The Worship of God at Myers Park Baptist Church Charlotte, North Carolina

The First Sunday of Christmastide Jazz in the Round

29 December 2019 Inspired by the bold and boundless hospitality of , we are “open to all,” which means we welcome and accept all people into the life of our Church without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, age, economic status, political affiliation, physical or mental capacity, or religious belief. We believe that God’s call is given to all people, and we embrace the Spirit that continues to cross boundaries in order to unite the world.

Childcare is available for children ages birth to four years. Please meet our childcare staff at the rugs.

GATHERING

Silent Meditation “It is impossible to survey all of the numerous draconic figures in pagan literature. Certain characteristics are shared by these draconic creatures: the desire for kingship, the association with the forces of chaos, and a vicious and evil countenance….When the author of Revelation introduces a violent, seven-headed dragon to his readers, he did so to create a sober awareness that their opposition was legendary. In fact, the troubles which they faced were the result of an age-old cosmic battle which would ultimately end in their favor. But they persevere, confident that ‘the God of peace will soon crush Satan,’ the dragon, under their feet (Rom. 16:20).” -Ivan M. Benson, Revelation 12 and the Dragon of Antiquity

“Revelation 12 does not completely preclude the equation of the woman with Mary. For instance, the persecution of the woman and her child reminds one of the fleeing into Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod. …However, the author of Revelation probably does not intend for the woman in chapter 12 to be equated primarily with the biological mother of Jesus [as] the events…do not fit what happened at .” -Joy A. Schroeder, Revelation 12: Female Figures and Figures of Evil

“We are , We are God’s hands To care for one another in these worn torn lands. We are Christmas, the love that we share, Will carry one another ‘til we understand, We are Christmas.” -Excerpt from We Are Christmas, by Sarah Stephens and Kevin Johnson, Spelman Glee Club

Gathering Song “Mary’s Little Boy Child” Jester Hairston (1901-2000) Long time ago in Bethlehem so the holy Bible say Mary's boy child Jesus Christ was born on Christmas day.

Hark now hear the angels sing a new king's born today and man will live forevermore because of Christmas day.

While shepherds watch their flock by night they saw a bright new shining star and heard a choir from Heaven sing the music came from afar.

Hark now hear the angels sing a new king's born today and man will live forevermore because of Christmas day.

Now Joseph and his wife Mary came to Bethlehem that night; they found no place to bear her child, not a single room was in sight.

By and by they find a little nook In a stable all forlorn and in a manger cold and dark Mary's little boy child was born.

Trumpets sound and angels sing listen what they say that man will live forevermore because of Christmas day.

2 Call to Worship Mia M. McClain Leader: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you.

*Opening Sentences Leader: We come to glorify God, to rejoice in the One who saves us. People: God came, so we might believe, so we might be blessed. Leader: Our hearts leap for joy! For God came, to us in a child. People: God came, for those who hunger for hope, for those who thirst for grace. Leader: Holy is the One who came, in God's name, who fulfills every promise of God. People: God came, to walk with those who follow in faith, to bring peace to a shattered world.

*Opening Song “O Come All Ye Faithful” ADESTE FIDELES O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem! Come and behold him, born the king of angels! O come, let us adore him, O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning, Jesus, to thee be all glory given; word of the Father, now in flesh appearing! O come, let us adore him, O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation! Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest! O come, let us adore him, O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

*Prayer of Invocation

CONFESSING AND RECEIVING FORGIVENESS Invitation to Silent Confession Dr. Matt Caine

Prayer of Confession Holy God, we know that the blank slate of a new year seems so promising; and we know that the blank slate of a new year is also an illusion. Time continues, and our lives flow from one day to the next, from one year to the next. In this time, we know we are sometimes loving and generous, bearing light to the shadows, and we know we are sometimes less than what we wish we were. We invite you on our journeys, O God. We seek your presence with us in both the darkness and the light. In our better moments and those where we fall short, we seek your presence, always. Amen. 3 Assurance of Forgiveness Leader: Friends, hear this good news. Truly, God can do what we cannot. People: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and set free.

*Passing of the Peace

Children ages 3 through 6 may leave with childcare staff and be picked up in Room 108 following worship. Children in 1st - 5th grades will be remain in worship today. Welcome of our Guests If you are our guest today, please text “guest” to 474747 or fill out a guest card and place it in the offering plate during worship as your gift to us.

HEARING AND PROCLAIMING THE WORD Reading - Revelation 12:1-17 (NRSV) Rev. Debra L. Grosch A great portent appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pangs, in the agony of giving birth. Then another portent appeared in heaven: a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born. And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. But her child was snatched away and taken to God and to his throne; and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, so that there she can be nourished for one thousand two hundred sixty days.

And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, proclaiming, "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Messiah, for the accuser of our comrades has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. But they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not cling to life even in the face of death. Rejoice then, you heavens and those who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you with great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!"

So when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle, so that she could fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to her place where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. Then from his mouth the serpent poured water like a river after the woman, to sweep her away with the flood. But the earth came to the help of the woman; it opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus.

4 Leader: For the Word of God in scripture, for the Word of God among us, for the Word of God within us. People: Thanks be to God.

*Congregational Song “Angels We Have Heard on High” GLORIA Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains, and the mountains in reply, echoing their joyous strains. Gloria, in excelsis Deo; gloria, in excelsis Deo.

Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heavenly song? Gloria, in excelsis Deo; gloria, in excelsis Deo.

Come to Bethlehem and see him whose birth the angels sing; come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn king. Gloria, in excelsis Deo; gloria, in excelsis Deo.

See him in a manger laid, whom the choirs of angels praise; Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, while our hearts in love we raise. Gloria, in excelsis Deo; gloria, in excelsis Deo.

Sermon Mia M. McClain “The Year of the Dragon”

Musical Reflection “Mary Don’t You Weep” AFRICAN-AMERICAN SPIRITUAL Oh Mary, don't you weep, don't you mourn. Oh Mary, don't you weep, don't you mourn. Pharaoh's army got drownded; oh Mary don't you weep.

If I could I surely would stand on the rock where Moses stood. . .

Mary wore three links of chain, every link was Jesus' name...

One of these nights about 12 o' clock this old worlds going to reel and rock. . .

God told Moses what to do to lead the Hebrew children through. . .

Moses stood on the red sea shore smotin' the water with a two by four. . .

God gave Moses the rainbow sign: no more water, but fire next time. . .

Mary wore three links of chain; every link was freedom’s name. . .

The very moment I thought I was lost, the dungeon shook and the chains fell off. . .

I may be right and I may be wrong; I know you're gonna miss me when I am gone. . .

5 RESPONDING TO THE WORD Prayers for the People Rev. Leigh Anne Hagerman

The Lord’s Prayer Our God in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Sharing of Gifts Mobile giving is available – see page 8. Gifts of loose cash in December benefit the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network, also known as RAIN. RAIN engages the community to transform lives and promote respect and dignity for all people touched by HIV through compassionate care, education and leadership development.

Offertory Music “I Wonder As I Wander” John Jacob Niles ( 1892-1980)

Doxology LASST UNS ERFREUEN Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise God, all creatures, here below. . Alleluia! Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts. Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

*Prayer of Dedication Dr. Matt Caine

SENDING *Benediction Mia M. McClain

*Sending Forth Song “Go Tell It On the Mountain” GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN Refrain: Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere, Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.

While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night, behold throughout the heavens there shone a holy light. Refrain.

The shepherds feared and trembled when Lo! Above the earth rang out the angel chorus that hailed our savior’s birth. Refrain.

Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born, and God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn. Refrain.

Following worship, children ages 3 through 6 may be picked up in Room 108.

6 Leading worship today with Mia M. McClain, Associate Minister, are Dr. Matt Caine, Minister of Music and Worship, Rev. Leigh Anne Hagerman, Church Administrator, and Rev. Debra L. Grosch, Member of the Congregation.

The Jazz Ensemble leads worship through music: Sean Higgins, piano Greg Jarrell, saxophone Mike Gudbaur, bass Ocie Davis, drums Dawn Anthony, vocals

The sound technician is Eric Roberts. The webcast technician is Ken Steiner.

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7 THEOLOGY OF WORSHIP

Why do we worship? Worship at Myers Park Baptist is the gathering of a diverse, intergenerational, ecumenical community of faith, celebrating God’s active and timeless presence in the world. In worship, God re-forms our hearts, minds and bodies, and ignites our imaginations with sacred stories—stories that invite us to question, explore mystery, express joy and grief, and deepen our faith. We worship to learn how to develop caring, empowering relationships with each other, and to stay centered in God as the world swirls around us. We worship to be inspired and prepared to exemplify the compassion and justice of Jesus in our church family and in the world. Through worship, God frees and transforms us in heart, mind and body, so we can make a difference within ourselves, in our relationships and in our community.

How do we worship? Focusing on God, worship at Myers Park Baptist unfolds consistently with the Isaiah 6 scriptural model: praise, confession, pardon, calling to respond, commitment and sending out. All our worship services are built on this ancient structural form, regardless of worship style, venue or theme. Communal practices within worship — radical hospitality, confession and assurance of pardon, passing the peace, silence and listening, spirited hymn singing, presentations of gifts, and active participation in —transform worshipers into newness with God and one another. Themes for services, based on scriptures, annually portray the narrative arc of God’s redeeming love for humankind.

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HOW TO JOIN MYERS PARK BAPTIST CHURCH

Becoming a member of Myers Park Baptist is as easy as filling out a Joining Card. To receive a card or learn more, stop by the Welcome Table in Heaton Hall Foyer.

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MOBILE GIVING

You can now text your contributions and offerings to MPBC! It is secure, simple, and efficient: C Start a new text message to phone number 73256. C In the message of the text, enter 1900Q, a space, and the amount you want to give (i.e., 1900Q 100). C The system will return a message to you; click on the link provided and follow instructions. C You will then receive a receipt to confirm your gift was received. It is that simple! C Next time, since your setup is already done – just text “1900Q, a space, then amount you wish to give” to 73256.

Questions? Contact Rev. Leigh Anne Hagerman, Church Administrator, at 704.334.7232 x116 or [email protected]

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 J Printed on recycled paper CCLI License #1864926