New Hampshire Conference

United Church of Christ

Worship for the First Sunday of Christmas

December 27, 2020

Full Transcript

Gathering Music Medley (Instrumental) Tim Hughes, Executive Director and Tivvi Pare, Assistant Director/Summer Director, Horton Center Welcome The Rev. Gordon Rankin, Conference Minister, New Hampshire Conference, UCC

Friends, on behalf of all my colleagues on the New Hampshire Conference staff, we wish you a blessed Christmas season. It is our privilege to worship with you on this First Sunday after Christmas. As you might guess, preparing this service was conceived of as a way of helping to support our churches and our clergy during this time with extra pandemic pressures.

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However, I will admit the thought has occurred to me more than once that perhaps what was first conceived as being responsive to the moment may actually be the beginning of a new tradition. We will see where the Spirit leads. In the meantime, we invite you to find a comfortable spot with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate or mulled cider, and let yourself be present to how the Divine may be born anew even this day through the songs and stories of this sacred season Call to Worship Cindy Bradley, Administrative Assistant, New Hampshire Conference, UCC

For months now, we have lived with many griefs – the loss of loved ones, the loss of employment, the loss of traditional celebrations, the loss of sacred ritual, and the loss of connection.

But today, the echoes of angels still ring in our ears: “Do not be afraid. For I am bringing you good news of great joy for all people.”

Before this week is over we will begin a new year. There are glimpses of new life being born among us, but it still feels like the nights are quite long.

Yet today, the echoes of angels still ring in our ears: “Do not be afraid. For I am bringing you good news of great joy for all people.”

Soon the crèches and ornaments will all get packed away for another year.

So as we gather ourselves for worship, let us steep ourselves in the beautiful, holy interruption of the Christmas season. For in every day, we need to continue to hear the echoes of angels ring in our ears: “Do not be afraid. For I am brining you good new of great joy for all people.”

Invocation Cindy Bradley, Administrative Assistant, New Hampshire Conference, UCC

May we pray together:

Holy one, so often we seek to find Christmas in song and scent, in cards and carols, in garland and gifts. Remind us again today, how Love Incarnate was born to a world that was in darkness, unprepared, and had no room left for holy surprise. More importantly, allow us to see that is so often where your love is born. Help us this day to become swaddlers – those who not only care for your precious gift but wrap it tightly so it may travel with us into the normal/no-so-normal days of our lives. We offer these words, and all the words of our worship, in the name of Emanuel, God-with-us. Amen.

Song – “O Come, All You Faithful” The New Century Hymnal No. 135 (Verses 1, 3, and 4) Tim Hughes, Executive Director and Tivvi Pare, Assistant Director/Summer Director, Horton Center O come, all you faithful, joyful, and triumphant, O come now, O come now to Bethlehem. Come and behold the ruler of all angels: Refrain O come in adoration, O come in adoration, O come in adoration: Christ is Lord! Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, sing, all you messengers of heavenly love: “Glory to God, all glory in the highest”: Refrain O come in adoration, O come in adoration, O come in adoration: Christ is Lord! Amen, Lord, we greet you, born this happy morning; Jesus to you shall all glory be given; Word of our God now in flesh appearing: Refrain O come in adoration, O come in adoration, O come in adoration: Christ is Lord! Children’s Message Ann Desrochers, Office Manager & CE Resource Consultant, New Hampshire Conference, UCC

What a wonderful time of year this is as we just celebrated the birth of Jesus. One of my favorite parts of Christmas is that it is a time full of wonder and surprises.

Do you like to be surprised? I think it would be kind of boring to always know what would happen next. Surprises can be so much fun – like when a friend or relative comes by for a surprise visit – or this year when they sent me an email, text or call me when I wasn’t expecting it.

Perhaps you remember a time when your parents planned a surprise trip to one of your favorite places – the zoo, a hike in the mountains, the museum, or an afternoon at home baking cookies in the kitchen, doing a craft, or playing games. Fun times!

At Christmas it is always fun when there are presents under the tree and we are so excited we can hardly wait to open them to see the surprise inside.

I wonder what is inside this gift bag? Ornaments for my tree and a light. This candy cane looks almost like a shepherds’ staff and reminds me of the Christmas story and some very surprised shepherds. In our scripture lesson today we read that the shepherds were out in the fields watching over their sheep. It was night; probably peaceful and quiet. Suddenly an angel stood before them and “…the glory of the Lord shone around them…” (Luke 2:9).

Imagine yourself camping in the wilderness. You’re in your sleeping bag all snuggled up cozy and warm looking at the stars when an angel appears and not only that, but a strong light, like a spotlight, lights up your campsite. What a surprise. You might be a bit frightened. The shepherds were.

The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy…” (Luke 2:10).

She told them that a child had been born that very day and that this special child would change the world with his light and love.

I hang this heart ornament on my tree to remind me that God’s love can come to us in surprising ways. Like through a baby born in a manger or through the smile of a complete stranger. This is “good news.” As we look forward to 2021 be on the look-out for God’s love coming to you in surprising ways!

Please join me in a repeat after me prayer: Dear God, thank you so much for surprises and the gift of your son Jesus, a special child bringing light and love to the world. This Christmas and in the New Year ahead let us celebrate how God’s love can come to us in surprising ways. Amen.

( Adapted from: https://sermonwriter.com/childrens-sermons/surprise-2/ )

Song – “Go Tell it On the Mountain” The New Century Hymnal No. 154 Horton Center Staff Refrain Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere. Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born! While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night, Behold throughout the heavens there shone a holy light. Refrain Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere. Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!

The shepherds feared and trembled when lo! above the earth Rang out the angel chorus that hailed our Savior’s birth. Refrain Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere. Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born! Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born, And God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn. Refrain Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere. Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born! Scripture – Luke 2: 1-20 Lydia Frasca, Finance Officer, New Hampshire Conference, UCC

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her

heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Christmas Reflection – “I Was a Boy in Bethlehem” The Rev. Gordon Rankin, Conference Minister, New Hampshire Conference, UCC

As some among you know, I grew up as a PK – a preacher’s kid. As a matter of fact, the earliest days of my life that I remember are when my father served as Pastor, right down the road from where I live now, at the First Congregational Church of Hampton Now I want to encourage you not to believe all the rumors you hear about PKs. They are not all true. But there are some… For example, we PKs are not born with in innate ability to sit quietly in church and appreciate every sermon ever preached. That is a learned ability, just like it is for everyone else. As matter of fact, I remember well the first sermon that ever really caught my attention. It was a Christmas Eve in the mid-70s at the First Congregational Church of Hampton. My father told this Christmas story from the voice of one of the characters in the Biblical narrative. I was transfixed. That sermon changed my understanding of Christmas in that moment and has colored my understanding of Christmas ever since. In my career, I have written probably 12 to 15 of these first person sermons myself – ranging from the perspective of an angel above the Bethlehem hills to the donkey being ridden in the Palm Sunday parade. But there has always been something special to me about the one I heard on the Christmas Eve long ago. I know in 2020, we all need Christmas to hold on to us a little longer. So this morning I’ve decided to share with you this message, told by my father, the Reverend Dr. Donald J. Rankin entitled, “I Was a Boy in Bethlehem.” Prayer: May the words of my mouth and the mediations of our hearts, be acceptable unto Thy sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. Amen. I am an old man now and I have lived many a year. But I can remember and I can remember very well – I can remember when I was a boy in Bethlehem – for that is where I grew up and that was my home. Now I know people say that Bethlehem is a beautiful city, but to be honest with you – I have to tell you that I did not always think so! You see, as I remember back, my memories of Bethlehem are those of a youth who was never really loved and never really wanted. There was this night, my parents were with a caravan and we stopped at an inn in Bethlehem for it was along one of the main merchant trails. Oh, yes, that is same one you read about and hear about. But it wasn’t very pretty then and probably isn’t very

pretty now. Early the next morning, my parents arose with the rest of the caravan – and they left me there. A little child and they left me there. The innkeeper found me and he kept me – I guess that one of those strange things in my life that I will never understand is why he kept me – because he really wasn’t a kind man. But somehow – for some reason – he kept me. Maybe he thought I could do some work for him – maybe he thought I could be of some benefit to him. I am really not sure. But you know, it all kind of backfired on him. It didn’t work at all. I remember that, as I grew up, he put me to work in the inn. And there I was working one day…waiting on a table. And there was this beautiful woman – a fine woman in a radiant gown. She was there eating with other people. I brought her some wine and she looked at me and she knew I was deformed – and she screamed and she cried, “Get this animal out of here!” I learned something that day. I learned that neither clothes nor outside beauty really mean very much – It’s what is in the human heart that is important. That is just one of the lessons I learned in that inn. It wasn’t very long before the innkeeper decided I couldn’t work in the inn – so he put me to work out in the stable. I hated that too! Or at least at first I hated that…but somehow I accepted that like I accepted everything in my life, believing that God – if there was really a God – had separated me from all the other people to hurt…and to curse…and simply to make my life bad. But it’s strange how God works because it really wasn’t all that bad. Pretty soon I actually began to like it out in the stable. I didn’t have to work with people. I could work with animals. And animals…somehow…get beyond what you look like and know what’s in your heart. And they love back! I have always wondered why in the world people couldn’t do that too. I remember how the animals almost became like my brothers and sisters. I loved them – and the loved me – and we knew that. And it didn’t matter what I looked like. And it didn’t matter what I had or what I didn’t have. They knew what love was about. And it was good! But let me pause here a moment and tell you about one night – a particular night – a night I will never forget if I live to be five hundred years old – for it was a night that changed my life. It was midwinter… and it was getting cold out as the hours passed on. And so I decided to get a little more hay and give it the animals. As I was doing this – gathering up armfuls of hay and going about my way – I noticed a commotion out in the courtyard and I peeked through the door to see what was going on. It had been a busy day – an extremely busy day. Pilgrims had been coming and going all day for Caesar had levied some tax. I just hoped and prayed that all this commotion would not mean that more people would be coming…more people whose animals I would have to care for.

As I looked out, there was just two figures – a man who was walking and a woman sitting on an animal. I heard the man almost begging the innkeeper, saying, “We’ve got to have a room. Can’t you see – she cannot go on any farther – not even another step.” Then I heard that grating voice of the innkeeper as he said, “Be gone with you. I want to go sleep. There is no room here anymore. Leave me alone!” The man begged on – he just seemed to be insistent that they had to stay – that they had to stop right then and right there. Yet, as man looked at the woman his anger seemed to melt away. He looked at her and asked, “Mary, how are you feeling?” For some reason - I guess I will never know what that was - I ran to door, swung it wide open, and shouted, “The stable – the stable. It’s warm and it’s clean. Why not come in here?” I will never forget the look of the innkeeper as he glared at me – almost as with fear. You think I would have been used to that hatred I had experienced it so much, but this just pieced my heart. But that was broken because the women spoke. She said, “Joseph, the youth is kind.” And she smiled at me. You know – that was the first time in my life anyone had ever smiled at me – that anyone had ever accepted me as a human being – that anyone had ever shown any kind of warmth or tenderness towards me. And that was so important. THAT WAS SO VERY IMPORTANT. So I decided that I had to do something – do something for her, because I felt like she cared about me. So I ran again and grabbed up an armful of hay and went to the farthest part of the stable – away from all the animal – and I put it down, so that she could have a bed. And I took my cloak off and laid it down for I knew that hay was prickly … and I wanted her to be comfortable And as they came in, I knew – knew for the first time – why the man had asked her how she was feeling. She was going to have baby. She was going to have a baby! Even that moment was again broken by bitterness and hatred. This time it was the innkeeper’s wife demanding payment – demanding payment for a room or if all the rooms were filled surely the stable should be the price of a room. I didn’t understand that – but I guess that is the way the world is – not always fair – and not always honest. I remember the innkeeper telling the man, “We’re just too busy. I have no one to send to help you. You’ll have to do for yourself.” And the innkeeper and his wife left. They left me there with these two people. The man looked over at me and said, “Son, can you help us?” That was the second miracle of that night. First there was the warmth and the love and now they were asking me – asking me to give of myself. No one had ever done that. No one had ever known me to be worth anything in life. And they were asking me to help – asking me to care – asking me, too, to love as they had loved. At that moment I would have done anything.

It seemed like hours, yet in the same moment it seemed like just seconds. But I worked and worked. I brought them a lantern…and I brought them some water …and I brought them whatever they needed to be comfortable. Shortly after midnight, I returned from the inn … and there was the mother with her baby. THE TRUE MIRACLE OF THAT NIGHT. And, you know, that child was different from any child that anyone could ever see. That child seemed to enter the world as if he knew the world. All the hope and all the prayer, all the sins and all the care of humanity seemed to be within that child. And there was a strange kinship…a strange kinship with me…and perhaps a kinship with all the world. Before long commotion started anew out in the courtyard. Again, I went and looked. This time there were groups of people – all kinds of people. And I thought…oh, no…they’re not going to break into this moment. But I listened and they were talking about a star in the heavens – a star showing the place where the savior would be born. Then I understood – but I didn’t really understand. Because I had always believed that God would be in the temples…God would be where all the fancy people would be…God would be where all the beauty would be. God wouldn’t be here. God wouldn’t be here where I live. God wouldn’t be in my life. God wouldn’t be for everyday people. God couldn’t be for me. Could God? Just think about it! THE SAVIOR BORN HERE IN MY HOME! I looked again and there were beautiful people. Even awe struck shepherds from the hills. They had all come to see this baby. The people entered – slowly and reverently – but they entered. All kinds of people – men, women, youth and children – poor and rich – people of all colors – people of all backgrounds. People like me – people who needed to know God. And they entered. Strange how people change, isn’t it? Strange how people’s attitudes and thoughts change. I can hear the innkeeper now as he brought the people in, saying how wonderful he had been to this child to give him a place when everything was full in all of Bethlehem. How he had cared for him and brought him water. In the midst of all the commotion, the innkeeper’s wife looked over and she saw my cloak. She grabbed it up and threw it at me, crying “This is not worthy of the Savior!” You know – that was the first moment I had been cold. And it may have not been good enough for her – but that didn’t matter – because it was my cloak…and I had loved…and I had cared…and for the first time, I was a person. A person of worth. A person who had reached out. And in spite of her bitterness and in spite of her hatred, something wonderful happened to me that night. The mother looked at me once again and she said, “Boy, thank you!” Thank you. And my life was changed…never to be the same again…to be constantly different. Because God was now there. God had entered in.

I told you that I am an old man now, and that was so many years ago. And yet God has changed everything about my life. The way I understood myself, and the way I understood all of God’s people. And I have heard of that baby. I have heard of what he has been about. How other people have known him to change their lives also. How he touched the poor people…the people in need…the sick…the people who did not understand God. How he changed their lives…and healed them. And I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe that people could be so foolish. Even with all the hatred I experienced, and with all the rejection I had felt, I couldn’t believe it when I heard they killed him. I couldn’t believe that sin could be so cruel that humanity could turn their back on God. But the miracle is that God is greater than all that. And the message – the Christmas message - still lives. For that babe that was born in Bethlehem and that Christ that was crucified once again lives within the hearts of women and men – to change them as he changed me. Not just in the past. Not just for my life. But for each of us and for all time. For the baby boy that was born in a Bethlehem stable…for that Christ that is born anew in each of us…to teach us of God’s eternal love …I say (this day), “Praise be to the Living God.” Praise be to the Living God. Amen. Christmas Prayer The Rev. Dr. David Felton, Bridge Associate Conference Minister, New Hampshire Conference, UCC

Let us pray.

O God, your light reveals to us all that any of us need. We have celebrated its arrival Now help us see where it probes, understand what it illumines, and walk steadily on the path it shows us. And let your light put a radiance around our lives in this holiday season and in all our days and nights. God, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen.

Offering

Helen McGlashan, Search and Call Assistant, New Hampshire Conference, UCC

This Christmas, gifts have been given and received. We are reminded by this practice that giving is not about obligation, but rather it is about the joy that comes from offering an expression of love. That is what giving in the church is about. We give so that we may use those gifts as expressions of love for a world that is so deeply beloved by our God. We pause in our worship today to invite you to give. First and foremost, to give in support of the ministry of your local church. That is the core place where such gifts are

transformed into expressions of love. The work of the Conference and wider church is to provide our local churches with resources that can serve as the catalysts for such transformation. Here are some ways in which you may also give, if you so desire, in support of the ministries of the New Hampshire Conference.

We ask that you consider accessing our online donation portal to make a contribution to support the mission and ministries of the New Hampshire Conference United Church of Christ. You may also mail your contributions to NHCUCC, 140 Sheep Davis Road, Pembroke, NH 03275.

Let us pray,

Consecrate, O God, the gifts of ancient days and our giving this very day. May all that has been given be transformed into hope, peace, joy and love for our aching world. Amen.

Song – “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” The New Century Hymnal No. 144 Tim Hughes, Executive Director and Tivvi Pare, Assistant Director/Summer Director, Horton Center Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the Christ-child bring; Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinner reconciled!” Joyful, all you saints arise, join the triumph of the skies; With the angel host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!” Refrain Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the Christ-child bring!” Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ the everlasting Lord! Late in time the Savior comes, off-spring of the Virgin’s womb. Veiled in flesh, the God-head see; hail the incarnate Deity, Pleased on earth with us to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Refrain Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the Christ-child bring!” Hail the Bearer of God’s peace! Hail the Sun of righteousness, Light and life our Savior brings, risen with radiant, healing wings. Mildly laying glory by, born that we no more may die. Born to raise us all from earth, born to give us second birth. Refrain Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the Christ-child bring!”

Benediction The Rev. Gordon Rankin, Conference Minister and The Rev. Dr. David Felton, Bridge Associate Conference Minister, New Hampshire Conference, UCC

The Gospel of Luke tells the Christmas story in a narrative form – the story of a couple from Nazareth, an innkeeper, shepherds, angels, and a little baby in whom those gathered saw Divine Incarnation. In contrast, the Gospel of John shares a much more theological birth narrative:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and lived among us, full of grace and truth. In him was life, and that life was the light of all. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never been able to put it out.

Friends, may you be so blessed as to have the witness of Divine Incarnation and the promise of Overcoming Light stir in your souls, not just this day, but in the days that lie ahead. Amen.

Closing Music – “Joy to the World” (Instrumental) Tim Hughes, Executive Director and Tivvi Pare, Assistant Director/Summer Director, Horton Center