Fairhaven Lessons And Carols 12-28-2025

Rev. Peg Bowman
This is our service of lessons and carols today. So we will not be having a sermon. Basically, the hymns are the sermon. And so we want to kind of dig into the texts of these ancient songs that have come down to us through these years. So the introduction here, who is this child? This morning we hear the story of God's love in Jesus Christ, in scripture, poetry, and song. Who is this child? Our theme is taken from a Christmas song as we begin by asking, What child is this who laid to rest on Mary's lap is sleeping, whom angels greet with anthems sweet while shepherds watch are keeping? Who is this child? What message of good news does he bring? What kind of kingship? What way of living for today? Amen. We'll sing together the first verse of What Child Is This, number 219.

Cathy Speicher
The first reading is from Isaiah 40 verses 1 through 5. The prophet Isaiah promises that God's glorious love will be revealed to all humankind. Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid that she has received from the hand of god double for all her sins a voice cries out in the wilderness prepare the way of the living god make straight in the desert a highway for our god every valley shall be lifted up and every mountain and hill be made low the uneven ground shall become level and the rough places a plain then the glory of the living God shall be revealed and all the people shall see it together for the mouth of God has spoken Christ is coming.

Cathy Speicher
Be glad to believe. The next hymn is Hail to the Lord's Anointed, number 203. The second reading is Isaiah 42, verses 1 through 4. The prophet Isaiah proclaims God's chosen one, whose gentle strength will put things right. here is my servant whom i uphold my chosen one in whom i take delight i have put my spirit on him he will establish justice among the nations he will not shout or raise his voice or make himself heard in the street He will not break a crushed reed or snuff out a smoldering wick. Unfailingly, he will establish justice. He will never falter or be crushed until he sets justice on earth while coasts and islands await his teaching. Christ is coming.

Cathy Speicher
Be glad. The next hymn is, "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" number 218. The third reading is from Galatians 4 verses 4 through 7 and then 3 verses 27 through 28. The Apostle Paul tells us how Christ makes us all God's children equal, beloved and united. but when the fulness of time had come god sent his son born of a woman born under the law in order to redeem those who were under the law so that we might receive adoption as children And because you are children, God has sent the spirit of his son into our hearts crying, Abba, Father, so you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child, then also an heir through God. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ, there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer slave or There is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. Christ is coming.

Rev. Peg Bowman
Be glad, my lady. Why lies he in such low estate? Why lies he in such low estate where oxen and ass are sleeping? Good Christians fear, for sinners hear the silent word is pleading. What does it mean that Jesus was born not in a palace or a comfortable home, but outside in a cave for farm animals? We sing the second verse of What Child Is This, number 219.

Cathy Speicher
the fourth reading is luke two one through seven against the backdrop of an imperial occupying power counting its subject population in order to levy taxes a servant of peace is born In those days, a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. 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. All went to their own towns to be registered. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child." And she gave birth to her firstborn son, wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Christ has come.

Rev. Peg Bowman
That passage was what I preached on this Christmas Eve. And just in case anybody's curious, they walked from Nazareth to Bethlehem. It's about the distance from here to Altoona. Wow. Yeah. Wow. And she was eight and a half months pregnant. Oh, my God. She was riding. She was still. That's a long ways to go. The shepherd's story. In the time of Jesus, shepherds were looked down upon. They worked irregular hours. They often didn't get to synagogue. They were regarded as uncouth and unclean. what does it mean that jesus was recognized honored and adored not by the city council of the chamber of converse but by people called unclean let us sing their story And I think we're going to use the original tune on this. I'm not sure what you all have, but, um, while shepherds watch their flocks by night, let's just, let's, let's sing this.

Cathy Speicher
The fifth reading is Luke two verses 15 through 21. An angel of the Lord appears to shepherds outside Bethlehem, telling them a savior has been born. 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 god has made known to us so they went with haste and found mary and joseph and the child lying in the manger when they saw this they made known what had been told them about this child and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them but mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told to them. After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child, and he was called Jesus, which means Deliverer, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Christ has come.

Rev. Peg Bowman
Jesus. An excerpt of a poem called Her Baby Newly Breathing by Brian Wren. How can the fullness of the divine, far beyond our imagination, be expressed in the confines of one human being, one human life? unstinting unprotected prepared for nail and thorn constricted into maleness How can the fullness of the divine, far beyond our imagination, be expressed in the confines of one human being, one human life

Cathy Speicher
and of a woman born the sixth reading is from philippians 2 verses 5 through 11 a poem or hymn by the apostle paul tells of the lord jesus who emptied himself for all Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name. so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Christ has come. Um...

Rev. Peg Bowman
The reign of Christ comes not by conquest, domination, or manipulation, but by gracious love, gladly given and willingly received. The reign of Christ comes near wherever people covenant together and say, Christ, we are your body, live in our hearts. Christ, we are your people, govern our lives. Christ, we are your witnesses, send us out in your name. We sing together the third verse of "What Child is This?" Number 2:19, verse three.

Cathy Speicher
Our seventh reading is from Colossians 2:6-3:12-15. Paul reminds us that the story of Jesus is not just a tale to be told, but a new way of living. As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. bear with one another and if any one has a complaint against another forgive each other just as the lord has forgiven you so you also must forgive above all clothe yourselves with love which binds everything together in perfect harmony and let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body, and be thankful. Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. Rejoice to be with you. Our next hymn is Hark the Herald Angels Sing, number 240. The eighth reading is from Luke 2, 25-32. Luke tells us how Jesus, a Jew, came to his own people to reach out to all the world. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. guided by the spirit simeon came into the temple and when the parents brought in the child jesus to do for him what was customary under the law simeon took him in his arms and praised god saying Now, master now you are dismissing your servant in peace according to your word For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for the glory to your people Israel. Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. Rejoice, believe, and follow.