THE LONGEST NIGHT DECEMBER 16, 2020 6:00 p.m. The Reverend Hannah E. Atkins Romero, Rector The Reverend Luz Cabrera Montes, Curate The Reverend Canon Dr. Henry L. Atkins, Jr., Theologian in Residence Collin Boothby, Organist and Choirmaster April Sloan-Hubert, Co-Director of the Trinity Jazz Ensemble Making God’s Presence Real By Sharing Christ’s Life-Changing Love The Gathering of the People PRELUDE: Still, Still, Still arr. Marilyn Ham CALL TO WORSHIP Leader In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. People The Word became flesh and lived among us, full of grace and truth, and we have seen his glory. Leader In him was life, and that life was the light of all. People The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never been able to extin- guish it. WORDS OF EXPLANATION Leader Welcome to this “Longest Night” service. The name comes from the season - during this season in December, we 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 season. It is the “long dark night 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 the beginning of another lonely New Year. In this service, we will have some prayers appropriate to the season, recognizing that this is not necessarily a season of joy. We will invite you to meditate on the pain and anguish you may bring, and to offer your pain to the Christ child. And we trust that you will find hope and comfort in knowing that you are not alone. PIANO MEDITATION: O Little Town of Bethlehem arr. Marilyn Ham O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see For Christ is born of Mary; and gathered all thee lie! above, Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the While mortals sleep, the angels keep their silent stars go by; watch of wondering love, Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting O morning stars, together proclaim the holy Light; birth! The hopes and fears of all the years are met And praises sing to God the King, and peace in thee tonight. to men on earth. THE SERVICE OF THE WORD FIRST READING Isaiah 40:1-2a, 26-31 Lector: A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah. Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed… Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the star- ry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. 2 6:00 pm Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Why do you com- plain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregard- ed by my God”? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Lector: The Word of the Lord All: Thanks be to God. PIANO MEDITATION: I’m Just a Poor Wayfarin’ Stranger arr. Marilyn Ham I’m just a poor wayfarin’ stranger, I’m traveling I want to sing salvation’s story, in concert with through this world below; the blood-washed band; There is no sickness, toil nor danger, in that I want to wear a crown of glory, when I get bright world to which I go. home to that good land. I’m going there to see my father, I’m going I’m going there to see my brothers, they there no more to roam; passed before me one by one; I’m just a-going over Jordan, I’m just a going I’m just a-going over Jordan, I’m just a going over home. over home. I know dark clouds will gather o’er me. I know I’ll soon be free from every trial, this form will my pathway’s rough and steep; rest beneath the sod; But golden fields lie out before me, where I’ll drop the cross of self-denial, and enter in weary eyes no more will weep. my home with God. I’m going there to see my mother, she said I’m going there to see my Savior, who shed for she’d meet me when I come; me his precious blood; I’m just a-going over Jordan, I’m just a going I’m just a-going over Jordan, I’m just a going over home. over home. PSALM READING: Psalm 22 Reader: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, so far from the words of my groaning? ALL: O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer. And by night, but I find no rest. Reader: In you, our ancestors trusted. They trusted and You delivered them. ALL: It was you who took me from the womb. You who kept me safe on my mother’s breast. Since my mother bore me, you have been my God. Reader: Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. ALL: God does not despise the affliction of the afflicted. God does not hide from me. When I cry to God, God hears me. Thanks be to God! 3 December 16, 2020 PIANO MEDITATION: Away in a Manger arr. Robert Schultz Away in a manger, no crib for his bed, The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head. But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes. The stars in the bright sky looked down where I love thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the he lay, sky, The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay. And stay by my side until morning is nigh. Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay Close by me for ever, and love me I pray. Bless all the dear children in thy tender care, And fit us for heaven to live with thee there. CANDLE LIGHTING LITANY OF REMEMBRANCE READING Luke 2:1-7 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be regis- tered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Gali- lee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Reflection: Jesus himself was no stranger to being a stranger, an outsider, a refugee. Reader: We light this Advent candle to remember those persons who have been loved and lost. We pause to remember their name, their face, their voice. We give thanks for the memory that binds them to us this season which anticipates Christmas. ALL: May God’s eternal love surround them. Hymn 56, v. 1: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Veni, veni Emmanuel 4 6:00 pm Silence READING 1 Kings 19:1-3a, 8-15a Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, ‘So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.’ Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there. He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food for forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God. At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ He an- swered, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsak- en your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.’ He said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earth- quake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.