CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE
JESUS, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
The Advent wreath has been lit; all four candles are blazing.
Why not light your own virtual Advent wreath if you do not have one at home?
http://dayoftheunbornchild.com/VirtualAdventWreath.htm#AdventWreathUnlit
Priest; 'We await the coming of the Messiah.' Congregation; 'Come, Lord Jesus!'
First Reading;
Isaiah Chapter 9, verses 2, 6 and 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.
6 6 6 6 For unto us a Child is born
to us a Son is given,
and the government will be upon 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 forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.'
The opening Carol is '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.
Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing all that hear in heaven God's holy word.
Give to our Father glory in the Highest;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.'
THE JESSE TREE
The last ornaments have been placed on our Jesse tree for the fourth week of Advent.
Second Reading;
The reading is from the Prophet Micah, Chapter 5, verses 2 to 4;
'2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for Me
One who will be Ruler over Israel,
Whose origins are of old,
from ancient times.
3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned
until the time when she who is in labor 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 He will live securely, for then His Greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.'
The next carol is 'O Little Town of Bethlehem'.
'O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lieAbove 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
For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earth.
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.
O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel.'
Third Reading
The reading is taken from Saint Luke Chapter 2, verses 1 to 7;
' 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 swaddling cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.'
The next carol is '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.'
WORDS OF COMFORT;
'Jesus our Saviour was prophesied by the prophets. The holy Prophet Micah, to whom God spoke His Holy Word, saw deep into the future.
There a small town - deep in Galilee - was to bring forth the greatest King ever known; Christ the Saviour.
Yet, we need not fear. The luminous Son of God, Head of the Heavenly Host, Emperor of the Universe, comes as a humble infant.
First, He comes to bless His animals, part of the creation He made. As they chew their cud and warm the cold air about His manger, He lies there in peace.
Jesus blesses human marriage and the love of a man and woman, by being born within the family unit.
He loves the poor and struggling for their daily bread; His angels call the shepherds, the working class, from their fields.
To them will each be given a throne in the Kingdom of Heaven.
The stars and planets align to signify the cosmos news that He has come to His own creation; the star shines upon His birthplace. Jesus loves His own creation, and rejoices in the work of His Hands.
Jesus loves the rich, wealthy and politically influential. The kings follow their portent, the star, and are humbled to kneel before Him with their presents. To them will an equal throne to that of the poor, be given in Heaven.
Whether we are rich or poor - whatever strata of human society we belong to - we are equally loved, equally cherished, by God.
Jesus died for each of us, because, without His bail for the sin of our ancestors, we - rich and poor - were all doomed to eternal banishment from God and from Heaven.
So let us be confident as we approach the manger of Jesus this day. Whoever we are, we are loved. Cherished. Forever.
If there are burdens upon your heart, lay them before that humble manger. If there are prayers you need to utter, pray them now in the silence of your heart before the Lord.
And, as you look into the soft eyes of the Babe of Bethlehem, know that what you always wished for, always prayed for, has happened - you are loved, unconditionally, totally, as you are.
Let us rejoice in the message of Christmas. Peace to all of goodwill.
If there are any with whom you have not made peace, why not make peace with them this Christmas time. Whether or not they accept your apology and olive branch.
In the spirit of Christmas, let us offer peace to all as peace has been offered to us.'
With thanks to Youtube
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