My thanks to the people of the Unitarian Music Society, who put together the CD of Unitarian Christmas Carols I’ve used for this service…
Opening Words by Sydney Wylde-Nugent (adapted)
We are here this Christmas time to be together,
To feel the warmth of human bodies –
A reassurance against the cold of this winter day.
We come to fill our eyes with the light of candles,
To fill our ears with the sounds of music,
To fill our hearts with the wonder of new hope –
Hope for the love of one another,
Hope for peace on earth with good will toward all.
Chalice Lighting: (words by Richard M. Fewkes, after Howard Thurman)
Let us light the Christmas candles we hold so dear –
A candle of joy wherein sadness disappears [light first candle]
A candle of hope where despair hangs heavy with tears, [light second candle]
A candle of courage to lighten all our fears, [light third candle]
A candle of peace to calm the tempest of the years, [light fourth candle]
A candle of love to ease the burden of our cares, [light chalice candle]
Candles to enflame the heart with the grace
And radiance of Christmas comfort and cheer.
Opening Prayer
O God, it is so easy to let our minds run up and down lists, wondering who we have forgotten; by your grace let it not be you.
Help us to look through the glitter and noise to what the coming of Jesus should really mean. Giving is much praised at this time, but let us be prepared to take also. To take to heart the great messages that Jesus came to deliver –“seek ye first the kingdom of God, do wrong to no-one; love not only your neighbour but those you think of as enemies, pray without ceasing”. Grant us some share in the spirit that was in Jesus that we may gladly obey these words and count ourselves truly your children.
Amen
First Carol: 82 People Look East
First Reading: from the Gospel of Luke, 1: 26-35
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin, espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And the angel said to her “Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou amongst women”.
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. The angel said unto her “Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favour with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive and bring forth a son and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”
Then said Mary unto the angel “How shall this be, seeing that I know not a man?” And the angel answered and said unto her “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore the holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God”.
Moreover, your kinswoman Elizabeth has herself conceived a son in her old age.
Reflection: (words by Sue Woolley and A Powell Davies)
Mary showed great bravery when she heard what the angel had to say. Let us pray, using the words of A. Powell Davies:
Help us to be brave enough for life and love, and guide us in our search through doubt and darkness until we find the faith which knows no place or season – until we learn at last that although the very stars may wander, there is that within us which need never lose its way. Amen
Second Carol: 93 Ding Dong Merrily on High
Second Reading: The Magnificat from the Gospel of Luke, 1: 46-53
And Mary said ‘My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit doth rejoice in God my Saviour; for he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed, for he that is mighty hath done great things and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations. He hath shown strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things and the rich he hath sent empty away.
Reflection: (words by Sue Woolley and Michael A. Schuler)
In the beautiful words of The Magnificat, Mary put herself into God’s hands, showing great faith. Let us also pray for faith:
Lord of all being, the longer I walk upon this great green earth the less do I understand my purpose in being here; the less am I able to fathom the reason of my birth and span of life.
But strange though it seems, the task of finding solutions to the riddle of me and the mystery of you seems less urgent these days. It’s not that the question has lost significance, but that slowly I am learning to have faith—faith that if I live my life intently, reverently, self-consciously, moment by moment, your universe will slowly unveil itself, in its own good time.
And so I do not force the issue—and so within life’s splendour I am at peace. Amen.
Third Carol: 95 O Come All Ye Faithful
Third Reading: from the Gospel of Matthew, 1: 18-25
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise –When his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph, her husband, being a just man and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
But while he thought on these things, behold the angel of the lord appeared to him in a dream, saying “Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. She shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for he shall save his people from their sins.
Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel bid, and took unto him his wife.
Reflection: (words by Sue Woolley and Rebecca Parker)
Joseph also had great faith. Let us pray, using the words of Rebecca Parker:
We remember Joseph,
Unexpectant father,
Who embraced the baby as his own
Believing that every child has a God-given entitlement to love and care.
May we too, stand by the women and children of this world
When patriarchal privilege and power threaten their freedom
And put their well-being at risk.
Amen
Fourth Carol: 85 O Little Town of Bethlehem
Fourth Reading: from the Gospel of Luke, 2: 1-7
And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed, and all went to be taxed, everyone to his own city.
And Joseph also went, out the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, to be taxed with his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Reflection: (words by Sue Woolley and Rebecca Parker)
After their long journey, Mary must have been exhausted. But also overjoyed, that her time had finally come. Let us pray, using the words of Rebecca Parker:
We remember Mary,
Birth-mother of a revolutionary prophet
The fetus in her womb a surprise,
Her choice a decision to magnify her hope,
The birth difficult,
Attended by a beautiful diversity of animals,
And a rag-tag gathering of vulnerable people.
May we too, kneel at the cradle of earth’s dreams for peace
And dedicate ourselves to revolutionary love.
Amen
Fifth Carol: 91 It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
Fifth Reading: Christmas always begins at midnight by A. Powell Davies
In legend upon legend and story after story, Christmas begins, not with daybreak and the coming of the morning – but at midnight.
It was in the darkest hours of the night, not in the glow of the rising sun, that the shepherds of the legend heard the angels sing. And the three wise men were guided, not by the sun but by a star.
Yes, in the darkest hour there is the brightest hope; and at midnight – the sound of carolling!
Brotherhood – we betray it, but we cannot forsake it.
Love – we disown it but we cannot renounce it.
And the Dream? Even in the hour of treason, it reclaims us.
For we know that sometime there will be a world in which man’s inhumanity to man is ended. There shall be such a world because there is a song that sings it at midnight, and because, when daylight has put away its busyness, in the quiet hours after the sun has set, we may catch an echo.
Reflection: by A. Powell Davies
Let us open our hearts to Christmas. Open them to all the hope of good that stands against a world that wastes with evil things; open them wide enough for gentleness in a world that is bitter and harsh; for beauty in a world that is desolate; for love in a world that has become sad and soulless; for faith and its joy and the song of its joy, that sings at midnight, in the presence of God. Amen
Sixth Carol: 84 While Shepherds Watched
Sixth Reading: from the Gospel of Luke, 2: 8-16
And there was in the same country, shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo! the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone all about them and they were sore afraid.
The angel said unto them Fear not; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying Glory to God in the Highest and on Earth peace, goodwill toward men.
When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said, one to another Let us go now even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known to us.
And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph; and the child lying in a manger.
Reflection: (words by Sue Woolley and Rebecca Parker)
I wonder how we would have felt, if we had been visited by angels, sharing such exciting news. Let us pray, using the words of Rebecca Parker.
We remember the Angels
Singing in a cold night to the over-taxed poor,
Promising peace and goodwill to all.
May we echo their song in acts of solidarity and justice
For all souls—refugee souls, green souls, disabled souls,
Black souls, young souls, transgender souls.
May we join the bold, holy movement
To bring heaven to earth.
May the Morning Star brighten our hope for a new day,
And may laughter strengthen all our prayers. Amen.
Seventh Carol: 92 The First Nowell
Seventh Reading: from the Gospel of Matthew, 2: 1-11
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the days of Herod the king, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he that is born king of the Jews, for we have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him?”
Now when Herod the king heard these things, he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
And they said unto him, in Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophets, and thou, Bethlehem, in the land of Judea, art not least among the princes of Judah, for out of thee shall come a Governor that shall rule my people Israel.
Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently at what time the star appeared, and he sent them to Bethlehem and said “Go and search diligently for the young child and when you have found him, bring me word again that I may come and worship him also.”
When they had heard the king, they departed; and lo! The star which they saw in the east went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him.
When they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts, gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
Reflection: (words by Sue Woolley and Rebecca Parker)
I have always liked the Three Wise Men, the Magi, because they, like us, were seekers. Let us pray, using the words of Rebecca Parker:
We remember the Magi,
Observers of stars,
Evidence-based seekers
Who found their way to kneel before a baby.
May we, too, kneel before life’s intricate mysteries
Following the path of science-based searchers for truth.
Amen
Eighth Carol: 87 In the Bleak Midwinter
Eighth Reading: Christmas comes, whether you’re ready or not by Cynthia Frado
There is something compelling about the fact that Christmas comes, no matter what. The celebration of the birth of Jesus comes, no matter the season of your heart. The Prince of Peace, the baby that would bring a message of universal equality, compassion, forgiveness, and love is reborn again and again and again, no matter our state-of-mind or being…indeed, in spite of it. Perhaps that is the real miracle of the season, that hope and possibility cannot be denied.
As I contemplate the state of the world at this moment in time, I cannot think of anything more needed than a reminder of our potential to bring peace and healing and possibility into our lives. We don’t always feel it or see it or think it is there. But then there comes Christmas, even when we aren’t ready to receive it. A reminder that no matter what season of the heart that we are in, no matter what struggles or grief are consuming us, Christmas will not let us forget the light that was born in us…even on the darkest night of our souls.
So, even if you can’t deal with all the razzle, dazzle, and expense of this holiday, at the very least open the Inn door and prepare the manger of your heart for the gentle but powerful message that is seeking to be reborn in you. Never forget that you are a child of the Universe, and where there is life, there is light and love and hope waiting to be reborn, again and again and again. So turn on some twinkling lights, pour yourself a glass of eggnog (or not), and wait for that angel chorus to announce your heart’s rebirth.
Reflection: (words by Lisa Doege)
Holy Unnamable One, Wholly Unknowable One,
Again we have read the story. Again we have sung the tale. Again we wonder at our place in it. Is it ours to tell? How can it be ours to live?
Move in our hearts, we pray, that when the voices of angels, the sigh of winter wind, the sounding of bell or harp or children’s song bear Your messages into the world, we might hear and heed and believe.
Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.
Each of us, a favoured one. Life is with us—the folks next door, drivers, farmers, moms and dads, teachers, aunts and uncles and cousins, bankers, chefs, students, healers, handymen, retirees and volunteers. Plant in us belief.
Fear not!
Though strange happenings unfold. Though death is real. Though war ravages nations and rends hearts and families. Though tyrants reign. Though injustice seems omnipresent and intractable. Though our very earth ails. Fear not, the final act has not yet been played. Tend in us belief.
For see, I am bringing glad tidings of great joy.
The final act is even now being written anew. Courageous souls disrupt complacency in the service of justice. Awareness flares and swells. Hearts break open. The people learn another way and tend the earth and one another with loving care. Spark in us belief.
Unto you…
Even unto us—broken, sinful, crabby, uncertain us. Even unto us—prideful, angry, self-satisfied us. Even unto us—privileged, struggling, lost us. Even unto us—making it through, doing our best, more blessed than most us. Fan in us belief.
Is born this day…
Not long ago and far away. Not once upon a time, remembered, storied but no longer. Not in distant days to come. This day—this 21st century day, in December, in this place. This day—on which we have woken one more time, to live the lives given us and grow in love and bless the world with our being. Awaken in us belief.
A Saviour.
Each child born a saviour. Each of us reborn a saviour. Knowing not how or when or why we will save the world, yet born each day to do so in some way possible only through our life. Stir in us belief.
[silence]
And so, may we ourselves become the voice of angels, the sigh of the winter’s wind, the sounding of bell or harp or children’s song, proclaiming now and forever, Your message to all lands and all peoples: “Peace on Earth!”
Amen.
Ninth Carol: 96 Joy to the World
Ninth Reading: G is for Christmas by Ann Latham
I saw the words ‘G is for Christmas’ and thought that someone had made a printing error. But no, “Gee” was the expression of a young American boy when he first saw the Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square all glittering with its Christmas splendour..
Then I thought –G is not such a bad Christmas letter –after all, G is for God.
And for Glad Tidings of Great joy, for the Glory of the Lord. It is for Giving, such an essential part of Christmas, and not just material Gifts, but friendship and love.
It is the start of Gratitude, of Guidance and of all things Good.
May these things be part of your Christmas and be with you throughout the New Year.
Reflection: Now the Work of Christmas Begins by Howard Thurman
When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with their flocks,
the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal the broken,
to feed the hungry,
to release the prisoner,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among the people,
to make music in the heart.
Vesper: 88 Silent Night
Benediction: (words by Maureen Killoran, adapted)
Today in this community,
we have shared stories, sung carols,
opened our hearts to the beauty of music.
Today we have turned to one another,
sharing the wonder that is Christmas.
Today we have dared to hear a message of hope
spoken once again against the challenge of the world.
It is time now to depart,
to go forward, to our lives and to the world.
May joy be your companion,
whether you are with others or alone.
May love be your strength,
and may the gift of community dwell in your heart,
for here, in this place, you will be welcome always,
whenever you choose, whenever you need.
Amen