Below the fold, you'll find a sample of a project I've been working for the better part of year:
St. Gracie's Chapel, a form of online worship. It's named after Gracie Allen, George Burns' wife and comedy partner. It's said that Allen left a note for Burns that he found after her death, advising him to "never place a period where God has put a comma." Out of that seed came the United Church of Christ's "God Is Still Speaking" campaign, built around the image God's "comma" at work in the church.
This won't be for everyone, and the form of worship might not be familiar to some people. I've added some explanatory notes as we go along. Be warned: this is a long and image-heavy diary.
And with that, may you all be filled with peace in this season and always.
Worship@St. Gracie's
Sunday, December 25th, 2005
Paul Gauguin:
Te Tamari No Atua (Nativity)
Gathering
Opening Music
Puer Natus (Pontifical Institute)
Declaration
Welcome, in the name of the One who is, and was, and is to come.
+ Amen.
Prayer of the Day
God be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray in the joy of Christmas because the Son of God lives among us. God of love, Father of all, the darkness that covered the earth has given way to the bright dawn of your Word made flesh. Make us a people of this light. Make us faithful to your Word, that we may bring your life to the waiting world. Grant this through Christ our brother. Amen.
Announcements
Please take a moment to light a candle, turn off your phone or television,
or otherwise enter into sacred time.
Hymn
Go, Tell It On The Mountain (Marquette University Chorus)
Opening Prayer/Psalm
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
Those who lived in a land of deep darkness--
on them light has shined.
We have beheld Christ's glory,
glory as of the only Son of the Father.
For a child is born for us,
a Son given to us.
In him was life,
and the life was the light of all people.
(Isaiah 9:2,6; John 1:4-5, 14, adapted)
Michael O'Brien
St. Joseph and Christ Child.
Confession
Prayer of Confession
Let us now confess our sins and shortcomings before God and neighbor:
Please take a moment for silent prayer.
I confess to Almighty God, in the communion of the saints of heaven and earth, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do. So I ask you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me.
The Kyrie1
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Assurance of Pardon
May the almighty and merciful God grant unto us pardon and remission of all our sins, true repentance, amendment of life, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Thanksgiving
"Christmas Is A-Coming" (Lead Belly)
Sharing the Peace of Christ
Peace be with you.
And also with you.
Let us share a sign of Christ's peace with one another.
Share a hug, a handshake, or a kiss with the people around you.
Word
Hebrew Scripture:
Isaiah 52:7-10
Psalm 98
Response Joy to the World (Boys Choir of Harlem)
Epistle:
Hebrews 1:1-4
Gospel:
John 1:1-14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.
Sermon
Let's keep this simple.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not overcome it.
I'd hesitate to call the past couple of weeks "good" for progressives. There's been too much trouble all around: revelations of governmental spying on US citizens, the passage of disgusting, immoral cuts in services to the vulnerable members of society, an increasingly erratic and defensive president. Even the victories were wins that we shouldn't have needed in the first place: drilling in Alaska, Patriot Act abuses, Intelligent Design in York, Pennsylvania.
Still, you could forgive liberals for feeling like there was light at the end of the tunnel. The wheels have been threatening to come off this administration almost from the first day, and now finally the hubcaps are bouncing off the curbs. It has been five long, hard years of hearing the work bell ring and seeing the same old thing, again and again. And now, finally, we see a light. What joy!
That's not just schadenfreude, either. It has come down to this stark reality: the less political power held by the Bush administration, the less damage they are able to do to the country. I won't speak for anyone else, but I know that I am a reluctant partisan. It would be irresponsible, at the very least, not to oppose this bunch.
But their grip is fading. Each new outrage hits the general public a little harder, works a little less successfully, puts them in a worse position for the next go around. And the sense is growing stronger each time that was is loosening here is not just this administration's power, but the power of the hard-line ideology to which it has sold its soul. Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rove, Rumsfeld: they've all overplayed their hands, badly, and conservatism will never be the same for it.
For progressives, that's a real note of hope. Some day there may be justice for the people of New Orleans or the members of the Armed Forces killed in Bush's reckless misadventures. By God, there's the midnight special, shining its light on us after all.
But this is where we need to exercise caution. While our hope is real, the promises of liberation real, we must always remember this: we are not the light. The true light and life of the world, according to John's testimony, is Jesus Christ, not us. The story of Christ's coming into the world is the story of God's breaking into The Way Things Are, the troubling of waters that all people--whether conservative or progressive--would just rather stay still.
Nor are we even fully children of the light. Anyone who says that evil cannot be committed in the name of progress is a fool. If progressives regain control of the levers of power in this country--and I firmly believe we will--inevitably they will fall prey to arrogance, stupidity, corruption and indifference, the same as anyone who wields too much power for too long. The light will shine on the darkness, and find us wanting, too.
That's not to say that we're evil by nature. We're just imperfect, like anybody else. But humility is the beginning of wisdom, it is sometimes said. It's worth keeping in mind as we start the hard work of building a counter-movement to the conservatism that has held our nation captive for 35 years. It's also worth noting in this regard what Reinhold Niebuhr had to say about many moral disasters, large and small: they may have been inevitable, but that didn't make them necessary.
Which brings us squarely back to Christ. The arrival of the Word in our world was neither inevitable, nor was it necessary. It was a gift freely given by a loving God. John explains the significance of that gift like so:
To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of men, but of God.
Strip away the layers of John's polemic, and what remains is this: in Christ's coming, humanity has been given an opportunity to literally redeem itself, to buy our souls back from the abyss into which they have been shoved, to know and live by grace and truth. This is our freedom, this is our light: to accept the gift that has been given us, to trust God to accomplish what is good and right through us--despite us--and to enter, finally, into the mystery of the love of God, the ordering principal of the universe become human.
We have been God's beloved children, and we will again.
So go ahead, light a candle in the wind. Look for the dawn to come in 2006 or 2008. Laugh at your own inadequacies and roll up your sleeves for a long good fight to come. And then join me in prayer:
Let the midnight special shine a light on me
Let the midnight special shine a ever-lovin' light on me
Anthem
The Very First Blessing Mary Had (Three Log Night)
Affirmation of Faith2
We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit,
God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God,
and to your deeds we testify:
You call the worlds into being,
create persons in your own image,
and set before each one the ways of life and death.
You seek in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.
You judge people and nations by your righteous will
declared through prophets and apostles.
In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Savior,
you have come to us
and shared our common lot,
conquering sin and death
and reconciling the world to yourself.
You bestow upon us your Holy Spirit,
creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ,
binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues and races.
You call us into your church
to accept the cost and joy of discipleship,
to be your servants in the service of others,
to proclaim the gospel to all the world
and resist the powers of evil,
to share in Christ's baptism and eat at his table,
to join him in his passion and victory.
You promise to all who trust you
forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace,
courage in the struggle for justice and peace,
your presence in trial and rejoicing,
and eternal life in your realm which has no end.
Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto you. Amen.
Offering
Prayers of the People
Brothers and sisters, let us pray for all people, for all nations, and for our community.
I ask your prayers for this community, and the wider community it represents, for those who serve it, and for all God's people everywhere. Pray for our community.
God of mercy,
hear our prayer.
I ask your prayers for the good earth, that all people may respect its resources, preserve its future, and enjoy its fruits in their season. Pray* for the soil and the sea.
God of mercy,
hear our prayer.
I ask your prayers for the leaders of the nations, that they may act deliberately and dispassionately, and for the good of all. Pray* for those who govern.
God of mercy,
hear our prayer.
I ask your prayers for peace, that the peoples of the world may live in safety and without fear. Pray* for peace.
God of mercy,
hear our prayer.
I ask your prayers for the wealthy, the free, and the healthy, that they may use their possessions to aid those in need. Pray* for compassion among people.
God of mercy,
hear our prayer.
I ask your prayers for the sick, the sorrowing, and those who are alone. Pray* for those in any need or trouble.
God of mercy,
hear our prayer.
I ask your prayers for the faithful departed, that God give them eternal rest. Pray* for those who have died.
God of mercy,
hear our prayer.
God of all living, hear the prayers of your faithful people, and grant our requests. Strengthen us for the tasks you give us, and bring us at last to praise you forever with your saints, through your Son Jesus Christ, for it is in his name we pray:
Our Father 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 us 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 for ever. Amen.
The Lord's Prayer in Arabic
Offering
- Tip Jar for Jeanne D'Orleans, Body and Soul
- Digby (Scroll down to find button.)
Offertory
Adeste fideles (Pontifical Institute)
Doxology
Great Doxology (A. Velioumov)
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Thank you, God of love, for the promise of this season. We are grateful for the generosity aroused in us by Christ's coming into the world. May these gifts represent a new spirit of joyous sharing among us, for the sake of all your children everywhere. Amen.
Sending
Commission & Benediction
Take a moment to prepare to re-enter the world.
The Word has become flesh and dwelt among us.
Let Christ's light shine in the darkest corner of your life.
Let Christ's love shine in the darkest corners of our world.
God is with us. Amen.
Holy One, now let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled:
My own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the presence of all people,
a light to reveal you to the nations;
and the glory of your people Israel. Amen.
May almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Hymn
Angels We Have Heard On High (miafrate)
Closing Music
"Silent Night Remix" (Mahalia Jackson)
or
Leonard Lopate Gospel Christmas Show on WNYC
1Kyrie, Greek for "Lord." Kyrie eleison is the opening of the traditional prayer translated here "Lord have mercy."
2An Affirmation of Faith is distinct from a Creed in that it is a voluntary piece of the service. That is to say, you need not agree with all the items listed to participate in this community.
*Meditate, hold in good and active thought.
4Sources for this worship service include:
- Chalice Worship, Colbert Cartwright, ed.
- St. Joseph Sunday Missal
- United Methodist General Board of Discipleship Worship Resources
- Christian Theological Seminary Image Library
- A whole bunch of places I have forgotten