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Speaker 2Good evening, everybody. Merry Christmas to all of you. I was weak. Merry Christmas. Christmas.
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I'm gonna introduce myself because people have not recognized me all night and time. I'm pastor Greg McDaniel, and we are glad that you're here with us this evening. I am excited about it. I'd like for you this was advertised at church at least as the one where people sing to you instead of you singing back this way. But to start the evening off, would you stand with us and sing a couple of hymns?
0:40
We're gonna sing a couple of Christmas carols. Just get your juices flowing a little bit this evening. We are glad that you're here. We just had a a an earlier service at thirty minutes between. So that was an exciting run between two.
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Even Judy just a second to get to it. 02:49. Oh, come all you faith. Amen. You sound so good.
3:42
I want you to sing another one about that. Hymn number two seventy seven is a harp that herald angels sing. And Thank you very much. You may be seated. I'm gonna ask the ushers to come forward to and as I'm asking that, I'm cognizant of the fact that this is a Christmas Eve service.
6:32
And a lot of y'all are probably visiting from other churches, places, and this is the first time you've ever been in and we hit you first thing with the plates passing. Please don't take it that way. We have been given much. And here at first Bee, we have a kind of an an ongoing tradition of the Christmas Eve service is set up for the local benevolence fund. When people come into in the middle of just any time of the year, and they come in and they're down and out and they're having a difficult time, it is a great lesson to be able to say yes and to meet needs.
7:09
So the offering this evening is being especially raised for the discretionary fund to be used for local benevolence. If you are a visitor here, you're not expected to put anything in play. If you're a member, you're not expected to. But if you would like to, we wanted to give you the opportunity. And we wanted to do it now because this musical is kinda cute.
7:31
A there are a lot of subtle cues in the music. It's kinda hard to hit things, and we didn't wanna stop the flow of the music. My message at the end will be brief.
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Speaker 1I promise.
7:44
Speaker 2Because the songs really say it. We've actually taken the time to put the words to the songs that we're singing up on the screen, and so you'll be able to to read along with it. I wanna pray a prayer over this offering over this evening. God, thank you for your son, Lord Jesus. Thank you, Lord, that he came well among us.
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He pitched his tent among us. Thank you, Lord, that he stepped out of eternity and into space and time, and he took on flesh. I thank you, Lord, that he did that for our sins. He did that for our benefit. So, God, would you please accept this offering tonight, lord?
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Bless it and multiply it and do your kingdom's work among those here who are in times of difficulty. God, I also ask your blessing on the choir as we sing that we would be lifting up, Lord, this sweet sound. There would be something acceptable in your sight, Lord, that you would be overjoyed. Thank you. May your will be down Lord here on earth as it is now.
9:02
Amen. I had one more request. If if you should feel like you want to burst out and clap or say something, if you would wait until the end, it would be helpful because these cues, like I said, they are subtle. And if you clap for one, we might miss the next one altogether. But I it's been a lot of hard work in front side, but this is the time to just put all the attention on him.
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This
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Speaker 1is the story of Emmanuel, God with us. The night our salvation came into the world. The moment God offered heaven's best to us. The place we bow and say, we love you, Jesus. Thank you for coming to save us.
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Our opportunity to say once again, we believe you are our Messiah and our king. So let our hearts be filled with hope because he's here and every prophecy has been fulfilled. Let's lay down our lives and worship before him and let's rejoice because Christmas has come and Jesus is born. If one word that describes Christmas is joy. Joy coming into a world of darkness and to a people who had waited for so long for God to speak into the silence.
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Today, our celebrations are filled with joy, knowing that the coming of Jesus brought us hope and salvation. Our hearts are filled with joy as we think about the love God wrapped up in the name Emmanuel, God with us. And it's with joy that we relive the story of Bethlehem and what happened on one incredible We light the advent candle in honor of Jesus, our savior, who is born for our salvation. It's his coming that is the reason for the peace and hope and joy and love we have. Tonight, return again to the holy night of his birth.
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In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a should be taken of the entire Roman world. This was the first census that took place while Quinarius was governor of Syria, and everyone went to their own town and registered. So Joseph also went up to the temp from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.
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She wrapped him in claws and placed him in a manger because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shown around them, and they were terrified. The angel said to them, do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
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Today, in the town of David, a savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be assigned to you. You will find a baby wrapped in claws and lying in a manger. Suddenly, a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest and on peace to those on whom his favor rests.
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When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherd said to one another, here at last. The fulfillment of prophecy sleeps in a manger. God himself, Emmanuel, born to rescue us and to set us free. We celebrate his birth, but even more, celebrate his life. We look ahead to the day he'll redeem our sins and become our land.
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His birth was humble. The setting unexpected. His birth like parents poured. The shepherds common. And yet he was royalty of the sort the world had never seen.
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Did God plan no welcome, no gifts, no visitors that recognized his regal lineage and his sovereign authority? In a distant land, scholars watched, studied, understood the signs. Something happened that prompted a costly journey, the offering of extravagant gifts, and the giving lavish worship. Rejoice, no sweeter reason to sing, than knowing that our savior, God's only son, has come to earth to redeem us. God in flesh, heaven's best, our Emmanuel, hope has come.
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For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son. It's the first scripture that many of us memorized. The message of John three sixteen reminds us of how much we are loved by the one who created us. What kind of God is this who doesn't rule with violent power, who pursues the people he loves by sending his one and only son to us, who leaves his glory to experience our humanity. What a miracle of mercy and grace.
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Speaker 2Oh
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Speaker 1God. Don't let us ever approach this night, this story, this miracle with anything less than the astonished reverence it deserves. Let us behold the birth of our king as if we're hearing about it for the first time. Overwhelm us with the mystery and the miracle of it all. What a story of joy we celebrate each year.
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One that God planned from the beginning. It's woven into ancient prophecies of a ruler and messiah. It's announced to a virgin by an angel, comes to pass in Bethlehem. It continues in a life lived in perfect submission to the father's will. It is Calvary with all its sorrow and suffering.
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It's an empty tomb with all its promise and glory, and the story isn't over. As his followers, we are part of it, and we know the joy of his certain return and inevitable coronation. Was the night clear so that the angel host blazed like fire against the Bethlehem sky? Is that sky filled with stars scattered like diamonds across the black curtain of the heavens? Did the sound of glory to God carry with an amazing clarity?
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Every weird piercing silence. What we know for certain is that there was one star, the new star that had not been there before, whose light shone brighter than all the others. One star that made the rest seem dim and unimportant. It's easy to look around and be discouraged by the darkness in which we live. In reference to Christ's birth, the prophet Isaiah proclaimed, the people walking in darkness have seen a great light.
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On those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned. In the New Testament, Christ tells his followers that we are the light of the world. The star in Bethlehem provided guidance for the wise men and shepherds to the savior of the world. We must let the light of light and truth burn right within us so others will be drawn to him. As it grows, we become It was just one light shining over that land on a cold December night.
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Speaker 2I promised it would be brief. That's the story. That's the truth. I don't think anything much more needs to be said. God and his goodness gave his love while we were yet sinners.
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He demonstrated his love for us, and he gave us his son. Jesus took on flesh and being found in appearance as a man being found as a man. He humbled himself. He humbled himself by taking on flesh. He humbled himself.
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He emptied himself. Unto death. The death of a cross, shameful death. But he did it out of love for us. And the next song is Night of Alleluias.
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God, I thank you for this precious gift of your son. I thank you that you gave him in such a an humble and low way. And lord, I thank you that you love us, that he walked in every single way that we've walked. He's been tempted in all the ways that we tempted for, but he was without sin. And because of that perfect life and that sweet, willing sacrifice that he gave, we have a chance at becoming children of God.
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God, would you move right now with your Holy Spirit? Move and convict us of our sin and convince us of your righteousness, Lord, and allow us to share in a part of it through the free gift that you've given in Jesus Christ. Thank you, Lord, that you have done that in time and space you stepped in. Thank you, God. It's in Jesus name that we pray and we sing.
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Night about our ways. From
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Speaker 1prophecy to fulfillment, from heaven to earth, from hillsides to stable, from major to our hearts. The story we celebrate was written and illustrated by a mighty God who longed to restore us to fellowship with him. He made the universe to declare his praise. On that first Christmas, he created a night, a moment in time for us to behold just how far he would go so we would know his love. We worship you, Lord, for you are worthy.
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Our God is with us. He has come to save us. This is everlasting peace. This is never ending joy. This is love eternal.
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Our advent journey has led us to Bethlehem, to our savior, to the hope and joy of John three sixteen. For God so loved the world and sent his only begotten son that whoever believes in him shall not perish or have eternal life. This is Purpose.
1:06:09
Speaker 2Amen. My goodness. Thank you so much, choir. I'm a part of it, but I love them so much. And thank you, Bob Wells and Aaron God, we love you.
1:06:36
We're thankful for you and just I pray that you're blessing on everyone here in attendance, lord, and everyone they meet. Thank you, Amen. Now may you go in peace, and the Lord shine his face upon you and grant you that peace. Amen.
