Morning Service Sunday 19 December 2021

Welcome and Intimations

Prayer and Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory
for ever and ever.
Amen.

CH4 310 See him lying on a bed of straw

1. See Him lying on a bed of straw:
   a draughty stable with an open door;
   Mary cradling the babe she bore –
   the Prince of glory is His name.
   

   O now carry me to Bethlehem
   to see the Lord appear to men –
   just as poor as was the stable then,
   the Prince of glory when He came.
   

2. Star of silver, sweep across the skies,
   show where Jesus in the manger lies;
   shepherds, swiftly from your stupor rise
   to see the Saviour of the world!
   

   O now carry me to Bethlehem
   to see the Lord appear to men –
   just as poor as was the stable then,
   the Prince of glory when He came.
   

3. Angels, sing the song that you began,
   bring God’s glory to the heart of man;
   sing that Bethl’em’s little baby can
   be salvation to the soul.
   

   O now carry me to Bethlehem
   to see the Lord appear to men –
   just as poor as was the stable then,
   the Prince of glory when He came.
   

4. Mine are riches, from Your poverty,
   from Your innocence, eternity:
   mine forgiveness by Your death for me,
   child of sorrow for my joy.
   

   O now carry me to Bethlehem
   to see the Lord appear to men –
   just as poor as was the stable then,
   the Prince of glory when He came.
   

Lighting of the Advent Candles

One:

We have lit three candles—for hope, for peace, and for joy. Today we light the fourth candle—the candle of love. With this flame we signify the love of God that surrounds and fills us at all times, but that we recognize in a special way in the Christmas story. There is no greater power than love. It is stronger than rulers and empires, stronger than grief or despair, stronger even than death. We love, because God loves us.

All:

Loving God, we open ourselves to you this Christmas season.
As these candles are lit, light our lives with your imagination.
Show us the creative power of hope.
Teach us the peace that comes from justice.
Fill us with the kind of joy that cannot be contained, but must be shared.
Magnify your love within us.
Prepare our hearts to be transformed by you,
That we may walk in the light of Christ. Amen.

One:

Depart in peace, and take with you the certain knowledge
That God is always coming into the world.

All:

We will seek God, not in a long ago stable or ancient manger,
But in the people we meet and the depths of our own hearts.

One:

May the blessing of Christmas make you a blessing to others;
May the peace of the season pervade all that you do.

All:

We will welcome the challenge of discipleship.
We will offer ourselves as God’s ministers.
We will go forth in hope, peace, joy, and love.

CRADLE ROLL

CH4 309 Still the night

1. Still the night, holy the night!
   Sleeps the world; hid from sight,
   Mary and Joseph in stable bare
   watch o’er the child beloved and fair
   sleeping in heavenly rest,
   sleeping in heavenly rest.
   

2. Still the night, holy the night!
   Shepherds first saw the light,
   heard resounding clear and long,
   far and near, the angel-song:
   ‘Christ the Redeemer is here!,
   Christ the Redeemer is here!’
   

3. Still the night, holy the night!
   Son of God, O how bright
   love is smiling from thy face!
   Strikes for us now the hour of grace,
   Saviour, since thou art born!,
   Saviour, since thou art born!
   

1. Luke 2:1-7 Read by members of the Sunday School

A Christmas story…………

CH4 302 It was on a starry night

1. It was on a starry night when the hills were bright,
   earth lay sleeping, sleeping calm and still;
   then in a cattle shed, in a manger bed,
   a boy was born, King of all the world.
   

   And all the angels sang for him,
   the bells of heaven rang for him;
   for a boy was born, King of all the world.
   And all the angels sang for him,
   the bells of heaven rang for him;
   for a boy was born, King of all the world.
   

2. Soon the shepherds came that way, where the baby lay,
   and were kneeling, kneeling by his side,
   to celebrate his birth bringing peace on earth;
   a boy was born, King of all the world.
   

   And all the angels sang for him,
   the bells of heaven rang for him;
   for a boy was born, King of all the world.
   And all the angels sang for him,
   the bells of heaven rang for him;
   for a boy was born, King of all the world.
   

Christingles interactive

Offering

Prayer of Intercession

CH4 320 Joy to the world

1. Joy to the world, the Lord has come!
   let earth receive her King;
   let every heart prepare Him room
   and heaven and nature sing,
   and heaven and nature sing,
   and heaven, and heaven and nature sing!
   

2. Joy to the earth, the Saviour reigns!
   your sweetest songs employ
   while fields and streams and hills and plains
   repeat the sounding joy,
   repeat the sounding joy,
   repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
   

3. He rules the world with truth and grace,
   and makes the nations prove
   the glories of His righteousness,
   the wonders of His love,
   the wonders of His love,
   the wonders, wonders of His love.
   

Blessing