A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS Wednesday before the Nativity of Our Lord (Year A) Dec. 21, 2016 Lessons Isaiah 9:2-7 Psalm 96 Titus 2:11-14 St. Luke 2:1-14 [15-20] Prayer of the Day Pastor David J. Risendal www.onelittleword.org drisendal@stplc.org facebook Dave Risendal Twitter: drisendal Saint Peter Lutheran Church 9300 East Belleview Avenue Greenwood Village, CO 80111 voice: 303/770-9300 fax: 303/770-9301 www.stplc.org facebook.com/stplc Almighty God, you made this holy night shine with the brightness of the true light. Grant that here on earth we may walk in the light of Jesus presence and in the last day wake to the brightness of his glory; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. a child born to us God's light, shining in darkness the promise of hope Sermon We have spent the past four weeks with Isaiah at least on Wednesday evenings. And it has introduced us to a very dark time in the history of God s people. The destruction of Israel, the northern kingdom. The threatening powers of aggressive nations that surround Judah, the southern kingdom. The sacking of Jerusalem. The foreign captivity of the temple and palace leadership. For the people of Isaiah s time, it was a very dark time. They wondered if they would ever live in their homes again. They wondered if they would ever enjoy the freedom they once knew. They wondered if the promises God made to their ancestor Abraham were still in play. They wondered if God even cared for them or remembered them anymore. It was an very dark time.
Wednesday Before the Nativity of Our Lord Year A (December 21, 2016) 2 There is darkness in our world as well. On the one hand, there is physical darkness. Do you know what day today is? Today is the Winter Solstice. It arrives in the northern hemisphere when the sun shines directly overhead at noon at the Tropic of Capricorn, a circle of latitude that is located at about 23½ south of the equator. In the northern hemisphere, today will be the shortest day and tonight will be the longest night of 2016. On the other hand, there is the spiritual and emotional darkness we experience during a time of loss. The church has an old but relatively unknown tradition of commemorating Blue Christmas at the Winter Solstice. On this day, some churches feature worship services offering comfort and peace to people who have lost loved ones in the past year. It takes place on this day, when darkness is more present than is the case at any other time in the year. But it also takes place at the time when this balance begins to shift when the days begin to get longer and the nights begins to get shorter when light begins to win the battle over darkness. Blue Christmas is a time of sorrow, but it is also a time of hope, as worshippers entrust their future to God, who has lived among us, who knows the pain and brokenness of this world, and who promises to redeem it. Curiously enough, December 21 st is also the Feast Day of St. Thomas the Apostle. Thomas, you will remember, is the follower of Jesus who isn t with the other disciples when Jesus appears to them on the evening of that first Easter Sunday. Consequently, he isn t able to believe in Jesus until a week later, when he too experiences the Risen Christ first-hand. So the church is aware that at this time of the year we are paying attention to (1) the longest night of the year, (2) the reminder of St. Thomas and his struggle to believe, and (3) the darkness and grief that those who have lost loved ones are bearing. During tonight s Litany and Prayers, we ll include an observance of Blue Christmas. This will happen as our Assisting Minister chants, For all the beloved who rest in your mercy. At this time we will pause to be mindful of those among us who have lost loved ones, and are especially missing them at this Christmastime. I ve asked our musicians to provide a few moments of silence at this point, leaving us time to name those whom we re missing tonight. If there is someone who will be absent from your Christmas celebrating this year, feel free to name them out loud. I encourage you to use their full baptismal name. I ll be remembering my mother,
Wednesday Before the Nativity of Our Lord Year A (December 21, 2016) 3 Borghild Olsen Risendal, who reached the end of her life s journey this past August. We ll remember them together during this darkest night. And then as we chant in response, God of mercy, hold us in love, we ll remember that this is also the night when light begins to prevail over darkness. We ll entrust those we love to the promise of the resurrection, and commend them to the care of our gracious God. And truth be told: this may as good a way as any to honor the message of Isaiah; a prophet who knew all too well the reality of darkness in this world. He had seen God s people suffer, and he had suffered along with them. But he was also one who lived in hope; trusting God s word that darkness eventually gives way to light. Even when many around him were tempted to give up hope, he held to God s promise. In words that mean as much to Christians today as they meant to God s people some 750 years before Christ was born, Isaiah says: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. On Saturday and Sunday of this week we will celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord. We ll remember his birth in Bethlehem, and those who announced it to the world: his father, Joseph; angels singing in the heavens; shepherds shouting for joy; wise men beginning their travels from the east. And we ll trust in the promise of their announcement: that Jesus Christ is the light of the world; the light that no darkness can overcome; whose light scatters the darkness, and shines within God s people here. I wish a blessed Blue Christmas to each of you. May you grow to face the difficulties and challenges of your life with the light of Christ illuminating your way. May the comfort of God cover any grief and sadness in your life. May you live among the pain and brokenness with peace and joy. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. Amen. David J. Risendal, Pastor
Wednesday Before the Nativity of Our Lord Year A (December 21, 2016) 4 Gospel Lesson; English Text 1 2.1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 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. 8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for see I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors! [ 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us. 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.] 2 Gospel Lesson; Greek Text: 2.1 Ἐγένετο δε ἐν ται ς ἡµέραις ἐκείναις ἐξη λθεν δόγµα παρα Καίσαρος Αὐγούστου ἀπογράφεσθαι πα σαν τη ν οἰκουµένην. 2 αὕτη ἀπογραφη πρώτη ἐγένετο ἡγεµονεύοντος τη ς Συρίας Κυρηνίου. 3 και ἐπορεύοντο πάντες ἀπογράφεσθαι, ἕκαστος εἰς τη ν ἑαυτου πόλιν. 4 Ἀνέβη δε και Ἰωση φ ἀπο τη ς Γαλιλαίας ἐκ πόλεως Ναζαρε θ εἰς τη ν Ἰουδαίαν εἰς πόλιν Δαυι δ ἥτις καλει ται Βηθλέεµ, δια το εἰ ναι αὐτο ν ἐξ οἴκου και πατρια ς Δαυίδ, 5 ἀπογράψασθαι συ ν Μαρια µ τῃ ἐµνηστευµένῃ αὐτῳ, οὔσῃ ἐγκύῳ. 6 Ἐγένετο δε ἐν τῳ εἰ ναι αὐτου ς ἐκει ἐπλήσθησαν αἱ ἡµέραι του τεκει ν αὐτήν, 7 και ἔτεκεν το ν υἱο ν αὐτη ς το ν πρωτότοκον, και ἐσπαργάνωσεν αὐτο ν και ἀνέκλινεν αὐτο ν ἐν φάτνῃ, διότι οὐκ ἠ ν αὐτοι ς τόπος ἐν τῳ καταλύµατι. 8 Και ποιµένες ἠ σαν ἐν τῃ χώρᾳ τῃ αὐτῃ ἀγραυλου ντες και φυλάσσοντες φυλακα ς τη ς νυκτο ς ἐπι τη ν ποίµνην αὐτω ν. 9 1 2 A list of Bible lessons for the coming weeks is available at www.elca.org/lectionary. St. Luke 2:1-14 [15-20], New Revised Standard Version Bible, op. cit.
Wednesday Before the Nativity of Our Lord Year A (December 21, 2016) 5 και ἄγγελος κυρίου ἐπέστη αὐτοι ς και δόξα κυρίου περιέλαµψεν αὐτούς, και ἐφοβήθησαν φόβον µέγαν. 10 και εἰ πεν αὐτοι ς ὁ ἄγγελος µη φοβει σθε, ἰδου γα ρ εὐαγγελίζοµαι ὑµι ν χαρα ν µεγάλην ἥτις ἔσται παντι τῳ λαῳ, 11 ὅτι ἐτέχθη ὑµι ν σήµερον σωτη ρ ὅς ἐστιν χριστο ς κύριος ἐν πόλει Δαυίδ. 12 και του το ὑµι ν το σηµει ον, εὑρήσετε βρέφος ἐσπαργανωµένον και κείµενον ἐν φάτνῃ. 13 και ἐξαίφνης ἐγένετο συ ν τῳ ἀγγέλῳ πλη θος στρατια ς οὐρανίου αἰνούντων το ν θεο ν και λεγόντων 14 δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις θεῳ και ἐπι γη ς εἰρήνη ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκίας. [ 15 Και ἐγένετο ὡς ἀπη λθον ἀπ αὐτω ν εἰς το ν οὐρανο ν οἱ ἄγγελοι, οἱ ποιµένες ἐλάλουν προ ς ἀλλήλους διέλθωµεν δη ἕως Βηθλέεµ και ἴδωµεν το ῥη µα του το το γεγονο ς ὃ ὁ κύριος ἐγνώρισεν ἡµι ν. 16 και ἠ λθαν σπεύσαντες και ἀνευ ραν τήν τε Μαρια µ και το ν Ἰωση φ και το βρέφος κείµενον ἐν τῃ φάτνῃ 17 ἰδόντες δε ἐγνώρισαν περι του ῥήµατος του λαληθέντος αὐτοι ς περι του παιδίου τούτου. 18 και πάντες οἱ ἀκούσαντες ἐθαύµασαν περι τω ν λαληθέντων ὑπο τω ν ποιµένων προ ς αὐτούς 19 ἡ δε Μαρια µ πάντα συνετήρει τα ῥήµατα ταυ τα συµβάλλουσα ἐν τῃ καρδίᾳ αὐτη ς. 20 και ὑπέστρεψαν οἱ ποιµένες δοξάζοντες και αἰνου ντες το ν θεο ν ἐπι πα σιν οἱ ς ἤκουσαν και εἰ δον καθω ς ἐλαλήθη προ ς αὐτούς.] 3 First Lesson; English Text: 9.2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined. 3 You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. 4 For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5 For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. 4 Second Lesson; English Text: 2.11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, 12 training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all 3 4 St. Luke 2:1-14 [15-20], The Greek New Testament, Aland, Kurt, Black, Matthew, Martini, Carlo M., Metzger, Bruce M., and Wikgren, Allen, ( 1983, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart). Isaiah 9:2-7, New Revised Standard Version Bible, op. cit.
Wednesday Before the Nativity of Our Lord Year A (December 21, 2016) 6 iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds. 5 Second Lesson; Greek Text: 2.11 Ἐπεφάνη γὰρ ἡ χάρις τοῦ θεοῦ σωτήριος πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις 12 παιδεύουσα ἡµᾶς, ἵνα ἀρνησάµενοι τὴν ἀσέβειαν καὶ τὰς κοσµικὰς ἐπιθυµίας σωφρόνως καὶ δικαίως καὶ εὐσεβῶς ζήσωµεν ἐν τῷ νῦν αἰῶνι, 13 προσδεχόµενοι τὴν µακαρίαν ἐλπίδα καὶ ἐπιφάνειαν τῆς δόξης τοῦ µεγάλου θεοῦ καὶ σωτῆρος ἡµῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, 14 ὃς ἔδωκεν ἑαυτὸν ὑπὲρ ἡµῶν, ἵνα λυτρώσηται ἡµᾶς ἀπὸ πάσης ἀνοµίας καὶ καθαρίσῃ ἑαυτῷ λαὸν περιούσιον, ζηλωτὴν καλῶν ἔργων. 6 5 6 Titus 2:11-14, New Revised Standard Version Bible, op. cit. Titus 2:11-14, The Greek New Testament, op. cit.