Testimony of witnesses
ST ANDREW’S CHURCH
DECEMBER 26 2021 Christmas One - Boxing Day
LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- Thank you Rev. Shirley Cochrane for leading our worship this 1st Sunday after Christmas and the last Sunday of 2021.
- We pray for safe travels for all who will be traveling following Christmas. We also wish everyone a happy, healthy and safe New Year and pray for an end to the pandemic.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Praise the Lord from the heavens and in the heights;
Praise God, sun and moon!
God’s name alone is exalted;
God is above the earth and heaven.
Young and old together, all creatures great and small,
Let us praise God’s holy name, now and evermore!
HYMN 135 Christians awake, salute the happy morn
- Christians, awake! salute the happy morn,
whereon the Saviour of the world was born;
rise to adore the mystery of love
which hosts of angels chanted from above;
with them the joyful tidings first begun
of God Incarnate and the virgin's son.2. Then to the watchful shepherds it was told,
who heard the angel herald's voice, 'Behold,
I bring good tidings of a saviour's birth
to you and all the nations on the earth;
God has this day fulfilled the promised word:
this day is born a saviour, Christ the Lord.'3. Then went the shepherds straight to Bethlehem
to see the wonder that was told to them,
and found, with Joseph and the blessed maid,
her son, the Saviour, in a manger laid;
joyful, the wondrous story they proclaim,
the first apostles of his infant fame.4. Oh may we keep and ponder in our mind
God's wondrous love in saving humankind;
trace we the babe, who has retrieved our loss,
from his poor manger to his bitter cross;
saved by his love, unceasing we shall sing
eternal praise to heaven's almighty King.
OPENING PRAYER
God of our lives and the times in which we live, we come before you on this last Sunday of the year, marvelling that another year has passed. For some of us, time has slipped by and we wonder where another year went For others, the pressures of the pandemic have been intense; the sorrows, heavy; the conflicts, challenging. O God, you have seen us through this peculiar year and we are grateful. We praise you for your love, for your comfort and joy which are there whenever we need them. In this time of worship, receive our prayers and our praises as we honour your gifts of Light and Love which shine upon us through Jesus Christ this day and every day by your grace.
The coming of your son, Jesus, broke open the heavens and prepared a way for all of your children to come home to you. Give us eyes to see your miraculous spirit moving in this church and in this world. Teach us to be proclaimers of your love to the nations, for the sake of the one whose name is redemption for the peoples, Jesus Christ our salvation. Together we confess before you …….
UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of our lives and the time in which we live,
we know you are with us through thick and thin,
in times of great joy and at moments of disappointment.
We confess we sometimes feel let down when the
joy of Christmas day has past.
Our hope seems to get folded away with the gift wrap,
our energy for the future feels a bit tattered.
Forgive us when our faithfulness flickers like a
Christmas candle burning down.
Renew our hope and energy for the year ahead
through the steadfast grace of Christ our Lord. AMEN
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
The mercy of our God is from everlasting to everlasting. Hear and believe the good news of the Gospel. In Jesus Christ, God’s generous love reaches out to embrace us. We are forgiven and set free to begin again. Let us forgive one another just as God has forgiven us. May the peace of Christ be with us all.
THE PEACE
HYMN 139 Hark the herald angels sing
- Hark! the herald angels sing
glory to the newborn King,
peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.
Joyful, all ye nations, rise;
join the triumph of the skies;
with the angelic host proclaim,
'Christ is born in Bethlehem.'
Hark! the herald angels sing
glory to the newborn King.Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see!
Hail the incarnate deity!
Pleased on earth with us to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing
glory to the newborn King.3. Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the sun of righteous ness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild, he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise the lost of earth,
born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing
glory to the newborn King.
SCRIPTURE READING
Luke 2 :21 – 39
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”[a]), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”[b]
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss[c] your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[d] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.
HYMN 144 T’was in the moon of wintertime
- 'Twas in the moon of wintertime,
when all the birds had fled,
that mighty Gitchi Manitou
sent angel choirs instead;
before their light the stars grew dim,
and wandering hunters heard the hymn:
Refrain:
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria.2. Within a lodge of broken bark
the tender Babe was found;
a ragged robe of rabbit skin
enwrapped his beauty round,
but, as the hunter braves drew nigh,
the angel song rang loud and high:
Refrain:3. The earliest moon of wintertime
is not so round and fair
as was the ring of glory on
the helpless infant there.
The chiefs from far before him knelt
with gifts of fox and beaver pelt.
Refrain:4. O children of the forest free,
the kin of Manitou,
the holy child of earth and heaven
is born today for you.
Come kneel before the radiant boy,
who brings you beauty, peace and joy.
Refrain:SERMON Testimony of witnesses
Source of all wisdom and understanding, by your Word you give wisdom to guide us on the path you set before us. Send your Holy Spirit to open our hearts and minds to receive your Word and strengthen us to follow Jesus into the year that waits before us. Amen
It is eight days after the birth of Jesus and the visit from the shepherds. Joseph has found a place in Bethlehem where his family can live at least for a while. On this day, Jesus is circumcised and named “Jesus,” in accordance with the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb (2:21).
Jesus, like other firstborn males, is set apart for God as part of the special relationship that God solidified through his deliverance of Israel from slavery. However, this firstborn opens up a whole new chapter in the relationship between the God who delivers and all of God’s people — both Jews and Gentiles.
It is an important ritual that marks Jesus as Jewish, as part of the people that God has called. Circumcision is the sign of the covenant relationship that God established with Abraham (Genesis 17) This relationship includes all his descendants, the people of Israel. More importantly, here is the fulfillment of the angel’s instruction [ 1:31] to name the baby “Jesus,” - a name that means “God saves.”
Forty days after his birth, Jesus’ parents take him to the Jerusalem Temple. Leviticus 12:1-8 lays out the instructions for a woman who has given birth. After 40 days she is to come to the temple with a sacrifice. Those who can not afford to bring a lamb can bring two turtledoves or pigeons, as do Mary and Joseph. Mary and Joseph are faithful Jews who are careful to do everything that the Law requires.
Luke does a masterful job of presenting many eyewitnesses who testify about Jesus so that the truth may be established. Luke wants his readers—and us—to learn about Jesus’ true identity and mission. Mindful of the necessity of two witnesses to establish the veracity of a truth claim, Luke presents two witnesses -Simeon and Anna who both testify to the true identity and mission of Jesus.
Luke begins by telling us that there is a man in Jerusalem, whose name is Simeon (2:25a). This is the only place in Scripture where this Simeon is mentioned. His name means “God has heard” (. Genesis 29:33). Actually, Simeon is a common name as illustrated in both old and new testament stories. We have no biographical information on this man – other than he is deeply involved with the temple. We have no timeline of his learning of scripture but can assume it covers Simeon’s lifetime.
Simeon cares deeply about the people of God. His concern is heightened by the distressing circumstances in which the nation finds itself at the time, chafing under the brutal occupation of the hated Roman Empire. This oppression causes the nation of Israel to long even more for the deliverance that was promised to them by God in the Old Testament.
This Old Testament promise is embodied in the anointed one sent by God to deliver his people from oppression.. However the deliverance will be spiritual rather than political. The promised Deliverer will free his people from the oppression of sin. He will be the consolation of Israel. The prophet Isaiah in particular emphasized the Messiah’s role. In Isaiah 40:1, he wrote, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” In verse 10, Isaiah identifies the one who would bring comfort, that is, consolation, “Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.”
It has been revealed to Simeon by the Holy Spirit that he will not see death before he has seen the Lord’s Christ [that is, God’s Messiah]. We are not told when or how the Holy Spirit revealed this to Simeon. Nevertheless, this revelation must have encouraged him tremendously as knowingly he will see the consolation of Israel before he dies. Simeon’s expectation is consistent with the Old Testament promise that God will spread grace and love through the coming Messiah.
As is his custom Simeon comes into the temple. Simeon is a man under the influence of the Holy Spirit.- who fully understands the promise of the revelation of the Messiah to him, No doubt it is the Holy Spirit who brings Simeon to the temple at the right moment. Luke does not tell us how they meet. Nor does he tell us how Simeon knows that Jesus is the promised Deliverer, the Messiah, the consolation of Israel. Perhaps it is a whisper in his heart which leads him over to a couple standing there cuddling a very new baby. Joy overcomes him and he ask if he can hold this precious child.
Realization overcomes him that God’s promise is indeed coming true. Deliverance is now coming to Israel, and he is standing right here ! - holding the consolation of Israel, the promised Deliverer, the Messiah, in his arms. What delight, what blessing floods his heart as he holds the infant . When Simeon lifts up Jesus, he makes an amazing declaration about this six-week-old baby.
Simeon brecks out in a song of praise. Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.
Simeon declares that This Baby is the one who will be the salvation of the whole world — not just Jews but also Gentiles.
After he finishes his song of praise, Simeon blesses Joseph and Mary. However immediately after this declaration of salvation, Simeon turns directly to Mary and tells her that this salvation will not come easy.
Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed and a sword will pierce through your own soul also so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed (2:34-35).
In his great mercy God addresses these words through Simeon to Mary so that she will prepare herself for what is to come. Apparently, Joseph will not be around to witness the hostility that will engulf Jesus. In fact, after the incident at Passover, when Jesus is twelve years old, we never hear of Joseph again. Presumably, Joseph dies before Jesus begins his ministry.
Anna is likely the least known person of the Christmas Story She is the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. Asher is not a very important tribe out of the 12 tribes of Isreal. Luke probably wants to declare that she knows her genealogy and that she is truly Jewish. Anna’s heritage included men who were humble before the Lord.
Anna is called a prophetess not because she predicts the future, but rather because God uses her to speak his truth
Anna lived with her husband seven years from when she was a young virgin. It is not entirely clear whether Anna lived as widow until she was eighty-four years old, or if she lived “as a widow for eighty-four years.” The Greek text could be translated either way. If the latter translation is correct, she would have been around 105 years old. Her wedding would have been when she about fourteen years old (which was the normal age for girls to get married at that time) Regardless of which view is correct, the point is that she is a very old woman.
We have no information as to her transition to temple living It is possible that she simply spent the vast majority of her time at the temple. It is also possible that Anna lived in the temple complex, perhaps in one of the rooms in the outer court .Anna is characterized by prayer and fasting The reason Anna spends so much time at the temple is because she is totally dedicated to God.
Anna comes in to the Temple area at that very same hour and sees Simeon holding Jesus and blessing God for the his arrival . Naturally, she walks over to Simeon, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Her heart glows . Anna confirms the salvation message of Simeon by giving thanks to God. After she sees Jesus she begins speaking about this child to all those who are waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38). , Anna undoubtedly understands more about the full significance of the coming of Jesus Christ than any of the other people we are told about in the Christmas story.
It is amazing that Anna actually expected these things. But she did, and this is reinforced by Luke’s statement that she was only one of many who were looking for this redemption. In Anna’s day people were waiting for their redemption. Now, frankly, most of them were looking for redemption in the wrong way.
For example, the Pharisees were looking for a redeemer, but they were looking for a political redeemer. They were looking for someone who would throw off the yoke of Roman oppression. Because that is the kind of redeemer they were looking for, they missed the Redeemer that God the Father sent to them.
The monk-like Essenes were also looking for a redeemer, but they were looking for a teacher, a new Moses. They were looking for someone who could bring new intellectual light to them. They missed the One that God the Father sent to them.
The Sadducees were also looking, but - they didn’t even know what they were looking for. They did not seem to believe in anything that scripture taught. Because they really were not deliberately looking for a redeemer, they too missed the Redeemer that God the Father sent to them.
As Simeon saw and held Jesus in his arms he believed that God had fulfilled his promise in sending the promised Deliverer. But, do you know that we actually have more reason to believe that Jesus is the promised Deliverer than did Simeon? You see, we know about Jesus’ perfect life. We know about his death. We know about his resurrection. We know about his ascension into heaven. Simeon knew none of this.
In this gospel reading we have a clear statement that Jesus came to save not only the people of Israel but the Gentiles as well. In other words, the gospel is universal. It is universal not in the sense that all people will be saved but in the sense that people from “every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9) will be represented in heaven.
One of the great blessings of salvation for the Christian is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. If you are a Christian, the Holy Spirit dwells in you. He is there to empower you, guide you, encourage you, discipline you, sustain you, and enable you to persevere to glory. Let us be attentive to the work of the Spirit in our lives and the way that works is that the Spirit takes the word of God and applies it to our lives. So, study the word of God, and be attentive to the Spirit’s application of God’s word to your life. Christmas is far more than the birth of a helpless baby in a stable, the wonder of the shepherds at the manger, the praise of the angels in the sky, or the gifts of the wise men at the house. The focal point of Christmas lies in the truth that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” AMEN
HYMN 136 The first Nowell
- The first Nowell the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay,
in fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Refrain:
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell!
Born is the King of Israel.2. They looked up and saw a star
shining in the east beyond them far,
and to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night.
Refrain: - And by the light of that same star
three wise men came from country far;
to search for a king was their intent,
and to follow the star wherever it went.
Refrain:4. This star drew nigh to the northwest;
o'er Bethlehem it took its rest;
and there it did both stop and stay
right over the place where Jesus lay.Refrain:5. Then entered in those wise men three
full reverently upon their knee,
and offered there in his presence
their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Refrain: - Then let us all with one accord
sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
that hath made heaven and earth of nought,
and with his blood mankind hath bought.
Refrain:
OFFERING
The letter to the Colossians reminds us that whatever we do, in word or deed, we do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. May our offering this day show our gratitude to God in Jesus’ name.
DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above ye heavenly host.
Praise Father Son and Holy Ghost
OFFERTORY PRAYER
God of love, we give thanks for the many blessings you have given us throughout our lives. We are grateful to celebrate the birth of your greatest gift, our Saviour Jesus, once again. Bless the offerings we make in his name, and use them and us to serve you well in the coming year.
Amen
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Lord God, creator of heaven and earth, We bring you our prayers with glad and grateful hearts in this season of hope and joy. For your image set within us all, calling us to love one another and to care for your creation, we give you thanks. For the gift of your Son who redeems us and guides us to serve you in the world, we give you thanks. For the energy and inspiration of your Holy Spirit, who equips us to meet the challenges we face, we give you thanks. By your Holy Spirit, empower us to show your love to those for whom we pray this day:
For Christ, there was no room in the inn; we pray for those who seek shelter. Christ had to flee his birthplace; we pray for those who seek refuge. Christ read scripture as a child; we pray that God’s wisdom will enlighten our minds and direct our paths.
For the Church and those who lead in it, as they seek to refresh ministries after months of pandemic restrictions .
For the world that you have asked us to care for amid the challenges the climate crisis creates…
For those who rule in the nations of the world, that they will attend to the needs of the most vulnerable and cries for justice in their lands . . .
For those who serve as teachers, instructors, and mentors, and for students who face a world of constant change and challenge . . .
For those who serve others as healers and caregivers, especially those feeling exhausted by the demands the pandemic has created on them and their workplaces . . .
For those struggling with poverty, homelessness, and hunger, and the challenges to recover amid steep economic pressures . . .
For those who mourn the loss of someone dear and those who feel alone or neglected...
For those imprisoned for defending truth and justice, and all who experience exclusion, powerlessness and oppression . .
Gracious God we lift to you all those whom we have spoken to you and each other ……………………
We end the year in praise for your loving kindness and care, and we pray for peace in the world. As this year of ongoing and unexpected challenges draws to a close, give us grateful hearts for what has been loving and life-giving ;give us peace about things that have been painful; and focus our attention on emerging opportunities to grow closer to you and to each other. Keep us faithful in all we do in the name of Jesus Christ, our friend and saviour, who taught us to pray together:
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
HYMN 153 Joy to the world
- Joy to the world! the Lord is come:
let earth receive its King;
let every heart prepare him room
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.Joy to the earth! the Saviour reigns:
let us our songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.3. 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,
far as the curse is found,
far as, far as the curse is found.4. He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.
BENEDICTION
The joy of the angels; the eagerness of the shepherds; the perseverance of the Magi; the obedience of Joseph and Mary and the peace of the Christ child be your this Christmas. The blessing of God almighty , Father, Son and Holy Spirit be upon you and remain with you always
CLOSING SONG