THE OLIN T. BINKLEY MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH

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1 THE OLIN T. BINKLEY MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH BLUE CHRISTMAS A Service for Those Whose Hearts Hurt at Holiday DECEMBER 21, :00 PM

2 GATHERING MUSIC PRELUDE In the Bleak Midwinter Gustav Holst OPENING SENTENCES Many: The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow, a light has shone. For the yoke that was weighing upon them, and the burden upon their shoulders, you have broken in pieces, O God, our Redeemer. INTROIT Come, Ye Disconsolate arr. Michael T. Smith UNISON PRAYER Let us pray: God of mercy, her our prayer in this Advent season for ourselves and for our families who live with painful thoughts and memories. We ask for strength for today, courage for tomorrow, and peace for the past. We ask these things in the name of your Christ, who shares our life in joy and sorrow, death and new birth, despair and promise. Amen. HYMN Come and Find the Quiet Center see insert WORDS FROM SCRIPTURE Isaiah 61:1-2 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted to comfort all who mourn. SILENCE Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. AROUND THE ADVENT WREATH THE FIRST CANDLE The first candle we light tonight is to remember those persons whom we have loved and lost THE SECOND CANDLE The second candle we light is to remember the loss of relationships, the loss of jobs, the loss of health in ourselves or in family or friends

3 THE THIRD CANDLE The third candle we light is to remember those, ourselves included, who ve experienced a loss of joy and peace from stresses and strains THE FOURTH CANDLE The fourth candle we light is the candle of healing, one of hope, remembering that God, who shares our life, promises us peace. Join me in the litany: Many: Many: All: Tonight we light the Candle of Healing. Let this light shine. Wherever trust has been betrayed and dreams have been shattered, let this light shine. Wherever grief has made its home, let this light shine. Wherever there are people who are wounded and weary, anxious and hurting, let this light shine. And Jesus said, The Lord has anointed me to bind up the brokenhearted. Let this light sine. TAIZÉ RESPONSE My Peace LIGHTING OF INDIVIDUAL CANDLES Each of us comes bearing our own hurts, sorrows, broken places. You are invited to come forward to light a candle. You may, if you wish, name your loss. If it is a lost loved one, you are invited to share a memory that binds them to you in this season. God gently calls out to us saying, Give me your pain, come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, I give you peace. After the lighting of the candles, the Taizé response is repeated. PASTORAL PRAYER

4 HYMN O Come, O Come Emmanuel O come O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lowly exile here, until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. O come thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thine advent here; disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death s deep shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. BLESSING AND BENEDICTION May the hope and peace of the Christ-Child sustain us through whatever darkness we encounter. Amen. We are grateful for the musical gifts offered this evening by Barbara Nettles-Carlson, soprano, and Daniel Cherrix and Scott Hawkins, piano. The bulletin cover art is Longest Night Jan Richardson.

6 Blessing for the Longest Night All throughout these months as the shadows have lengthened, this blessing has been gathering itself, making ready, preparing for this night. It has practiced walking in the dark, traveling with its eyes closed, feeling its way by memory by touch by the pull of the moon even as it wanes. So believe me when I tell you this blessing will reach you even if you have not light enough to read it; it will find you even though you cannot see it coming. You will know the moment of its arriving by your release of the breath you have held so long; a loosening of the clenching in your hands, of the clutch around your heart; a thinning of the darkness that had drawn itself around you. This blessing does not mean to take the night away but it knows its hidden roads, knows the resting spots along the path, knows what it means to travel in the company of a friend. So when this blessing comes, take its hand. Get up. Set out on the road you cannot see. This is the night when you can trust that any direction you go, you will be walking toward the dawn. Jan Richardson from The Cure for Sorrow Jan Richardson. janrichardson.com

#pictureadvent. Week One >> Hope

#pictureadvent. Week One >> Hope Week One >> Hope : Psalm 84:11-12 The Lord God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is everyone