~~Please come forward and light a candle as you are led~~
We light these candles to remember those who are captive to darkness. For those lost in the night of addiction, depression, anxiety, or unexpected grief, we pray to God, who guided the Israelites through the darkness with a pillar of fire:
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night.
We light these candles to remember those who have died, those who mourn the dead, and for loss that feels like a death. The shadow of death can seem impenetrably dark during these long nights. We pray to God, whose first act in creation was to call light from darkness;
Death's dark shadow put to flight.
We light these candles to remember those who are alone. We remember those who are isolated from loved ones; far from home; wandering down the wrong path; or convinced that God is unconcerned with their suffering. We pray to God, who is like the woman who lit a lantern to search all night for one lost coin;
Refresh the hearts that long for you.
We light these candles to remember those who are battling illness. We lift up those who suffer the pain, indignity, and bewilderment that accompany a broken body. For all who desire to be returned to wholeness, we pray to God, who lit the night sky with a star to guide three magi to the healing Christ;
Restore the broken: make us new.
We light these candles to remember those who feel that hardship will overwhelm them. For the poor, the persecuted, the hungry, and the homeless, we pray to God, who walked with three men through the consuming flames of a fiery furnace;
In strength and beauty come and stay.
Personal reflection
We hear from God’s Story
Genesis 16:1–15 (NLT)
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal. So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. (This happened ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan.)
So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt. Then Sarai said to Abram, “This is all your fault! I put my servant into your arms, but now that she’s pregnant she treats me with contempt. The Lord will show who’s wrong—you or me!”
Abram replied, “Look, she is your servant, so deal with her as you see fit.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away.
The angel of the Lord found Hagar beside a spring of water in the wilderness, along the road to Shur. The angel said to her, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?”
“I’m running away from my mistress, Sarai,” she replied.
The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority.” Then he added, “I will give you more descendants than you can count.”
And the angel also said, “You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears’), for the Lord has heard your cry of distress. This son of yours will be a wild man, as untamed as a wild donkey! He will raise his fist against everyone, and everyone will be against him. Yes, he will live in open hostility against all his relatives.”
Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?” So that well was named Beer-lahai-roi (which means “well of the Living One who sees me”). It can still be found between Kadesh and Bered.
So Hagar gave Abram a son, and Abram named him Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old when Ishmael was born.
Prayers of the People
Standing at the threshold of the longest night as we await the light of Christmas, we offer the prayers of our hearts, praying for ourselves, community, church and world to Emmanuel, God with us.
Stand near in the darkness, gracious God. We are broken by our loss and afraid of our future, overwhelmed by all we cannot understand.
Stand near in the darkness, gracious God; comfort us in our pain.
We are heavy with sadness and grief, sick with despair, aching with emptiness;
Stand near in the darkness, gracious God; comfort us in our pain.
We are confused and enraged at the injustices in our communities and world. We are frightened to find ourselves doubting your love.
Stand near in the darkness, gracious God; comfort us in our pain.
Our bodies cannot rise or rest, our hearts are like stones.
Stand near in the darkness, gracious God; comfort us in our pain.
O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.
Save and restore us, Good Lord, by your love. Only you can heal us. Send your life-giving Spirit to renew our broken hearts.
Save and restore us, Good Lord, by your love.
Increase in us patience toward ourselves and one another.
Save and restore us, Good Lord, by your love.
Give us grace to let go of lost dreams, entrusting ourselves to your purpose and will.
Save and restore us, Good Lord, by your love.
Use our sorrows to enlarge our compassion toward others and ourselves.
Save and restore us, Good Lord, by your love.
Release us from fear, renew us in love, and rekindle our hope.
Save and restore us, Good Lord, by your love.
Fill us with gratitude for the good things we enjoy, help us to notice our blessings.
Save and restore us, Good Lord, by your love.
Help us remember, always, those who suffer in illness, war, poverty, or despair, and turn our hearts towards their relief.
Save and restore us, Good Lord, by your love.
Renew us this night, that we might live as your children in the strength of your love.
O come, O Dayspring from on high, and cheer us by your drawing nigh; disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadow put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
Holy and Gracious God, as a father has compassion on his children, so do you have mercy on us. As a mother carries and feeds her children, so do you carry us in our afflictions, and feed us with healing and joy. We thank you for strengthening and renewing us in your love. We pray for grace to help you push back the darkness in our world, to help unfold your light, and to live with courage, kindness, and hope. Amen.
Go in peace knowing you are seen and loved by God.