Christmas Eve – Good News Is Louder Than Fear
Affirmation of Faith
What do you fear?
We have seen the valley.
We have seen a sky without stars.
We have seen the longest night,
and still we believe.
We believe in a with-us God.
We believe in the hope of tomorrow.
We believe that good news is louder than fear.
We believe this good news is for all people.
So even when our knees shake,
even when our voice trembles,
even when fear is all around us,
we will hold onto that good news.
We will reach for each other.
We will look for God in our midst.
We will sing songs of joy.
We will proclaim:
Unto us, love is born.
We have seen the longest night,
and we have seen unimaginable love.
So still, we believe.
Amen.
Scripture – just click on the link below
Luke 2:1-20 as in NRIV
Reflection on Luke 2:1-20
by Rev. Dr. Boyung Lee
In a world where fear is curated and fed to us,
proclaiming good news is a countercultural act.
In a world that tells marginalized communities
to be quiet,
that punishes joy and rage alike,
joy becomes resistance.
The church is called to be like the angels:
not polite, not palatable, but public.
Not cautious, but courageous.
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace. . .”—
this is not a whisper.
It’s a chorus.
And yet,
the good news ripples outward in
quieter ways, too.
The shepherds return glorifying and praising God—
they become the first evangelists.
They tell anyone who will listen.
And the good news spreads—
not through Caesar’s decrees,
but through trembling, joyful witnesses.
Tonight, we are invited to do the same.
Not because our fear is gone—
but because good news still breaks in.
Even when it’s quiet.
Even when it’s messy.
Even when it feels like the darkness
will never end.
This is the shape of God’s dream:
news born in vulnerability,
joy proclaimed by the overlooked,
power shown not through force,
but through flesh.
So let us proclaim the good news loudly.
Let us make space for joy that shakes the walls.
Let us resist fear’s domination
by bearing witness to light, to peace,
to Christ among us.
Because tonight, we remember:
Fear may be loud, but love is louder.
Violence may be strong, but hope is stronger.
And the good news—God is here—
will not be silenced.
Music Offering: The symbol for this Advent Theme as been a lantern. The lantern shows us the way in the dark and the light leads us on, just as the good news leads us on to let it be known it can be louder than fear. Listen to the song, Lantern Lights performed by Leon Johnson from White Dove Bible Music.
Benediction
In a fearful world,
may you look for God’s spirit.
May you reach for each other’s hands.
May you choose courage whenever you can.
And in all things, may you remember
that good news is louder than fear.
In the name of the one who calls,
the one who sends,
and the one who journeys with—
go in peace and
be not afraid.
Amen.
Material for this page is from Sanctified Art