Watchword for the Week
The Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name. (Luke 1:49)
(Moravian Daily Texts 2014)
ORGAN PRELUDE
WELCOME and CALL to WORSHIP
(Luke 1:46-54, Mary’s Song of Praise)
My heart praises the Lord; my soul is glad
because of God my Saviour, for he has
remembered me, his lowly servant.
From now on, all people will call me happy,
because of the great things the Mighty One
has done for me. His name is holy;
from one generation to another he shows
mercy to those who honour him.
He has stretched out his mighty arm and
scattered the proud with their plans. He has
brought down mighty kings from their
thrones, and lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away with empty hands.
He has kept the promise he made to our
ancestors; and he has come to the help
of his servant Israel.
Hymn 281 * People, look East
People’s Choice Hymns are marked with an asterisk (*)
(Four Advent candles are carried into church lit)
OPENING PRAYERS
Because God chose not a palace but a tent:
We bear witness to the light.
Because God chose to be one of us, not apart
from us: We bear witness to the light.
Because God chose the margins, not the centre:
We bear witness to the light.
Because a woman said yes when she could
have said no: We bear witness to the light,
for nothing is impossible for God.
Heavenly Father, you chose Mary, full of
grace, to be the mother of our Lord and
Saviour. Fill us with your grace, that in all
things we may embrace your will, and with
her rejoice in your salvation; through Jesus
Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.
WORDS of ASSURANCE
God says: “Do not be afraid, for I have
redeemed you; I have called you by your name;
you are mine.” Thanks be to God. Amen.
SHARING GOD’S PEACE
ORGAN PRELUDE Vivaldi arr. J. S. Bach
“Concerto in G Major”
WELCOME and OPENING LITANY
Into a world where it is so easy to lose hope; a
world of violence and dire need at every turn:
Come, Lord Jesus, bring the light of hope.
Into a world full of conflict and fear; of scarcity
and plenty; a world unable to find true peace:
Come, Lord Jesus, bring the light of peace.
Choir Antiphon “Come, Lord Jesus”
(The 1st Advent candle of Hope is carried into church lit)
(The 2nd Advent candle of Peace is carried into church lit)
Into a world where the deep joy of gratitude is
at risk from our constant desire for happiness:
Come, Lord Jesus, bring the light of joy.
Into a world of exclusion and rejection, where
shame and status dilute compassion and mercy:
Come, Lord Jesus, bring the light of love.
Choir Antiphon “Come, Lord Jesus”
(The 3rd Advent candle of Joy is carried into church lit)
(The 4th Advent candle of Love is carried into church lit)
OPENING PRAYER
Into a world often harsh and violent, the Christ
child was born in vulnerability and innocence.
Even while death was threatened by the powers
that be, and while the shadows of fear covered
the earth, hope itself was born that night; peace
was embodied; joy was proclaimed; and love
came to live with us, Emmanuel. Into this
same world, come, Lord Jesus, bringing
your light, that we may know and celebrate
your bright presence this night, and always.
Hymn 315 * Once in Royal David’s city
People’s Choice Hymns are marked with an asterisk (*)
(The Christ candle is carried into church lit)
Once in royal David’s city
stood a lowly cattle shed,
where a mother laid her baby
in a manger for a bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.
He came down to earth from heaven
who is God and Lord of all,
and his shelter was a stable,
and his cradle was a stall.
With the poor and meek and lowly
lived on earth our Saviour holy.
Not in that poor lowly stable,
with the oxen standing by,
we shall see him; but in heaven;
set at God’s right hand on high,
where his children gather round,
bright like stars, with glory crowned.
The Birth Narrative according to St. Luke
(New Testament, page 75)
St. Luke 2:1-7 The birth of Jesus
Hymn 312 * Away in a manger
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head;
the stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,
but little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love you, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky,
and stay by my side until morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask you to stay
close by me for ever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in your tender care,
and fit us for heaven, to live with you there.
St. Luke 2:8-14 Shepherds and angels
Choir “See the shepherds”
St. Luke 2:15-20 Singing praises to God
Hymn 301 * Hark! The herald angels sing
Hark! The herald angels sing,
‘Glory to the new-born King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!’
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies,
with the angelic hosts proclaim,
‘Christ is born in Bethlehem’.
Hark! The herald angels sing,
‘Glory to the new-born King’.
Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail, the Incarnate Deity,
pleased as Man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel!
Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that man no more may die,
born to raise the sons of earth,
born to give them second birth:
SERMON Rev. James Brown
Hymn 306 * O come, all ye faithful
(Communion elements are brought forward)
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;
O come, let us adore him, (3x)
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…
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;
O come, let us adore him…
Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born for our salvation,
Jesus, to thee be glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
O come, let us adore him…
AFFIRMATION of FAITH
We believe in God our Creator,
source of all light and freedom:
who spoke to Moses through the darkness,
who brought ancient Israel out of captivity;
We believe in Jesus our Saviour,
eternally liberated from all that binds:
who proclaimed release to prisoners
and recovery of sight to the blind;
We believe in the Spirit our Helper,
God who is with us:
who is our advocate, speaking for us,
who is our comforter, offering us peace.
We believe in one God,
Creator, Saviour, Helper, who is alive and
active, pursuing all that is right, turning
each person’s eyes to the light. Amen.
COMMUNION PRAYER
The Lord be with you. And also with you
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.
It is right to give God thanks and praise
… we join our voices with the angels who are
forever praising you, saying:
Choir “Angels we have heard on high”
… with all humanity we pray together, saying:
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, and the power, and the
glory for ever and ever. Amen.
WORDS of INSTITUTION
Jesus, Lamb of God, have mercy upon us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins, have mercy upon us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world, grant us peace.
SHARING the BREAD and the CUP
Please come forward using the centre aisle, and
return to your seat using one of the side aisles.
ORGAN MEDITATION (during distribution)
“The Holy Boy” John Ireland (1879-1962)
PRAYERS for the WORLD
Come, light of Christ, love’s pure light.
Hymn 309 * Still the night, holy the night
(Seated – candles will be lit during this hymn)
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. (2x)
Still the night, holy the night!
Shepherds first saw the light,
heard resounding clear and long,
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