Saturday
12/19/20 – Blue Christmas
/Longest
Night Service - Sidney UMC
Sermon Title:
“Seeking The Light Of Christ In The Darkness of 2020”
Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 80:1-7
New Testament Scripture: Hebrews 10:32-39
Gospel Lesson: John 16:31-33
Welcome again, to this our Blue Christmas or Longest Night
Service. Who here has never been to a Blue Christmas or Longest Night Service?
Well let me read to you all a short explanation of what a Blue
Christmas or Longest Night Service is. This description is taken from www.umcdiscipleship.org,
and it says:
“Blue? Yes, blue as in the blues. As in "I am feeling blue." Not everyone is up and cheery for the Christmas holiday. Dealing with the death of a loved one, facing life after divorce or separation, coping with the loss of a job, living with cancer or some other dis-ease that puts a question mark over the future, and a number of other human situations make parties and joviality painful for many people in our congregations and communities. There is a growing attentiveness to the needs of people who are blue at Christmas. Increasing numbers of churches are creating sacred space for people living through dark times. Such services are reflective, accepting where we really are, and holding out healing and hope”. “Some churches hold a service of worship on the longest night of the year, which falls on or about December 21st, the Winter Solstice. There is an interesting convergence for this day as it is also the traditional feast day for Saint Thomas the Apostle. This linkage invites making some connections between Thomas's struggle to believe the tale of Jesus' resurrection, the long nights just before Christmas, and the struggle with darkness and grief faced by those living with loss” (https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/blue-christmaslongest-night-worship-with-those-who-mourn).
This coming Monday, December 20th, 2020, is the
first day of the season of winter. This day is also the winter solstice. What
is the winter solstice? Here is one explanation that I found:
“The winter solstice (or hibernal solstice), also known as midwinter, is an astronomical phenomenon marking the day with the shortest period of daylight and the longest night of the year” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_solstice).
So, Monday, December 20th, on the first day of
the season of winter, or the winter solstice, we will have the shortest day of
daylight all year. I generally find it easier for folks however, to have this
service on a Saturday or a Sunday though. So may the message and the spirit of
tonight carry into Monday December 20th and beyond.
My
sermon title for tonight is “Seeking The Light Of Christ In The Darkness of
2020”. Every year, various people come to this service, and this year we also
have people attending online to. Some of these attenders are suffering a loss, some
find this time of year to be hard and generally painful, and some are just here
to worship with their brothers and sisters. All these are great reasons to be here,
and everyone is welcome. The fact that we are also living through this year of
2020, the year of the COVID-19 Pandemic, and so many other things, also
magnifies the need for a service like this. There is so much darkness, hurt,
and pain in this world. With this said, how do we overcome all this darkness? How
do spiritually walk into the warmth of light and hope? On Monday December 20th,
the actual longest night, how we will seek light amidst the darkness?
When
describing the nature of who God is, there are three words throughout the Bible
that best describe God. These words are Life, Light, and Love. Once again,
these words are Life, Light, and Love. On this the Longest Night of the year, Jesus
reminds us in John 8:12, when he says:
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (Jn. 8:12, NRSV).
In
looking at our scripture reading from Psalm 80:1-7 for tonight, we hear that the
people of Israel are crying out to God to restore them and to give them new hope
(Ps. 80:1-7, NRSV). How many of us have every cried out to God for restoration
and hope? I know that I have, especially in this year of 2020, the year of
COVID-19 Pandemic. Yet, Jesus says he is the light of the world. May we allow
his light, life, and love to fill us tonight, and may we share it with others,
so that light will over come the darkness, even on the longest night.
In
our reading once again from the Apostle Paul’s Epistle or letter to the Hebrews
for tonight, Paul writes in 10:32-39
“But recall those earlier days when, after you had
been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes
being publicly exposed to abuse and persecution, and sometimes being partners
with those so treated. For you had compassion for those who were in prison, and
you cheerfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you
yourselves possessed something better and more lasting. Do not, therefore,
abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. For you need endurance, so that
when you have done the will
of God, you may receive what was promised. For yet “in a very little while, the
one who is coming will come and will not delay; but my righteous one will live
by faith. My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back.” But we are not
among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and
so are saved”
(Heb.
10:32-39, NRSV).
The
Apostle Paul reminds us that many people have suffered, and that many people have
suffered for their faith in Christ. Whatever we are suffering or have suffered,
God is with us. Jesus is with us, and He will be with us for eternity, if we
place our trust in him. This rings ever truer in this year of 2020, and God is
with us, and the people of God are with each other.
In
our short gospel lesson from John 16:31-33 for tonight, Jesus reminds us of
suffering and persecution. Jesus once again tells us in this gospel lesson:
“Jesus answered them,
“Do you now believe? The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be
scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not
alone because the Father is with me. I have said this to you, so that in me you
may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have
conquered the world!” (Jn. 16:31-33, NRSV).
The promise of Jesus Christ is that he
will always be with us. Yet Jesus does not promise us that we will not suffer, that
we will not have hardships, or that we will not have struggles. This year of
2020 is a magnification of this reality. As we pray, as we are open our hearts
and our souls to God, may the light of Christ fill us anew this night, may the
Holy Spirit fill us, and may when we leave here to go into a cold and dark
night, may we carry the light of Christ with us. Be a light to others and may
other be a light to you.
Friends, I heard a great poem recently
called “Christmas 2020,” which really speaks to the realities of this year, and
the COVID-19 Pandemic. I would like to read it to you. Here it is:
(Christmas
2020)
My friends, brothers and sisters, the
love of God is in us, and the light of Jesus is in us. Let us share it with
each other, and with the world. Let us love each other boldly and serve each
other graciously. For in doing this, the light overcomes the darkness. For even
on Monday, December 20th, the Longest Night of the year, the light
of Christ will be shining, and it will overcome the darkness. Even in 2020. Amen.
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