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Christmas Celebration
Welcome (Kim): We gather on this special night to celebrate the birth of Jesus. He was born into a world of darkness and strife just like the world is today. It’s a night to remember that the struggles and darkness we may be experiencing in our own lives will not have the last word. Tonight, we remember that this babe is born to bring light and hope for each of us as individuals. We celebrate this child who grew into a person who came to understand that Divine Love is not restricted to certain religions, tribes, or individuals. These thousands of years later, it is for us to embrace that truth, that Love lives in each of us. We are daughters and sons of God and followers of Jesus, recognizing our call to cultivate love within ourselves and share this light with the world. On this dark and holy night let us welcome the birth of light.
Candle Lighting: (Lynn and Bernie) All light candles (one person lights candles on the Christmas wreath)
From “The Mood of Christmas…” by Howard Thurman
I will light Candles this Christmas,
Candles of joy despite all the sadness,
Candles of hope where despair keeps watch,
Candles of courage for fears ever present,
Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days,
Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens,
Candles of love to inspire all my living,
Candles that will burn all year long. Amen.
Transformation Rite: (Lynn and Bernie)
The One we awaited is already among us. Do we have the courage to see?
Most Tender Being, as you gift us with your constant presence, it is with Joy that we have begun to see that the One we have longed for is already with us, waiting for our
acceptance, hoping for our recognition.
ALL: Transform us, O Holy One!
Child of Wonder, open our hearts, as well as our eyes, to see the Wonder that you are as you enter into our lives with your tender compassion and gentle love
ALL: Transform us, O Holy One!
May we rejoice in your work in us and in our world, calling us to be your
living and abiding presence for one another and for our world, becoming messengers of hope and love, compassion and peace as we celebrate your living in us and among us. Amen.
Opening Song: Breath of Heaven by Mat & Savannah Shaw
Written by Amy Grant & Chris Eaton
https://youtu.be/Y6VGVXjGLBQ?si=ZjHWF7V6NdWP7Cz0
First Reading: (Suzanne) Excerpts from We Make the Road We are Walking by Brian McLaren
Many of us today will suspect that Luke made up this story about Mary to echo Isaiah’s prophecy about a son being born to a virgin, just as he invented the story of Elizabeth conceiving in old age to echo the story of Sarah. It’s tempting to quickly assign both stories to the category of primitive, prescientific legend and be done with them. After all, both stories are, to scientific minds, simply impossible.
But what if that’s the point? What if their purpose is to challenge us to blur the line between what we think is possible and what we think is impossible?
In this light, the actual point of these pregnancy stories—however we interpret their factual status—is a challenge to us all: to dare to hope, like Elizabeth and Mary, that the seemingly impossible is possible. They challenge us to align our lives around the “impossible possibilities” hidden in this present, pregnant moment.
In Luke’s telling of the birth of Jesus, God aligns with the creative feminine power of womanhood rather than the violent masculine power of statehood. The doctrine of the virgin birth, it turns out, isn’t about bypassing sex but about subverting violence. The violent power of top-down patriarchy is subverted not by counterviolence but by the creative power of pregnancy. It is through what proud men have considered “the weaker sex” that God’s true power enters and changes the world. That, it turns out, is exactly what Mary understood the messenger to be saying: God has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant… scattered the proud… brought down the powerful… lifted up the lowly… filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. (Luke 1:48, 51, 52, 53)
So, Mary presents herself to the Holy Spirit to receive and cooperate with God’s creative power. She surrenders and receives; she nurtures and gives her all… because she dares to believe the impossible is possible. Her son Jesus will consistently model her self-surrender and receptivity to God, and he will consistently prefer the insightful kindness of motherhood to the violent blindness of statehood.
So, as we celebrate Christmas, let us, in our own hearts, dare to believe the impossible by surrendering ourselves to God, courageously cooperating with God’s creative, pregnant power – in us, for us, and through us. If we do, then we, like Mary, will become pregnant with holy aliveness.
Second Reading: For Unto us a Child is Born| Handel’s Messiah|Re-imagined in Hebrew from the Tower of David
https://youtu.be/A7-lq53lLJY?si=OsejPh94WXu7ory3
Alleluia: Hallelujah Christmas Version
https://youtu.be/fAgCERXmG74?si=faWN8zqw3gCWM4Xj
Gospel : A reading from the anonymous Gospel writer known as Luke (2:1-20)
And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And 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 among those with whom he is pleased!”[d]
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as they had been told.
Homily Starter (Donna) & Sharing
Christmas Eve Homily Starter 2025
By Donna Panaro
Tonight, we hear in the gospel of Luke, “Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” Mary is pictured again in this state of pondering as this gospel repeats these words about her when the young boy, Jesus gets lost and is found in the temple. I think Mary seems to be experiencing with wonder and awe the true power her son models on earth. Jesus is born to demonstrate as McLaren says, “God’s creative pregnant power” that we over 2000 years later can experience and open our hearts to when we become his followers. In this gospel account of the birth of Jesus Mary is center stage while other women like Elizabeth and Anna are also highlighted. The only other birth narrative in the bible is found in the gospel of Matthew. The narrative in Matthew focuses on Joseph. There is a tradition that believes Mary was a source for the stories in Luke. I think this is important to consider because this supports McLaren’s point about this narrative. He says, “God aligns with the creative feminine power of womanhood rather than the violent masculine power of statehood.” To me the good news is we all have access to this power. This power that Jesus came to show us, gave us a different meaning of Messiah or King. This power shows us that we can bring about a kindom on earth that is in alignment with who God created us to be. We can choose power that creates and honors life. We can turn away from power that destroys life. When we do that the impossible becomes possible.
I had a conversation a few weeks ago with a wise woman that some of you know. I think what she shared with me illustrates the creative power we are talking about tonight. I was talking to Sybil Reynolds. She is the author of a book called Ink and Honey, founder of the Belle Coeur Sisterhood, a bishop in the women’s priest movement and is in my opinion a wise woman who understands this power that Jesus was here to model. Sybil was talking to me about what she did when her children were young and were misbehaving and fighting with each other. She did not say “Wait til your father gets home.” Instead, she said to them “I am getting out the candle and talking stick.” She said they would roll their eyes but surrender to this practice that she taught them to use to resolve their conflicts. Wouldn’t this be an amazing world if this practice was used more often?
This is why I love being part of the Upper Room. Our liturgies give space for the wisdom of the group to arise because we form a circle each week and pass a talking bowl. We are making the impossible possible because we courageously cooperate with God’s creative pregnant power. Another name for this power is Love. This is why we come together each year to celebrate the birth of Jesus who was born in the city of David, a Savior, Christ the Lord. Jesus saves us from destruction and death because he encourages us to put the Light in the center of our circles so that we can bring peace on earth and goodwill to all. “Holy aliveness” is found when we “surrender to God’s creative pregnant power-in us.” May we celebrate with wonder and awe, the things Mary treasured in her heart. May we accept and give the Christmas (that) is Waiting for Us. Christmas waits to be celebrated and experienced each time we make the impossible become possible, each time we keep the light of Love in the center of our circles and in the center of our hearts. Christmas is Love, a power that is unstoppable, unshakable and waits to be born in us today.
Statement of Faith
We believe in the Holy One, a divine mystery
beyond all definition and rational understanding,
the heart of all that has ever existed,
that exists now, or that ever will exist.
We believe in Jesus, messenger of the Divine Word,
bringer of healing, heart of Divine compassion,
bright star in the firmament of the Holy One's
prophets, mystics, and saints.
We believe that We are called to follow Jesus
as a vehicle of divine love,
a source of wisdom and truth,
and an instrument of peace in the world.
We believe in the Spirit of the Holy One,
the life that is our innermost life,
the breath moving in our being,
the depth living in each of us.
We believe that the Divine kin-dom is here and now,
stretched out all around us for those
with eyes to see it, hearts to receive it,
and hands to make it happen.
Prayers of the Community
(Connie) As we prepare for this sacred meal, we are aware that just as Jesus is anointed, so is each of us. As bearers of LIGHT and HOPE, we bring to this table our blessings, cares and concerns. Please feel free to voice your intentions beginning with the words, “I bring to the table…..”
We pray for these and all unspoken intentions. Amen.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Let us, with open hands, pray our Eucharistic Prayer.
O Sacred Mystery, Maker of all the universe, you brought forth all creation from your Life-giving Womb. O Love of the Ages, who was born from Mary’s womb, we praise you and leap for joy in your presence.
O Holy One of ancient Israel, You embrace us with infinite love in every situation and
relationship. You dwell in the depths of our hearts
We invite you this day to set us free, heal us, transform us and empower us as we gather
around the Table of your love. As we celebrate your sacred mystery, in our Creator’s loving embrace, we sing your praise:
Holy, Holy Holy: Music- John Bacchus Dykes, words by Peter Mayer, Video by Denise Hackert-Stoner
https://youtu.be/A4kiEGVb3E8?si=13A6mYbjOuhwwG8-
Praise to you, all-giving Child, born of Mary. You are the body and blood of woman. We glorify you, our Creator, for the dawning of the sacred promise of the Anointed One, fulfilled in Jesus, the Christ.
We celebrate the birth of Jesus, our newborn Emmanuel who came to give us fullness of life. During this holy season we share the bread of freedom and lift the cup, the new wineskin of compassion.
We now call the Spirit of the Living God upon the gifts of this Eucharistic Table.
May the bread of the grain, and vine of the grape, become the nourishment we long for,
nurturing afresh within us the discerning gifts of wisdom, light and truth.
As Jesus gave birth to the New Covenant, he took bread, gave thanks,
broke the bread, and shared it with all those present saying:
Take and eat, the bread of life for all who hunger for peace and justice.
(pause)
Jesus then raised the cup of blessing, and spoke the grace saying:
Take and drink the Cup of Compassion for a broken world.
Whenever you remember me like this, I am among you.
(pause)
This is the bread of life and the cup of blessing. Through it we are
nourished and we nourish each other.
What we have heard with our ears, we will live with our lives;
as we share communion, we will become communion,
both Love’s nourishment and Love’s challenge.
Please receive the bread and cup with the words, you are the Body of Christ.
Communion Meditation Song: O Holy Night sung by Dennis McDonald
Post-Communion Prayer
As we wait with joyful hearts for the fulfillment of your birthing power in our own lives,
we remember the prophets, martyrs, saints and mystics who have gone before us,
and all those we remember as heroes in our church who inspire us today, both living and dead.
Embrace us in our brokenness and help us celebrate Christ’s birth in our lives.
Impregnate the people of God with the power of a Spirit-filled community of faith.
May your Spirit birth a new world of peace and justice.
May everyone feel accepted and welcome in our community.
May we give birth to the Word Made Flesh in us every day of our lives.
May we give birth to the church of our dreams and hopes.
May we give birth to a deep reverence for earth, and live in harmony with
all creatures.
For it is through learning to live as Jesus lived,
and why he lived,
and for whom he lived,
that we awaken to your Spirit within,
moving us to worship you truly,
O Holy Life-Giver,
at this time and all time and in all ways. Amen!
Let us pray together the Prayer of Jesus:
O Holy One, you are within, around and among us.
We celebrate your many names.
Your wisdom come, your will be done,
unfolding from the depths within us.
Each day you give us all that we need.
You remind us of our limits, and we let go.
You support us in our power, and we act with courage.
For you are the dwelling place within us,
the empowerment around us,
and the celebration among us,
now and forever. Amen. (Sr. Miriam Therese Winter)
Blessing
(Kathie) Let us raise our hands in blessing as we go forth to bring glad tidings to the world.
As we depart this place,
May we carry with us the wonder
Of a God who chose vulnerability,
Who walked among us in simplicity.
May we walk the roads of our world
With tender hearts,
Caring for the Vulnerable,
Standing with the lonely,
Seeking justice and mercy for all.
May the light of Christmas-God with
Us-
Go before you, behind you, beside you,
And may the blessing of hope, peace,
Joy, and love rest upon you now and
Always. Amen
(adapted from SALT project)
Closing Song: Christmas is Waiting for Us by Dave Debonis, vocalist Chris Cron
https://youtu.be/rwOQJPHZKMA?si=LDgXmOVDbtMJVmFA
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