The journey continues! Here's the plan for Christmas Eve, 2018.
Here are the texts that will be read:
1ST LESSON: Proverbs 8:22-31 [Birth of Wisdom]
Proverbs 8:22-31 New English Translation (NET Bible)
22 The Lord created me as the beginning of his works,
before his deeds of long ago.
23 From eternity I was appointed,
from the beginning, from before the world existed.
24 When there were no deep oceans I was born,
when there were no springs overflowing with water;
25 before the mountains were set in place—
before the hills—I was born,
26 before he made the earth and its fields,
or the beginning of the dust of the world.
27 When he established the heavens, I was there;
when he marked out the horizon over the face of the deep,
28 when he established the clouds above,
when the fountains of the deep grew strong,
29 when he gave the sea his decree
that the waters should not pass over his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 then I was beside him as a master craftsman,
and I was his delight day by day,
rejoicing before him at all times,
31 rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth,
and delighting in its people.
2ND LESSON: Odes of Solomon 36 [The Child of Humanity]
Odes of Solomon 36
1 I rested on the Spirit of the Lord,
And she raised me up to the high place
2 And she caused me to stand on my feet in the high place of the Lord
Before his fullness and splendor,
While I was proclaiming in the preparation of his odes.
3 She gave birth to me before the face of the Lord.
And while I was the Child of Humanity
I was called the Light, the Child of God,
Because I was glorified among the glorious,
And first among the great ones.
4 For she made me according to the greatness of the Most High
And he renewed me according to his renewal,
5 And anointed me from his fullness.
I became one of those who are near him
6 And my mouth was opened like a cloud of dew
And my heart gushed forth a fountain of justice.
7 And my access was through peace,
And I was set up in the Spirit of Instruction. Halleluiah.
3RD LESSON: Luke 2:1; 3–7 [Birth of Jesus.]
1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the empire for taxes…. 3 Everyone went to his own town to be registered. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him, and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
4TH LESSON: Luke 2:8–16 [The Shepherds]
8 Now there were shepherds nearby living out in the field, keeping guard over their flock at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people: 11 Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a vast, heavenly army appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger.
5TH LESSON: Matthew 2:1–12 [The Magi]
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, in the time of King Herod, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem 2 saying, “Where is the one who is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was alarmed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 After assembling all the chief priests and experts in the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they said, “for it is written this way by the prophet:
6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are in no way least among the rulers of Judah,
for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod privately summoned the wise men and determined from them when the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and look carefully for the child. When you find him, inform me so that I can go and worship him as well.” 9 After listening to the king they left, and once again the star they saw when it rose led them until it stopped above the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star they shouted joyfully. 11 As they came into the house and saw the child with Mary his mother, they bowed down and worshiped him. They opened their treasure boxes and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 After being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back by another route to their own country.
6TH LESSON: Gospel of Thomas 70 & 77 [Bring Forth what Is within You]
Gospel of Thomas
70) Jesus said, "If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you."
77) Jesus said, "It is I who am the light which is above them all. It is I who am the All. From Me did the All come forth, and unto Me did the All extend. Split a piece of wood, and I am there. Lift up the stone, and you will find Me there."
7TH LESSON Odes of Solomon 41 [Sing with His Love]
Odes of Solomon 41
1 Let all to whom the Lord has given birth proclaim him,
And let us receive the Truth of his faith.
2 And let his children be known to him,
So that we may sing with his love.
3 We live in the Lord through his generosity
And we receive life through his Anointed One.
4 Indeed a momentous day has dawned for us,
And the one who gave to us from his glory is astonishing.
5 Therefore let us agree together, on account of the name of the Lord,
And let us honor him and his goodness.
6 And let our faces shine with his light,
And let our hearts meditate in his love night and day.
7 Let us rejoice in the Lord’s exultation.
[Christ speaks] 8 All who see me will be amazed
Because I am of a different sort.
9 For the Father of Truth remembered me,
The one who possessed me from the beginning.
10 Indeed his riches bore me,
Along with the contemplation of his heart.
[Odist speaks] 11 And his word is in each path of ours,
The redeemer who sustains life, and does not reject ourselves,
12 The person who was humiliated
And was raised by his own righteousness.
13 The child of the Most High appeared
In the fullness of the Father.
14 And light shone from the word
That was in him before he existed.
15 The Anointed One is one with Truth,
And he was known before the foundations of the generation,
So that he might give life to people forever in the Truth of his name.
16 A new hymn to the Lord from those who love him.
Halleluiah.
--Jack Lohr, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Forest Hills, NY
