Presiding and Preaching: Revd George Mwaura
Leading worship: Krou Assoua, LLM

Gathering Music

Welcome

Gathering 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 rejoice in this Good News.

Amen, we welcome the child born to be our Saviour!

Lighting the Christmas Candle

As we light this Christmas candle, may its flame be for us a sign of Jesus’ birth.

Loving God, today, on this special day,
you remind us that you can use anyone and everyone for your purposes.
We willingly offer you all that we are and all that we have,
choosing to believe that who we are is enough to be used by you.
We do this in the name of the child King born to set us free.

Amen

Hymn: 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 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.

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.

Isaac Watts (1674–1748)
CCL31580

Thanksgiving and Confession

Gracious and Eternal God, we come before you this Christmas morning
with hearts full of wonder and gratitude.
Like the shepherds who hurried to Bethlehem, we have witnessed your glory breaking into our world.
The angels’ song still echoes in our souls: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those on whom his favour rests.’

We give you thanks:
For the Child born to us, the Son given to us, whose government rests upon his shoulders.
For the light that has shone in our darkness, dispelling the gloom that once covered us.
For the shepherds’ faith that teaches us to respond immediately to your call.
For Mary, who treasured and pondered all these things in her heart,
showing us the way of contemplation.
For your Kingdom of justice and righteousness that has no end
and for breaking the yoke of our burdens and the rod of our oppressors.

Yet, Lord, we confess that we have walked in darkness even when your light has been offered to us.
We have failed to hurry towards you with the urgency of the shepherds.
We have not always glorified and praised you for all we have heard and seen.
We have allowed the cares of this world to crowd out the wonder of your incarnation.
We have sought peace in our own strength rather than in your Prince of Peace.
We have not treasured your Word in our hearts as Mary did
and we have been slow to proclaim the good news you have made known to us.

So, this morning Lord, we ask you to forgive us, and renew in us the joy of this holy morning.
May your zeal accomplish in us that we cannot do for ourselves.
Increase your government in our lives,
that your peace may have no end in our hearts, our homes, and our world.
Like the shepherds, may we return to our daily lives glorifying and praising you
for all we have seen and heard.
Let us not keep this good news to ourselves,
but make known the message that has been told to us concerning this Child.
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, who was born this day in the city of David.

Amen

A Christmas Prayer

Almighty God, who on this day broke into our world as a Child in Bethlehem,
grant that the light which dawned in that stable may shine ever more brightly in our hearts
and in all the world.
As we have beheld your glory in the face of the infant Jesus, strengthen our hope in his promised return,
when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that he is Lord.
Until that day, make us faithful witnesses of your Kingdom,
living as people of hope who know that the One who came will surely come again.

Amen

Isaiah 9: 1–7

Read by Krou Assoua

¹ Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honour Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan –

² The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
³ You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
⁴ For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
⁵ Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
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®

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Hymn: What child is this

What child is this, who, laid to rest
on Mary’s lap is sleeping?
whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
while shepherds watch are keeping?
this, this is Christ the King,
whom shepherds worship and angels sing:
haste, haste to bring him praise,
the babe, the son of Mary.

Why lies he in such mean estate,
where ox and ass are feeding?
come, have no fear, God’s Son is here
his love all loves exceeding:
nails, spear, shall pierce him through,
the cross be borne for me, for you:
hail, hail, the Saviour comes,
the babe, the son of Mary.

So bring him incense, gold and myrrh,
all tongues and peoples own him;
the King of kings salvation brings,
let every heart enthrone him:
raise, raise your song on high
while Mary sings a lullaby,
joy, joy, for Christ is born,
the babe, the son of Mary.

William Chatterton Dix (1837–1898)
CCL31580

Luke 2: 1–7

Read by Adrian Boynton

The birth of Jesus

¹ 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 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®

This is the Gospel of Christ.
Praise to Christ our light.

Meditation

By Revd George Mwaura

Choral Response

Prayers of Intercession

Led by Bob Collard

Sharing Peace

May the peace ushered in by the child born among us spread like wildfire among nations.
May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.
And also with you.

Let us share a sign of peace and wave to those watching on the live stream.

Hymn: 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 appear to men!
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!

O now carry me to Bethlehem …

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

O now carry me to Bethlehem …

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 …

Michael Perry (1942–1996)
CCL31580

The Prayer of Thanksgiving

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation: through your goodness we have this bread to set before you,
which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life.
Blessed be God for ever.

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation: through your goodness we have this wine to set before you,
fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become for us the cup of salvation.
Blessed be God for ever.

The Lord be with you!
And also with you!

Lift up your hearts!
We lift them to the Lord!

Let us give thanks!
It is right to give God thanks and praise!

We adore you, creator of the universe. In the beginning you spoke life into being.
We adore you, God, who kept the promise made to our ancestors.
You promised to redeem the earth and set its people free.

In the fullness of time, you came to us in Jesus,
A baby, born of God’s desire to lift up the broken hearted.

We adore you with the simplicity of a shepherd’s conviction,
we adore you with the wise of ancient days, who knelt before you and paid you homage.
We adore you, with the angels who sang glory to you in the highest heavens
and brought peace to all people on earth,

This morning, we join them to praise your name saying:

Holy Lord, God of endless love, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The wise men recognised it, the angels and the whole creation sang of it,
the shepherds encountered it, we have been blessed with it.

Blessed is he who is born this day. Glory to God and on earth peace to all people.

Beloved God, you chose to come to us, in Jesus Christ,
who on the night he was betrayed, took the bread, blessed it, broke it, gave it to his disciples saying:
‘Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’
After supper, he took the cup and gave it to them saying:
‘Take this and drink from it all of you. This is my blood of the New Covenant,
poured out for you and many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in remembrance of me.’

Let us then proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Lord, pour out your Holy Spirit upon these gifts of bread and wine,
that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Pour out your Spirit upon us, that we may be his body in the world,
bearing the light of Christ to all who sit in darkness,
proclaiming peace on earth and good will to all people.

Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory are yours, almighty Father, now and for ever.

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 for ever.

Amen

Breaking the Bread

We break this bread and take this cup so that we can all share in the life of Christ.
These are God’s gifts for God’s people.

Amen

Post Communion Prayer

Most gracious God, source of all blessing,
we give you thanks for inviting us to share this meal as your family;
strengthen us to be a blessing to one another and a blessing to all the world,
glorifying you in all things, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Christmas Acclamation

We came to adore the Son of God.
Jesus is the Light of the world.

We came to share the bread of heaven.
Jesus is our way, our truth, our life.

We came to enter the door to life.
Jesus is the first and last.

We came to adore the Lord of all.
Jesus is our wisdom from above.

We came to adore the King of kings.
Jesus is our friend and brother, Immanuel, God with us, Joy to the World.
We come from all corners of the world to adore him.

Amen

Hymn: O come, All ye faithful

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:
O come, let us adore him, …

Sing, choirs of angels,
sing in exultation,
sing all ye citizens of heaven above;
glory to God
in the highest:
O come, let us adore him, …

Yea, Lord, we greet thee
born this happy morning,
Jesu, to thee be glory given;
word of the Father,
now in flesh appearing:
O come, let us adore him, …

Latin (18th century)
tr. Frederick Oakeley (1802–1880) and others
CCL31580

The 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, Father, Son and Holy Spirit
be upon you and remain with you always.

Amen

Dismissal

Church, go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

In the name of Christ, we will.

Amen

On behalf of the Church Council and myself, I extend to you our warmest Christmas blessings. As we gather to celebrate the birth of our Saviour, may the wonder of God’s love made flesh fill your hearts with joy and peace. In this season of light, may you know the presence of Emmanuel – God with us – in profound and personal ways. We pray that the hope born in Bethlehem will sustain you through the coming year, and that you will experience God’s abundant grace in all things. Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year filled with faith, health, and happiness.

With love in Christ,
Revd George and the Church Council