Welcome

Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you.

All: and also with you.

 

As we rejoice in the gift
of this new day,
so may the light of your presence

O God, set our hearts on fire
with love for you; now and for ever.  Amen.

 

Carol:

O come all ye faithful,

joyful and triumphant,
Come-ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him,

born the king of Angels:

O come let us adore him, (x3)

Christ the Lord!

 

God of God, Light of Light,
Lo! He abhors not the Virgin’s womb;
Very God, Begotten, not created:

O come let us adore him, (x3)

Christ the Lord!

 

Sing choirs of angels,

sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above
Glory to God in the highest,

O come let us adore him, (x3)

Christ the Lord!
 

Yea, Lord, we greet thee,

born this happy morning;

Jesus, to thee be glory given!

Word of the Father,

now in flesh appearing.

O come let us adore him, (x3)

Christ the Lord!

Frederick Oakeley; John Francis Wade ©public domain

 

Lighting the Advent Wreath

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be

on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace.”      Isaiah 9:6

 

O God of hope, peace, joy, and love.

As Mary and Joseph welcomed you into the world,

now help us welcome you into our lives.

Give us courage to hope; strength to seek peace.

Fill our spirits with joy; and our hearts with love.

Through Jesus Christ, the Lord of all. Amen.

 

Confession

Christ the light of the world has come to dispel the darkness of our hearts.  

In his light let us examine ourselves and confess our sins. 

Lord of grace and truth,

we confess our unworthiness to stand in your presence as your children.   
We have sinned: 
All: forgive us and heal us. 

 

The Virgin Mary accepted your call to be the mother of Jesus.   
Forgive our disobedience to your will. 

We have sinned: 
All: forgive us and heal us. 

 

Jesus our Saviour was born in poverty in a manger.   
Forgive our greed and rejection of your ways.   

We have sinned: 
All: forgive us and heal us. 

 

The shepherds left their flocks to go to Bethlehem.   
Forgive our self-interest and lack of vision. 

We have sinned: 
All: forgive us and heal us. 

 

The wise men followed the star to find Jesus the King. 
Forgive our reluctance to seek you. 
We have sinned:
All: forgive us and heal us.

 

May the God of all healing and forgiveness,
who sent the Word made flesh,
Jesus God the Son,
into the world to save sinners,
bring you his pardon and peace,
now and for ever. Amen.

 

Collect for Christmas Morning

Lord Jesus Christ,

your birth at Bethlehem

draws us to kneel in wonder at heaven touching earth:

accept our heartfelt praise

as we worship you,

our Saviour and our eternal God.

All: Amen.

 

Carol:

Angels from the realms of glory,

wing your flight through all the earth;
Heralds of creation’s story,

now proclaim Messiah’s birth!

 

Come and worship

Christ, the new-born King;
Come and worship,

worship Christ, the new-born King!

 

Shepherds in the fields abiding,

watching by your flocks at night.
God with man is now residing;

see there shines the infant light!

 

Come and worship Christ,

the new-born King;
Come and worship,

worship Christ, the new-born King!

 

Wise men, leave your contemplations;

brighter visions shine afar;
Seek in him the hope of nations,

you have seen his natal star:

 

Come and worship

Christ, the new-born King;
Come and worship,

worship Christ, the new-born King!

 

Though an infant now we view him,

he will share his Father’s throne,
Gather all the nations to him;

every knee shall then bow down:

 

Come and worship Christ,

the new-born King;
Come and worship,

worship Christ, the new-born King!

James Montgomery © Public domain

 

Introduction to the theme

 

Video: There’s a dragon in my nativity

 

Bible Reading: Matthew 1: 18 – 25

 

Carol:

The world is searching for an answer

A ray of hope in a hopeless world

Who can we turn to

Where is our rescue

 

There is someone he's the answer

He's the light and he'll light the way

His name is Jesus and he came to save us

He is the light light light

Light of the world

And he shine shine shines

All over the earth

Shining bright bright bright

He is the light of the world

 

Oo-woh-oh oo-woh…

Jay Stocker © 2016 Group Publishing, Inc.

 

Bible Reading: Luke 2: 1 - 7  (click to read)
 

Video: The Lego Christmas Story

 

Sermon

 

Affirmation of Faith

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.
 

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.
 

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
 

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.

Amen.

 

Prayers of intercession

 

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom,

the power and the glory

are yours, now and forever. Amen.
 

Carol:
Joy to the world

Joy to the world! the Lord is 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.

 

Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

 

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.

George Frideric Handel, Isaac Watts © Public domain
 

Closing Prayer

God our Father,
whose Word has come among us
in the Holy Child of Bethlehem:
may the light of faith illumine our hearts

and shine in our words and deeds;

through him who is Christ the Lord. Amen.

 

Blessing

May the joy of the angels,

the eagerness of the shepherds,

the perseverance of the wise men,

the obedience of Joseph and Mary,

and the peace of the Christ-child

be yours this Christmas;

And the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be with you and those whom you love,

this day, and forever more. Amen.

​

All songs used by permission CCLi nr 843338. Liturgical material in this service is from Common worship © The Archbishops Council 2000