As it is written - 12/27/2020

 

Call to worship:

L: The word comes forth from the mouth of God! A new name shatters Caesar’s rod! 

P: Let us hear our new name, let us turn to the light, let us build a new earth, let us celebrate new life!

L: Let Simeon lift God’s children to heaven! Let Anna reveal the name God has given!

A: Let us hear our new name, let us turn to the light, let us build a new earth, let us celebrate new life!

Opening Hymn:   Hark, the Herald Angels Sing   #240

1. Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new-born King;
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th'angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new born King!"

2. Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail th' incarnate Deity,
pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new-born King!"

3. Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new born King!"

Opening Prayer:   

O Comforter of the world’s peoples, we tarry in your temple, awaiting a sign. You have long promised that those who hunger for righteousness shall not taste death before their deliverance. But death swaggers now outside our door, taunting us with each strike of the clock.

Redeem us, O God. Send your life into our midst; deliver your spirit into our hearts. Then we, once feeble, shall cry, “God, my mother!” We, once feeble shall cry, “God, my Father!” We, once feeble, will become your children; we, once feeble, will take your name.

Epistle Reading:  Galatians 4: 4-7

⁴ But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵ in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. ⁶ And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

Children's Message (video)

Hymn:  There’s a Song in the Air   #249

1. There's a song in the air!
There's a star in the sky!
There's a mother's deep prayer
and a baby's low cry!
And the star rains its fire
while the beautiful sing,
for the manger of Bethlehem
cradles a King!

2. There's a tumult of joy
o'er the wonderful birth,
for the virgin's sweet boy
is the Lord of the earth.
Ay! the star rains its fire
while the beautiful sing,
for the manger of Bethlehem
cradles a King!

3. In the light of that star
lie the ages impearled;
and that song from afar
has swept over the world.
Every hearth is aflame,
and the beautiful sing
in the homes of the nations
that Jesus is King!

4. We rejoice in the light,
and we echo the song
that comes down through the night
from the heavenly throng.
Ay! we shout to the lovely
evangel they bring,
and we greet in his cradle
our Savior and King! 

Prayer of Dedication:

This very hour we give thanks to you, O God. For on this day we who have seen much with our eyes have seen all with our hearts. We who have seen the dusk of so many old days have seen the dawn of a new day.

We, O God, have seen our salvation! Let us spread the good news to all so that they, too, shall see their salvation.   Amen.

Gospel Reading:   Luke 2: 22-40 

²² When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ²³ (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), ²⁴ and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

²⁵ Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. ²⁶ It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. ²⁷ Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, ²⁸ Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

²⁹ “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word;
³⁰ for my eyes have seen your salvation,
³¹ which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
³²  a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

³³ And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. ³⁴ Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed ³⁵ so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

³⁶ There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, ³⁷ then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. ³⁸ At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. ³⁹ When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. ⁴⁰ The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

Sermon Title:    As it is written (video)

There once was a young man who came to the city from his rural background and was involved in a Bible study one evening when the conversation turned into a discussion about law and grace and how better to understand it. While each person there gave their opinion, it seemed that they would never reach a solitary verdict on what law and grace really meant. After listening to everyone, this young man was then asked for his opinion on the subject and this is what he had to say.

“When I was brought here from my simple home in the country, we took the longest train ride that I had ever been on and when we arrived, I stepped out of the train to see the most beautiful station and hotel that I have ever seen. The furniture was lovely, the wall hangings were quite picturesque; even the carpet on the floor was very attractive and obviously of a high standard. As I continued to look around, I noticed a sign that read, “Do not spit here.” But as I looked at the floor, it was clear that many people had done exactly that; spit on the floor. I find that odd when the sign says not to spit on the floor.

And then I am invited to this fine home for a dinner and it is the finest home that I have ever been in. Such beautiful furniture and lovely carpets. Nice pictures adorn the walls and the grand piano almost plays music on its own. I look everywhere, but the one thing that I do not see is a sign telling people not to spit on the floor. And yet, no one has spat on the floor here. How strange it is that when the sign says not to spit, people do anyway; and where there is no sign, people know not to spit because they respect a nice home and want to keep it clean.

The sign is law, but inside the home is grace.”

In our scripture from Luke today, we hear about what happens after the birth of Jesus. The birth of a baby, especially Jesus, is a wondrous time. A time of angels singing, shepherds coming to worship, kings coming with lovely and expensive gifts; showers, cards, casseroles, and such. But after the big moment happens, you still have a baby that needs to be fed, bathed, diapered, cared for, and loved. And that means the work needs to be done. 

When Jesus is presented in the temple, it is because that is the next step in raising a child in Jerusalem in the era that Jesus was born. So His parents brought him to town to “present him to the Lord (as it is written…) and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord.”

Both Simeon and Anna recognized who this child really was and they praised God for letting them get to see Him and to be a part of this ritual. As Jesus would state later on, during his ministry, he didn’t come to abolish the law, but instead came to fulfill it. 

Matthew 5: 17 says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.

Throughout Jesus’ life, he fulfilled the law, but he would not let the law stand in the way of people’s salvation. And this is where we are today. We have celebrated the birth of Jesus and paid homage to those who were present; his parents, the shepherds, the animals, the angels, even the inn keeper and the kings will be coming soon as they are following the star even now.

And considering this law, Simeon gives the holy Baby’s folks an ominous message, that Israel will be divided in its response to the good news of Jesus, and that there will be many troubled times where Mary’s heart will be broken. That can’t have been easy to hear, and yet, they took it in and after all that was necessary was done, they took Jesus home and raised Him and he became strong and filled with wisdom.

The devotion from each of the people mentioned in this text is noted and appreciated. Anna spent eighty-four years waiting for that special moment and Simeon prayed that he would not die and miss it; and God blessed each of them with His revelation.

I found this quote from Dr. Phil Williams where he states, “The law is the light that reveals how dirty the room is, not the broom that sweeps it clean.” 

If I may be so bold to add onto Dr. Williams’ quote, I would add that the broom that he mentions is the grace given to us by Jesus with His life and His actions on our behalf.

As it is written, Jesus gave himself for us. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Closing Hymn:  O Come, All Ye Faithful   #234

1. 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;

Refrain:

O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

2. True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal,
lo, he shuns not the Virgin's womb;
Son of the Father, begotten, not created;
(Refrain)

3. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;
(Refrain)

4. See how the shepherds, summoned to his cradle,
leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze;
we too will thither bend our joyful footsteps;
(Refrain)

5. Child, for us sinners poor and in the manger,
we would embrace thee with love and awe.
Who would not love thee, loving us so dearly?
(Refrain)

6. Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning,
Jesus, to thee be all glory given.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:
(Refrain)