A separate video feed of the choir will be available here during the service.

Led by: Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga

Introit

What sweeter music can we bring
John Rutter

What sweeter music can we bring
Than a carol for to sing
The birth of this our Heavenly King?
Awake the voice, awake the string

Dark and dull night, fly hence away
And give the honour to this day
That sees December turned to
May That sees December turned to May

Why does the chilling winter’s morn
Smile, like a field beset with corn?
Or smell like a meadow newly-shorn
Thus, on the sudden? Come and see

The ’cause, why things thus fragrant be
It is He is born, whose quickening birth
Gives life and luster, public mirth
To Heaven, and the under-Earth

We see him come, and know him ours
Who with his sunshine and his showers
Turns all the patient ground to flowers
Turns all the patient ground to flowers

The darling of the world is come
And fit it is, we find a room
To welcome him, to welcome him
The nobler part of all the house here is the heart

Which we will give him, and bequeath
This holy and this ivy wreath
To do him honour, who’s our King
And Lord of all this revelling

What sweeter music can we bring
Than a carol for to sing
The birth of this our Heavenly King?
Of this our Heavenly King, our King

© Boosey And Hawkes Music Publishing Ltd
CCLI Licence 31580

Welcome

Congregational Carol

(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

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

Choir

I wonder as I wander out under the sky
[arr. John Rutter]

I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
how Jesus the saviour did come for to die;
for poor ord’ry people like you and like I;
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.

When Mary birthed Jesus ‘twas in a cow’s stall,
with wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.
but high from God’s heaven, a star’s light did fall:
and the promise of ages it then did recall.

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
a star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,
or all of God’s angels in heaven to sing:
he surely could have it, ‘cause he was the King.

CCLI Licence 31580

First Lesson

Genesis 3: 1 – 19.
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,

¹⁶ To the woman he said,

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,”

Choir

Adam Lay ybounden
Philip Ledger

Adam lay ybounden,
bounden in a bond;
Four thousand winter thought he not too long

And all was for an apple,
an apple that he took.
As clerkës finden written in their book.

Ne had the apple taken been,
the apple taken been,
Ne had never Our Lady, A-been heaven’s queen.

Blessed be the time that apple taken was!
Therefore we may singen,
Deo gratias!

CCLI Licence 31580

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

For unto us a Child is born,
unto us a Son is given,
and the government shall be upon His shoulder;
and his name shall be called Wonderful

Counsellor,
the Mighty God,
the Everlasting Father,
the Prince of Peace

CCLI Licence 31580

Congregational Carol

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
The peace that Christ will bring is foreshown

Choir

O Magnum Mysterium
Morten Lauridsen

O great mystery,
divine and wondrous sacrament,
That in a humble crib the ox and ass
should see their Lord and Saviour
revealed before them in human form:
O most blessed Virgin,
who by heavenly grace
God found Worthy to bear the
Saviour Christ Jesus our Lord.
Alleluia!

CCLI Licence 31580

Congregational Carol

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

Fourth Lesson

Micah 5: 2 – 4
The prophet Micah foretells the glory of little Bethlehem

Choir

Mary’s Magnificat
Andrew Carter

Softly a light is stealing,
Sweetly a maiden sings,
Ever wakeful, ever wistful,
Watching faithfuly, thankfully,
Tenderly her King of kings.

My soul doth magnify,
Doth magnify the Lord:
And my spirit hath rejoiced,
Rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Mary her song to Jesus
Softly serenely sings:
“I will love you, I will serve you,
May my lullaby glorify,
Magnify my King of kings”.

Lullaby, lullaby

CCLI Licence 31580

Congregational Carol

Silent night, holy night:
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon virgin snd her child,
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night:
Shepherds quail at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia:
Christ the Saviour is born,
Christ the Saviour is born!

Silent night, holy night:
Son of God, love’s pure light;
Radiant beams Thy holy face!
With the dawn of saving grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth!

Franz Xaver Gruber
CCLI Licence 31580

Fifth Lesson

Luke 2: 1 – 7
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

Gloria in Excelsis
Thomas Weelkes

Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Sing my soul to God thy Lord, all in glory’s highest key.
Lay the angels’ choir abroad in their highest holy day.
Crave thy God to tune thy heart unto praise’s highest part.
Gloria in excelsis Deo. Amen.

CCLI Licence 31580

Congregational Carol

The first Nowell the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay,
in fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.

They looked up and saw a star
shining in the east beyond them far;
and to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night.

Refrain

This star drew nigh to the northwest;
o’er Bethlehem it took its rest,
and there it did both stop and stay,
right over the place where Jesus lay.

Refrain

Then let us all with one accord
sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
that hath made heaven and earth of nought,
and with his blood our life hath bought.

Refrain

Sir John Stainer
CCLI Licence 31580

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,

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

Choir

O Holy Night
Adolphe Adam

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth;
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
‘Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn;

Fall on your knees, Oh hear the angel voices!
O night divine! O night when Christ was born.
O night, O holy night, O night divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming;
With glowing hearts by his cradle we stand:
So, led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from Orient land,
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our friend;

He knows our need, To our weakness no stranger!
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King! your King! before him bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is Love and His gospel is Peace;
Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother,
And in his name all oppression shall cease,
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful Chorus raise we;
Let all within us praise his Holy name!

Christ is the Lord, then ever! ever praise thee!
His pow’r and glory, evermore proclaim!
His pow’r and glory, evermore proclaim!

CCLI Licence 31580

Congregational Carol

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
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

I saw three ships come sailing in
[arr. Adrian Boynton]

I saw three ships come sailing in,
on Christmas Day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three
on Christmas Day in the morning.

Our Saviour Christ and his lady,
on Christmas Day in the morning.

Pray wither sailed those ships all three
on Christmas Day in the morning.

O they sailed into Bethlehem
on Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the bells on earth shall ring
on Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the angels in heaven shall sing
on Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the souls on earth shall sing
on Christmas Day in the morning.

Then let us all rejoice amain
on Christmas Day in the morning.

CCLI Licence 31580

Congregational Carol

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

Offering

Choir

Who is the baby
Rosephanya Powell

Who is the baby born in a manger?
Jesus, Jesus, the Holy one.
Who is the baby born in a manger?
Jesus, Jesus, the Son of God.
Angels from Heaven sing of his glory,
Jesus, Jesus the Holy one,
Jesus, Jesus the Son of God.

Come see the Christ child,
let us adore Him,
Hallelujah! Praise to the King!
Oh, who is the baby born in a manger?
Jesus, Jesus, Emmanuel.
Come let us worship Him.
Come let us sing praise to the baby,
Born in Bethlehem.

CCLI Licence 31580

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
“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.