of people’s sorrow, yearning, and suffering – and that he offered a promise of something different.

Lighting of a candle

For all those who have been sorrowing, yearning and grieving, know you are welcome to claim Jesus’ promise of hope.  As an act of prayer for yourself or for anyone who is suffering from a loss, we invite you to light a candle or pick up a stone and place it next to your main candle.

Prayer

Holy God, bring some warmth and hope to those who mourn, who hunger and thirst, and who weep. Amen.

Time for Quiet

Music – When the Wind of Winter Blows

Time for Quiet

GOOD NEWS FOR THE WEARY AND THE HEAVY-LADEN

Our next reading is from Matthew 11:28-29

²⁸ Jesus said, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Comment

When burdens get piled on top of other burdens, the load can crush us.  In his promise, Jesus says that there is another way to carry our burdens – by being joined in labour with him.

Lighting of a Candle

We invite you to light a candle or move one of your stones; whether you do so for your own burdens, the burdens of others, or the burdens of the world, let this be an act of prayer.

Prayer

Jesus, the light of the world, Jesus, our brother, and friend, we don’t ask you to shoulder our burdens for us – just that you help us to carry them, so that we may carry on.  Amen.

Time for Quiet

Music – Jesus, Be the Centre

Time for Quiet  

GOOD NEWS FOR THE RESENTFUL

Now we have a reading from Hebrews 12:14-15

¹⁴ Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. ¹⁵ See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and through it many become defiled.

Comment

The writer of Hebrews reminds us that, despite our resentfulness, despite our resistance to forgive, we can act in ways that move us and those around us to peace and wholeness.

Lighting of a candle

If you need a healing from your resentment, if you are praying tonight for people you know who are carrying resentments, or if you are praying for the resentment that runs so deeply in our society and world, we invite you to move one stone or candle to be near your main candle.

Prayer

Lord our God, may healing come.  Bless us with your wholeness and reconciliation.  Amen.

Time of Quiet

GOOD NEWS FOR THE DEPRESSED AND ANXIOUS

Let us hear Psalm 46

¹ God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. ² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; ³ though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.

⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. ⁵ God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns. ⁶ The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. ⁷ The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.

⁸ Come, behold the works of the Lord; see what desolations he has brought on the earth. ⁹ He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. ¹⁰ ‘Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.’ ¹¹ The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Comment

When anxiety and confusion overwhelms, when depression weighs us down, it can seem as if there is no sure footing.  But this psalm reminds us that God is good and is faithfully with us no matter what troubles us.

Lighting of a candle

For all those who are dealing with anxiety or depression, know that you are welcome to claim the promise that God is always with you.  As an act of prayer for yourself and for others, we invite you to light a candle or pick up a stone and place it next to your main candle.

Prayer

Help us to be still, Holy One, and to know that you are God.  Ease the burdens of our anxieties and depressions.  Help us to know with our whole being that you are our refuge.  Amen.

Time for Quiet

Music – Come and Fill Our Hearts

GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE

The words of Psalm 121:

¹ I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come? ² My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. ⁴ He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. ⁶ The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. ⁸ The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and for evermore.

Comment

No matter what life throws at us, God is there, surrounding us with love.

Lighting of a Candle

We invite you to light a candle or move one of your stones; whether you do so for a struggle we have not named, to offer thanksgiving, for the world’s healing, or for any reason you may have, let this be an act of prayer.

Prayer

Loving God, our help comes from you.  Continue to love us as you have promised. Amen.

Time for Quiet

Hymn – It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Our final reading is from Isaiah 9:2-4, 6

² The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who live in a land of deep darkness – on them light has shined. ³ You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest. ⁴ For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken…⁶ For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Hymn – Silent Night

Benediction

May the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you and scatter the darkness from before your path; and the blessing of God Almighty, Creator, Redeemer and Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always.  Amen.

Quiet Music