Longest Night

Because there is a conversation about it going on at the RevGalBlogPals, I'm going to post the liturgy I created for our first Longest Night service, which will be next Tuesday night. If you'd like to use any of this, or want information about the service, put your email in a comment and I will contact you. (I will delete the comment once I get your email, so put other actual comments in a different comment.) I will post the prayers in a separate post, once they're written! The homily is going to focus on the fact that Christmas is really more about the Incarnation than it is about "Jesus' birthday", which means it's about God taking on the full complexity and ambiguity of human life.

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“The Longest Night”

*Please stand as you are willing and able.

Prelude

Welcome and Introduction

Song of Invitation “Come Darkness, Come Light”
by Mary Chapin Carpenter

Opening Prayer

*Responsive Call to Covenant
Leader: Friends and strangers, captives and nomads, orphans, widows and runaways, we have gathered this night in the presence of the God of Love.
People: We come seeking room at the inn – room for our true and whole selves; room for all that we are, all that we feel, all that we lack; room to air out what has been hidden away.
Leader: This night, let us make this a place of grace for one another. Let us covenant to make space for each soul here, no matter how messy or vast our brokenness.
People: Here in this place, this night, we will not judge; we will not compare; we will not gawk. We will hold the space between us gently and reverently, knowing God is here.
Leader: Here in this place, this night, let us trust that honesty is our true worship, that tears are worthy prayer, that emptiness can be openness to new blessing.
People: May these long hours of darkness hold us close to the heart of God. May the promise of the dawn hold out the hope of healing and wholeness.

*Opening Hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” #119
As we sing, you are invited to omit the words “Rejoice, rejoice”
and experience their absence instead.

Scripture Readings Matthew 5:1-12 (p. 785)
Isaiah 52:13—53:6 (p. 596)

Responsive Reading of Psalm 42 (p. 741)

Scripture Reading Matthew 1:18—2:18 (p. 783)

Homily

*Hymn “Once in Royal David’s City” #165

Time of Prayer (Individual prayers read and then a candle lit from the named Advent Wreath candle)
For those who grieve – Hope
For those with family difficulties – Peace
For those with depression and mental illness – Joy
For those who have been rejected – Love
Silent Prayer for all those who struggle – Grace

Sharing in the Light
("When Aimless Violence Takes Those We Love" with organ, recorder and solo voice)
As the music begins, you are invited to come forward and light a candle, if you would like to. Perhaps for you it is a prayer. Perhaps it is a sign of hope. Perhaps it is a cry to God for healing. Perhaps it is a way of bringing some light to the darkness. The candle-lighting can mean whatever you need it to.
If you would like to light a candle and leave it on the altar, use a tea light. If you would like to take the candle back to your seat and home with you, use one of the small taper candles.

Benediction – From Luke 1:78-79, the Song of Zechariah

Dismissal and InvitationThis concludes the formal portion of the service. You may go in peace or stay for continued prayer.
Chaplains and counselors are available for individual prayer around the room. A list of who is where is on the back of this program.
You may share briefly what your prayer requests are, or, if you prefer, you may pick up one of the slips of paper on the table at the back to clarify your needs.
The slips of paper include such issues as: grief, abuse, depression, mental illness, loneliness, estrangement, pain, lack of forgiveness, rejection, divorce, job loss, health issues.
There are also supplies in the room off the left side of the sanctuary for writing down what is on your heart.

(During the end part, we will play more Mary Chapin Carpenter -- "Longest Night of the Year" and "Once in Royal David's City" and then some classical music.)