Service for Christmas Day 25th December, which will be conducted by Mr Geoffrey Webber

Welcome: –

Liturgy for Christmas Day: –

Narrator: Today we light the Christ candle.

A reading from Micah chapter 5 verses 2, 4 and 5a.

“The Lord says, ‘Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are one of the smallest towns in Judah, but out of you I will bring a Ruler for Israel, whose family line goes back to ancient times.’ When he comes, he will rule his People with the strength that comes from the Lord and with the majesty of the Lord God Himself. His People will live in safety because people all over the Earth will acknowledge his greatness, and he will bring peace.”

These verses foretell of God choosing a new King for His People, the People of Israel. He speaks of this King coming from “Bethlehem Ephrathah”, making it clear that it is the same town which was the hometown of King David. Joshua 19: 15 mentions a different Bethlehem, located to the north in Galilee.

It is significant that Micah does not say that the new King will come from Jerusalem, the royal Capital and the seat of royal power, for it indicates a break from the hereditary succession pattern for the Kings. As such it is an implicit criticism of the descendants of David for their failure to faithfully lead the People of God in their Covenantal relationship with God. The ‘new David’ will be chosen directly by God from the origins of David’s household, even though Bethlehem is seen by the rest of the Country as such a small and insignificant town.

The original Hebrew of the passage talks of this King as being a good shepherd for “his flock”, mirroring the image commonly used in the Bible when talking of God leading His People and providing for His People. There are Messianic references to the King, when he is described as having “strength that comes from the Lord” and of ruling “with the majesty of the Lord”.

The assertion that “his People will live in safety” and that “he will bring peace” assures the People of God that it is God who has paramount control over History and World Politics, and that God will not fail to uphold His promise to love and care for those who faithfully choose to honour and serve Him. It is the same assurance that God gives to us today, for we who, too, live in troubled and uncertain times.

At this Christmas time, let us praise God, who demonstrates His power over His World so prominently, and displays His love for us so clearly.

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)

You are invited to listen to or join in singing the Hymn ‘Thou didst leave thy throne’

Emily Elliott

Prayer of Praise and Confession

Almighty and glorious God, we rejoice with those from all Nations who have sought you and have found you near. You are the source of all existence, the source of what is pure and what is good. We remember with joy and awe that the World is your Creation, that you are the one who has put order into Heaven and Earth, that life is your gift.

You are the source of the miraculous and the marvellous, of the healing and wholeness brought to people’s lives. You are the source of the small wonders that happen in our lives every day.

We praise you for Jesus, the promised Emmanuel, the source of redemption and grace for every person of every age. It is Jesus who brings the Good News of the coming of your Kingdom, the time when we shall receive the fullness of your blessing and behold your glory.

We praise you because you bring light to those who experience darkness in their lives; you bring hope to those with fearful hearts who despair for the future; your love brings life to otherwise barren lives, lost in unbelief and meaninglessness.

Yet, merciful God, we come before you contrite and humbled. We know that our hearts are prone to be faltering and unfaithful.

We know that we have turned away from you and have put our trust in the deceits of the false gods of this World and the false gods of our own making. Forgive us.

Merciful God, we are ashamed of that within us that makes for neither good will for others nor growth in goodness in our own lives. We ignore your calling to holiness and are not open about our sins and shortcomings.

Too often we contribute to brokenness and hurt in relationships and fail to bring healing and renewal. Too often we put the blame on others for their situations and use this as an excuse for not helping them. Forgive us.

Merciful God, deliver us from the errors of our own ignorance and from the weaknesses of our fallen flesh. We ask that the Spirit of Christ may be born anew within us, and that we may glorify his nativity with hearts of compassion, deeds of kindly service, and a spirit of goodwill toward all whom we meet.

Move our consciences to make an honest confession before you and a genuine desire for forgiveness.

Lift up our thoughts from the littleness of our own works to the greatness and the wonder of that which is yours. Teach us to behold your glory so that through your Holy Spirit we may grow into your likeness.

Fill us with your grace that in all things we may accept your holy will and rejoice in our salvation through Jesus Christ your Son, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness

(from Luke 1: 47 and 50b)

In Mary’s great Song of Praise she states, “My soul is glad because of God my Saviour, (for) from one generation to another He shows mercy to those who honour Him.” We, too, express our praise of God, for we, too, share this hope in God’s mercy, and share this

experience of God’s forgiveness and cleansing in our lives.

Thanks be to God.

Prayer of illumination

Almighty, gracious Father, for as much as our whole salvation depends upon our true understanding of your holy Word, grant to all of us that our hearts, being freed from worldly affairs, may hear and comprehend your holy Word with all diligence and faith, that we may rightly understand your gracious will, cherish it, and live by it with all earnestness, to your praise and honour, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

(Prayer of Martin Bucer: 1538)

Bible Readings

Genesis 3:

14 So the LORD God said to the serpent,

“Because you have done this, cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 15 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.”

Galatians 4:

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

(New International Version)

This is the Word of God.

Praise to you Almighty God.

Matthew 1:

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he had no sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And Joseph gave him the name Jesus. (Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, which means “the Lord saves”.)

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 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 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 people on whom His favour rests.”

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

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

16 So the 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.

You are invited to listen to or join in singing two hymns. The first is ‘Angels, from the realm of glory’. The words are printed below:

Verse 1 of 5

Angels, from the realms of glory

Wing your flight o’er all the Earth,

You, who sang Creation’s story,

Now proclaim Messiah’s birth:

Come and worship Christ, the newborn King,

Come and worship, worship Christ the newborn king.

Verse2 of 5

Shepherds, in the fields abiding,

Watching o’er your flocks by night,

God with Man is now residing,

Yonder shines the infant Light:

Come and worship Christ, the newborn King,

Come and worship, worship Christ the newborn king.

Verse 3 of 5

Wise Men, leave your contemplations,

Brighter visions beam afar,

Seek the Great Desire of Nations,

You have seen his natal star:

Come and worship Christ, the newborn King,

Come and worship, worship Christ the newborn king.

Verse 4 of 5

Saints, before the alter bending,

Watching long in hope and fear,

Suddenly the Lord descending,

In his Temple shall appear:

Come and worship Christ, the newborn King,

Come and worship, worship Christ the newborn king.

Verse 5 of 5

Though an infant now we view him,

He shall fill his Father’s throne,

Gather all the Nations to him;

Every knee shall then bow down:

Come and worship Christ, the newborn King,

Come and worship, worship Christ the newborn king.

James Montgomery

‘Silent night, holy night’

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. It is this revised English version of Joseph Mohr’s six verses which we will sing this morning.

[You will need to play the YouTube clip through twice to sing the six verses, which are printed below.]

Verse 1 of 6

Silent Night! Holy Night!

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon godly tender pair

Holy infant with curly hair

Sleep in heavenly peace,

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Verse 2 of 6

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.

Verse 3 of 6

Silent Night! Holy Night!

Brought the world gracious light

Down from Heaven’s golden height

Comes to us the glorious sight:

Jesus, as one of Mankind,

Jesus, as one of Mankind.

Verse 4 of 6

Silent Night! Holy Night!

By his love, by his might

God our Father us has graced

As a brother gently embraced

Jesus, all nations on Earth,

Jesus, all nations on Earth.

Verse 5 of 6

Silent Night! Holy Night!

Long ago, minding our plight

God the World from misery freed

In the dark age of our fathers decreed:

All the World is redeemed,

All the World is redeemed.

Verse 6 of 6

Silent Night! Holy Night!

Shepherds first saw the sight

Of angels singing alleluia

Calling clearly near and far:

Christ, the Saviour is born,

Christ the Saviour is born.

Joseph Mohr

Sermon

There was no Santa Clause on display at the Sandgate Christmas Lights Festival. That was an intentional decision made by the Sandgate Church, for Santa impedes the delivering of the Christmas message, and of the Christmas challenge to people.

In last weekend’s The Weekend Australian Review was a short article by an Yvonne Stevenson titled “This (Festive) Season”. I will read you a short portion.

“Finally I am back at home. Presents bought – not really what I wanted, and I’ve spent way too much money. I’m exhausted, but the first hurdle is behind me. Now all I have to think about is preparing Christmas lunch for the family. How early do I have to get up to cook the turkey and prepare the potato bake? There’s the punch to make and the pudding to reheat. Do I have enough lollies, nuts and chips? Do I need ice for the beer and wine?

The presents are under the tree, thanks to the insistence of the grandchildren that I put it up early. Tomorrow is Christmas Day with all the magic of presents, Christmas carols in the background, wonderful food and family togetherness. A day to look forward to, complete with hilarious incidents to laugh about in the coming year.”

(from This (Festive) Season by Yvonne Stevenson in The weekend Australian Review December 16 – 17, 2023 p23)

Now, I’m not saying that all of those things do not form part of everyone’s Christmas, for they do. But there is something missing in her narrative. There is no mention of ‘the reason for the season’. Sure, she mentioned “Christmas carols (being played) in the background”, but where does she mention her stopping to ponder the why we celebrate Christmas? Where does she acknowledge that it was the birth of Jesus Christ which is central and paramount to the celebration of Christmas? For it is this that is missing from her narrative. Just as there is no mention of the birth of Jesus Christ when parents take their children to sit on Santa’s knee at the local supermarket.

In all of the movies incorporating the character of Santa Clause, in all of the songs about Santa Clause, and in all of the narratives about Santa Clause, the focus is on the emotions aroused at Christmas, “the magic of presents, (the) wonderful food and family togetherness” about which Yvonne Stevenson writes. The focus is on the what of the hope, peace, joy and love shared at Christmas time, never the real reason of the why for the hope, peace, joy and love shared at Christmas time.

Phillip Adams, in his article in last weekend’s 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. 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, 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 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: 14) .

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 salvation of Humanity. But note the outcome as foreseen by God, that a single male offspring of Eve will “crush Satan’s head”, that is, 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 our God and Father” (Galatians 1: 3 & 4)

The Gospel, the Good News, proclaimed by the 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. 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.

I came across this poem on the internet.

Without Christ there is no Christmas; no reason for us to sing
Without Christ there is no celebration because there is no King.
Without Christ there are no wisemen no gifts for us to leave,
Without Christ there is no Christmas no reason to believe.
Without Christ there is no Christmas and no way for us to win;
Without Christ there is no Christmas and no atonement for our sin.
Without Christ there is no Christmas and our lives would be a mess;
Without Christ there is no Christmas, nothing more, nothing less.

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 and 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. Amen.

You are invited to listen to or join in singing the hymn ‘Unto us a child is born’

anonymous Latin C15th

translated by Percy Dearmer

You are invited to listen to or join in singing the Australian Christmas carol ‘The North Wind’

Verse 1 of 2

The north wind is tossing the leaves,

the red dust is over the town,

the sparrows are under the eaves,

and the grass in the paddock is brown,

as we lift up our voices and sing

to the Christ-child, the Heavenly King.

Verse 2 of 2

The tree-ferns in green gullies sway,

the cool stream flows silently by,

the joy-bells are greeting the day,

and the chimes are adrift in the sky,

as we lift up our voices and sing

to the Christ-child, the Heavenly king.

John Wheeler

Offering

Offering Prayer

“For the life that you have given” TiS774

[This YouTube clip is for another hymn so disregard the words – only the one verse is needed.]

For the life that you have given,

For the love in Christ made known,

With these fruits of time and labour,

With these gifts that are your own:

Here we offer, Lord, our praises;

Heart and mind and strength we bring;

Give us grace to love and serve you,

Living what we pray and sing.

Ralph Vaughan Williams

Prayers for Others

Child of Bethlehem, smile upon the church all over the world:

may the Holy Spirit may guide us, and grant that we may pursue truth, unity, peace and righteousness. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Child of Bethlehem, smile upon all those charged with the responsibility of government, both here in Australia and all over the world,

that they might rule in peace, justice and mercy, that people may honour one another and seek the common good. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Child of Bethlehem, smile upon those who will not enjoy Christmas this season,

that you will bring blessing and hope to those for whom life is a struggle for survival as a result of poverty, famine, disease, war, or the greed of others, and for those striving to rebuild their lives after the devastation of natural disasters and of terrorism. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Child of Bethlehem, smile upon all who are troubled, anxious or sick in mind, body or spirit and for those who love and care for them.

Give them courage and hope in their troubles and healing and wholeness. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Loving God, we pray for Peace,

that the advent of the Prince of Peace may enlighten minds and hearts to resolve disputes with words and deeds of compassion, and turn Human hearts away from a prevalence for the use of violence and power and privilege.

Jesus Christ, born in a stable,

be with the poor and homeless this Christmas time.

Jesus Christ, born of Mary,

be with young mothers across the World this Christmas time.

Jesus Christ, visited by Shepherds,

be with all who have to work this Christmas, and those who long to work.

Jesus Christ, who became a refugee,

Be with those who fear for their lives, and those who have left homes and families this Christmas. As we pray, live and give; shine your everlasting light into this troubled World of ours.

Loving God, we pray for the Church that our hearts may be an authentic dwelling place for you, enabling us to bring your presence to all whom we encounter.

We pray for confidence in your providence, that in facing life’s obstacles, we may place our trust in you for whom nothing is impossible.

We pray that our hearts may be stilled and quietened, that we may hear you speaking as it comes to us in word, in people, and in experiences each day.

We pray for hope in the face of fear, that your faithfulness will free and strengthen us from every bondage and limit that our fears evoke and which we place upon ourselves.

We pray for all who are waiting for you to overturn oppression and injustice, that you will free and strengthen persecuted Christians, people in refugee camps, and victims of violence, so that they may experience justice and dignity.

We pray for all who are isolated and alone, particularly those who are homebound or in nursing homes, that Christ may fill their emptiness and be their constant companion.

We pray for all who are traveling, that you will protect them from harm, and help them to have fulfilling and safe visits with family and friends.

We pray for the Christians of the Holy Land, that they may find ways to witness to the Good News of your saving love and work with all of their neighbours, so as to build a peace based on justice and respect.

We pray for all who are away from home, particularly members of the military and relief workers: that you will keep them safe and help them to fulfill their duties and tasks with joy and a sense of satisfaction.

We pray for all who are suffering economically, that you will protect and guide those who are facing eviction, or have lost employment, or who are struggling to provide enough to eat and house their family.

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.

You are invited to listen to or join in singing the hymn ‘It came upon the midnight clear’

Verse 1 of 4

It came upon the midnight clear,

That glorious song of old,

From angels bending near the Earth

To touch their harps of gold:

Peace on the Earth, goodwill to men,

From Heaven’s all-gracious King!

The World in solemn stillness lay

To hear the angels sing.

Verse 2 of 4

Still through the cloven skies they come

With peaceful wings unfurled,

And still their Heavenly music floats

O’er all the weary World;

Above its sad and lowly plains

They bend on hovering wing,

And ever o’er its babel sounds

The blessed angels sing.

Verse 3 of 4

But with the woes of sin and strife

The World has suffered long,

Beneath the angel strain have rolled

Two thousand years of wrong;

And man, at war with man, hears not

The love song which they bring,

O hush the noise, you men of strife,

And hear the angels sing.

Verse 4 of 4

For lo, the days are hastening on,

By Prophet bards foretold,

When with the ever-circling years

Comes round the Age of Gold.

When peace shall over all the Earth

Its ancient splendours fling,

And the whole World give back the song

Which now the angels sing.

Edmund Sears