Lection-Listers,

Here is our special service honoring the arrival of Jesus Christ to the
planet. The songbook we use is Alton Howard's _Songs of Faith and Praise_.

Christmas Blessings to all!

---begin---

Christmas Eve Special
Texts: Isaiah 9:2-9; Luke 2:1-20
Grace Church of Christ 12/24/00

Welcome/Announce special worship theme

Prayer

Reading: Psalm 96:1-6

Song: I Stand in Awe #96

Reading: Isaiah 9:2-9

Turn to #29.

The prophet Isaiah foretold the coming of one who would be called the son.
On him would several incredible titles be given:

Wonderful Counselor
Mighty God
Everlasting Father
Prince of Peace

This one who was prophesied to be the son would bear two names that would foretell his ministry: counsel, encouragement, direction (Wonderful Counselor) and to bring peace, to the individual soul and to nations (Prince of Peace). But at the pinnacle, in the middle of these four names are the two names reserved for Yahweh, God Almighty: Mighty God and Everlasting Father.

No one before or since has presumed to take on these names but Isaiah saw into the future that God himself would arrive on our planet. This passage changed the life of the composer George Frederic Handel like none other. The words inspired his heart and pen and the world has not been the same since.

Living in 18th century London, Handel mostly composed operas. He had success in his operas, for a while. When his operas began to fail, along with his health, Handel sunk into despair. He was a German by birth and he had rivals who disliked his style of opera. Personally, he wasn't very likeable either. He was a large awkward man, rough and hot-tempered and was often called the Great Bear." Handel went bankrupt and believed his career was over until he was invited to
Ireland in 1741 to direct one of his own works at a charity performance.

For this occasion, he decided that he would write a new musical work. Handel was a deeply religious man so he decided to turn from his interest in human shortcomings in his operas and turn to loftier thoughts. It is said by witnesses that Handel wrote music in the grip of divine inspiration, hardly eating or sleeping for nearly a month. He wrote Part One of the oratorio Messiah in 6 days. Part Two took 9 days. Part Three...6 days. The orchestration took another few days. The finished product was 2 1/2 hours of the world's most magnificent music, all composed
in less than 25 days!

When he finished his work, he sobbed, "I think that I did see all heaven before me, and the great God Himself!" In the oratorio the words of verse 6 are used. At the London premiere of Messiah King George was so moved that he spontaneously rose from his seat, and the entire audience followed suit and for the past 250 years audiences have stood whenever the Hallelujah chorus is sung.

Handel continued to write religious music after Messiah. Beethoven said that Handel was "the greatest, ablest composer who ever lived."

Even after being stricken with blindness he continued to conduct. Fittingly he died while conducting a performance of Messiah. He was buried in Westminster Abbey and his grave is marked by a statue of himself at his table, with the score of Messiah opened to the page that reads "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth." (adapted from a Charles Colson "Breakpoint", December 2000)

Let's sing and celebrate the coming of Christ to earth. Our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace!

Song: Hallelujah Chorus #29

Reading: Luke 2:1-7

Thoughts:
The Everlasting Father, God With us, arrived in the humblest circumstances. It was at a time of taxation, a grim reminder of the overwhelming power that Rome held over Israel. Joseph and Mary were required to register in the town of their heritage. Mary was 9 months pregnant. It was undoubtedly a difficult journey from Nazareth. She was expecting but they were not yet married, but Joseph accepted it all graciously as the angel had earlier told him of Mary's special child.

As was their custom, when the child was born, it was wrapped in cloths and placed in a manger. The cloths were narrow strips of cloth that literally strapped the baby's arms to its side and prevented its movement. It was accepted custom to do this because folks back then believed that this would help a child grow up with straight, strong bones.

God's son submitted to the customs of the times.

Because there was no other place, he was placed in a manger, a feed trough, where livestock fed. It could not have been a more difficult situation for the young mother, child, and father.

A poem has been written describing that first Christmas:

There were no Christmas stockings hung
On that first Christmas day,
Just a lonely manger
And a lowly bed of hay.

There was no jovial Santa Claus
With toys and gifts galore,
But shepherds came from out of the fields
To worship and adore.

There was no Christmas tree that day
Bedecked with tinsel bright,
But in the East there was a star
That dazzled with its light.

There were no Christmas carolers
To serenade with song,
But hosts of angels gathered round
To watch the whole night long.

No fast last-minute shopping
And no Christmas cards to send,
But hope was born in one small child--
For new life without end.

Song: Away in a Manger #1017

Reading: Luke 2:8-14

Thoughts:
Among those who were considered less than ordinary folk were shepherds in the days of Jesus' birth. Their testimony would not be admitted in a court of law. Yet, God stooped to arrive on earth, not in an urban area, not in a sanitary hospital, but in what may have been a cave and Jesus lay in a feed trough streaked with the saliva of farm animals. And the angels sung for joy! Glory shone across the sky to those guys watching those flocks that night. Glory had come, not to the
wealthy or well placed. But to common folk. The Son of God's arrival would be not unlike
the poor child's birth.

What a reminder of the things God considers important!

It is not wealth. It is not fame or power. Glory is found in the most common places among the most common people.

The angels sang in the most unlikely places to the most unlikely people!

Song: Hark, the Herald Angels Sing #1001

Reading: Luke 2:15-20

Song: What Child Is This? #998

Thoughts:
Joseph Bayly has written a wonderful poem about the meaning of Christmas:

Praise God for Christ.
Praise him for the Incarnation, for the Word made flesh.
I will not sing of shepherds watching flocks on frosty nights, or angel choristers.
I will not sing of a stable bare in Bethlehem, or lowing oxen, wise men trailing star with gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Today I will sing praise to the Father who stood on heaven's threshold and said farewell to his Son as he stepped across the stars to Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
And I will sing praise to the infinite, eternal Son, who became most finite, a baby who would one day be executed for my crime.
Praise him in the heavens, praise him in the stable, praise him in my heart!

Laying there in that makeshift baby's bed lay our salvation. That precious little body would one day be pierced for our sins. Beaten for our transgressions. And one day that body would be laid in a tomb after an execution so horrible that one could only say that Jesus went to hell on our behalf. But that body of that little one who was so great, was raised with power. And today, as we do every first day of the week, we celebrate his coming, his sacrifice, and his resurrection!

Praise be to God! Our sins are forgiven! Our hope is everlasting! Let the angels rejoice. Let us eat of him. Drink of him and enjoy one another!

LORD'S SUPPER

Offering

Thoughts:
Jesus has come.

He has come for a purpose.

So that we might receive the salvation of our souls, the forgiveness of sins, and that the Holy Spirit might make us one with the Father forever!

And this has happened so that we might share this good news with everyone. Our cups are full to overflowing this day. May the living water overflow into our lives and words to our friends and family.

Verse 3 of our last song says, "No more let sins and sorrows grow. Nor thorns infest the ground. He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found." The curse is no more! He has conquered death. He has defeated sin. The way is clear for every person to receive God's blessings in full measure. Let this Christmas be a reminder of this obligation we have to share the Christ child not only at this time of year, but always. What else would we want to do? Let us
rejoice!

Song: Joy to the World #1018

Closing Prayer

---end---

Paul Woodhouse
Grace Church of Christ
Fayetteville, AR
http://hometown.aol.com/gracechofchrist/sermonindex.html