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Presbyterian Church of Western Springs

Sunday, December 20, 2020 | 7 P.M.

Longest Night Service

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Gather in God’s Name

Music for Preparation Conte de Noel by Alphonse Hasselmans O Come O Come Emmanuel arr. by Dan Coates Paraphrase on Greensleeves arr. by Carlos Salzedo Julie Spring, harp

Words of Welcome & Opening Prayer The Rev. Erik P. Khoobyarian

Call to Worship The Rev. Lottie MacAulay Friedman

Consider and answer me, O Lord my God! Psalm 13:3-6 Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, and my enemy will say, “I have prevailed”; my foes will rejoice because I am shaken. But I trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Advent Litany – the Candle of Hope We light this candle for the hopeless—for those walking through the dark valleys of grief and loss. We carry with us the names of the people we miss: spouses, parents, siblings, children, friends, neighbors, and even strangers. We also carry with us other losses: broken relationships, lost jobs, homesickness, poor health, and instability.

Even before a word is on my tongue, you, O Lord, know it completely. Lord hear our prayers.

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Hymn #836 Abide with Me EVENTIDE

Advent Litany – the Candle of Peace We light this candle for those living without peace. We lift up the injustices of our world: war, hunger, homelessness, inequality, and scarcity. We lift up the peacelessness in our own lives: hurriedness, restlessness, busyness, and anxiety. When our minds race and we can’t slow down; when worries about the future keep us up at night.

Even before a word is on my tongue, you, O Lord, know it completely. Lord hear our prayers.

Music for Reflection Coventry Carol Julie Spring, harp

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Poem How the Light Comes by Jan Richardson Joyce Smyers

I cannot tell you how the light comes. What I know is that it is more ancient than imagining. That it travels across an astounding expanse to reach us. That it loves searching out what is hidden, what is lost, what is forgotten or in peril or in pain. That it has a fondness for the body, for finding its way toward flesh, for tracing the edges of form, for shining forth through the eye, the hand, the heart. I cannot tell you how the light comes, but that it does. That it will. That it works its way into the deepest dark that enfolds you, though it may seem long ages in coming or arrive in a shape you did not foresee. And so may we this day turn ourselves toward it. May we lift our faces to let it find us. May we bend our bodies to follow the arc it makes. May we open and open more and open still to the blessed light that comes.

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Proclaiming the Word of God

Scripture Lesson Psalm 22 Joyce Rodos & Lorraine Hoskins

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?

O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest.

Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them.

To you they cried, and were saved; in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul, what wondrous love is this, O my soul!

But I am a worm, and not human; scorned by others, and despised by the people.

All who see me mock at me; they make mouths at me, they shake their heads;

“Commit your cause to the Lord; let him deliver— let him rescue the one in whom he delights!”

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down, when I was sinking down, sinking down.

Yet it was you who took me from the womb; you kept me safe on my mother’s breast. On you I was cast from my birth,

and since my mother bore me you have been my God. Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.

To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing, to God and to the Lamb, I will sing.

I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:

You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him;

stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! For he did not despise or abhor

the affliction of the afflicted; he did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to him.

From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him.

The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord.

May your hearts live forever! All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord;

and all the families of the nations shall worship before him. For dominion belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.

To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and I shall live for him.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on, and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.

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Meditation The Rev. Erik P. Khoobyarian

Scripture Lesson Psalm 23 David Boxell

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Hymn #803 My Shepherd Will Supply RESIGNATION

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Advent Litany – the Candle of Joy

We light this candle for those struggling to find joy— for the lonely and the isolated, those longing for Christmases past or future. We lift up prayers for those who are separated from the family, friends and traditions that spark joy and we lift up prayers for those with depression and mental health challenges that make joy hard to find.

Even before a word is on my tongue, you, O Lord, know it completely. Lord hear our prayers.

Respond to God’s Word

Litany Healer of Our Every Ill Dom Garino, Lottie, & Erik

Trusting in the One who has said, “I will never forsake you,” we lift the prayers of our hearts to our loving and faithful God.

God of mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray from our pain and our despairing to You, O God of healing and hope: bind up the wounds of all who suffer, rekindle a flame of hope in those who despair.

We pray from our confusion and distress to You, faithful, constant God: lead us back to Your pathway and strengthen us in our journey with You.

We pray in our grief and loss to You, O God of our suffering and compassion: bring comfort to our broken hearts and peace to our shattered spirits.

We pray in our need and our hunger to You, O God of gracious abundance: fill us with gratitude for Your countless blessings; lead us into lives of service and sacrifice.

For all the blessings You have showered down upon us, for Your compassion that holds and lifts us, for Your grace, rich and unending, we give You thanks.

Healer of our every ill, light of each tomorrow, give us peace beyond our fear, and hope beyond our sorrow.

You who know our fears and sadness, grace us with Your peace and gladness; Spirit of all comfort, fill our hearts.

You who know each thought and feeling, teach us all Your way of healing; Spirit of compassion, fill each heart.

Sung Response Healer of Our Every Ill HEALER OF OUR EVERY ILL

Join on refrain: Healer of our every ill, light of each tomorrow, give us peace beyond our fear, and hope beyond our sorrow.

Advent Litany – the Candle of Love

We light this candle for those feeling unloved or overlooked. We lift up the forgotten and forgetful, the estranged and abandoned, the undervalued and underappreciated. We offer prayers for caregivers, parents, frontline workers, and all those celebrating Christmas far from home.

Even before a word is on my tongue, you, O Lord, know it completely. Lord hear our prayers.

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Hymn #92 While We Are Waiting, Come WAITING (Cason)

Go in God’s Name

Sending Words I Will Light Candles by Howard Thurman Dom Garino

I will light candles this Christmas,

Candles of joy despite all the sadness,

Candles of hope where despair keeps watch,

Candles of courage for fears ever present,

Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days,

Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens,

Candles of love to inspire all my living,

Candles that will burn all year long.

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Benediction & Departure in Silence

Following the Benediction, please feel free to reflect and pray silently, taking whatever posture you might need to be present to God more fully. Feel free to silently leave the Zoom meeting when you are ready. There is no hurry and you are welcome to remain as long as you need.

Sending Music Noël Provençal by Marcel Grandjany Julie Spring, harp

Special thanks to our musicians, Laura Hepburn, Julie Spring, and Stephanie Coates; and our liturgists, members of our Stephen Ministry: David Boxell, Dom Garino,

Lorraine Hoskins, Joyce Rodos, and Joyce Smyers.

Images are by Jan Richardson, used with permission.