Welcome
HymnCome and Join the Celebration
Come and join the celebration,
it’s a very special day;
come and share our jubilation,
there’s a new King born today!
See the shepherds
hurry down to Bethlehem;
gaze in wonder
at the Son of God who lay before them.
Come and join ...
Wise men journey,
led to worship by a star,
kneel in homage,
bringing precious gifts from lands afar, so
Come and join ...
‘God is with us,’
‘round the world the message bring;
He is with us,
‘Welcome!’ all the bells on earth are pealing.
Come and join ...
Prayer
The Camel’s Story
HymnWhat Child Is This?
What child is this, who, laid to rest,
on Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
while shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
haste, haste to bring Him laud,
the babe, the Son of Mary.
Why lies He in such mean estate,
where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian fear: for sinners here
the silent Word is pleading.
Nails spear shall pierce him through
The cross He bore for me for you
Hail, Hail the Word made flesh,
The babe the Son of Mary.
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
come, peasant, king, to own Him.
The King of kings salvation brings,
let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, Raise a song on high
The virgin sings her lullaby
Joy, joy for Christ is born
The babe the Son of Mary…
Scripture ReadingJohn 1:1-9
HymnO Come, All Ye Faithful
O come, all ye faithful,
joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold him,
born the king of angels.
Refrain:
O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.
True God of true God,
Light of light eternal,
our lowly nature he hath not abhorred;
born of a woman,
here in flesh appearing. [Refrain]
Sing, choirs of angels,
sing in exultation,
sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above:
“Glory to God,
all glory in the highest!” [Refrain]
Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
born that happy morning,
Jesus, to thee be all glory giv’n;
Word of the Father,
begotten, not created. [Refrain]
ReflectionLearning to Appreciate the Darkness
HymnO Splendour of God’s Glory Bright
O Splendor of God's glory bright,
from light eternal bringing light,
light’s fountain and eternal spring,
true Day, all days illumining.
Come, very Sun of heaven’s love,
in lasting radiance from above,
and pour the Holy Spirit’s ray
on all we think or do today.
"Confirm our will to do the right,
and keep our hearts from envy’s blight.
Let faith its eager fires renew,
and hate the false and love the true.
Be hallow’d this and ev’ry day;
let meekness be our morning ray,
and faithful love our noonday light,
our hope, our sunset, calm and bright.
O Christ, with each returning morn,
thine image to our hearts is borne.
Oh, may we ever clearly see
our Savior and our God in thee. Amen.
Prayers for the World
HymnJoy to the World
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive its king;
let ev’ry heart prepare him room,
and heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let all their songs employ
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
nor thorns infest the ground.
He comes to make his blessings flow
far as the curse is found,
far as the curse is found,
far as, far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.