Blue Christmas

A service of hope for the holidays

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church December 10, 2017 6:00 pm

The Rt. Rev. Larry Benfield, Bishop The Rev. Hannah Hooker, Curate

www.StMarksJonesboro.org

Welcome Visitors

We are glad that you are visiting St. Mark’s tonight. Please fill out a visitor card in the back of the pew if you wish to let us know you are here or if you desire to be contacted by the clergy. Whether you're a long time church-goer or new to the tradition, you are welcome here.

Please join us for any of our holiday services:

Christmas Eve 5:00 pm Choral Eucharist with children’s pageant Christmas Eve 10:00 pm Musical Prelude followed by 10:30 pm Festival Eucharist with choir and brass

December 31, 7:00 pm Watch Night Service

The people standing, the Officiant says:

Officiant: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All: The Word became flesh and lived among us, full of grace and truth, and we have seen his glory. Officiant: What came to be through God was life, and this life was the light of the world. All: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never been able to extinguish it.

The advent wreath is lighted

Welcome to this “Longest Night” service. “The name comes from the season - in just a few days, we will experience the shortest day and the longest night of the year. But the name also applies to the feeling that a number of us have about this time of year. It is the “ of the soul,” “the winter of our discontent,” in which memories of past experiences and the pain of present experiences can become overwhelming.

For some, Christmas Day is the most difficult. For others, Christmas Eve, or New Year’s Eve, or New Year’s Day, the beginning of another lonely year. In this service, we will sing some seasonal carols, recognizing that this is not necessarily a season of joy. We will invite you to meditate on the pain and anguish you may bring with you tonight, and to offer your pain to the Christ child. We believe that you may find hope and comfort in knowing that you are not alone.

Prayer of Confession and Intercession God, we come to you on this Christmas season, with deep pain inside us. As the nights grow longer, so the darkness wraps itself around us. And so we offer to you the pain in our hearts, the trauma that we might not be able to put into words. The memories of what was, the fears of what may be, stifle us. All around us we hear the sounds of celebration, see the images of happy families, are told to buy the perfect present for those we love. But some of us have nothing we can give, and some of us have no one to give anything to. This is our longest night, Lord. Please be near us. We ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Silence

The people are seated.

THE WORD OF GOD

The First Lesson Luke 2:1-7 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirin′i-us was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Officiant: Jesus himself was , an outsider, a refugee. This story offers hope for all of those who have no one to invite them in. It reminds us that in God’s divine order, no one is excluded; all are invited. We light this candle for those who are homeless, who have been rejected, and those who do not feel welcome in this world.

All: We remember that through You all things are possible. Refresh, restore, renew us, O God, and lead us into the world You would have for us. The first candle is lit

Officiant: Lord Jesus, let those who are far from home, those who are strangers, feel how truly they belong in your company. Amen.

The Second Lesson 2 Samuel 18:31-33 Then the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, “Good tidings for my lord the king! For the LORD has vindicated you this day, delivering you from the power of all who rose up against you.” The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” The Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up to do you harm, be like that young man.” The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!”

Officiant: We light this candle to remember those whom we have loved and lost. We pause to remember clearly, their faces, their voices, their bodies. We embrace and give thanks for the memories that bind them to us in this season of expectation, when all Creation waits for the Light.

All: We remember them with love. May God's eternal love surround them.

The second candle is lit

Officiant: Dear God, you suffered when your Child died. In your compassion, ease our suffering. Amen.

The Third Lesson Psalm 22:1-11 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but thou dost not answer; and by night, but find no rest. 3 Yet thou art holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4 In thee our fathers trusted; they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. 5 To thee they cried, and were saved; in thee they trusted, and were not disappointed. 6 But I am a worm, and no man; scorned by men, and despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock at me, they make mouths at me, they wag their heads;

8 “He committed his cause to the LORD; let him deliver him, let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” 9 Yet thou art he who took me from the womb; thou didst keep me safe upon my mother’s breasts. 10 Upon thee was I cast from my birth, and since my mother bore me thou hast been my God. 11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near and there is none to help.

Officiant: We light this candle for those who are afraid. For those who are confused, who are angry, for those who wonder if God is really there. Even Jesus knew the feelings of being abandoned by his God, his Father, of being left alone in darkness.

All: We remember that the story did not end with the abandoned Child on the cross. His resurrection brings light and salvation to us all.

The third candle is lit

Officiant: Spirit of God, be our candle in the darkness, lighting the way when we feel abandoned, forsaken, and forgotten. Help us to remember that this is not the end of our story. Amen.

The Fourth Lesson Matthew 5:1-11 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Officiant: In the Beautitudes, Jesus calls out to each of us who suffer in our own way. He knows our hunger, our thirst, our tears, the cages that imprison us, and he offers a promise of something different. We light this candle for those whose lives are not what they hope for, and for those whose yearning and suffering cannot be named.

All: We remember the special place in God’s heart for the poor and marginalized. We hold on to the good news of God’s promises.

The fourth candle is lit

Officiant: Lord Jesus, bring warmth and light to those who hunger and thirst, to those who weep, to those whose faith is shaken, and to those in prison. Amen.

The Fifth Lesson Matthew 11:28-29 At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Officiant: When burdens are piled on top of other burdens, the load can crush us. In his promise, Jesus offers us help to carry our burdens and responsibilities. We light this candle for those who feel overwhelmed by the weight of their world.

All: We remember the One who shares our burdens, who shows us the way to the Light, and who journeys with us through every trial.

The fifth candle is lit

Officiant: Merciful God, help us to carry our burdens, and to lift us up when we stumble and fall, that we might feel your strength and our loads be lightened. Amen.

All stand

The Prayers of the People Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Heavenly Father, giver of life and health: Comfort and relieve your sick servants, and give your power of healing to those who minister to their needs, that those for whom our prayers are offered may be strengthened in their weakness and have confidence in your loving care; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Lord Jesus, for our sake you were condemned as a criminal: Visit our jails and prisons with your pity and judgment.

Remember all prisoners, and bring the guilty to repentance and amendment of life according to your will, and give them hope for their future. When any are held unjustly, bring them release; forgive us, and teach us to improve our justice. Remember those who work in these institutions; keep them humane and compassionate; and save them from becoming brutal or callous. And since what we do for those in prison, O Lord, we do for you, constrain us to improve their lot. All this we ask for your mercy's sake. Amen.

Almighty God, whose Son had nowhere to lay his head: Grant that those who live alone may not be lonely in their solitude, but that, following in his steps, they may find fulfillment in loving you and their neighbors; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O blessed Lord, you ministered to all who came to you: Look with compassion upon all who through addiction have lost their health and freedom. Restore to them the assurance of your unfailing mercy; remove from them the fears that beset them; strengthen them in the work of their recovery; and to those who care for them, give patient understanding and persevering love. Amen.

The people kneel

We invite you at this time to come forward as you wish to light a candle in remembrance of a loved one, or as a prayer request for yourself or others in need.

Concluding prayers

Officiant: Let us pray.

All: Another day will come, O God. I know not what it may bring, but make me ready, God, for whatever it may be. If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely. If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly. If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently. And if I am to do nothing, help me do it gallantly. Make these words more than words, and give me the Spirit of thy Peace. Amen.

Officiant: O God, support us all the day long in this troubled life, until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then Lord, in thy mercy, grant us safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last. Amen.

At the conclusion of the service, you may remain as long as you wish for private prayer.

The Episcopal Church welcomes you!

531 W College Ave., Jonesboro, AR 72401 (870) 932-2124 www.StMarksJonesboro.org