Hanging of the Christmas Greens©

Presented on November 29, 2009

A Service for the First Sunday of Advent
at Zion Lutheran Church of Silverhill, AL 36576

by Pastor David Johnson, Copyright © 2009

     [The sections and divisions of this liturgy are designed to allow a variety of participants to lead the service as readers while others are involved in placement of Advent decorations. “Parts” may be assigned as appropriate. This service may comprise an “adult Christmas program” where there are few children in a congregation. Links to several websites relating to the ethnic background and flavor of our Silverhill community are embedded within this web rendition of our service as reference sources to some material within this service.]

Welcome, Offering, and Invocation.

Pastor Dave Johnson

     Welcome to worship at Zion Lutheran Church this First Sunday of Advent and to our “Hanging of the Christmas Greens” Sunday. We will receive our offering at this time to allow this service to flow without interruption.

     Action: Offering received and NOT taken to the altar, but retired from the congregation. Then the service continues:

     Let’s pray: Father God, Son of God, Holy Spirit--Help us laud and magnify Your Holy Name and raise up the Name of Jesus as we begin the Advent Season of the Church Year. Bless our keeping of Christmas this season. Bless our desires to honor our Lord and Savior Whose birth we remember and Whose life we treasure. Bless our remembering of the happy events that brought the Savior of the world to the little town of Bethlehem and to our little town of Silverhill. Amen

Where Did Our Christmas Come From?

read by

Martha Canning

     The first people of our church came from the “Old Country.” For some of us, that means Norway or Finland or Bohemia or elsewhere. For Oscar Johnson and the developers of Silverhill in 1896, it meant Sweden. We can even name specific places in Sweden from which our first Zion church members came. Sixteen people came to Silverhill and wanted to remain Lutheran Christians. Augustana Lutheran Pastor Hedberg from Thorsby began coming to Silverhill in 1897. But it was his successor, Pastor Hartelius, who made Zion’s first Christmas in 1905 very special. He agreed to come every other month to bring Swedish Lutheran worship here to Silverhill beginning in 1906. Those Zion Swedes were excited that Christmas in 1905, because that decision and commitment from Pastor Hartelius was made on December 18, 1905.

     Over the years we know that Swedes, Norwegians, Finns, Czechs, and Germans immigrated to Baldwin County, each bringing with them their Christmas traditions. We remember the desire of all who came to Silverhill for a new life and a new home. We are thankful that they brought their traditions of worship with them. They wanted to remember and so do we. Our Advent has deep roots in the past.

HYMN

(AFLC Ambassador Hymnal, #490)

(congregation stands)

Son of God, eternal Savior,
Source of life and truth and grace,
Word made flesh, whose birth among us
Hallows all our human race,
You our head, who, throned in glory,
For Your own will ever plead:
Fill us with Your love and pity,
Heal our wrongs, and help our need.

Son of God, eternal Savior,
Source of life and truth and grace,
Word made flesh, whose birth among us
Hallows all our human race:
By Your praying, by Your willing
That Your people should be one,
Grant, oh, grant our hopes fruition:
Here on earth Your will be done.

Action During Music: Items of the past may be laid in tribute on the altar.

(congregation seated)

Tradition.

read by

Shirley Stephens

     We begin a new Christian Year with the Holy Season known as Advent. We celebrate with traditions brought from many lands. It is a time when we prepare ourselves for the coming of our Messiah. Through the centuries, Christians have observed a time of waiting and expectation before celebrating the birth of the Savior at Christmas. The Advent season is a time for reflection and preparation, but its mood is joyful.

     Advent has been enriched by Christian tradition to reflect its distinctive Christian meaning. It proclaims the revelation of God's love as expressed in Christ's birth in a humble stable, His sacrificial death on the cross, and His victorious resurrection! It points to the hope of Christ's coming again as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Advent makes innkeepers out of all of us, asking each of us to make room for the arrival of Christ the King. Let us, today, prepare Him room in our hearts, our lives, and our homes!

What Advent Is All About.

read by

Pete Midgarden

     The Holy Season of Advent begins the Church Year. The Advent Season looks for the Christ Who will be coming to us at Christmas. It is a time to get ready for that coming. Decorations and presents are not the way that we get ready for Jesus’ birth! For the last 2000 years people have looked in expectation for the Savior at Christmas. The church has looked for clues in God’s Word for that actual birth. People have searched the Bible to find the plan of Salvation, the joyful plan of Redemption that begins with the birth of little Baby Jesus. John 3:16-17 proclaims, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”

     So today as we begin this Advent, we join the church of history. We remember our Bible. And, we recall God's love in Christ's birth in a barn. We will look past that stable to His sacrificial death on the cross, and on to His resurrection.

Hymn

HYMN (AFLC Ambassador Hymnal, #5)

(congregation stands)

Come Thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us;
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israels Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Action During Music: The Bible is placed on the altar and opened to the Christmas story.

(congregation seated)

The Sanctuary Evergreens.

read by

Cindi Johnson

     Remember Noah and the ark? Noah’s grandson Gomer is connected with Christmas. The Celts, children of Gomer, are responsible for many of our evergreen traditions. Early Christians placed evergreens in their windows to indicate Christ--they are eternally green and alive, even in the middle of winter. Just like our Father God who is unchanging from eternity! Or just like our eternally living Lord Christ Jesus! Or just like our ever present Counselor, the Holy Spirit! Might there be a Biblical reason for such remembrance? Look to Isaiah 60:13 which reads, “The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress, the pine, and the box tree together. To beautify the place of My sanctuary; and I will make the place of My feet glorious.” Those trees are evergreens.

     We often give Martin Luther credit for the Christmas tree and the tradition of lights. We know that the Norwegians were using Christmas trees pretty universally by 1900, so they carried their tradition to this country along with the Swedes and Danes. We know that we have decorated our Advent Christmas tree at Zion for many years. We know that there were years when real holly decorated our windows and the red berries were real. We know that there were real wax candles nestled in that holly and that the candles were burning. People from those days tell us tales of the smells of the Sanctuary, the aromas of worship, and the joys of Advent celebration. Today we think of fire hazards in this old church of ours, but there was a time when the celebration of Christmas was more important than our fears. Today we celebrate again with evergreens, with Christmas tree and holly.

     A variety of decorations have been added to our evergreens over the years. Joyful red balls, strings of berries or lights, tinsel, garlands, and asundry other items grace our trees. The Chrismons used on our Zion tree have been with us since 1976 when the ladies of the church first created them. Let us continue our celebration as we decorate with the greens.

Hymn

HYMN (AFLC Ambassador Hymnal, #28)

(congregation stands)

I am so glad each Christmas Eve!
The night of Jesus birth;
Then like the sun the Star shone forth,
And angels sang on earth.

The little child in Bethlehem,
He was a king indeed;
He came from His high state in heavn,
Down to a world in need.

Then mother trims the Christmas tree,
And fills the room with light.
She says that so the Star shone forth
And made the dark world bright.

And so I love each Christmas Eve,
And I love Jesus, too;
And that He loves me in return,
I know so well is true.

Action During Music: While the song is being sung, the evergreens on the side walls and front are hung, and any other evergreens are put in place. The tree is decorated and “adjusted.” The Christmas window candles are NOT turned on, but other lights are lit. After the decorations have been placed on the tree, the lights are turned on.

(congregation seated)

Reminders of Christmas.

read by

Milt Luoma

     Flowers - the smells of Christmas! Foods - the tastes of breads and candies and cookies and dainties of Christmas! Our images of Christmas often are disconnected from the events of 2000 years ago. Let’s remember again the events that surround the coming of the Messiah, God’s Savior for the world. As we remember the prophets, the Holy parents, the shepherds of Bethlehem, the wise men from the east, and all of God’s people that looked forward to Baby Jesus and all of us who look back to that blessed event, let us welcome the Baby who came at Christmas according to the Scriptures. Please join me in this responsive reading:

Responsive Reading Drawing on Isaiah 9, Luke 1, and John 1 [NKJV]

(congregation stands)

Leader: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. That Word was the preincarnate Jesus Christ.

Congregation: All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and His life (the life of Jesus Christ) was the light of men.

L: The light of Christ shined in the darkness 2700 years ago when the Prophet Isaiah proclaimed that the darkness did not comprehend it. Yet the promise of his prophecy was that the people who walked in darkness would see a great light. Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them the light would shine.

C: Isaiah proclaimed, “You, O Father, have multiplied the nation and increased its joy; for unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given.

L: “And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

C: “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”

L: There was in the days of Herod, 700 years later, a certain priest named Zacharias serving according to the custom of the priesthood, to burn incense in the temple of the Lord. The whole multitude of the people was praying outside.

C: An angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharias, saying, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

L: “And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at John’s birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

C: “And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” That preparation would be for our Lord Jesus Christ.

L: Just 6 months later the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

C: The angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, for you have found favor with God. You will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.

L: “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.

C: “And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” This was the fulfilling of the Old Testament prophecy.

Hymn

HYMN (AFLC Ambassador Hymnal, #20)

(congregation stands)

Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th’angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Refrain

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail, the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.

Refrain

Action During Music: The candle lights in the widows are lit.

(congregation seated)

The Christmas Poinsettia and the Paraments and Advent Colors.

read by

Vera Avera

     The poinsettia is named for Joel Robert Poinset. He brought this bright red flower to the U.S. from Mexico in 1828. This "Flower of the Holy Night" has been part of our Christmas and Advent traditions at Zion Lutheran Church since the 1950s. Its bright red color and greenery reminds us of the Christmas Season.

     In the early days of Christian worship, Advent and Christmas were seen as a somber time, much like Lent is today. Advent then was not celebration. Royal purple altar trappings were used to convey Christ’s Kingship and His coming reign. The original flavor of the season was heavy, not light as it is in the 21st Century.

Hymn

HYMN (AFLC Ambassador Hymnal, #2)

(congregation stands)

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Refrain

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Refrain

Action During Music: Since this service is on the first Sunday of Advent, the purple paraments will already be in place, so simply draw attention to the coverings as appropriate. A pulpit parament may be put aside for placement at this time. A poinsettia may be placed on the altar or organ.

(congregation seated)

The Advent Candle.

read by

Steve Vasko

     Advent is a four-week time of preparation. We light an Advent Candle on each Sunday of the season. The flame of each new candle reminds us worshipers that something is happening as we wait.

     The candles are arranged in a circle to remind us of the continuous power of God, which knows neither beginning nor ending. There is also symbolism in the colors of the candles. The three purple candles symbolize the coming of Christ from the royal line of David. He is coming as the King of Kings as well as the Prince of Peace. The pink candle represents joy. The large white candle in the center is known as the Christ candle, and points to Jesus as the Light of the world.

     A progression is noted in the lighting of the candles of the Advent wreath each Sunday. Each candle symbolizes various aspects of our waiting experience. Each Advent we focus on Prophecy, Preparation, Rejoicing, and Proclamation. The culmination of the season comes as we light the Christ Candle on Christmas Eve. We join in rejoicing that the promise of long ago has been fulfilled.

Hymn

HYMN (AFLC Ambassador Hymnal, #31)

(congregation stands)

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehems home there was found no room
For Thy holy nativity.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus:
There is room in my heart for Thee.

Heavens arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But in lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
And in great humility.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus:
There is room in my heart for Thee.

Action During Music: As the song is sung, the first purple candle is lit.

(congregation seated)

The Nativity.

read by

Phil Owen

     At Zion Lutheran Church we share our crèche scene from the beginning of Advent. In years past the “Baby Jesus” was not part of the crèche until Jesus’ coming as the Babe of Bethlehem on Christmas Eve. This white china crèche dates from 1979 when Martha and Charles Jolliff donated the crèche and ceramic figures. The Nativity scene speaks of the mystery of God's wisdom. We do not know why God chose to send His Son into our world as a baby of humble birth in common surroundings. What we do know is that God reached out to all people including the poor and the wealthy, the simple and the wise, the powerless and the powerful.

     Whenever we see a creche we find ourselves with Mary and Joseph, with the Shepherds, and with the Wise Men, bowing before the manger, overwhelmed by God's expression of love in coming to us. We remember the stable as Luke records in 2:16-20, “So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”

Hymn

HYMN (AFLC Ambassador Hymnal, #36)

(congregation stands)

Infant holy, infant lowly,
For His bed a cattle stall;
Oxen lowing, little knowing
Christ the child is Lord of all.
Swiftly winging, angels singing,
Bells are ringing, tidings bringing:
Christ the child is Lord of all!
Christ the child is Lord of all!

Flocks were sleeping, shepherds keeping
Vigil till the morning new.
Saw the glory, heard the story,
Tidings of a Gospel true.
Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow,
Praises voicing, greet the morrow:
Christ the child was born for you!
Christ the child was born for you!

Action During Music: As the song is sung the figures of the Nativity are arranged.

(congregation seated)

The Gifts of Christmas.

read by

Henri Burnett

     From the beginning of Christmas celebrations, gift giving has been a part of the season. St. Matthew records in 2:11, “On coming to the house, they [the Wise Men] saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.” Those Wise Men gave out of their treasures, and the Shepherds gave of themselves. Both express the Gift of God in giving Christ as the Savior of the World. The biggest gift is Jesus Christ Himself, God’s gift to the world. In the case of Zion Lutheran Church, we know that its first recorded Christmas gift was $5.07 to Pastor Swanlund in 1913. Oranges and apples were gifted to children in Christmas plays in Silverhill from the early days. We know that children got boxes of hard candies when they “said their pieces” in the Christmas programs. Those boxes were colorful and had little string handles of yarn that dressed them up. By the 1950s hard candy and a Delicious apple was the expectation in our church.

     Now, think about Santa. Did you know he was an early Christian? The generous giver known as Saint Nicholas was Bishop of Myra in the fourth century A.D. He was apparently wealthy, but the good Bishop gave his money away secretly to those whom he found in need. He was deeply interested in young people, giving his wealth especially to young women whose lack of a dowry was affecting their marriage future, and to needy boys. Gifts coming from unknown sources were commonly attributed to him and parents customarily gave him credit for their gifts to their children from that time. Today, St. Nicholas’ name survives as the human embodiment of unselfish giving, “Santa Claus.”

Hymn

HYMN (AFLC Ambassador Hymnal, #26)

(congregation stands)

What child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Marys lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the king,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The babe, the son of Mary!

Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear; for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you;
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The babe, the son of Mary!

Action During Music: While the song is sung, boxes wrapped in colorful paper are placed under the tree.

(congregation seated)

The Bells of Christmas.

read by

Aleda Midgarden

     Angels had no bells, but they had words that ring true through history in the testimony of St. Luke 2:10-14: “And the angel said to them, ‘Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.’”

     Beginning in the fourth century, bells have announced the birth of the Baby Jesus. In Silverhill our first bell welcomed Christmas until 1928 when it was retired to Silverhill School. Our present “new” bell first rang at Christmas beginning in 1929. And it continues to ring today. Let us listen again to some peals of Christmas.

     Action: The church bell is rung.

The Christ Of Christmas.

read by

Betty Pitcher

     The greatest Gift of Christmas is the Gift of God in Christ Jesus. All that we do in this Holy Season points to that expression of Holy Love. Christ came as a Babe in Bethlehem, God's gift at Christmas. As Christians we seek to pass on our heritage to our children and to those who, by faith in Christ, become part of the Family of God.

Hymn

HYMN (AFLC Ambassador Hymnal, #41)

(congregation stands)

The happy Christmas comes once more,
The heavenly guest is at the door,
The blessed words the shepherds thrill,
The joyous tidings, Peace, good will.

Come, Jesus, glorious heavenly guest,
Keep Thine own Christmas in our breast,
Then David’s harp-strings, hushed so long,
Shall swell our jubilee of song.

(congregation seated)

The Benediction.

Pastor Dave Johnson

     Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely this day and this Advent Season. May your spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless till the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. May you bless all who cross your path this Advent season with an appropriate “Merry Christmas” and a willingness to share the Good News that God cared enough for humankind to send His only Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Announcements.

Pastor Dave Johnson

Hymn

HYMN (AFLC Ambassador Hymnal, #332)

(congregation stands)

Away in a manger, no crib for His bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head;
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky,
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And fit us for heaven to live with Thee there.

(congregation dismissed)

Zion's Monthly Coffee Fellowship Followed Our Service in the Fellowship Hall

Copyright © 2009, Pastor David Johnson, Zion Lutheran Church, Silverhill, AL. - All Rights Reserved

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     Copyright © 2009, Pastor David Johnson, Zion Lutheran Church, Silverhill, AL. - All Rights Reserved.