WORSHIP—THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE

☙  THE LONGEST NIGHT  ☩  BLUE CHRISTMAS  ❧ Winter Solstice December 21, 2022 Blue Christmas, or Longest Night, is a service of worship designed for people suffering with pain, loss, isolation and grief in the Advent season. On this night, or anytime this service is presented, we remember those for whom the holidays are not joyful; they are lonely, in mourning, feeling alienated and cast apart from family celebrations; they are experiencing depression and sadness and yet are often compelled to "put on a happy face" for others, denying their true feelings. The service being held on December 21, the “longest night” of the year. SONG—"O Little Town Of Bethlehem" by Loren Mulraine (Click Here) Daylight turns to night.       Night turns to daylight. Day after day the great reversal continues.       Light to darkness. Darknesss to light. But today the darkness is greater. The night is longer.       We know that this night will turn to day.       We have that promise and the promise is certain. The Sun shall rise with healing in its wings.       And we shall once again know day. Mourning may tarry throught the night.       But dancing comes with the morning. Your compassion for us overflows, O God. We are facing our longest night. We come burdened with sorrow, loneliness, and sadness. We come seeking a place to set them down; a place where our words will be heard and our feelings honored. We need a place where we can drop our masks of good cheer so our tears can flow freely and our faces can wear the cares of all that we are carrying. Be among us this night, O God. Let your compassion heal us in this moment. Comfort us. Strengthen us. Care for us. Be Christ to us, O Holy One. Amen. SONG—"Comfort, Comfort O My People" by Magis Media (Click Here) Isaiah 9 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined. Isaiah 60 1 Arise, shine, for your light has come,     and the glory of the Holy One has risen upon you. 2 For darkness shall cover the earth     and thick darkness the peoples,       but the Holy One will arise upon you,     and his glory will appear over you. 3 Nations shall come to your light     and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Psalm 139 7 Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and night wraps itself around me,” 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you. John 1 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2 The Word was in the beginning with God.  3 All things came into being through the Word, and without the Word not one thing came into being.  4 What has come into being  in the Word was life, and the life was the light of all people.  5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it. Romans 8:38-39 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus the Holy One. SONG—"Star-Child" by David Haas (Click Here) In the spirit of this season let us now confidently ask God for all the things we need. For ourselves as we participate in whatever way we can this Christmas. God, hear our prayer: And in your mercy answer. For our families and friends that they may continue to help and support us. God, hear our prayer: And in your mercy answer. For the person we have loved that has died. For all the losses that we know, that all may be redeemed by your Easter promise. God, hear our prayer: And in your mercy answer. For all our family and friends that they may know love and peace and happiness in you. God, hear our prayer: And in your mercy answer. For the peace proclaimed by the angels on the first Christmas, to come throughout the whole world. God, hear our prayer: And in your mercy answer. And in your mercy answer. God of great compassion and love, listen to the prayers of us, your people. Grant to all, especially the bereaved and troubled this Christmas, and to those who cannot yet admit the hurt they feel, the blessing we ask in the name of Christ the Holy One. SONG—"I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry" by St. Olaf Choir (Click Here) Generous and gracious God, we look to you for compassion and thank you for your presence this night. Overwhelmed by our burdens we easily forget that you never leave us alone and that your steadfast love for us never falters. By coming together we find assurance and comfort that we do not suffer this longest night alone. You have given us strength to live through this night. Turn us to reach out to those whose night is also long. Grant that we may be your healing presence in their lives by bringing them your compassion and comfort that will assure them that they do not suffer alone. Amen. SONG—"Lullaby" by Christopher Grundy (Click Here)