https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCxV9CbC180&list=PLuONhnUtWqvgGgy_cz3H0OoAQLkVZzmDu&index=6
CHRISTMAS CHURCH SERVICE
If you are unable to attend a Church Service, why not follow the service below in prayer and make spiritual communion with Our Lord Jesus Christ? Perhaps you have been working in essential services, are caregiver at home or ill in bed. Perhaps you have been unable to attend a church service to offer worship, due to circumstances beyond your control.
All of your intentions have been held before the Lord.
The Christmas Church Service:
Priest: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
Congregation: "Amen."
Priest: "The Lord Jesus was born in Bethlehem:
Angels rejoice and shepherds stand amazed. Alleluia!"
CONFESSION:
Priest: "Christ has come to set us free from sin.
Let us turn to Him to ask for purity of heart. May the Light of the Redeemer Christ shine within our lives.
Lord, have mercy."
Congregation: "Lord, have mercy."
Priest: "Christ, have mercy."
Congregation: "Christ, have mercy."
Priest: "Lord, have mercy."
Congregation: "Lord, have mercy."
Priest: "May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life."
Congregation: "Amen."
READING:
Priest: "A reading from the gospel of St Luke, chapter 2, verses 1 to 16.
"In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria). Everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee in Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and town of David.
"He went there to register with Mary, his espoused wife, who was expecting a Child. While they were there, the time came for the Baby to be born, and she gave birth to her Firstborn, a Son.
"She wrapped Him in cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. There were shepherds living out in the field nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
"An Angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the Glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the Angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring great news that will bring great joy to all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you. He will be wrapped in cloths, and laid in a manger."
"Suddenly a great company of the Heavenly Host appeared with the Angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the Highest Heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His Favour rests."
"When the Angels had left them and gone into Heaven, the shepherds said to one another: "Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
"So they turned off and found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby lying in the manger.
"This is the Word of the Lord."
Congregation: "Thanks be to God."
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT:
Priest: "A Child of peace and redemption has been born to us, just as the prophets of old promised. Jesus Christ has come to illumine our earth with His Divinity, Beauty, Wisdom, Forgiveness and Majesty.
"Yet the Emperor of all dominions within the universe allowed Himself to be born as a tiny Child, developed in true human fashion within the womb of His Mother Mary.
"We turn today to this King of our hearts and lives, and entrust to Him all that has been lost during the pandemic. We thank God for the emerging natural immunity which is a miracle of grace to our world.
"We thank God that three great waves of the Covid-19 are over, and that the Omicron wave appears to be less virulent in nature. We pray that the bowl of pestilence - with which the world has recently struggled - be removed from our earth.
"We pray for wisdom for governments and bodies of authority as they seek to assist their peoples. We ask that gentleness, understanding and tolerance be exercised by all towards all. We trust that none will judge another for personal conscience-driven decision.
"All are suffering. All are in fear. Yet what are we afraid of? God, the holder of the arches of Heaven and globe of earth is in full control. Never doubt that this is so. At this Christmas time, turn to the God of all and TRUST IN HIM.
"Each of us is destined to return the cloak of our body to the earth from whence it came, until the great day of Resurrection. Yet our spirit, our soul will return to the Throne of the Great God from whence we came.
"So why do we fear death? It is only a passing over into the true life, the eternal life which will last for ever.
"Trust in God. The sum of our days - whether short or long - are utterly safe in His loving and gentle Hands.
"Live well, pray well, trust totally and live each day as if it is your last.
"One day will indeed be our last day, after which we will stand at the Judgement Seat of God.
Abandon fear and look forward to the day when all suffering, illness, fear and death will be no more.
"Each of us is destined one day to stand rejoicing around the Table of the Holy Lamb in Heaven. Saints at last!"
ACCEPTING JESUS CHRIST:
If you wish to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, please visit the following Prayer Chapel:
http://churchinterfaith.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/how-to-receive-jesus-christ-as-your.html
REPENTANCE OF SIN:
If you wish to visit the Chapel of Repentance, visit the following Prayer Chapel:
http://churchinterfaith.blogspot.com/2017/03/prayer-chapel-of-repentance.html
BREAKING OF BREAD:
Priest: "Almighty God, You sent Your only Son to our world because You loved us so much. We praise You, Father, that on the night before He gave His Life, our Lord Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying: "Take, eat, this is My Body which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me."
Congregation: "Lord Jesus, You are the Bread of Life,"
Priest: "After the same manner, He took the cup, gave thanks and gave it to them, saying: "Take this, all of you, and drink, for this is My Blood: the Blood of the New Covenant which is poured out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of Me."
Congregation: "Lord Jesus, You are the Cup of Life, the wine that is blessed for our salvation."
(Here spiritually partake of the Body and Blood of Christ within in the Eucharist. Be assured He has come to you.)
Spend some time in silent prayer.
THE LORD'S PRAYER:
Priest and congregation: "Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, Amen."
BLESSING:
Priest: "Holy Jesus, by being born us of us,
and humbly lying in a manger,
You show how much God loves the world.
Let the light of Your Love always shine in our hearts,
until we reach our home in heaven,
and see you on Your Throne of Glory.
Amen."
FINAL HYMN: 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.
