Evening Vespers and Blue Christmas Service, December 16, 2020

Direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuaTS7TNfXc

 EVENING VESPERS AND BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE

6:00 PM DECEMBER 16, 2020 

DOWNLOAD THIS BULLETIN HERE: 12-16-2020 Bulletin Script.PDF

Welcome to this blue Christmas, a time when we can, with others, acknowledge the blue feelings we have this Christmas and the reasons for them and offer them to God. God meets us not just in our joys but in our sorrows as well.

For some, Christmas day is the most difficult. For others it might be Christmas eve or New Year’s Eve. This is a year unlike any before. For some, there have been deaths of loved ones. For others the pandemic in which we are living has brought isolation and loneliness or financial and career setbacks. Many are living in fear. This indeed is not a season of joy for everyone.

We pray that you will find hope and comfort in the prayers and songs and in knowing that you are not alone. Always remember that god knows your pain and loves you unconditionally.

WELCOME AND OPENING PRAYER — The Rev. Martha Shiverick

PSALM 23 (IN UNISON)

¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
² He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
³ he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me.
⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.

O COME, O COME EMMANUEL (Verses 1 AND 2)

O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, thou Wisdom from on high, who orderest all things mightily; to us the path of knowledge show; and teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel

ISAIAH 40: 1-5, 25-31 – The Rev. Dr. David Welton

O COME, O COME EMMANUEL (Vs 4 AND 5)

O come, thou Root of Jesse, free thine own from Satan’s tyranny; from depths of hell thy people save and give them victory o’er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heavenly home; make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path of misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel

PSALM 22: 1-5, 9-11, 22-24 — The Rev. Rosemary Noga Welton, The Rev. Dr. David Welton

O COME, O COME EMMANUEL (Vs 6 AND 7)

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thine advent here; disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Desire of nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind; bid envy, strife, and discord cease;
fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

MATTHEW 11:28-29 — Rev. Rosemary Noga Welton

PRAYER AND CANDLE LIGHTING FOR BLUE CHRISTMAS — Rev. Martha Shiverick

God, in this time of anticipation, of looking forward to Christmas Day when we celebrate Christ’ birth, we often find ourselves uncomfortable, uneasy, worried and sad. The joy in the music escapes us and we feel alone feeling out of step with the rest of our society.

We know some of our sadness comes from unrealistic expectations while other circumstances are very real and out of our control. So we name our feelings knowing that you hold us as we grieve and will help us to find peace and comfort as you meet each of our needs with your love.

(silence)

• • Taize Song (hum or sing):  ‘Wait for the Lord’ (#12 in Songs and Prayers from Taize)
    Wait for the Lord, whose day is near. Wait for the Lord: be strong, – take heart!

God of light and life, we light these candles this evening or all who are struggling this holiday season.

(Light candle)

We light this first candle for all those who need prayers for their physical or mental health. We especially remember those struggling with cancer, depression, and thoughts of suicide. May the light of this candle remind us of the healing available to us in Jesus Christ. Hear our prayers.

(silence)

• • Sing Taize Song:
    Wait for the Lord, whose day is near. Wait for the Lord: be strong, – take heart!

We light this candle for all those who are struggling with issues involving financial concerns, job loss, or debt. We remember those who must choose between feeding their children and paying their rent. We pray for the food insecure and the homeless in our midst.

(silence)

• • Sing Taize Song:
    Wait for the Lord, whose day is near.  Wait for the Lord: be strong, – take heart!

We light this candle for all those who are victims of violence in any of its forms. May its light lead us to peace, safety, and truth. Pour forth encouragement to claim your help in healing physically and spiritually, to trust in your justice, to find assistance, to resist blaming ourselves, to be confident in the future you have planned for us, a future filled with hope.

(Silence)

• • Sing Taize Song:
    Wait for the Lord, whose day is near. Wait for the Lord: be strong, – take heart!

We light this candle for all of us who are now living within this world-wide pandemic. We pray for those who now have the virus and for the people everywhere who have died from it and their loved ones now grieving. God, we know you hold us in our fear and anxiety and are grateful. We pray for the first line responders caring for those who are ill and the scientists who are working nonstop to develop vaccines as well as develop effective ways to treat the symptoms.

(Silence)

• • Sing Taize Song:  Wait for the Lord, whose day is near. Wait for the Lord: be strong, – Take heart!

We light this candle for those who live in discord with others. We pray for those who are feeling the pain of broken relationships and friendships that have been lost. We also pray for those who suffer bigotry and oppression of others. We recognize others suffer because of our society has allowed racism to exist. We pray to know and model the unconditional love you offer to others and to share that love with the world.

(Silence)

• • Sing Taize Song:  Wait for the Lord, whose day is near. Wait for the Lord, be strong, take heart!

We ask all these things in the name of Jesus who also taught us when we prayed to pray in this manner:

Our Creator, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION — Rev. Martha Shiverick

MUSIC CREDITS 

Video and audio was performed and recorded by various members of the church’s staff and family for the purpose of providing online worship to the members of Riviera Presbyterian and others who view the link.  Reprinted/streamed with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-713957. All rights reserved.  

COPYRIGHT © 2020 RIVIERA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel 

#84028 . Type: Words and Music; First Line: O come, O come, Emmanuel. Text: LM with refrain; ‘O’ Antiphons, Latin, 9th cent.; Verses 1, 3-6, para. in Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum, Cologne, 1710; tr. by John Mason Neale, 1818-1866; Verses 2, 7 tr. fr. The Hymnal 1940, alt. Music: Chant, Mode I; Processionale, French, 15th cent.; adapt. by Thomas Helmore, 1811-1890. Contributors: VENI, VENI, EMMANUEL 

Wait for the Lord 

#00172. Type: Words and Music; First Line: Wait for the Lord whose day is near © 1984, Les Presses de Taizé, GIA Publications, Inc., agent Contributors: Jacques Berthier, Taizé