Christmas Eve
Notes
Transcript
For the church.... This is a season of anticipation...
We use the word, ADVENT.. which speaks of arrival of some thing, or some person that is notable.
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The word ADVENT declares, that something exciting, new, and significant has happened.
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The excitement of this arrival… gives hope… it creates anticipation… -We are on the precipice… the edge… to spark of something great…
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ADVENT… a time, of hope and anticipation…
But in reality... that thing we seek to happen... has already taken place..
Nearly 2,000 years ago, God the Son was born into human form.
He humbled Himself... He lived as we do... He was tempted in every way...
And yet... it was this incarnation..which opened the grand finale of God’s greatest masterpiece...
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Greater than that of creation itself...
For it was God’s plan of redemption... God’s plan to rescue humanity..
..laid out in great detail for generations and generations...
Which finally took form, in the birth of a baby boy...
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He was Born in a humble form... in humble circumstances... and in a humble place.
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We do have a second advent to look forward to...
But this first advent continues to inspire in us... a great sense of anticipation..
For yes... it happened once... in the past...
But even now... and in the days to come..
The God who entered into this world... bringing hope...
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Continues to do so...
He continues to enter into the lives of those who are lost... of those who are in despair... Of those... who are in need of salvation... He continues to enter into our circumstances...
...into our joys and our sorrows...
...into the steps we take...
...into every part, of the lives we live.
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PRAYER
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O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL (F)
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1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
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O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM (A)
LOVE CAME DOWN TO BETHLEHEM (A)
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8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
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IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR (D)
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15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
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ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH (F)
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poem -
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In a moment, when only two could see with the eyes of men,
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One forbidden deed, sent mankind into a perilous estate,
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Our God the Father;
Called out for His creation...
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And He found them broken...
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He covered their shame...
And sent them on their way...
Lost... without hope... in need of rescue..
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And yet… holding to a promise.
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the promise Of an offspring, who would save them all.
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In a moment, with eyes wide open, humanity turned to itself,
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they gathered as one, and built a tower to the heavens.
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They declared themselves to be, what only God is
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So God scattered them… confused them…
And placed them under darkness.
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But God took a new people as His inheritance.
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And through these people, that promise would prevail.
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The offspring who would conquer that darkness.
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The offspring who would offer salvation to them all.
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In a moment, unseen and unknown to the eyes of men,
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Omnipotent in glory, surrounded by angelic choirs,
Our God the Son;
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Stepped from light to darkness...
From power to weakness...
From warmth to cold...
From glory... to flesh...
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To find the lost, to give hope, to give rescue.
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In a moment, seen only by the humblest of souls,
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The angelic song, brought from heaven, to earth,
Our God, Messiah;
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The offspring who would conquer darkness
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The offspring who would save them all.
Proclaimed as born...
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Good news for all...
A reason of great joy...
The victor, over darkness… over sin and death...
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came to earth to rescue all,
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giving hope to the hopeless.
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GOD REST YE MERRY GENTELMEN (C#m)
GO TELL IT ON THE MTN (E)