Holy Communion for Christmas Eve – Live Streamed – Friday, 24 December 2021
Led by: Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga
and Revd George Mwaura
Please note that the video feed will go live from around 10:50 pm and will be switched off after the service.
A separate video feed of the choir is available here.
Gathering music
Welcome
Gathering Prayer
O God for whom we reach, Circle our hearts
Centre our minds
Still our bodies,
Be present to us now As we come to adore In spirit and in truth
Silence
Lord God, we come in expectation,
we come with joy at what is to come,
we come to worship and centre ourselves. We come knowing your greatness,
your eternal presence, your abiding love, your overwhelming generosity.
We come to rest in this place and to see afresh the wonders of your being.
Lord God, we come, we come, we come.
Amen.
Hymn – 359 – O little town of Bethlehem
O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by;
yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.
O morning stars, together
proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the King,
and peace to men on earth;
for Christ is born of Mary;
and, gathered all above,
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wondering love.
How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming;
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him, still
the dear Christ enters in.
Where children pure and happy
pray to the blessèd Child,
where misery cries out to thee,
son of the mother mild;
where charity stands watching
and faith holds wide the door,
the dark night waits, the glory breaks,
and Christmas comes once more.
O holy child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin and enter in;
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
our Lord Emmanuel.
Prayer of Confession
Almighty God, we have not always followed your path.
Silence
Bring us back to you, from all the diversions we have been on;
bring us back, Almighty God.
Almighty God, we have often lost focus on our Advent journey.
Bring us back to the meaning of Christmas, of loving and giving,
of receiving and blessing; bring us back, Almighty God.
With penitent hearts, we stand before
you, seeking your gift of blessing and forgiveness.
Silence
In all your business, among the parties and preparations, the carols and crackers, may you hear the gentle words of God, offering you the gift of forgiveness.
Amen
The Lighting of the Candle
Now we light the Christmas candle
and we rejoice that Jesus is born.
He is hope, peace, joy and love for all the world.
A Saviour is born to us today.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
The candle is lit.
O Come Let Us Adore Him!
We adore you, Lord Jesus Christ, you bring the life of God into the world. Fill us with your light, now and always.
Amen
The first Reading
Isaiah 9:2-7
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.
Hymn – While shepherds watched
While shepherds watched
their flocks by night,
all seated on the ground,
the angel of the Lord came down,
and glory shone around.
‘Fear not,’ said he,
(for mighty dread
had seized their troubled mind)
‘Glad tidings of great joy I bring
to you and all mankind.’
‘To you in David’s
town this day
is born of David’s line
a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord;
and this shall be the sign:
The heavenly Babe
you there shall find
to human view displayed,
all meanly wrapped in swathing bands,
and in a manger laid.’
Thus spoke the Seraph;
and forthwith
appeared a shining throng
of Angels praising God, who thus
addressed their joyful song:
‘All glory be
to God on high,
and on the earth be peace,
goodwill henceforth from heaven to men
begin and never cease.’
Gospel Reading
Luke 2:1-14
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.
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.’
Meditation
by Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga
Choral Response
Prayers and Intercessions
The Peace
May the peace and the love of the Lord be yours this night and always.
May the peace of the Lord be with you
And also with you
Let us share a sign of peace
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.
Almighty God, good Father to us all, your face is turned towards your world. In love you gave us Jesus your Son to rescue us from sin and death.
Your Word goes out to call us home to the city where angels sing your praise. We join with them in heaven’s song:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
We bless the name of Jesus, bone of our bone, flesh of our flesh whose brokenness and suffering makes love real, who on the night in which he was betrayed took bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to his disciples saying,
Take, eat. This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
After supper he took the cup saying, drink from this, all of you, this is my blood given for you. Do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of me.
This is the mystery of our faith.
Christ has died,
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again.
Therefore, as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we acknowledge brokenness as a path to truth. We long for the bread of tomorrow: eternally broken and so able to nourish. We long for the new wine of the kingdom: continuously poured out that thirst may be quenched.
Send your Spirit on us now that by these gifts we may feed on Christ with opened eyes and hearts on fire. May we and all who share this food offer ourselves to live for you and be welcomed at your feast in heaven where all creation worships you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
Blessing and honour and glory and power
Be yours forever and ever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
As our Saviour taught us, so we pray
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.
THE COMMUNION
We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.
Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread. Amen.
Hymn – 643 —Silent night
Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace,
sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake 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 from thy holy face,
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth.
Jesus, Lord at thy birth.
Prayer After Communion
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 the corners of the world to adore Him.
Amen
Hymn – CHE 520 – 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;
Refrain:
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:
[Refrain]
Sing, choirs of angels,
sing in exultation,
sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;
glory to God, glory in the highest:
[Refrain]
Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
born this happy morning,
Jesus, to thee be glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:
[Refrain]
Blessing
Tonight, as we celebrate God is with us in the birth of Jesus, let us continue to live lives of hope, peace, joy, and love.
Share God’s love with the shepherds you meet on the hillside.
Let the communion of the Holy Spirit fill your heart with glad tidings like the angels.
And the Prince of Peace born again tonight, may He live in your heart to comfort and challenge you as you seek to live as one of his disciples.
And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
In the name of Christ
Amen