Christmas 1 * indicates standing 29 December 2019
- MUSICAL PRELUDE
- WELCOMING, ANNOUNCEMENTS & MISSION
- CALL TO WORSHIP
The Glory of God has come to us! Christ is incarnate!
The Presence of God is in our midst!
The Light of God shines like a beacon, calling us to heaven.
The Presence of God is in our midst!
Let us gather to celebrate the birth of a new age.
The Presence of God is in our midst!
- INTROIT (tune at # 35 in Voices United)
Good Christian friends – rejoice!
With heart and soul and voice!
Give you heed to what we say – News! News!
God is with us every day!
All the world sings with glee
For Jesus Christ has set us free.
God has come to stay with us every day!
- PRAYER OF APPROACH and the LORD’S PRAYER
Generous God,
You have dressed your incarnation in humanity’s flesh
and have clothed us in the garments of holiness.
Grant that we, who have been born to a living hope,
may give birth to hope among all people
with Jesus Christ our Lord, who taught us to pray, saying,
OUR FATHER….. NOTRE PERE…. AR N-ATHAIR…
ONZE VADER …VATER UNSER… PADRE NEUSTRO…
- HYMN # 59 (VU) JOY TO THE WORLD *
- LIGHTING of the ADVENT and CHRISTMAS CANDLES
We are in the season of expectant wonder.
Having imagined a world that can be, we live in HOPE!
Great is the richness of God’s HOPE.
Great are the marvels before us!
Great is the wonder that confounds us!
PEACE rises within us.
Great is the richness of God’s PEACE.
Life in its complexities, Life in its intricacies!
Life in its great variety!
We are always living in the JOY of what can be!
Great is the richness of God’s JOY.
We bask in the wonder of God’s Redemption, of God’s Love and God’s Promise. The Spirit fans the spark of impossible LOVE into a flame for this candle and we proclaim,
Great is the richness of God’s LOVE.
We light this candle for CHRIST, the Light of the World,
who brings us HOPE, PEACE, JOY and LOVE!
Great is the richness of living with God.
- HYMN # 50 (VU) IL EST NÉ *
- SCRIPTURE LESSONS
First Testament: Isaiah 63: 7 – 9
Psalm 148 on page 871 of Voices United
Epistle: Hebrews 2: 10 – 18
Gospel: Matthew 2: 13 – 23 *
- REFLECTION
- OFFERTORY # 74 (VU) WHAT CHILD IS THIS *
- PASTORAL PRAYER
- HYMN # 71 (VU) ‘TWAS IN THE MOON OF WINTER *
- COMMISSIONING and BENEDICTION
- MUSICAL POSTLUDE
We invite the Children to join us for the complete Worship Service this morning and share in the celebrations of Christmas!
Joyeux Noel – Merry Christmas – Nollaig Chridheil