Service for Christmas Day 2025 which will be conducted by Mr. Geoffrey Webber.

Welcome: –

Liturgy for Christmas Day

Narrator: Today we light the Christ candle.

[Light the candle of Hope, the candle of Peace, the candle of Joy, the candle of Love, and then the Christ candle.]

A reading from Matthew 1:

18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. His mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, but before they were married, she found out that she was going to have a baby by the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph was a man who always did what was right, but he did not want to disgrace Mary publicly; so he made plans to break the engagement privately. 20 While he was thinking about this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary to be your wife. For it is by the Holy Spirit that she has conceived. 21 She will have a son, and you will name him Jesus – because he will save his people from their sins.”

22 Now, all of this happened in order to make true what the Lord had said through the Prophet,

23 “A virgin will become pregnant and have a son, and he will be called Immanuel” (which means ‘God is with us’) (Isaiah 7: 14)

24 So, when Joseph woke up, he married Mary, as the angel of the Lord had told him to. 25 But he did not consummate his marriage with her before she gave birth to her son. And Joseph named him Jesus.

Mary “gave birth to her son.”, so we read, “And Joseph named him Jesus.” (Matthew 1: 25b)

William Barclay writes (The Gospel of Matthew The Daily Study Bible p22 & 23) :

“In Jesus there came into this World the power which can recreate life. He can bring to life again the soul which is dead to sin; he can revive again the ideals which have died; he can make strong again the will to goodness which has perished. He can renew life, when (people) have lost all that life means.

There is much more in this (passage) than the crude fact that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin mother. The essence of Matthew’s (account) is that, in the birth of Jesus, the Spirit of God was operative as never before in this World. It is the Spirit who brings God’s truth to (people); it is the Spirit who enables (people) to recognise that truth when they see it; it is the Spirit who was God’s agent in the Creation of the World; it is the Spirit who alone can recreate the Human soul when it has lost the life it ought to have.

Jesus enables us to see what God is and what (Humanity) ought to be; Jesus opens the ‘eyes’ of our minds so that we can see the truth of God for ourselves; Jesus is the creating power come amongst (Humanity); Jesus is the recreating power which can release the souls of (people) from the death of sin.”

“There’s a song in the air”

There’s a song in the air! There’s a star in the sky!

There’s a mother’s deep prayer and a baby’s low cry!

And the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing,

for the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!

There’s tumult of joy o’er the wonderful birth,

for the virgin’s sweet boy is the Lord of the Earth.

Aye, the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing,

for the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!

In the light of that star lie the ages impearled;

and that song from afar has swept over the World.

Every hearth is aflame, and the beautiful sing

in the homes of the Nations that Jesus is King!

We rejoice in the light, and we echo the song

that comes down through the night from a Heavenly throng.

Aye, we shout to the lovely evangel they bring,

and we greet in his cradle our Saviour and King.

Josiah Holland

(from Jesus The Reason for the Season by Honor Books p77)

“A Prayer for Christmas Morning” by Henry Van Dyke

The Day of joy returns, Father in Heaven, and crowns another year with peace and goodwill. Help us rightly to remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the Magi.

Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the World. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil, by the blessing that Jesus Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clean hearts.

Keep us from becoming calloused with the familiarity of the Christmas story, and, instead, give us the meekness of those who came from near and far to kneel in the lowly stable to adore the Christ child. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be your children, and the Christmas evening bring us to our bed with grateful thoughts, forgiven and forgiving. Amen.

(from The Greatest Gift, edited by Julie Hogan, p98, & Invocations and Benedictions by John Drescher p153)

Hymn

“As with gladness men of old” TiS314 AHB239 MHB132

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB8rKNrlpDQ

William Dix, 1837-98. CCLI Song# 4772707 Public Domain

Prayer of Praise

Creator God, you who loves us more than we can know,

who chose us from the very beginning to be family, we praise your holy name.

Jesus Christ, Son of God, Word become flesh,

who dwelt among us and was sacrificed for us, we praise your holy name.

Holy Spirit, you who enlivens and inspires,

who is present and is the power in our lives, we praise your holy name.

God of glory, your splendour shines from a manger in Bethlehem,

where the Light of the World is humbly born into the darkness of Human night.

Open our eyes to Christ’s presence in the shadows of our World,

so that we, like him, may become beacons of your justice, and defenders of all for whom there is no room.

Light of life, you came in the flesh, born into Human pain and joy,

so as to gave us power to be your children.

Grant us faith, O Christ, to see your presence among us,

so that all of Creation may sing new songs of gladness and walk in the way of peace.

We praise you, Almighty God, for you have visited your people in one like us in all things but sin,

and in Human fragility you have revealed the face of divinity.

Gather into your arms all the peoples of the World, so that in your embrace we may find blessing, and peace,

and the fullness of our inheritance as your daughters and sons. Amen.

(https://www.faithandworship.com/prayers_Christmas.htm#gsc.tab=0)

(https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/christmas-prayers-to-help-prepare-your-heart.html)

Hymn

“Unto us a child is born” TiS293 AHB218

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvnceCVScDI

anonymous Latin C15th

translated by Percy Dearmer CCLI Song# 1044796 Public Domain

Prayer of Confession

Merciful God, we fail to be like Mary and Joseph and do not trust you.

Forgive us.

We fail to be like the shepherds and ignore your invitation to come and see the wonders you perform.

Forgive us.

We fail to be like the wise men and ignore the directions you have for us to follow.

Forgive us.

For you, God, loved the whole World so much,

but we pick and choose with whom we will be friendly.

For you, God, seek to work your wonders in the World,

but we feel so helpless and inadequate and small.

For you, God, gave your own Son,

but we seek to hoard what we have.

For you, God, see the potential for renewal in all of us,

but we judge and discriminate and give up on others.

For you, God, seek to forgive our sins and remember them no more,

but we seek to hang on to our hurts and grudges.

For you, God, seek to show us the way for peace of mind and soul,

but we seek to do it all by ourselves.

For you, God, seek to bring hope and joy and love into our lives,

but we strive for status and prestige and Earthly honours instead.

Merciful God, for when we do wrong things, and turn our backs on you,

for all the wrong things we say and think, forgive us and turn us towards your love.

May Christ be born in our minds,

and be at the heart of our every thought.

May the image of Christ be born in our eyes,

and be at the heart of all we see.

May the music of Christ be born in our ears,

and be at the heart of all we hear.

May the words of Christ be born on our lips,

and be at the heart of every word we speak.

May the love of Christ be born in our hearts,

and be at the heart of our relationships.

May Christ be born in all of us, young and old,

and be at the heart of all we do. To your praise and glory. Amen.

(Moira Laidlaw in Liturgies Offline Year A Christmas Eve)

Assurance of Forgiveness

(from David McCasland in God Intrudes in Our Daily Bread 12 December 2006 and Galatians 4: 4 & 5)

The stable in Bethlehem and the cross of Calvary remind us that “when the right time finally came, God sent his own Son. He came as the son of a Human mother and lived under the Law, to redeem those who were under the Law so that we might become the children of God.” We take reassurance knowing that having confessed our sins we can rely on the grace of God to forgive us and to welcome us into His family.

Thanks be to God.

Hymn

“Thou didst leave thy throne” AHB206 MHB150

www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9kc7PRObnc

Emily Elizabeth Steele Elliott, 1836-97. CCLI Song#91977 Public Domain

Bible Reading

Luke 2:

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 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 who 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 cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the Inn.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them,

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you: he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the Heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace to those people on whom His favour rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into Heaven, the shepherds said to one another,

“Let us go the Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in a manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told to them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

(New International Version)

This is the Gospel of our Lord.

Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

Message One

Phillip Adams, in an article in The Weekend Australian Magazine, writes about Santa Clause saying,

“I like his old slogan. Peace on Earth and Goodwill to all.”

(Phillip Adams in The Weekend Magazine December 16 – 17, 2023 p58)

Now, if you could accuse Santa Clause of plagiarism, such a “slogan” which is claimed by Phillip Adams as originating from Santa Clause, would substantiate such an accusation, for it is a corruption of the song of praise of the “Heavenly host”, as we read it in today’s passage from the Gospel of Luke, where we read the angels saying:

“Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace to those people on whom His favour rests.” (Luke 2: 14)

How does the angels’ song commence? It commences by giving praise to God. “Glory to God in the highest,” they proclaim. (Luke 2: 14a) God is at the centre of the Christmas narrative, not Santa Clause, not people, not buying presents, not carols playing softly in the background, not the turkey and the accompanying festive meal, not family togetherness, but God. It is so important to grasp the significance of this, that the central focus of Christmas is God, God intervening in Time and Space, God intervening in the History of Humanity, God at work in the World in and through the birth of His Son, Jesus.

How is God at work in the World to manifest itself? In peace on Earth. But it is the peace of God, not the peace associated with the cessation of hostilities between Nations or between people, because that type of peace is just a state of affairs between people not the fruit of a re-established and renewed relationship with God, neither is it the peace of mind and soul sought through meditation or inward contemplation, because that type of peace is like living in a vacuum, it does not deal with your relationship with Almighty God.

And to whom is this peace from God directed? Is it the blanket “Peace on Earth and Goodwill to all.”, as is stated by Phillip Adams as is the claimed parting greeting from Santa Clause? No, it is not, for the angels quite clearly say:

“peace to those people on whom God’s favour rests” (Luke 2: 14b) .

And who are these people on whom God’s favour rests? It is, surely, those who have responded to God’s call to His offer of the means for sins to be forgiven and for a renewed relationship with Him. Christmas is not essentially social or cultural or emotional experiences, a wish for goodwill between people. Instead, it has everything to do with a spiritual experience, between you and God.

God’s interaction with people since the Fall of Adam and Eve, has been to seek to counter the effects of the sins of Adam and Eve. In God’s passing of judgement upon the Serpent for its deceit of Adam and Eve, God states:

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3: 15)

The History of the World has been a history of the spiritual battle between Satan, the Serpent of the Genesis account, and God, for the hearts and minds of Humanity. But note the outcome as foreseen by God, that a single male offspring of Eve will “crush Satan’s head”, that is, he will defeat Satan and the hold that Satan has on the World, but at the same time, will be “bitten on his heal”, that is, will suffer death in and through the process of defeating Satan.

That is the Gospel message as foretold by God from the very beginning of Human History, to be accomplished according to God’s timing and will.

The Apostle Paul shared this understanding in his Letters. He writes to the Churches in Galatia, saying,

“But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem those under the Law, that we might receive the full rights of children.” (Galatians 4: 4 & 5)

At the commencement of Paul’s Letter to the Churches in Galatia, Paul writes:

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present age, according to the will of God our Father” (Galatians 1: 3 & 4)

The Gospel, the Good News, proclaimed by Paul and the other Apostles, was of God’s Son, born in Human form with a Human mother, at the time God chose, who would give his life, at the time God chose, to defeat the power of Satan in the World, to take upon himself the sins of Humanity, past, present, and future, and who would be raised to life by God to claim the crown as Lord of all, as God’s had chosen. The angels were singing praises to God because of the wondrous things that God was accomplishing in the World through the birth of His Son, the “baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger”. (Luke 2: 12)

That is why a Christmas without Christ is meaningless. For God’s Church, there can be no Christmas without Christ. For God’s Church, there can be no more important message to declare to the World, than that Christ is central to our understanding of and of our celebrating of Christmas.

The shepherds reacted with joy and celebration at seeing the child of Mary and Joseph, for we read in Luke’s account:

“The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” (Luke 2: 20)

May we, too, glorify and praise God, for all the things that we hear and see in the Gospel accounts of the birth of Jesus, just as they have been told to us.

I will leave you with this poem.

The Harper’s Song

by Maud Lindsay

Sing glory, glory, glory! And bless God’s holy name,

for ‘twas on Christmas morning the little Jesus came.

He wore no robes, no crown of gold was on his head that morn;

but herald angels sang for joy to tell a King was born.

O glory, glory, glory! We bless God’s holy name;

for ‘twas to bring His wondrous love that little Jesus came.

And in His praise our songs we sing, and in His name we pray;

God bless us all for Jesus’ sake this happy Christmas day.

(from “The Promise” in Jesus The Reason for the Season p36 and 37)

Hymn

“While shepherds watched their flocks by night”

MHB129 AHB223 TiS299

www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdASbgux6ds

Nahum Tate, 1652-1715 alt. CCLI Song# 2088730 Public Domain

Message Two

In an article in The Weekend Australian, John Carroll wrote:

“Christmas has been largely stripped of its sacred meaning. It now functions as an annual get-together for extended families, marking the end of the secular year, rather than as a devout ritual celebrating the birth of the most significant person in History.

Yet, echoes remain of the search for the transcendent that began in a Bethlehem cattle shed 2000 years ago. It is there in the imagery of shepherds travelling by night to see a baby in a manger, of exotic Kings following a star and bringing gifts, and of the haunting sound of the Carol, “Silent Night”. The birth of Jesus brought with it the hope that Human life, with all its trials and sufferings, might be redeemed. But that arc of meaning is almost entirely lost today, with the secularising of Christmas, and, more seriously, with the denial of Easter as a signifier that death might be more than death.” (John Carroll in A Sense of Eternity in The weekend Australian December 17-18 2022 p35)

Henry Gariepy writes:

“The beauty and simplicity of the Carol, “Silent Night”, captures something of the wonder and majesty of Christmas. The manger is the marvel of the ages. The Babe of Bethlehem was God becoming visible to Human sight, vocal to Human hearing, tangible to Human touch. Jesus was the heart of God wrapped in Human flesh.”

“The Incarnation is the central fact and miracle of Christmas. Upon it depends the whole superstructure of our faith. No tongue of a Human nor brain of a scholar can explain this mighty transition that wrapped deity in the dust and decay of Human flesh. This beautiful Carol reminds us each Advent Season of the ‘dawn of redeeming grace’ that broke upon the World in majestic and matchless splendour.” (Henry Gariepy in Songs in the Night p100)

The Website Hymnary writes:

“In the Carol, Silent Night, It is important to not simply listen to what we might consider a quaint, nostalgia-evoking song, but to sing out the depth of these words. For the words ‘dawn of redeeming grace’ speak of something far greater and grander than any song we could ever write.” (Silent Night, Holy Night | Hymnary.org)

Coleman Luck writes that although Caesar Augustus exercised supreme authority throughout the Roman Empire and, in his decree for a census to be taken throughout the Empire (Luke 2: 1) , initiated the temporary migration of millions of his subjects “to their own hometown” (Luke 2: 2) , “it can now be seen that he was the really insignificant person – merely a pawn in the plan of God. Joseph and Mary were by far the most important persons on the face of the Earth at that particular moment, because Mary had within her womb the Saviour of the world. Though the World little realises it, this is what it needs more than anything else – a Saviour. This Saviour was the Christ, the promised Messiah of the Old Testament.” (Coleman Luck in Luke The Gospel of the Son of Man p31 & 32)

What took place in Bethlehem at that time was not simply an event, but an event plus a revelation. From one point of view, it was the greatest event that ever took place, and was the turning point in Human History. But it would have no meaning for us unless God revealed that meaning. This is where the angel comes in, bringing the “good news which will bring joy to all the people”, for, as the angel announces to the shepherds, ”This very day in David’s town your Saviour was born – Christ the Lord” (Luke 2: 10 & 11) , bringing to the World, as the angelic choir sang:

“Glory to God in the Highest Heaven, and peace on Earth to those with He is pleased.” (Luke 2: 14) (Michael Wilcock in The Message of Luke p43&44)

Alan Catchpoole wrote:

“We have seen that God created and sustains this World and the Human Race. But there was something that God could not do for Humanity through Creation or providence. Humanity needed help from God, for, ever since Adam’s rebellion, the people of this World were in desperate need of salvation from the corruption into which we have fallen, and the guilt of our own souls. Such divine help could only come through the Incarnation.

The doctrine of the Incarnation – that Jesus Christ is come into the world in the flesh – gives substance to all of the teachings of the Bible. Because this doctrine is true, we accept that Christ can act as mediator between God and Humanity. He can speak with divine authority and his word is final. He can represent individual people before God and be the Human substitute in the atonement. This gives saving power and eternal worth to Calvary’s cross. If Jesus Christ is not Human, then the story of the Gospel is but a myth. And if he is not God, we are fools if we worship him.” (Alan Catchpoole in The Wisdom that founded the Earth p140 & p151)

David McCasland wrote:

“The Lord did not wait for an invitation to enter our world. Clothed in Humanity, he was born as a baby, lived as our teacher, died as our Sacrifice, and rose from the grave as our Saviour.” (David McCasland in God Intrudes in Our Daily Bread 12 December 2006)

“The evidence of God’s salvation can be seen in our faces, heard in our voices, and reflected by the works of our hands. May the joy of redemption shine through us this Christmas and throughout the coming new year.” (David McCasland in The Joy of Redemption in in Our Daily Bread 22 December 2006) Amen.

Hymn

Silent night, holy night”

TiS311 AHB236 MHB123

There are several versions of this hymn, depending on the translator of Josph Mohr’s original composition in German. The translation by Stopford Augustus Brooke is in the Methodist Hymn book (MHB123) . The website Hymnary cites this as Version One. The translation by Joseph Freeman Young is in the Australian Hymn book (AHB236) and in Together in Song (TiS311) . The website Hymnary sites this as Version Two. (https://hymnary.org/text/silent_night_holy_night_sleeps_the_world)

There is a Silent Night Museum in Salzburg, Austria, dedicated to the retention of the History of this Christmas carol, and to the memory of its creators, Joseph Mohr and Franz Xaver Gruber. In 1998 they commissioned a Bettina Klein to compile a revised English translation of the hymn, so as to obtain a closer rendering of the spirit and meaning of Joseph Mohr’s original words to the hymn which were written in German. This revised English version of Joseph Mohr’s hymn retains the original format of six verses. Bettina Klein © 1998 Silent Night Museum

The video for which we have copyright cover incorporates Version Two of this hymn.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzDh_BUABco

Verse 1 of 3

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.

Verse 2 of 3

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.

Verse 3 of 3

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.

Joseph Mohr

Translated by Joseph Freeman Young CCLI Song #27862 Public Domain

Offering for Christmas Bowl

(The Christmas Bowl is the Christmas appeal of Act for Peace, the international humanitarian agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia – christmasbowl.actforpeace.org.au)

Offering Prayer

Almighty God who of your abundance has provided for our needs,

we dedicate these gifts asking that you will guide their use so as to sustain life, prevent displacement, and nurture hope.

As water renews dry ground and seeds grow into a harvest,

may these gifts we offer bring resilience to vulnerable communities.

Bless these gifts and the work of Act for Peace,

that your Kingdom may be glimpsed in lives renewed and communities restored. Amen.

(from Christmas Bowl Toolkit 2025 prepared by Act for Peace [National Council of Churches Australia] p18)

Prayers for Others

As we celebrate Christmas when the Word of God became flesh, we pray for the Church, the Body of Christ.

Almighty God, may we be so filled with your loving life, that our actions touch the World with hope, which lasts when even the Christmas decorations are put away for another year.

Ever living God, on this Christmas morning we remember that your dear son was born into a dangerous and troubled world.

We pray for peace and acceptance in those regions of the World, where diversity of opinion or politics forms a hinderance to peaceful co-existence, and where borders and barriers seek to hide injustice, terror and torture.

Jesus, just as you were brought gifts by the wise men, help our leaders to use wisely those gifts of forgiveness and reconciliation, which you have given us for the good of all Nations.

We pray for peace in the Holy Land and for all who now live in the city of Bethlehem.

We give thanks to you God that in Jesus’ early childhood you entrusted him to the care of a Human family. In Mary and Joseph, you gave us an example of love and devotion to him, and the importance of family life.

We are grateful for those members of our family who will gather round the table for Christmas, and remember those who cannot be with us

We ask you to bless us and the food you provide. In our gratitude, we remember your humble birth and pray for those without enough to eat.

We remember the stable in which you were born and pray for those who have no place to live. We remember your challenging message of caring and giving, and pray for the lonely and those who are close to despair.

Jesus, as Mary cradled you gently in her arms, we pray for all women giving birth today, for all newborn babies and for all expectant mothers.

We pray for those who are sick or in need of your help at this time, and for all who minister to their needs. We are thankful and pray for those who will work this Christmas day in the service of others. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.

Thank you Lord for sending us the gift of your Son, so that we may have the blessing of your promised peace. We thank you for the star that guided the Magi.

May we be guided by the Light of the World, and walk the path that you have chosen for our lives, this day and every day. May our hearts be open to your presence, and may we be transformed by your love. To your glory we pray.

http://www.layanglicana.org/blog/2014/12/25/intercessions-for-christmas-day-years-a-b-and-c-25-december-2014/

INTERCESSIONS – CHRISTMAS DAY 2017

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil,

For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,

now and forever. Amen.

Hymn

“Joy to the world! The Lord is come”

AHB224 TiS268

www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=PNy2CEklxA4

Isaac Watts, 1674-1748. CCLI Song# 24016 Public domain