Lessons and Carols: Jesus' Humility and Community

On the fourth day of Christmas, a community gathered to keep the feast going—singing carols, hearing Scripture, and remembering that Christmas is a season that stretches toward Epiphany. The rhythm was simple and rich: read the Word, sing the story, and pray with honesty. Intercessions ranged from a newborn’s joy to serious health needs, from travel mercies to broken families, and from local concerns to global conflict. All of it was brought before God with the confidence that Emmanuel meets people right where life is messy and hard, and does not flinch from standing with them.

A reading from Philippians 2 set the heart of the day: Christ did not cling to status, but took on flesh and embraced humility all the way to a self-giving death. That vision of Jesus reframed discipleship as self-emptying love—real authority expressed as service, real greatness expressed as surrender. Worship moved toward the Table through confession and assurance, the Great Thanksgiving, and the prayer Jesus taught (in a New Zealand rendering), making clear that grace is not earned; it is received. The bread and cup were offered at an open table—accessible to everyone, with practical care (allergen-free bread, sanitation) so that hospitality does not exclude those with needs. This was not ceremony for ceremony’s sake; it was a tangible sign that God’s welcome has no gatekeepers.

Life together showed up in small, sturdy ways: a New Year potluck, a church work day to tend the space, a shared devotional to start January, and a “Beer and Hymns” gathering that turns song into fellowship. Generosity was invited as an act of worship, because ministry doesn’t move without shared sacrifice. Again and again, the focus returned to presence—God’s presence with people, and people’s presence with one another. The hope voiced was simple and bold: as a new year begins, may Jesus’ way form a people who become his body for the world.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Jesus embraced humility over privilege. The reading from Philippians 2 refuses a triumphal Christ and gives us a self-emptying one. Authority in the kingdom does not grasp; it gives. Discipleship, then, looks like voluntary lowering for another’s good, trusting that joy is found on the path of service. The cradle points to the cross, and both redefine greatness. [51:57]
• 2. God shows up in our mess. Prayer named sickness, conflict, anxiety, and fractured families—and insisted that God meets people there. Incarnation is not an idea; it is presence in the middle of what is complicated and unfixable. The invitation was to open the heart to that presence, not to tidy up first. Grace often begins at the point of honest need. [30:29]
• 3. Confession opens space for real grace. Owning sin is not groveling; it is consent to be known and healed. Assurance—“you are forgiven”—does more than soothe; it restores freedom to love again without carrying old debts. Confession becomes a doorway into communion, not a barrier to it. The good news lands where denial cannot. [55:15]
• 4. The Table is open to all. Open communion declares that Jesus is the host, not the church. Accessibility details—gluten-free bread, hygiene care—turn theology into love with a body. Participation is not a reward for the worthy but food for the hungry. The meal both gathers and sends a people who have been welcomed to become welcoming. [61:58]
• 5. Faith grows in shared rhythms. Potlucks, work days, devotionals, and singing together are not extras; they are habits that form a people. Ordinary practices train the heart to notice God and to show up for neighbors. Over time, these small “yeses” stitch a community that can bear weight. Formation is slow, and that is part of its strength. [10:04]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [09:23] - Opening Prayer and Christmas Continues
• [10:04] - Potluck Invitation
• [10:34] - January 24 Work Day
• [11:49] - New Year Devotional
• [12:17] - Beer and Hymns Meetup
• [24:09] - Community Prayers and Petitions
• [30:29] - God in Our Mess
• [31:58] - Offering and Generosity
• [51:57] - Christ’s Humble Self-Emptying
• [52:23] - Invitation to Communion
• [55:53] - Great Thanksgiving
• [59:02] - Lord’s Prayer (New Zealand)
• [60:27] - Open Table and Safety
• [70:45] - Sending and Amen

1. In Philippians 2:5–8, what specific verbs and phrases show Jesus moving downward in humility? Which words feel strongest to you, and why?
2. Trace the flow from confession to the Table in today’s worship. Where did you hear forgiveness declared, and what came right after it? “In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.” [55:15]
3. What practical steps were named so the Table would be open to everyone? “All of our bread is gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, soy-free, free-free...” [01:00:27]
4. Name several types of needs that were brought in intercession (joys and sorrows, local and global). For example: “...Gaza and Kiev in Ukraine, and then we bombed Nigeria.” [25:42]

1. If Jesus did not cling to status but took the form of a servant (Philippians 2:5–8), what does that say about how authority should look among Christians—in homes, at work, and in church?
2. What is the spiritual impact of hearing, “In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven”? How might that assurance reshape how a believer re-enters strained relationships or responsibilities? [55:15]
3. “God invites you… there’s no barriers to this… Everybody gets to come.” What theological claims are being made about who hosts the meal and who qualifies to receive it? What tensions might this raise, and how should those be handled? [01:01:58]
4. If God meets people “in all the mess,” how does that change the way someone prays, shows up to community, or seeks help when life is complicated? [30:29]

1. Where do you hold status or privilege (role, expertise, resources)? Name one concrete way you will “lower yourself” this week to serve another’s good in the spirit of Philippians 2:5–8.
2. Take a quiet moment: what do you need to confess right now? After naming it to God, how will you let the assurance—“In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven”—free you to make one specific amends or fresh start this week? [55:15]
3. Think about your table at home or any gathering you host. What one hospitality step could you take so no one is excluded (dietary options, seating access, transportation, sensory space)? “All of our bread is gluten-free…” [01:00:27]
4. Where is life messy for you right now (health, family, work, anxiety)? What is one simple practice to welcome God’s presence there this week—breath prayer, journaling, asking a friend to pray, or sitting in silence? “We thank you, God, for showing up in our messes.” [30:29]
5. Choose one shared rhythm to lean into this month as a way of formation—show up to a potluck, a work day, a devotional, or a singing night. What will you choose, and what do you hope God forms in you through it? “We are doing a church potluck.” [10:04]
6. Generosity fuels ministry. Looking at your budget, what is one realistic change you can make in January to participate in shared giving (amount, frequency, cutting a cost to make room)? “Nothing happens without monetary support.” [31:58]