Sunday, December 27, 2020 - Celebration & Loss
Theme - Living In Between: Celebration & Loss
Prayer
Luke 2:25-27 Common English Bible Translation
A man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. He was righteous and devout. He eagerly anticipated the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. The Holy Spirit revealed to him that he wouldn’t die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple area. Meanwhile, Jesus’ parents brough the child to the temple so that they could do what was customary under the Law. (Question: What are some things you want to accomplish in your life?)
Luke 2:28-32
Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God. He said, “Now, master, let your servant go in peace according to your word, because my eyes have seen your salvation. You prepared this salvation in the presence of all peoples. It’s a light for revelation to the Gentiles and a glory for your people Israel.” (Question: What are things that help you find peace?)
Luke 2:33-35
His father and mother were amazed by what was said about him. Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “This boy is assigned to the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that generates opposition so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your innermost being too.” (Question: Have you ever had a moment of celebration and pain?)
Luke 2:36-37
There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, who belonged to the tribe of Asher. She was very old. After she married, she lived with her husband for seven years. She was now an 84-year-old widow. She never left the temple area but worshipped God with fasting and prayer night and day. (Question: What are practices that keep you centered?)
Luke 2:38
She approached at that very moment and began to praise God and to speak about Jesus to everyone who was looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. (Question: How do you celebrate in the midst of confusion?)
Prayers of the People and 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 sins, as we forgive those who sin against us;
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom and the power
and the glory, forever. Amen
Blessing
Song List (to listen to from wherever you get your music)
Still, Still, Still – 124 GTG
Good Christian Friends, Rejoice – 132 GTG
O Come, All Ye Faithful – 133 GTG
The First Nowell – 147 GTG
We Three Kings of Orient Are – 151 GTG
Quotes by Jürgen Moltmann
“Joy is the meaning of human life. Human beings were created in order to have joy in God. They are born in order to have joy in life. This means that the frequent questions – What am I here for? Am I of any use? Can I make myself of any use? – lose their point. There is no purpose and no utilitarian goal for which human life is required. There are no ethical goals or ideal aims with which human life has to justify itself. Life itself is good. Existence is beautiful and to be here is glorious. We live in order to live.”
“If a life is led in the light of Christ’s resurrection, we can recognize that there the power of death has been broken, and the powers of death have lost their rights over us. In the wonder of the resurrection a life becomes new. It is no longer a life leading to death; it is a life leading to the fullness that God has promised.”
Quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“By kindly powers protected wonderfully, confident, we wait for come what may. Night and morning, God is by us, faithfully and surely at each new born day.”
Quote by Walter Brueggemann
“We have so much relinquishing to do in order to come to God’s goodness. It is in relinquishing to God’s goodness that we come to gospel freedom. That relinquishing takes the form of open-handedness, and honesty, and joyousness, ready to live the good news fully.”
Quote by Marcus Borg
“To be saved is to be delivered/rescued from that which ails us. Salvation is also about more than deliverance and rescue: to be saved is to enter into a new kind of life – a life covenanted with God, the central theme of both the Old and New Testaments. Salvation is about deliverance and transformation.”