Christmas Carol Service – Live Streamed – Sunday 17 December 2023 – 6.30 pm
Led by Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga
Introit
O Magnum Mysterium
Morten Lauridsen
| O magnum mysterium, et admirabile sacramentum, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum, iacentem in praesepio! Beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Iesum Christum. Alleluia!CCLI Licence 31580 |
O great mystery, and wonderful sacrament, that animals should see the newborn Lord, lying in a manger! Blessed is the virgin whose womb was worthy to bear the Lord, Jesus Christ. Alleluia! |
Welcome
Opening Prayer
God of wonder, with joy and celebration we gather today to welcome afresh the gift of the child born to be king; Emmanuel, God with us; light for the world and a beacon in the darkness.
Jesus Christ is born among us. Jesus Christ is born for us. Let us come to you and celebrate. Amen
Congregational Carol
Once a royal David’s city
(verse 1 & 2 Choir only)
Once in royal David’s city
Stood a lowly cattle shed
Where a mother laid her
Baby In a manger for His 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 mean, and lowly
Lived on earth our Saviour holy.
Please stand – All sing
And through all his wondrous childhood
He would honour and obey
Love and watch the lowly maiden
In whose gentle arms He lay
Christian children all must be
Mild, obedient, good as He.
And our eyes at last shall see Him
Through His own redeeming love,
For that child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above;
And He leads His children on
To the place where He is gone.
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 like stars his children crowned
All in white shall wait around.
Cecil Frances Humphreys Alexander
CCLI Licence 31580
First Lesson
Genesis 3: 1 – 19
Read by Katherine Wheldon.
Adam and Eve rebel against God
Now the snake was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, “You must not eat from any tree in the garden”?’
2 The woman said to the snake, ‘We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, “You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.”’
4 ‘You will not certainly die,’ the snake said to the woman. 5 ‘For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realised that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’
10 He answered, ‘I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.’
11 And he said, ‘Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree from which I commanded you not to eat?’
12 The man said, ‘The woman you put here with me – she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.’
13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’
The woman said, ‘The snake deceived me, and I ate.’
14 So the Lord God said to the snake, ‘Because you have done this,
‘Cursed are you above all livestock
and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.’
16 To the woman he said,
‘I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;
with painful labour you will give birth to children.
Your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you.’
17 To Adam he said, ‘Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, “You must not eat from it,”
‘Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat food from it
all the days of your life.
18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.’
©NIV
Choir
O Radiant Dawn
James Macmillan
Second Lesson
Isaiah 9: 2, 6-7
Christ’s birth and role of peace is foretold
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
6 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.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and for ever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
©NIV
Choir
For unto us a child is born (Messiah)
G. F. Handel
Congregational Carol
Make Way, Make Way, for Christ the King
Make way, make way
For Christ the King
In splendour arrives
Fling wide the gates and welcome Him
Into your lives
Make way! (Make way!)
Make way! (Make way!)
For the King of kings
(For the King of kings)
Make way! (Make way!)
Make way! (Make way!)
And let His kingdom in
He comes the broken hearts to heal
The prisoners to free
The deaf shall hear, the lame shall dance
The blind shall see
Refrain
And those who mourn with heavy hearts
Who weep and sigh
With laughter, joy and royal crown
He’ll beautify
Refrain
We call you now to worship Him
As Lord of all
To have no gods before Him
Their thrones must fall!
Refrain
Graham Kendrick
Copyright © 1986 Thankyou Music
CCLI Licence 31580
Third Lesson
Isaiah 11: 1 – 9
Read by Glynne Gordon-Carter
The peace that Christ will bring is foreshown
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him –
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord –
3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash round his waist.
6 The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling[a] together;
and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
9 They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
©NIV
Choir
Ave Maria
Fourth Lesson
Micah 5: 2 – 4
Read by Chinwe Osaghae
The prophet Micah foretells the glory of little Bethlehem
2 ‘But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans[a] of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.’
3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned
until the time when she who is in labour bears a son,
and the rest of his brothers return
to join the Israelites.
4 He will stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.
©NIV
Congregational Carol
It came upon a midnight clear
It came upon a midnight clear
That glorious song of old
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold:
‘Glory to God! On earth be peace,
From heaven’s all gracious King
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.
Yet with the ones of sin and strife
The world has suffered long:
Beneath the angel strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And we, at bitter war, hear not
The love song which they bring:
O hush the noise and end the strife,
To hear the angels sing.
For lo, the days are hastening on,
By prophet bards foretold,
When, with the ever circling years,
Comes round the age of gold;
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendours fling,
And all the world give back the song
Which now the angels sing.
Edmund Hamilton Sears
CCLI Licence 31580
FIFTH LESSON Luke 2: 1 – 7 —David Chapman
Choir
—
Fifth Lesson
Luke 2: 1 – 7
Read by David Chapman
St Luke tells of the bird of Jesus
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
©NIV
Choir
Caminando el buen Jesus.
Arr: Gregory Rose/Andrew Carter – (Spanish Traditional)
Rosemary Kearsey
Sixth Lesson
Luke 2: 8 – 20
The shepherds go to Bethlehem
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.’
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
©NIV
Congregational Carol
See him lying on a bed of straw.
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 of love again:
just as poor as was the stable then,
the prince of glory when he came.
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!
Chorus
Angels, sing again the song you sang,
sing the glory of God’s gracious plan;
Sing that Bethl’em’s little baby can
be the saviour of us all.
Chorus
Mine are riches, from your poverty,
from your innocence, eternity;
mine, forgiveness by your death for me,
child of sorrow for my joy.
Chorus
© Words: 1965 Michael Perry – The Jubilate Group
CCLI Licence 31580
Seventh Lesson
John 1: 1 – 14
Read by Brian Halstead
The Word became flesh
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
©NIV
Choir
Hodie, Christus Natus est
J. P. Sweelinck
Congregational Carol
O come, all ye faithful joyful
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,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
God of God,
Light of Light,
Lo! he abhors not
the Virgin’s womb;
Very God,
Begotten not created.1
Chorus
Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation;
Sing, all ye citizens
of heaven above!
Glory to God,
In the highest;
Chorus
C. Frederick Oakeley
CCLI Licence 31580
Prayer & Intercessions
Circle us, Lord
Circle us with the light of your presence,
bright within this dark word
Enable us to be overcomers of fear and temptation
Enable us to be victors over sin and despair
Enable us to become that which you would desire
Lord of creation, Lord of Salvation
Circle us with the light of your presence
Circle us, Lord
Circle our family within the shelter of your outstretched arms
Protect them in each moment of their daily lives
Protect them in the decisions that they face
Protect their homes and relationships
Lord of creation, Lord of Salvation
Circle our families with the light of your presence
Circle us, Lord
Circle this nation with Christmas love and hope
Create a desire to listen to the Christmas message
Create a willingness to understand and respond
Create a need to reach out to the Christ Child
Lord of creation, Lord of Salvation
Circle our nation with the light of your presence
Circle us, Lord
Circle this world with the joy of your Salvation
Where there is sickness and disease bring healing
Where there is hunger and despair bring hope
Where there is torture and oppression bring release
Lord of creation, Lord of Salvation
Circle this world with the light of your presence
Silence
Shout for joy
the whole earth,
and everything within.
Rejoice!
For Light has come into the world
The mountains sing,
the seas resound
to the praise of your name.
Salvation
once promised is here on earth
The angels’ song
rings in the air,
a child has been born.
Hallelujah!
The Saviour of the world is here
Amen
Notices & Offering
During the collection the choir will sing
Choir
My Lord has come – The Saviour’s Birth
Will Todd / Margues Garrett
Final Prayer
Loving God,
today, help us to look upon the food we share with thanks,
help us to take joy in the company of our friends and family,
help us to be thankful for all the gifts with which you bless us.
In the name of Jesus, who is born in hearts again today.
Amen.
Congregational Carol
Hark the Herald angels sing
Hark the herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn 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 host proclaim:
“Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Christ by highest heav’n 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 Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris’n 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
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Charles Wesley
CCLI Licence 31580
Blessing
Let us go from this place proclaiming that we have seen the glory of God
Believing that there is a light that shines in the darkness
which the darkness shall not overcome
And may the love of the Creator
The joy of the Spirit
And the peace of the Christ-child
Be with you this Christmas, and evermore
Amen.