DisciplesNet Worship #335, Christmas “No Room?” (Smith 12.25.2016)
Where to be on a Christmas Sunday? Well, at DisciplesNet, we believe it is in the presence of God, worshipping as we celebrate the birth of the Christ of God. Here is one opportunity. In our worship, “No Room?” we hope that you will, nevertheless, have room for 38 minutes of Christmas sing-along, the Christmas story in scripture, prayer, and an inspiring short message.
And if you stay to the very end—you’ll have a choose a part and hold on as we sing the Hallelujah Chorus from Handle’s Messiah. So much here that we hope by the time you are finished, your heart will be full with just some of the miracle of Christmas.
Our worship is 38 minutes—including the Hallelujah Chorus. And as we do every week, our time together includes a time of communion (breaking of the bread) where you may choose to participate, or simply meditate as we tell of Jesus' invitation to "do this in remembrance of me." If you would like to share with us at the table that goes beyond earthly boundaries of time, place, and structure, we ask that you prepare a piece of bread of some type and a drink such as grape juice, wine, or water. As we pray, our prayers are given to extend to where you are. If you are unable to eat or drink, you may want to use a symbolic gesture or mental symbol as you come together at this table of remembrance with us. (Scroll down for an Order of Worship)
We hope that as you join us for worship you will feel a blessing from being part. Please tell friends, family, and others you know about our online church that is here with doors that are always open, walls as wide as the world, and always room at the table.
ORDER OF WORSHIP:
1. Opening background music: “It Came Upon A Midnight Clearn
2. Introduction, Pastor Deb
3. Opening Hymn: “Go, Tell It on the Mountain” Twana Harris, Dean Phelps
4. Prayer: Pastor's Prayer with Lord's Prayer: Pastor Bob
5. Christ Story in Scripture: (NRSV) Luke 2:1-7
6 Gospel Hymn: “Sweet Little Jesus Boy” Twana Harris, Dean Phelps
7. Message: Pastor Russ: No Room?
8. Hymn: “Silent Night”,
9. Scripture: Luke 2:8-20. With “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “Joy to the World,” “O Come, All Ye Faithful””
10. Communion: Pastor Ann, with “Holy Baby, Holy Child” background
11. Sending out, credits, with “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”
12. Hallelujah Chorus
If you would like to chat with one of our pastors, including talking more about belief in God, becoming a Christian or following Christ, or living as a disciple of Christ, please email us at pastor@disciplesnet.org, or contact us using the contact information on our website, disciplesnet.org, or our Facebook page, DisciplesNet Church.
ABOUT OUR DISCIPLES SHEEP:
You may notice in our videos that we have various stuffed sheep with us in worship. To us, these are not toys, but important parts of our church.
It happened this way: When we began producing worship as DisciplesNet in November 2010, one of the first problems we recognized was that when we are speaking to the people on the other end of a camera and internet, we cannot actually see the people to whom we were speaking. It was easy to speak to the other pastors in the room, but as we prayed and preached and spoke, we instead wanted to be reminded of the people for whom we were serving—including people whose best way to attend worship might be online. We wanted to be speaking to them---and as best we could hearing and telling their stories.
So, on a whim, we set some sheep that we’d used for a children’s sermon in front of our speakers, and found that helped! Before we knew it, their number was growing. They spilled over onto the table as we spoke. They have become dear to us and no longer children’s toys— but representations of all of the sheep of God’s pasture, all of God’s children—the real people like you, whom we may not be able to see in real life, but wish never to forget are there, and are each and everyone loved by God more than we can ever comprehend. Those sheep are why we are here.
INVITATION TO GIVING:
DisciplesNet Church is a not-for-profit church that exists to cross barriers and boundaries to share the Good News of God's redeeming love. We rely on the gifts of our online viewers as we continue to grow and extend our nets around the world.
We also extend the invitation for you to be part of the DisciplesNet ministry by giving a one-time gift, or ongoing, including a tithe. Even the smallest of gifts, like the mustard seed, has a way of growing in amazing ways to share God's word and the love of Jesus Christ. We have a giving page on our website, disciplesnet.org, and email address: giving@disciplesnet.org
God bless you, and thank you for joining us!