Making Room or Receiving Grace? A Theological Review of a Christmas Eve Message

[00:00:32] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
[00:00:55] Amen.
[00:01:01] Let's pray.
[00:01:30] Let us pray.

[00:02:33] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_13]:
What?

[00:03:00] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Three minutes?

[00:03:31] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Let's pray.

[00:04:14] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_13]:
Merry Christmas Central!
[00:04:41] It is so good to see you here this evening.
[00:04:44] It is great to be together and celebrate Jesus' birth together.
[00:04:48] My name is Anita.
[00:04:49] I'm the pastor here, and I welcome you in Jesus' name.
[00:04:52] If you've been here every Sunday for the last 50 years, you are welcome.
[00:04:56] And if this is your first time through those doors, you are welcome.
[00:04:59] We are glad that you have come, and we are going to celebrate Jesus in a big way tonight.
[00:05:05] So thank you so much for being here.
[00:05:07] I want to invite you back, of course, on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m.,
[00:05:11] Worship Dream On!
[00:05:19] Living for a God who can.
[00:05:21] And I just think that maybe that's something all of us need at this season and at this place in our world and in our lives.
[00:05:30] So I invite you to be part of that as the new year comes.
[00:05:33] This card that you were just handed is that invitation.
[00:05:36] On the back you can find a QR code that will get you to our website and help you understand a little bit more about the church and
[00:05:44] If you are a regular here, this card is for you to give away to somebody and invite them to be part of what God is doing in this place.
[00:05:53] We're just really glad to be here.
[00:05:55] So Merry Christmas to all.
[00:05:57] Let's worship God together.

[00:06:01] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_14]:
Alright, let's stand up and sing God's praises.
[00:06:04] We're only going to get a couple chances to sing here at the beginning before we get into all the meat of the service, so let's sing loud.

[00:06:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Here we go.
[00:06:32] Joy to the world.
[00:06:35] Joy to the world.

[00:06:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
The Lord is come.

[00:06:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Let earth receive her King.
[00:06:47] Let every heart prepare Him room.
[00:06:47] And heaven and nature sing.
[00:06:51] And heaven and nature sing.
[00:06:55] We will sing joy.

[00:07:07] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
The Savior reigns, let men their songs implore While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy Repeat the sounding joy We will sing joy We will sing joy

[00:07:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
We will sing joy, joy to the world He rules the world with truth and grace And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness And wonders of His love
[00:08:04] and wonders of His love.
[00:08:08] We will sing joy.
[00:08:13] We will sing joy.
[00:08:17] We will sing joy.
[00:08:19] Joy to the world.

[00:08:27] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
We will sing joy.

[00:08:31] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
We will sing joy.

[00:08:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
We will sing joy, joy to the world.

[00:08:53] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]:
This next one's a little bit different version than you're used to.
[00:08:55] Feel free to sit, stand, sing from wherever you are.
[00:08:58] If you have to sit, sit.
[00:08:59] If you want to stand, stand.
[00:09:01] If you want to dance, you can do that too.

[00:09:09] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Thank you.

[00:10:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
[00:10:45] My days speak of a man
[00:11:27] Rejoice!
[00:11:32] Rejoice!
[00:11:36] Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
[00:12:15] Emmanuel our God is here with us He's here with us Emmanuel our God is here with us He's here with us, yeah Emmanuel our God is here with us

[00:13:26] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
[00:13:32] He was in the beginning with God.
[00:13:36] All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.
[00:13:42] What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.
[00:13:48] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.
[00:13:52] There was a man sent from God whose name was John.
[00:13:56] He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.
[00:14:01] He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
[00:14:06] The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

[00:14:16] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_12]:
He was in the world, and the world came into being through him.
[00:14:22] Yet the world did not know him.
[00:14:25] He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.
[00:14:31] But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become a children of God, who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.

[00:14:55] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]:
and the Word became flesh and lived among us and we have seen his glory the glory as of a father's only son full of grace and truth let us pray

[00:15:26] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Gracious God, as we light the Christ candle, we celebrate the birth of your Son, Jesus, who came to be with us.
[00:15:37] We adore you, Jesus, and welcome you into our hearts and into our homes.
[00:15:44] May your light fill us, and may we reflect your love, joy, peace, and hope to a world in need.
[00:15:54] Thank you for the gift of Christ.
[00:15:56] Our Savior and our King.

[00:16:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_13]:
Amen.

[00:16:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,

[00:17:07] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him

[00:17:21] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Sing in choirs of angels, sing in exultation, sing ye all, say the songs of heaven above.
[00:17:51] O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him
[00:18:20] Hark the herald angels sing Glory to the newborn King Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled Glory for the nations wise Joy of the triads

[00:18:53] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Deuteronomy

[00:19:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
In Jesus' name we pray.

[00:19:45] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen.

[00:20:07] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
O little town of Bethlehem How still we see thee lie Above my deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by
[00:20:36] And hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight.
[00:20:48] O Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray.
[00:20:58] Cast out all sin and laughter and keep on in us.
[00:21:08] The Lord is with us.
[00:21:23] Amen.

[00:21:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_13]:
As we pray this evening, I will do tonight as I do most Sunday mornings.
[00:21:37] I'm going to invite you to hold your hands in your lap and think about all the things that your life holds.
[00:21:45] Joyful, challenging, and everything in between.
[00:21:51] And as we pray together, would you offer all of that?
[00:21:56] Let us pray.
[00:21:58] Gracious God, we thank you for the gift of Christmas.
[00:22:02] We thank you for the gift of Jesus.
[00:22:05] We come together tonight to celebrate his coming.
[00:22:09] We've been waiting, and it's finally time to remember that
[00:22:16] You break into our lives, not just at Christmas, but every single day.
[00:22:20] So God, we ask that as we worship tonight, that You would break into our hearts.
[00:22:25] Help us to recognize You, to see You, to hear You, to feel Your Spirit within us.
[00:22:35] We ask for peace this night in lands that we will never see,
[00:22:44] and in our own communities, maybe even in our own homes, we ask for your peace to reign.
[00:22:53] We ask for the hope that Christmas brings to live within us.
[00:23:00] We ask for the grace to embrace the love that you offer us.
[00:23:06] And God, we ask for joy that transcends circumstances and brings us close to you.
[00:23:15] Thank you so much for this incredible gift of God with us.
[00:23:22] Hear every prayer of every heart tonight, oh God.
[00:23:28] Remind us that you are always near.
[00:23:35] We pray these things in the mighty and holy name of Jesus and all God's people said, Amen.

[00:23:53] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
Now the reason we're all here, it's the good news Connor and I will be reading from Luke chapter 2.
[00:24:03] In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
[00:24:10] This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was the governor of Syria.
[00:24:15] All went to their own towns to be registered.
[00:24:18] 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.
[00:24:29] He went to be registered with Mary to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.
[00:24:34] While they were there the time came for her to deliver her child 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 in the guest room.
[00:24:48] Now in that same region there were shepherds, living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
[00:24:55] Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
[00:25:01] 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.
[00:25:09] To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.
[00:25:17] This will be a sign for you.
[00:25:19] You will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.

[00:25:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace among those who he favors.
[00:25:35] 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, what the Lord has made known to us.
[00:25:45] So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger.
[00:25:50] When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child.
[00:25:54] And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them, and Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.
[00:26:02] The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

[00:26:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_13]:
We receive an offering on Christmas Eve so that we can share with our community and try to be the light of Christ in the world.
[00:26:29] If you would like, you can give at the QR code, you can give here in the plates, and know that every dollar that you give tonight goes directly to missions to serve the people here in Mooresville.
[00:26:44] Thank you for your generosity.

[00:26:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
From the stone found no place at the keeper's door It was for this a child was born To save a world so old and hallowed A sleeping town they did not know Lying in a manger low A savior king who had no home
[00:27:19] It's come to heal our sorrow.
[00:27:25] Is there room in your heart?
[00:27:29] Is there room in your heart?
[00:27:33] Is there room in your heart for God to write His story?
[00:27:45] Shepherds counting sheep at night Do not fear the glory light You are precious in His sight God has come to raise the lowly Is there room in your heart?
[00:28:07] Is there room in your heart?
[00:28:14] How to write His story You can come as you are It may set you apart When you make room in your heart And trade your dreams for His glory Make room in your heart Make room in your heart
[00:28:48] Our Mother holds the promise tight Every wrong will be made right The road is straight, the burdens light For in His hands He holds tomorrow Is there room in your heart?
[00:29:10] Is there room in your heart?
[00:29:15] Is there room in your heart For God to write His story?
[00:29:23] You can come as you are It may set you apart But you make room in your heart And trade your dreams for His glory Make room in your heart

[00:29:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
I'm reading Matthew 2 verses 1 through 9.
[00:30:01] In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem asking, Where is this child who has been born King of the Jews?
[00:30:13] For we observed his star in the east, and have come to pay him homage.
[00:30:19] When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all of Jerusalem with him.
[00:30:23] And calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
[00:30:31] They told him, In Bethlehem of Judea.
[00:30:34] So for it has been written by the prophet, And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judea,
[00:30:43] are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.
[00:30:52] Then Herod secretly called for the Magi and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.
[00:30:59] Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may go also and pay him homage.
[00:31:10] When they had heard the king, they set out, and there ahead of them went the star that they had seen in the east, until it stopped over the place where the child was.

[00:31:24] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_13]:
Amen.
[00:31:25] We're going to give baby Jesus a break.
[00:31:31] I'm so grateful to Megan and Tyler and Eli for sharing in that with us because I feel like it helps us to see just a little bit
[00:31:40] of how out of the box this whole idea of a baby king really is.
[00:31:49] I gotta tell the story, Megan.
[00:31:52] So baby Jesus threw up on Mary's costume right before church.
[00:31:59] It was probably a lot like that, you know?
[00:32:04] It just helps us to see how real and authentic
[00:32:09] Our Savior is to come and be with us like that.
[00:32:14] It's just amazing.
[00:32:17] You know, there were a lot of people that night who were looking for Christmas.
[00:32:24] Looking for a Savior.
[00:32:27] They probably didn't expect to find it where they found it or how they found it.
[00:32:36] One of my favorite stories
[00:32:39] That helps bring home this message of Christmas is a children's book.
[00:32:46] Y'all know I'm a kid at heart, so I'm going to invite you to join in this story with me.
[00:32:54] And if you are a young one and you want to gather around the manger where you can see the pictures up close, you come right on down.
[00:33:01] The pictures are also going to be on the screen for us grown-up kids.
[00:33:05] The name of the book is called, Have You Seen Christmas?
[00:33:09] Christmas Eve dawned cold and gray over the city.
[00:33:13] A bitter wind shook the Christmas lights that were strung across High Street and sent paper cups rolling along the sidewalk.
[00:33:21] It swirled snow like white confetti around the steeples of city churches, and it picked up newspapers and flattened them against colorful shop windows.
[00:33:31] In the sheltered doorway of a department store, a small, scruffy dog named, you guessed it, Christmas sniffed the cold air with interest and went in search of something to eat.
[00:33:44] The dog left his young master fast asleep, huddled inside his sleeping bag.
[00:33:49] There he stayed until the first shoppers disturbed him, and he awoke to find his only companion gone.
[00:33:58] Just around the corner, Benny and Mia were enjoying the Christmas holidays, playing hide and seek around their parents' fruit and vegetable stall.
[00:34:07] Apples, cranberries, oranges, and grapes glistened with wet snow under the striped awning.
[00:34:13] Come out, I can see you, shouted Benny.
[00:34:16] Mia's hat bobbed up from behind a box full of oranges.
[00:34:19] Hey Dad, she cried, why do you need so many oranges?
[00:34:23] You'll see, he replied mysteriously.
[00:34:26] Now why don't you two get out from under my feet?
[00:34:28] It's going to be a busy day.
[00:34:30] Go and find your friend.
[00:34:31] I think I saw him in the doorway by the bus stop.
[00:34:35] Okay, said Benny.
[00:34:36] We'll go see Luke.
[00:34:38] Then we can see Christmas, his little dog.
[00:34:40] I love that dog.
[00:34:43] Benny and Mia set off toward the main road.
[00:34:45] They waved to Jamie, who was just coming out of the church.
[00:34:49] Why does Luke live out on the street?
[00:34:52] asked Mia.
[00:34:53] Doesn't he have a home like we do?
[00:34:56] No, Luke doesn't have a home.
[00:35:00] It's very sad, explained Benny.
[00:35:02] He came to the city hoping to find a job, but it was just more difficult than he thought.
[00:35:08] Well, at least he's got his dog, said Mia.
[00:35:12] Luke got him at the animal rescue center, Benny said.
[00:35:16] Someone bought him for Christmas and then couldn't take care of him.
[00:35:19] I wish Christmas was my dog, said Mia.
[00:35:22] He's the friendliest dog in the world.
[00:35:25] Rounding the corner, Benny and Mia saw Luke.
[00:35:29] He was slouched against a shop window, holding his head in his hands.
[00:35:33] What's the matter, Luke?
[00:35:35] Luke turned his pale face toward them.
[00:35:39] It's my dog, he explained.
[00:35:40] Christmas is missing!
[00:35:44] He's never left my side before now.
[00:35:47] Oh no, the children stared at one another in dismay.
[00:35:51] Why don't you go look for him?
[00:35:53] No, he might come back while I'm out looking for him.
[00:35:57] Well, don't worry Luke, Benny said.
[00:35:59] We'll go and look for your dog.
[00:36:00] We'll bring him back.
[00:36:01] Just you wait and see.
[00:36:05] Benny and Mia began to run along the sidewalk and almost collided with the lady coming out of the department store.
[00:36:11] She dropped several bags and bent to pick them up.
[00:36:14] Sorry, Mia said, but we're looking for Christmas.
[00:36:18] Have you seen Christmas?
[00:36:21] Have I seen Christmas?
[00:36:22] replied the lady.
[00:36:24] I should think so.
[00:36:25] Christmas is in there.
[00:36:27] And she pointed into the busy store.
[00:36:29] Oh, thank you, said the children.
[00:36:31] They went in through the heavy glass doors and found themselves among counters displaying handbags and scarves and gloves.
[00:36:39] I can't see Christmas, said Benny, bending down and looking between the feet of all the shoppers.
[00:36:45] Perhaps he's gone up to the toy department.
[00:36:48] At the top of the escalator,
[00:36:50] The children pushed their way through the crowds and gathered around their favorite toys.
[00:36:55] Two children were arguing over a robot.
[00:36:58] I saw it first, said one, pulling on the legs.
[00:37:01] Daddy said I could have it, yelled the other, tugging at its head.
[00:37:05] Put it back, both of you, ordered their father, his face bright red with annoyance.
[00:37:11] Come on, Mia.
[00:37:13] Christmas obviously isn't here.
[00:37:16] Let's go back outside.
[00:37:19] A security guard was standing in the shop doorway.
[00:37:22] Excuse me, Benny said boldly, we're looking for Christmas.
[00:37:26] Have you seen Christmas?
[00:37:28] Well now, said the man scratching his head, have you been down to the city square?
[00:37:33] I'd say that Christmas is down there.
[00:37:37] The children ran along the sidewalk.
[00:37:40] Their warm breath hung in the air like tiny snow clouds.
[00:37:45] Turning the corner into the square, they gasped at the sight of the tall Christmas tree with hundreds of Christmas lights, and underneath it children skated on a gleaming ice rink.
[00:37:56] They whirled and twirled, crisscrossing the ice as dance music blared from the speakers.
[00:38:02] Wow!
[00:38:04] That's beautiful, said Mia, her eyes sparkling.
[00:38:09] But I still can't see Christmas, said Benny.
[00:38:12] And we'll have to go back soon.
[00:38:14] Luke will be waiting for us.
[00:38:17] They retraced their steps along the crowded sidewalk, wondering what they would say to Luke.
[00:38:22] Above their heads, the star decorations on the lamppost flickered and burst into light.
[00:38:29] When they were nearly back to Luke's doorway, they saw that Jamie had stopped to talk to him.
[00:38:34] Jamie!
[00:38:35] cried the children.
[00:38:37] We've been looking and looking, but we can't find Christmas anywhere.
[00:38:42] I see, said Jamie gravely.
[00:38:45] So Christmas has gone missing.
[00:38:48] Well, I think I might know where we could find Christmas.
[00:38:52] Come with me.
[00:38:54] Luke got to his feet and followed the puzzled children into the adjoining street and down the steps that led to the hall under the church.
[00:39:02] As they opened the door, light and warmth flooded out and a delicious smell of hot sausages wafted under their noses.
[00:39:10] Men and women of all ages dressed in coats and jumpers and shawls sat at a long table decorated with bowls of oranges.
[00:39:19] They were eating steaming plates of food served by a team of church helpers and under the table, his ears pricked up and his tail thumping the floor, sat a small scruffy dog, a sausage poking out of the corner of his mouth.
[00:39:35] There's Christmas!
[00:39:36] shouted Luke, running in out of the cold to give him a hug.
[00:39:43] Later, Jamie lit the candles and invited everyone to crowd around the beautiful Nativity set.
[00:39:50] At the first Christmas, there was nowhere for Mary and Joseph to stay in Bethlehem.
[00:39:57] They didn't have a home
[00:39:59] The streets were bustling full of people who had traveled there for the census and no one had time for them.
[00:40:05] There was no room for them at the inn.
[00:40:08] But Jesus was born in the stable because the innkeeper tried to help them.
[00:40:14] When the story was over, Jamie invited everyone and said, Stay as long as you like.
[00:40:19] There will be hot drinks for everyone and Christmas lunch will be provided tomorrow.
[00:40:24] And then people began to clean up.
[00:40:28] Come home with us for Christmas, Benny said to Luke.
[00:40:31] I know Dad wouldn't mind, and there are always enough vegetables to eat.
[00:40:35] Oh yes, said Mia, then Christmas can come to our house too.
[00:40:41] Luke walked with them in silence through the falling snow.
[00:40:46] I found Christmas today, he said after a while.
[00:40:50] I was cold and hungry and miserable.
[00:40:54] But the people in the church gave me dry warm clothes and hot food to eat.
[00:40:59] I lost my dog and I had nowhere to go but you helped me find him and you're letting me come to your home for dinner.
[00:41:07] You've all made me feel that somebody cares about me.
[00:41:11] We were all looking for Christmas but it's right here.
[00:41:16] Benny thought about the store full of people and the children arguing over the toys.
[00:41:21] Mia thought about the snowy scene and the tree with all the lights.
[00:41:26] Luke was right.
[00:41:28] Christmas was right here.
[00:41:31] And Christmas, the small scruffy dog who liked sausages, barked and wagged his tail.
[00:41:40] Have you seen Christmas?
[00:41:45] I wonder sometimes if Christmas goes missing
[00:41:50] For us.
[00:41:53] Benny and Mia, they were looking for that little dog named Christmas, but why didn't they find him?
[00:42:01] Because they were looking in all the wrong places.
[00:42:06] When Jesus was born, people were waiting on a Messiah.
[00:42:11] They'd waited and they'd prayed, they were hoping, but they were looking for a Savior in a palace.
[00:42:20] Military ruler.
[00:42:22] They too were looking in the wrong places.
[00:42:25] So when Jesus was born on that glorious night in Bethlehem, people bustled on by and missed it.
[00:42:35] Except for the one whose inn was full.
[00:42:38] He stopped.
[00:42:39] He made room.
[00:42:42] Many others probably sent Mary and Joseph away because their ends were full and there was just no more time for one more thing.
[00:42:50] Does anybody feel that way?
[00:42:53] Yeah, they missed it.
[00:42:59] In the midst of a busy season, in the midst of a town abuzz with activity, this innkeeper, he made room.
[00:43:07] And the light of the world was born in a stable.
[00:43:14] The question for us on this Christmas Eve is will we make room for Christmas this year?
[00:43:24] When we're looking for Christmas and we look in all the normal places we think Christmas might be, maybe we don't find it.
[00:43:39] Because sometimes all the holiday hubbub gets in the way.
[00:43:45] We don't mean for it to, but sometimes it crowds out what Christmas is really about.
[00:43:51] Presents galore and credit card bills to match.
[00:43:55] Dozens of cookies and every night in December having something on the calendar.
[00:44:00] Elves on shelves and family expectations that change as quick as the location of that little elf.
[00:44:07] It's all fun and festive.
[00:44:09] And there's nothing in this world wrong with fun and festive.
[00:44:14] But the real Christmas is not in those things.
[00:44:21] And we miss out sometimes because we don't leave room in our schedules or in our hearts for Jesus to get in.
[00:44:30] Much less to be the center of our celebrations.
[00:44:35] Why do we do that, I wonder?
[00:44:39] We just get caught up in the commercialism of it all?
[00:44:42] I don't think so.
[00:44:45] I think more it has to do with fear.
[00:44:49] It has to do with fear.
[00:44:52] Fear was what called one after the next to send Mary and Joseph along.
[00:44:58] How will we deal with delivering a baby?
[00:45:01] We're already full.
[00:45:02] We have no place for that.
[00:45:03] And even if we had a room, they couldn't afford to stay here.
[00:45:07] Look at them.
[00:45:10] Fear makes us put up a no vacancy sign in the door of our hearts.
[00:45:16] Fear makes us struggle to believe that this story is real.
[00:45:22] What if it's not?
[00:45:23] But friends, what if it is?
[00:45:25] What if it is real?
[00:45:26] What if it's true?
[00:45:29] It is true that God loved us enough to come be among us, to be like us, to show us what it means to follow Him.
[00:45:40] But fear causes us to doubt that God was really born in Christ to be with us.
[00:45:47] Fear makes us question if God could love us that much.
[00:45:52] Could God possibly love us that much after all we've done and thought?
[00:45:58] Could God possibly love us that personally, that close up?
[00:46:04] We struggle to believe that kind of love.
[00:46:08] We struggle to believe it's for us, too.
[00:46:13] Fear also makes us struggle and cock our head a little bit at a Savior who is a humble, helpless, homeless baby.
[00:46:26] A Savior who chooses humility and service and calls us to do the same.
[00:46:33] Fear calls us to put up the blackout curtains in our hearts and our souls.
[00:46:39] and the light of Christ can't get in.
[00:46:42] So we try to fill up that darkness with false hope and manufactured joy by doing Christmassy things and we miss the miracle of the manger, the miracle that is Jesus Christ, God in skin, come to be with us.
[00:46:58] The light of the world born for you, born for me.
[00:47:07] But if we really listen to this Christmas story, we know what to do with that fear, don't we?
[00:47:15] You heard it.
[00:47:17] You heard it in the scripture.
[00:47:19] What did the angels tell all those who dare to participate in the good news of Christmas?
[00:47:26] Fear not.
[00:47:29] Fear not!
[00:47:30] Jesus is real.
[00:47:32] Fear not.
[00:47:33] His story is true.
[00:47:35] His humility is refreshing.
[00:47:37] And most importantly, His love is for you and me.
[00:47:43] His light is for you and me.
[00:47:45] Have you seen Christmas?
[00:47:49] You will if you look through the darkness to a manger in Bethlehem.
[00:47:59] Friends, this Christmas, please don't send Jesus on to the next place.
[00:48:05] Please don't shut the door on Him.
[00:48:10] Please allow the grace of God to open your heart even a little bit for the good news of Christmas to be born brand new in you this year, tonight, today.
[00:48:25] Because you can rest assured that the light of the world wants to be your hope and your joy and your peace.
[00:48:34] You can rest assured that the light of the world loves you completely just as you are.
[00:48:44] It is up to us to pull back the curtains of our hearts and to let Him in.
[00:48:53] The invitation
[00:48:54] is there and has been there since the very first Christmas.
[00:49:02] Will we make room so that when the world says, have you seen Christmas?
[00:49:13] We can all say, absolutely.
[00:49:18] Christmas was born in a manger.
[00:49:21] and the love of God came to be among us for you and for me so that we all might know his deep light and love in our darkest places.
[00:49:34] That is the best news you are ever gonna hear.
[00:49:39] The light of the world has come for you and for me.
[00:49:46] Come Lord Jesus.
[00:49:48] Merry Christmas.

[00:50:17] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
O come, all you unfaithful, come, weak and unstable, come, know you are not alone.
[00:50:34] O come, bearing and waiting, weary of praying, come,
[00:50:45] See what your God has done.
[00:50:52] Christ is born.
[00:50:56] Christ is born.
[00:51:01] Christ is born for you.
[00:51:11] O come, bitter and broken, come, with fears unspoken, come, taste of His perfect love O come, guilty and hiding ones, there is no need to run
[00:51:39] See what your God has done Christ is born Christ is born Christ is born for you He's the lamb that was given
[00:52:10] Slain for our pardon His promise is peace For those who believe He's the Lamb who was given Slain for our pardon His promise is peace
[00:52:37] For those who believe, so come Though you have nothing, come He is the offering, come See what your God has done Christ is born Christ is born
[00:53:07] Christ is born for you Christ is born Christ is born Christ is born for you

[00:53:37] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_13]:
Heaven and earth meet.
[00:53:40] Tonight a backyard shed is holy ground.
[00:53:44] Tonight strangers gather as family.
[00:53:47] And so we come here to the feast table of God as Christ invited friends.
[00:53:54] If you have been here often, if the memory of this table stretches back through all your Christmases, you are welcome.
[00:54:02] If you have been here rarely or never,
[00:54:06] If reverence for bread and juice is strange to you, you are welcome.
[00:54:12] If you have much faith or little, or wouldn't know where to begin even if you wanted to believe, you are welcome here.
[00:54:21] For Christ does not hold himself back from us, but boldly enters every heart.
[00:54:28] Christ welcomes you to this table.
[00:54:33] That is all you need to know.
[00:54:37] May we give thanks as we prepare to feast.
[00:54:44] Gracious and holy God, we thank you for this meal.
[00:54:47] We thank you for Jesus born in a manger, come to save.
[00:54:57] And we remember that night when he gave himself up for us.
[00:55:03] When he sat around the table with his friends and he took bread,
[00:55:07] He gave thanks to you and broke it.
[00:55:10] He gave it to them and said, Take and eat.
[00:55:12] This is my body which is given for you.
[00:55:14] Do this in remembrance of me.
[00:55:19] And when the supper was over, he took the cup.
[00:55:22] He gave thanks and shared it with his disciples and said, Take, drink from this all of you.
[00:55:28] For this is my blood of the new covenant poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins.
[00:55:35] Every time you drink it,
[00:55:37] Remember me God we come to this table tonight remembering and thankful and we ask that you would pour out your Holy Spirit on all who are gathered here and on these gifts of bread and cup that you would make them be for us the body and blood of Christ that we might be for the world the redeemed body of Christ until you come again to make all things complete
[00:56:07] Lord, be born in our hearts this day and every day until you come in final glory and we all feast at your heavenly banquet.
[00:56:21] We give you all the praise, all the glory and all the honor.
[00:56:26] Thank you, Lord, for coming to these unfaithful ones.
[00:56:34] We are so grateful.
[00:56:37] Amen.
[00:56:43] Christ is born and given for us.
[00:56:53] Thanks be to God.
[00:56:58] The cup of salvation is poured out for us.
[00:57:04] Thanks be to God.
[00:57:14] In the United Methodist Church, we practice open communion.
[00:57:19] That means if you are here, you are welcome.
[00:57:23] Jesus makes the invitation, and you are welcome at his table.
[00:57:28] We'll invite you to come in just a moment.
[00:57:31] You'll receive a piece of bread.
[00:57:32] Take that bread and dip it into the cup, and then take the bread and the juice together.
[00:57:38] If you have need of gluten-free elements, we will have those.
[00:57:42] They will be the first station on this side.
[00:57:46] Those who are serving, would you come?
[00:58:34] Come, let's feast.

[00:58:45] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
We all start on the outside The outside looking in This is where grace begins We were hungry, we were thirsty With nothing left to give
[00:59:04] Oh the shame that we were in Just when all seemed lost Love opened the door for us And said come to the table Come join us in it
[00:59:32] Who have been redeemed Take your place beside the Savior Sit down and be set free Come to the table
[01:00:02] Come meet this motley crew of misfits Liars and these thieves There's no one unwelcome here So that sin and shame that you brought with you You can leave it at the door And let mercy draw you near Just when all hope seemed lost
[01:00:34] Love opened the door for us He said come to the table Come join the sinners who have been redeemed Take your place beside the Savior Sit down and be set free
[01:01:03] Come to the table Come to the table To the thief and to the dove To the hero and the cow To the prisoner and the soldier To the young and to the old All who hunger, all who thirst
[01:01:32] All the last and all the first All the paupers and the princes All who failed you've been forgiven All who dream and all who suffer All who loved and lost another All the chained and all the free All who follow and all who leave Anyone who has been let down
[01:01:59] The lost you have been found You've been labeled right or wrong Anyone who hears this song Come to the table Come join the sinners You have been redeemed Take your place
[01:02:26] God the Savior, sit down and be set free.
[01:02:37] Sit down and be set free.
[01:02:41] Come to the table.
[01:02:49] Come to the table.
[01:02:57] Just when our hopes seemed lost Love opened the door for us Said come to the table Come join the sinners you have been redeemed Take your place beside
[01:03:27] Sit down and be set free.
[01:03:32] Come to the table.

[01:03:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Come to the table.
[01:03:52] Let's pray.

[01:04:19] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Let's pray.

[01:05:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_13]:
Communion always leaves a mess.
[01:06:01] I think there's a message right there.
[01:06:04] That that's the way our world is.
[01:06:07] And it's into that that this Holy Child comes to make things right and turn upside down, right side up.
[01:06:17] Thanks be to God.
[01:06:19] Let us pray.
[01:06:25] Gracious and Holy One,
[01:06:30] We are so grateful to be able to come to your table, to be filled by your grace, and to celebrate that you are always with us.
[01:06:51] May we take this holy meal and this whole experience of you in this place.
[01:07:01] Let that light be born in us and then let it shine through us to a world that's full of dark corners.
[01:07:11] But God, we stand on this hope that your light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it.
[01:07:21] We thank you for that.
[01:07:24] We thank you for the hope and the light that we have in Jesus.
[01:07:28] Amen.
[01:07:33] If you'll find your candles, it's that time.
[01:07:39] It's a beautiful, beautiful message to us that in a dark room one little light makes a lot of difference.
[01:07:56] So I want you to look around right now and see what the room looks like.
[01:08:02] And then I want you to look around in just a minute when we have all our candles lit.
[01:08:11] Would you stand?

[01:08:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Silent Night Holy Night All is calm
[01:09:07] All is right round the world in mother and child Holy infant so tender and mild
[01:09:30] Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in heavenly peace Silent night Holy night
[01:09:56] Shepherds pray at the sight Holy streams of heavenly love Heavenly hosts sing
[01:10:25] Christ the Savior is born Silent night
[01:10:48] Holy Night Son of God Love's pure light Radiant readings from thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming light

[01:11:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
[01:11:43] Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
[01:11:47] Sanctify them now.

[01:11:47] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Holy now.

[01:11:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Son of God, love's pure light Radiant beams from thy holy face There a dawn of redeeming grace

[01:12:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Now look around.

[01:12:37] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_13]:
Isn't it amazing what the light of Christ in just a few can do in a dark room?
[01:12:49] Imagine what the light of Christ can do in each one of you in a dark world.
[01:12:57] Make room and He will change your life forever.
[01:13:03] Merry Christmas!
[01:13:07] As you go from this place, don't go too quickly because outside there is hot chocolate and a place to gather and celebrate some more.
[01:13:17] May the light of Christ go with you now and forevermore.
[01:13:23] Thanks be to God.
[01:13:25] Amen.