Christmas Musicals for Church
Issue link: http://read.jwpepper.com/i/1182458
48613 38 R eading from "When Darkness Comes:" Scripture: "But as for me, I will look to the Lord, I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light for me." Micah 7:7.8 (NRSV) Sharing of concerns and joys. (Invite choir members to share.) Prayer: O blessed Lord, we come to You with gratitude that You sent Your beloved Son, Jesus, to endure the cross for our sakes. As we prepare, once again, to focus on His journey into the darkness, we are reminded that this same Savior walks with us during times in our own lives when things seem dark. Be with us as we lift our voices to tell this precious story of love. In Jesus' name. Amen. Reading from "Underneath the Olive Trees:" Scripture: "Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it. I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness." Isaiah 42:5-7 (NRSV adapted) Sharing of concerns and joys. (Invite choir members to share.) Prayer: Precious Lord, we come to You in prayer, just as Jesus did on that night in the garden of Gethsemane. As He knelt beneath those olive trees, knowing what was to come, He prayed, "Though the cup is hard to bear, Your will not mine, be done." We pray this same prayer as we think of those things that weigh heavily upon our hearts. We thank You that You have promised to walk with us, even when our path is dark and gloomy. Be with us now, as we learn words and music that remind us that Jesus walked a journey of darkness for us. Amen. Reading from "Friday Morning:" Scripture: "By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." Sharing of concerns and joys. (Invite choir members to share.) Prayer: Lord of all mercy, we come to You now, remembering what Your Son, Jesus, was willing to suffer for us as He was led to Calvary on that Friday morning, so long ago. As we consider the height and depth, and the length and width of Your love, we are humbled to be recipients of this extravagant gift of grace. Help us to be aware of Your presence in all the moments of our lives, whether we walk in days of darkness or light. Amen. When Darkness Comes - Choir Devotions Rehearsal #1 "When darkness comes, and all seems lost, let us remember how Christ bore the cross." Rehearsal #2 "Facing darkness, Jesus knew redemption's hour had come." Rehearsal #3 "It was Friday morning as the sun was rising in the eastern sky. It was on that morning when they said our Lord must be crucified." For Preview Only