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I bring you news of great joy
A Saviour has been born to you. Alleluia
Unto us a child is born
Unto us a son is been given. Alleluia
He is Christ the Lord Alleluia
We worship and adore him Alleluia
Hymn: O Come all ye faithful https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPcGmrS5yDA
Confession
As we kneel with the shepherds before the newborn Christ child,
we open our hearts in penitence and faith.
Lord of grace and truth,
we confess our unworthiness
to stand in your presence as your children.
We have sinned:
forgive and heal us.
The Virgin Mary accepted your call to be the mother of Jesus.
Forgive our disobedience to your will.
We have sinned:
forgive and heal us.
Your Son our Saviour was born in poverty in a manger.
Forgive our greed and rejection of your ways.
We have sinned:
forgive and heal us.
The shepherds left their flocks to go to Bethlehem.
Forgive our self-interest and lack of vision.
We have sinned:
forgive and heal us.
The wise men followed the star to find Jesus the King.
Forgive our reluctance to seek you.
We have sinned:
forgive and heal us.
May the God of all healing and forgiveness
draw you to himself,
and cleanse you from your sins
that you may behold the glory of his Son,
the Word made flesh, Jesus our Lord.
Amen
We light the Christmas Candle
The Collect
Lord Jesus Christ,
your birth at Bethlehem draws us to kneel in wonder at heaven touching earth:
accept our heartfelt praise as we worship you, our Saviour and our eternal God.
Amen
Hymn: See him Lying on a Bed of Straw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79h_5jhzT7Q
The Gospel Reading:
Alleluia, alleluia.
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
and we have seen his glory.
Alleluia.
Here the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John 1:1-14
Glory to you O Lord
1 In the beginning the Word already existed; the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 From the very beginning the Word was with God. 3 Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him. 4 The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.
6 God sent his messenger, a man named John, 7 who came to tell people about the light, so that all should hear the message and believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came to tell about the light. 9 This was the real light—the light that comes into the world and shines on all people.
10 The Word was in the world, and though God made the world through him, yet the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to his own country, but his own people did not receive him. 12 Some, however, did receive him and believed in him; so he gave them the right to become God's children. 13 They did not become God's children by natural means, that is, by being born as the children of a human father; God himself was their Father.
14 The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father's only Son.
This is the Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you O Christ
The Sermon
We have learnt lot about communication this year.
We do make an effort most Christmases to communicate with other people- perhaps for the only time in the year..
But this year especially we’ve learnt how much staying in touch means. But also how much actual touch means.
Phones, tablets, the dreaded zoom, whatsapp have served us very well. We would have been lost without such things. But we’re also really missing face to face communication. Being there with someone. Hugging and hand shakes; physically being close.
Throughout the centuries, God has communicated with his people. First through founders of his people- Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah and all of Jacob’s family, then through the Moses, the law and the prophets.
And though people heard God and experienced God, it wasn’t the same as being with God. For most ordinary people there was an intermediary- someone who came between them and God himself.
Then Jesus came. Jesus came as a baby not only to talk to people and teach people when he grew up but also to be just like us, live a human life, experience all that we do.
God was no longer distant. God came to live among us. And by his Spirit, we can experience God first hand. Not second hand through someone else or inherited in tradition.
We are know and can know God intimately; as our greatest parent, friend and brother.
For us the restrictions in communication, even though made so much more possible by technology, will end. We are going to be together again.
And so too, because of Christmas, because Jesus came to live among us, we can become children of God- and know Him completely.
The Creed
We believe in God the Father,
from whom every family
in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son,
who lives in our hearts through faith,
and fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit,
who strengthens us
with power from on high.
We believe in one God;
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Our Prayers
Jesus, whose mother was Mary:
we pray for … families.
Lord Jesus,
hear our prayer.
Jesus, cradled in a manger:
we pray for …the homeless, refugees.
Lord Jesus,
hear our prayer.
Jesus, sharing the stable with the animals:
we pray for … all your world.
Lord Jesus,
hear our prayer.
Jesus, worshipped by shepherds and kings:
we pray for … the countries of the world.
Lord Jesus,
hear our prayer.
Jesus, our Emmanuel:
we pray for … those in particular need.
Lord Jesus,
hear our prayer.
The Peace
Unto us a Son is born unto us a Son is given
and his name shall be called the Prince of Peace
The peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you.
Let us offer another a sign of peace
Hymn: Silent Night https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEH7_2c644Q&list=PLfSd4zesHkefjKqtR3O4AS1MRD17ZfIBH&index=8
Holy Communion
The Lord be with you
and also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
It is indeed right to praise you, Father, Lord of all creation;
in your love you made us for yourself.a
When we turned away
you did not reject us,
but came to meet us in your Son.
You embraced us as your children
and welcomed us to sit and eat with you.
In Christ you shared our life
that we might live in him and he in us.
He opened his arms of love upon the cross
and made for all the perfect sacrifice for sin.
On the night he was betrayed,
at supper with his friends
he took bread, and gave you thanks;
he broke it and gave it to them, saying:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.
Father, we do this in remembrance of him:
his body is the bread of life.
At the end of supper, taking the cup of wine,
he gave you thanks, and said:
Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins;
do this in remembrance of me.
Father, we do this in remembrance of him:
his blood is shed for all.
As we proclaim his death and celebrate his rising in glory,
send your Holy Spirit that this bread and this wine
may be to us the body and blood of your dear Son.
As we eat and drink these holy gifts
make us one in Christ, our risen Lord.
With your whole Church throughout the world
we offer you this sacrifice of praise
and lift our voice to join the eternal song of heaven:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
We continue with the words of 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
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.
Jesus, Lamb of God,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world,
grant us peace.
Draw near with faith.
Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ
which he gave for you,
and his blood which he shed for you.
Eat and drink
in remembrance that he died for you,
and feed on him in your hearts
by faith with thanksgiving.
Song: Mary did you know https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1H1-scfD1s
Prayer of Spiritual Communion
Thanks be to you, Lord Jesus Christ,
for all the benefits you have given me,
for all the pains and insults you have borne for me.
Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally,
I ask you to come spiritually into my heart.
O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother,
may I know you more clearly,
love you more dearly,
and follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen
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 with you now and remain with you always.
Amen
Hymn: Hark the Herald Angels Sing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCt1s44cfMM
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.