Carol of the Strings
         O Come O Come Emmanuel

Processional (5:00 & 7:00)
         O Come O Come Emmanuel

Welcome /Greeting
 
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Luke 1:26-38
Twas the night before Christmas, I’m running late
The inches of snow on my car up to eight
After scrapping the ice and digging out lanes
I make it to the road without any chains
 
It takes only five tries to get out on the street
Slipping and sliding from the most recent sleet
I’m doing ok—it’s difficult to stop
And once I almost merge into cop
 
But I am intent, nothing will deny
This winter soirre and it’s sweet apple pie
Finally coming to the door—glad to be together
I read—Cancelled! due to inclement weather
 
That makes three Christmas parties, one pageant, one trip
And I wonder what else we will have to skip
 
Little Bethlehem may lie peaceful and still
But I have commitments I need to fulfill
I’m behind at work, and can’t get to the store
To pick up supplies to finish the kitchen floor
 
I’m feeling flabby and my weekly B-ball
Is also a no-go because of this squall
Christmas letters sit waiting—all addressed and stamped
And my last minute shopping has been severely cramped
 
Then I think, why am I so tense and not merry?
Has my life been usurped by my Blackberry?
 
Denied the hustle and bustle of the season
This unending blizzard has given me a reason
To take a day off, to play with kids in the snow
Ask me if I’m busy…the answer is “no!”
 
My to-do lists pile up, but maybe this year
There’s a purpose for why my schedule is clear
The same Jesus who was born on that quiet Christmas day
Would often retreat to “lonely places” to pray
 
Daily depth and meaning is attacked by the busyness Grinch
This week I feel my soul growing deeper with the snow—every inch
As I’m forced to slow down and have time to think
And thank God for throwing my life out of sync
 
It won’t be long and normality will return
But maybe, just maybe this time I’ll learn
In this world filled with constant distraction
God’s telling me what I need is a little inaction
 
Simply stop this Christmas—and feed your soul
Find a quiet place, go out for a stroll
Like Mary, just listen and ask God to lead
And discover that life has more than one speed
 
What Child Is This?
Matthew 1:18-24

Twas the night before Christmas at the fridge I stand
Searching for something to eat that’s not bland
A small bit of chocolate wouldn’t be treason
It wasn’t my idea to diet the holiday season
 
No fudge, no cookies, not one M&M
No chocolate recreations of Bethlehem
No peanut brittle, not one candy cane  
No fruitcake to dull my growing hunger pain
 
Visions of sugarplums dance before my eyes
“There’s got to be something!” Then to my surprise
In the back of the cupboard, obscured by some soup
I spot a sweet morsel and snatch it up with a swoop
 
As if in divine response to my plea
A Savior has come by the name of Hershey
Was it a leftover treat from Halloween?
How long had it sat there, untouched and unseen?
 
My grumbling belly, silenced my brain
I ripped off the wrapper like a hurricane
And there by the tree in dim Christmas light
I devoured my prize in one single bite
 
When what to my yearning tongue did I taste?
But the flavor of cardboard and nuclear waste
I pick up the wrapper, once more to regard
There on the front—Low sugar, low carb.
 
We realize we’ve grown and our health isn’t great
So we diet and exercise to lose some weight
We work real hard and pounds start to drop
When the doctor is concerned and orders us to stop
 
It seems the food we are eating is bad for the heart
And he gives us some pills so that we don’t depart
Now the pills seem to always affect our mood
And we find ourselves getting agitated and rude
 
Seeing the change, our boss gives us a paycut
Until we can manage our way out of this rut
Now feeling low in our personal recession
We get a prescription for our new depression
 
And because these drugs make us a bit hazy
We stop exercising because we feel lazy
The final result—we’ve gained 20 pounds plus
We’re poorer, more irritable—and no one likes us
 
Often when we try to minimize our trouble
Despite all our efforts it seems only to double
The reason quite simply we can’t reach our goal
Is that none of us are truly in control
 
Now I have nothing against living wise
But to think we’re in charge is just a disguise
Joseph must have been devastated when the news came
That Mary was pregnant—his one true flame
 
He quickly sought to manage the situation
Unaware that this was God’s plan for salvation
 
And from the voice of the angel we hear, “all is well
The child to be born is Emmanuel”
God with us—in the midst of the mess
So do not worry and do not stress
 
Just follow the LORD and don’t be afraid
God has a plan for each creature He made”
So if your good luck has begun to recede
Simply trust Jesus to guide and to lead
 
Angels We Have Heard
Luke 2:1-19

Twas the night before Christmas I tuck in my son
He’s wiggling in excitement for tomorrow’s Christmas fun
We say our prayers and I wish him a good night.
And exiting the bedroom, I turn out the light
 
Not ten minutes later a piter-pater on the floor
And then a small whisper coming through my door
“Can we open presents?  I think the it’s morning”
So I send him to his room with a stern warning
 
“Back to bed, go to sleep, I’ll tell you when”
But ten minutes later he’s at my door again
After two more times I simply give up
And camp in hallway curled up like a pup
 
For the first time the year we had asked our boy
What he would like—thinking he may want a special toy
The answer he gave was short and sweet
“Presents” he said and went back to his treat
 
When we pressed further and asked him what kind
“Green, Blue, and Red” is what came to his mind
It made me chuckle, but soon made me ponder
Perhaps this is the attitude that leads us to squander
 
“I don’t care what it is, I just want something new!”
It’s amazing how often that’s thought we pursue.
With talk of recession it’s still can’t evade
The pressing temptation to always upgrade
 
Closets full of clothes worn once or twice
While we are out shopping for new merchandise
Whozit and Whatzit, Gadget and Game
For all of this stuff our hearts are aflame
 
And I’ve found the holiday season especially sly
While shopping for others, for myself I buy
The credo that seems to have made many a debtor
“No matter how much, more is always better”
 
Into this world of the unending chase
A Savior is born who walks a different pace
He’s born in a stable, the King of all Kings
And it’s to lowly shepherds that the angels sing
 
Jesus taught that it’s better to give than receive
What you have is not as valuable as what you believe.
Ultimately he died so that others would live
Instead of acquire, Jesus sought to forgive
 
Jesus lived homeless and used all that he had
To help those around Him and to please his Dad
And if this Christmas its true joy that you need
Allow “simply give” to be your new creed
 
My thoughts suddenly broken by a tinkling sound
I creep down the hall—looking around
Finally my eyes come to rest on our tree
There’s my son.  How’d he get past me!
 
Offering (Pat-A-Pan 11:00, Choir 5:00 & 7:00)
Matthew 2:1-12

Twas the night before Christmas, just finishing my shift
I scramble out in the madness to buy one last gift
Frantic to find the most perfect thing
A DVD?  A gadget? A necklace?  A ring?
 
Desperately short on ideas and time
And far too late to find something online
I’m haunted by last year’s quizzical look
>From my love on what I thought was the ideal book
 
Why do I feel pressured?  This should be a treat
But here I’m out in the cold, feeling the heat.
It sure would be easier to show my affections
If when God made women He included directions
 
I’ve never been one of the great trendsetters
What do I know of jewelry or sweaters?
And why do I wait till the last couple hours?
Maybe that’s why we men always buy flowers
 
Clearly I’m not alone as I circle the lot
Futilely searching for a parking spot
This season of peace has me feeling tense
As I contemplate picking up some frankincense
 
Have you ever noticed how much of your life
Is spent trying to please parents, boss, or wife?
Of course it is good and Godly that we seek to bless
But sometimes I wonder about our NEED to impress.
 
Do we fear being rejected—left all alone?
Or are we trying somehow our mistakes to atone?
Do we need to succeed to be at peace within?
Or are we just hungry for some attention?
 
The promise of Christmas is a God who comes
Whether we live like champions or like bums
Whether Super Bowl bound or 0 and sixteen
Jesus forgives and washes each of us clean
 
We rarely bring Him the perfect gift
Far too often our faith is adrift
Not seeking our Lord in Word or in prayer
Our attention is often directed elsewhere
 
But it’s because of our weakness that Jesus came
So that in our failure we can call on His name
God’s wish for us on this Christmas Eve
Is not for us to give more, but to simply receive
 
So tonight we sing, celebrating His love
Who brought peace to our hearts when he came from above
And if you’re still seeking some way to impress
Just simply say thank you and Merry Christmas!