Please join us for our Virtual Worship Service today.
If you know anyone who wants to register for the services, they can signup at https://portwallisunitedchurch.ca/virtual as everyone logging in needs their own registration. ALL are welcome!
During Advent ALL virtual services will be held in the same ZOOM webinar room as our regular Sunday Services. However, you will not get the Zoom reminder, so pleae be sure to save one of your weekly reminders with the links. More details are here. https://portwallisunitedchurch.ca/port-wallis-news/important-notice-advent-services
Service Documents to view/print at home.
First Sunday of Christmas 26 December 2021
Port Wallis United Church is an open Congregation that affirms you as a child of God,
made in God’s Image, and loved by God.
WORDS OF WELCOME / BIENVENUE / FAILTE / PJILA’DIK
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF LAND
We acknowledge that we are meeting in Mi’kma’ki,
the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People.
LIGHTING OF A CHRIST CANDLE (for use at home and together on Sunday morning)
You, O God, are light shining in the darkness of the universe,
guiding us onward from what was to what can be.
Your Light from heaven shines out to us in Jesus Christ our Lord.
May this candle, whether lit or unlit,
remind me of your presence and bring me comfort in every day.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
CALL TO WORSHIP
What was the first gift of Christmas?
God’s Glory filing the world for all the world to see.
What is the second gift of Christmas?
The gift of holy amazement received by the shepherds and present with us today.
What is the third gift of Christmas?
The ever present WORD incarnate, guiding us onward until we are home.
What is the fourth gift of Christmas?
A family of faith into which we are adopted by the loving grace of God.
We have been blessed with the Gifts of Christmas.
Let us gather to share these gifts with all humanity.
GATHERING MUSIC (tune at # 48 in Voices United)
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the new born King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.”
Joyful all ye nations rise. Join the triumph of the skies.
With angelic host proclaim, “Christ in born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the new born King!”
PRAYER OF APPROACH and the LORD’S PRAYER
Far from home but at home, loin de son foyer mais chez-lui,
Jésus Christ est né, Jesus Christ is born.
We gather at the side of a manger to worship God, incarnate now in Jesus Christ.
The out-pouring of God into the Cosmos has taken many forms,
revealed in mystery, in beauty, in history.
We gather in Holy Wonder to worship God, incarnate now in Jesus Christ.
The Christ of God is never silent. From the written word in the Torah,
from the spoken word in the Prophets, to the challenging voice of Jesus.
We gather as a people to worship God, incarnate now in Jesus Christ.
As Jesus taught us to pray, we are bold to pray together:
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father….. Notre Père….. Ar n-Athair…. 주님의 기도 Fader vår….
Ons Vader…. Onze Vader… Vater unser… Padre Nostro… Padre nuestro…
主の祈り 主禱文 أَبَانَا Isä meidän Πάτερ ἡμῶν Baba yetu
HYMN # 50 (VU) IL EST NÉ
Il est né, le divin Enfant, jouez hautbois rèsonnez musettes;
il est né, le divin Enfant, chantons tous son avènement!
Through long ages of the past, prophets have foretold his coming;
thru long ages of the past, now the time has come at last!
Il est né, le divin Enfant, jouez hautbois rèsonnez musettes;
il est né, le divin Enfant, chantons tous son avènement!
O how lovely, O how pure is this perfect child of heaven;
O how lovely, O how pure gracious gift to humankind!
Il est né, le divin Enfant, jouez hautbois rèsonnez musettes;
il est né, le divin Enfant, chantons tous son avènement!
Lowly lodged in a stable poor, laid on straw for his infant cradle.
Lowly lodged in a stable poor, God come down to our mortal aid.
Il est né, le divin Enfant, jouez hautbois rèsonnez musettes;
il est né, le divin Enfant, chantons tous son avènement!
Jesus, Lord of all the world, coming as a child among us,
Jesus, Lord of all the world, grant to us your heavenly peace.
Il est né, le divin Enfant, jouez hautbois rèsonnez musettes;
il est né, le divin Enfant, chantons tous son avènement!
Il est Ne. Translation copyright © Walton Music Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with permission under License # A-734202. All rights reserved.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Precious Lord, present to us in your Present of a baby,
We come to You in the aftermath of Christmas,
Tired and exhausted, recuperating and recovering,
seeking peace from the Prince of Peace.
The external forces of the world have worn out our souls. We need You.
Forgive our preparation for a day and not for your Presence in each day,
fill the emptiness of a Christmas-Past with the presence of a Christ-ever-present,
and grant us what the world cannot give – a peace that passes all human understanding. Forgive the past, assure us in the present,
and lead us onward into your Kingdom without end.
Hear now our silent confession that we make in the Presence of Jesus Christ our Lord.
SILENT CONFESSION and ASSURANCE OF PARDON
SCRIPTURE LESSON: Gospel according to Luke 2: 41 – 52
A TEACHING TIME (a time of learning for younger folk)
TEACHING PRAYER
In peace, dear God, I come to You through Jesus Christ who makes me new
And while I run or play or rest, be with those whom I love best,
Guide me in your Holy Way, as You walk with me each day, AMEN.
HYMN # 69 (VU) AWAY IN A MANGER
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.
I love you, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky,
and stay by my side until morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay
close by me for ever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in your tender care,
and fit us for heaven, to live with you there.
REFLECTION
STATEMENT OF FAITH
We are not alone. We live in God’s world.
We believe in God:
Who has created and is creating,
Who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh,
To reconcile and make new;
Who works in us and others by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church;
To celebrate God’s Presence,
To live with respect in creation,
To love and serve others,
To seek justice and resist evil,
To proclaim Jesus,
Crucified and risen, our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Almighty and ever-present God, Present to us in Jesus Christ,
receive the gifts we offer, both visible and invisible,
and use them and us
for Your Glory and the good of all people.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
PASTORAL PRAYER
HYMN # 73 (VU) THE VIRGIN MARY HAD A BABY BOY
The virgin Mary had a baby boy, the virgin Mary had a baby boy,
the virgin Mary had a baby boy, and they say that his name is Jesus.
He come from the glory, he come from the glorious kingdom.
He come from the glory, he come from the glorious kingdom.
O yes! believer! O yes! believer!
He come from the glory, he come from the glorious kingdom.
The angels sang when the baby born, the angels sang when the baby born,
the angels sang when the baby born, and they say that his name is Jesus.
He come from the glory, he come from the glorious kingdom.
He come from the glory, he come from the glorious kingdom.
O yes! believer! O yes! believer!
He come from the glory, he come from the glorious kingdom.
The shepherds came where the baby born, the shepherds came where the baby born,
the shepherds came where the baby born, and they say his name is Jesus.
He come from the glory, he come from the glorious kingdom.
He come from the glory, he come from the glorious kingdom.
O yes! believer! O yes! believer!
He come from the glory, he come from the glorious kingdom.
The Virgin Mary had a Baby Boy. Words and Music copyright © 1945 Boosey and Co. Ltd.
All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with permission under License # A-734202. All rights reserved.
PARTING PRAYER (in unison)
Bless to us, O God, this day,
The doors we open, the thresholds we cross, and all the roads that lie before us.
Go with us always as we go and,
at the close of our day, welcome us home.
EXTINGUISHING OF THE CANDLE
We are reminded that the Light of Christ is not in candles nor institutions
but within each of us. We are the Light of the World
EXCHANGING OF THE PEACE OF CHRIST
Mention someone’s name and hold them in your heart.
HYMN # 59 (VU) 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 world! the Saviour reigns: let all their songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains, repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground:
he comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found,
far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found.
He rules the earth 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.
COMMISSIONING and BENEDICTION
Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE,
License # A-734202. All rights reserved.
We will continue with the Virtual service option using the same links and registration process as we have in place now. Register at www.portwallisunitedchurch.ca/virtual