Longest Night December 21, 2021

PINE STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

The Longest Night December 21, 2021 7:00 p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ VOLUNTARY Infant Holy, Infant Lowly WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS CALL TO WORSHIP

Melody Bober The Rev. Heather M. Sigler Ruling Elder Beth Alwine

One:

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

Many:

Light now shines on those who lived in the land of deep darkness.

One:

For the yoke that was weighing upon them and the burden upon their shoulders, God has broken into pieces.

Many:

For a child has been born for us, a son has been given and his name is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

OPENING PRAYER God of Mercy, hear our prayer in this Advent season for ourselves and our families who live with painful memories of loss and painful present experiences. We ask for your strength today, courage for tomorrow, and peace for the future. We ask these things in the name of your Christ, who shares our life in joy and sorrow, death and new birth, despair, and promise. Amen.

HYMN By Gracious Powers

C. Hubert H. Parry

PRAYER OF CONFESSION God of Grace and Truth: In Jesus Christ, you came among us as light shining in the darkness. We confess that we have trouble seeing your light. We are easily blinded by our own pain and close our eyes to your presence in our lives. Forgive us and heal our hurts. Help us to release our past regrets and find your peace in the midst of our doubts.

Open our eyes and renew our hope in your loving care.

PERSONAL CONFESSION ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS One: The Word became flesh and dwells here among us, full of grace and truth.

Friends, remember your baptism and believe the good news.

Many: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.

RESPONSE TO GOD’S GRACE

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

Stephen Minister / Deacon Linda McKillop

LESSONS FROM SCRIPTURE From the Prophets

Isaiah 40:1-11

From the Epistles

Romans 8:18-28

From the Gospels

Luke 2:1-7

Stephen Minister / Deacon Keith Perago The Rev. Heather M. Sigler

MEDITATION MUSIC FOR REFLECTION O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go

Marilyn Thompson

LIGHTING THE CHRISTMAS CANDLES One:

We light this first candle to remember those whom we have loved and who are no longer with us. We pause to remember their names, their faces, their voices and the memories that bind them to us in this season. (Silence) Holy God,

Many:

May your eternal love surround them.

One:

The second candle burns to redeem the pain of loss: the loss of relationships, the loss of jobs, the loss of health. We pause to gather up the pain of the past and offer it to God, asking God to give us the gift of peace and patience with ourselves. (Silence) Holy God, Refresh, restore, renew us, and help us trust you to lead us into the future.

Many: One:

This third candle we light to remember ourselves this Christmas season.

We pause and remember these past weeks and months; the disbelief, the anger, the tears, the downtimes and the poignancy of reminiscing, the hugs, and handshakes of family and friends, all those who stood with us.

We give thanks for all the support from those who love us. (Silence) Holy God,

Many:

Let us remember that your light shines in our time of darkness.

One:

This fourth candle is lit to remember our faith and the gift of hope which the Christmas story offers to us. We remember that God knows us better than we know ourselves, and God promises us a place and time of no more pain, suffering, or tears. (Silence) Holy God,

Many:

Let us rekindle our faith in God’s hope and presence for Emmanuel means “God is with us.”

ANTHEM See Amid the Winter’s Snow John Goss; arr. David Willcocks See amid the winter’s snow, born for us on earth below; see the tender Lamb appears, promised from eternal years: Hail, thou ever blessed morn! Hail, redemption’s happy dawn! Sing though all Jerusalem, Christ is born in Bethlehem. Lo, within a manger lies he who built the starry skies; he who, throned in height sublime, sits amid the cherubim: Hail, thou ever blessed morn! Hail, redemption’s happy dawn! Sing though all Jerusalem, Christ is born in Bethlehem. Say, ye holy shepherds, say what your joyful news today; wherefore have ye left your sheep on the lonely mountain steep? Hail, thou ever blessed morn! Hail, redemption’s happy dawn! Sing though all Jerusalem, Christ is born in Bethlehem. “As we watched at dead of night, lo, we saw a wondrous light; angels singing, told us of the Savior’s birth.” Hail, thou ever blessed morn! Hail, redemption’s happy dawn! Sing though all Jerusalem, Christ is born in Bethlehem. Sacred Infant, all divine, what a tender love was thine, thus to come from highest bliss down to such a world as this! Hail, thou ever blessed morn! Hail, redemption’s happy dawn! Sing though all Jerusalem, Christ is born in Bethlehem. Teach, O teach us, Holy Child, by thy face so meek and mild, teach us to resemble thee, in thy sweet humility: Hail, thou ever blessed morn!

Hail, redemption’s happy dawn! Sing though all Jerusalem, Christ is born in Bethlehem.

THE LORD’S SUPPER INVITATION PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING One: Many: One: Many: One: Many:

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God. It is right to give God thanks and praise.

Prayers continue and conclude with 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, For thine is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

SHARING THE BREAD AND CUP PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Rev. Sigler

CHORAL RESPONSE Jesus, Remember Me

Taizé Community; Jacques Berthier

BENEDICTION

Rev. Sigler

VOLUNTARY The Sussex Carol

Larry Shackley

LEADING IN WORSHIP The Rev. Heather M. Sigler, Parish Associate Joseph W. Garrison, Minister of Music and Worship Linda McKillop, Stephen Minister and Deacon Keith Perago, Stephen Minister and Deacon Beth Alwine, Ruling Elder Chris Earhart, Maddie Felix, Timothy Lupia, and Delaney Reed, Pine Street Quartet

_____________ CHRISTMAS AT PINE STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Friday, December 24 7:30 pm – Christmas Eve Worship with candle lighting and The Lord’s Supper Sunday, December 26 10:00 am – The First Sunday of Christmas - Informal worship with Carols and Stories.