Welcome:  –

Liturgy for the first Sunday of Advent:

Narrator: Today we light the candle of Hope.

  At this time of year stores and shopping centres ring with joyful voices singing, “Joy to the world!” and “Tis the season to be jolly!”  Flashy advertisements depict families gathered around a groaning dinner table or a twinkling tree stuffed with presents.  Churches display a serene, peaceful manger scene with Jesus’ family gathered around Him smiling.  Christmas is shown as a joyful time of family togetherness and celebration.

  For many people Christmas is exactly that: a happy time of family, fellowship, food, and merry gift giving.  Most Christians observe this as a time of added celebration and thanksgiving for the greatest gift ever given, the Lord Jesus Christ, “God with us”  (Matthew 1:23)  , so the Christmas season is overflowing with joy and celebration.

  But, for others, Christmas is just the exact opposite.  It can be an intense reminder of lost loved ones or that they have no close family with whom to celebrate.  Instead of feeling joy, many people feel overwhelming, seemingly unbearable anxiety and depression.  Christmas can potentially be a time of hopelessness and loneliness.

  Even though some of us may feel lonely or isolated during the Christmas holidays, it is important for us to remember the hope that Jesus brings.  The Incarnation, God becoming a man, is the very reason why we have hope.  Without Jesus, we have no hope and only death to look forward to  (1 Thessalonians 4:13–14)  .  But for those of us who are in Christ Jesus, we are no longer hopeless!  Scripture says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to His abundant mercy, has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”  (1 Peter 1:3)  .  This living hope is the hope and promise of eternal life  (Titus 1:2)  through Jesus Christ, “our hope”  (1 Timothy 1:1)  .  We have hope because Jesus came as a man, lived, died, and rose again.

( Jesus, the Hope of Christmas by Avery Foley – https://answersingenesis.org/christmas/jesus-the-hope-of-christmas/?srsltid=AfmBOooseaVqNY48VJgzvpJuWQ1yr15siZjl_tonhERziwWuJTAejEGO)

The hope of Christmas is the song of angels in the sky,

And Christ within the manger laid to bring salvation nigh.

Let us continue on the theme of Hope as we sing “Christmas Bush for His Adorning.

You are invited to listen to, or join in singing the Hymn:

“Christmas Bush for His Adorning” 

(from Five Australian Christmas Carols p10 & 11) 

Verse 1 of 4

All the bells are gaily ringing

birds in ev’ry tree are singing;

let us in the golden weather,

gather Christmas Bush together.

Verse 2 of 4

“Christ is born!”  The angels thunder

thro’ the Heav’ns their tale of wonder,

while we pluck for his adorning

Christmas Bush, this hallow’d morning.

Verse 3 of 4

Christ has conquer’d Evil’s power,

hear the bells rock ev’ry tower;

birds and beasts lift up their voices,

freed at last the World rejoices.

Verse 4 of 4

Onward with triumphant chorus,

following the road before us,

singing thro’ the golden weather,

gath’ring Christmas Bush together.

John Wheeler

Prayer of Praise    

Almighty God, you bring into being all that we see around us through your breath of life. 

We see the way that you sustain all things and hold all things together.  There is a mystery about Creation that we cannot comprehend, and we gaze around us in wonder.  We praise You.

Loving God, you give us new life through the breath of your Holy Spirit.  Your gift of the Spirit empowers us to be witnesses for you to the ends of the Earth. 

Our lives are enriched, and our spirits are released from the bondage to darkness and liberated to shine in your glory and honour.  We praise You.

Wondrous God, we proclaim how great you are in raising Jesus on the third day so that our sins can be forgiven.  We proclaim how great you are in raising Jesus to your right-hand side, to live and reign with You. 

We proclaim how great you are by sending your Holy Spirit upon us so that we are not left alone in a World that turns its back upon you.  We praise You.

We rejoice in your mercy, O God, in the way that You have welcomed us into your family, in the way that you have blessed us by being here amongst us.  We rejoice in the wonder of your love and kindness.

We celebrate your goodness to us and that we are no longer alienated from you but are united with you.  We praise You and proclaim your goodness and grace.  To your glory we pray, amen.

(from World Environment Day worship material & Uniting in Worship Red Book p567 &Prayers for god’s People Year A p114 & 115 & Invocations p163 & Opening Prayers p50 & 51 & The Book of Worship p184)

You are invited to listen to, or join in singing the Hymn:

“Come thou long expected Jesus”   

[TiS 272  AHB 200  MHB 242]

Verse 1 of 4

Come, thou long expected Jesus,

born to set thy people free,

from our fears and sins release us,

let us find our rest in thee.

Verse 2 of 4

Israel’s strength and consolation

hope of all the Earth thou art,

dear Desire of every Nation,

joy of every longing heart.

Verse 3 of 4

Born thy people to deliver,

born a child and yet a King,

born to reign in us forever,

now thy gracious Kingdom bring.

Verse 4 of 4

By thine own eternal Spirit

rule in all our hearts alone.

By thine all sufficient merit

raise us to thy glorious throne.

Charles Wesley

Prayer of Confession   

Merciful God, we find ourselves so set in our ways that we have stopped dreaming of what could be.  We find ourselves never expecting anything new to happen in our lives nor in the life of the Church.  We find ourselves feeling powerless and overwhelmed by an increasingly oppressive World. 

Open our eyes, our ears and our hearts, O God, to the vacuum in our lives, and to the hope of blessings and enriching that are ours through Your Holy Spirit.

Merciful God, you left your mark of perfection upon the Heavens and the Earth, but the marks we leave are ones of destruction and death.  You created an environment that was self-sustaining and full of life and renewal.  We use the same environment in wasteful and wanton ways, consuming life as if it is limitless, and interfering in natural processes in ways that spoil and poison the very things that are needed to sustain your Creation. 

Open our eyes, our ears and our hearts, O God, to the pain experienced by your Creation for which we are responsible, and to the hope for change in our actions and behaviours that can bring healing.

Merciful God, we complain about the traffic and of not finding a handy car park at the shopping centre, yet spare little thought for those who cannot afford a car.  We complain about the lack of choices on the supermarket shelves and of having to queue at the registers, yet spare little thought for those who cannot afford the cost of a meal.  We dream of the next digital TV we desire or of faster internet access, yet spare little thought for the communities who have nothing. 

Open our eyes, our ears and our hearts, O God, to the pain experienced by so many others, near and far away, and to the possibilities that are available for us to alleviate their suffering. 

  Merciful God, we bring all things before You that grieves you, our sins that have hurt you, our sins against others that do not reflect the love that You have for them, and our sins that have resulted in a degradation of the beautiful World around us. 

Gracious and merciful God, grant us your forgiveness, and refresh and renew us with the Holy Spirit so that we become eager, strong, and vital Disciples of Jesus Christ.  To your glory we pray.  Amen.

(from World Environment Day worship material & Uniting in Worship Red Book p567 &Prayers for god’s People Year A p114 & 115 & Invocations p163 & Opening Prayers p50 & 51 & The Book of Worship p184)

Assurance of Forgiveness  

(from 1 Thessalonians 3: 13 to 16)  

The Apostle Paul explained to the Church in Thessalonica that God is at work in the hearts of those who believe the message that brings salvation to people.  We, too, have responded to this message; we, too, have the confidence that, because of our belief in the saving work of God through His Son, that God has listened to our prayers, that God has forgiven our sins, and that God has cleansed us in His sight.

Thanks be to God.

Prayer of illumination 

Loving and righteous God, through your Holy Spirit, instruct us that we might rightly understand the Word of Truth, and find ourselves as People who reflect the Living Word, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Bible Readings

Isaiah 40:

3  A voice calls out,

“Prepare in the wilderness a road for the LORD!  Clear the way in the desert for our God!  

 4  Fill every valley; level every mountain.  The hills will become a plain, and the rough country will be made smooth.  5  Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all of Humanity will see it.  The LORD Himself has promised this.”  (Matthew 3: 3, Mark 1: 2 & 3, Luke 3: 4 – 6, and John 1: 23) 

9  Jerusalem, go up on a high mountain and proclaim the good news!  Call out with a loud voice, Zion; announce the good news!  Speak out and do not be afraid.  Tell the towns of Judah that their God is coming!

10  The Sovereign LORD is coming to rule with power, bringing with Him the people He has rescued.  11  He will take care of His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs together and carry them in His arms; He will gently lead their mothers.

Malachi 4:

1  The LORD Almighty says,

“The days is coming when all proud and evil people will burn like straw.  On that day they will burn up, and there will be nothing left of them.  2  But for you who obey me, my saving power will rise on you like the Sun and bring healing like the Sun’s rays.  You will be as free and happy as calves let out of a stall.  3  On the day when I act, you will overcome the wicked, and they will be like dust under your feet.

4  Remember the teachings of my servant Moses, the Laws and Commands which I gave him at Mt Sinai for all the people of Israel to obey.

5  But before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes, I will send you the Prophet Elijah.  6  He will bring fathers and children together again; otherwise I would have to come and destroy your Country.”  (Luke 1: 17) 

This is the Word of God.

Praise to you Almighty God.

Luke 1:

5  During the time when Herod was King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the Priestly Order of Abijah.  His wife’s name was Elizabeth; she also belonged to a Priestly family.  6  They both lived good lives in God’s sight and obeyed fully all the Lord’s laws and commands.  7  They had no children because Elizabeth could not have any, and she and Zechariah were both very old.

8  One day, Zechariah was doing his work as a Priest in the Temple, taking his turn in the daily service.  9  According to the custom followed by the Priests, he was chosen by lot to burn incense on the alter.  So he went into the Temple of the Lord,  10  while the crowd of people outside prayed during the hour when the incense was burned. 

11  An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the alter where the incense was burned.  12  When Zechariah saw him, he was alarmed and felt afraid.  13  But the angel said to him,

“Don’t be afraid, Zechariah!  God has heard your prayer, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son.  You are to name him John.  14  How glad and happy you will be, and how happy many others will be when he is born!  15  He will be a great man in the Lord’s sight.  He must not drink any wine or strong drink.  From before his very birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit,  16  and he will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.  17  He will go ahead of the Lord, strong and mighty like the Prophet Elijah.  He will bring fathers and children together again; he will turn disobedient people back to the way of thinking of the righteous; he will get the Lord’s people ready for him.”  (Malachi 3: 1, 4: 5 & 6) 

John 1:

19  The Jewish authorities in Jerusalem sent some Priests and Levites to John to ask him, “Who are you?”

20  John did not refuse to answer, but spoke openly and clearly, saying,

“I am not the Messiah.”

21  “Who are you then?” they asked, “Are you Elijah?”

“No, I am not.” John answered.

“Are you the Prophet?” they asked.

“No.” he replied.

22  “Then tell us who you are.” They said.  “We have to take an answer back to those who sent us.  What do you say about yourself?”

23  John answered by quoting the Prophet Isaiah,

“I am ‘the voice of someone shouting in the desert:

“‘Make a straight path for the Lord to travel.”’”  (Isaiah 40: 3) 

This is the Gospel of our Lord.

Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

You are invited to listen to, or join in singing the Hymn:

“Hark the glad sound the Saviour comes” 

(TiS269  AHB197  MHB82)

Philip Doddridge

Sermon

  We listen to this song:

“No room for the King”

by Sharon

  Over a period of roughly 100 years, from 537BC to 444BC, three groups of Jews were granted approval by the Persian Emperor to return to Judah from exile in Babylon.  During these 100 years, the second Temple had been constructed in Jerusalem, the sacrificial system had been reestablished centred on the re-erected alter within the Temple grounds, Ezra had led the people to recommit themselves to an obedience to the Law of Moses, the walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt, and people had reestablished for themselves lives and livelihoods in their homeland of Judah.

  But the attitude of the people which Nehemiah and Malachi faced was one of despondency.  The excitement first felt by those returning, regarding the possibilities for the future, had waned.  Although they had religious autonomy, they were denied any form of political self-determination.  Although there had been an expectation of prosperity and a glorious future for their Nation, they found themselves impoverished and living in a social and commercial backwater. 

  Malachi had seen in the people of Judah an attitude that “God was powerless and had lost interest in them”.  And, consequently, the people had lost interest in God and showed disrespect for God.  (Henry Ellison in From Babylon to Bethlehem p25)  Malachi details how this attitude was evident in people’s lives.

  Instead of giving the best of their flocks as sacrifices, they were offering “blind or sick or lame animals”, which the Priests regarded as acceptable sacrifices.  (Malachi 1: 6 to 14) 

  The Priests were not teaching the “true knowledge of God”, and, instead, their teaching was “turning people away from the right path”.  (Malachi 5 to 9) 

  There was intermarriage with women of the surrounding Nations, women who worshipped “foreign gods”, in defiance to the Law of Moses, which led their husbands away from the worship of god, and resulted in  the children adopting the language and customs, culture and religion of their mother’s family and not of the people of God.  (Malachi 2: 11, Exodus 34: 15 & 16, Deuteronomy 7: 1 to 4) 

  The people had failed to honour their commitment to “bring the full amount of their tithes to the Temple”, again, in defiance to the Law of Moses.  (Malachi 3: 10, Leviticus 27: 30) 

  Malachi sought to encourage the people of Israel with the assurance of God’s affection for them,

“I have always loved you.”  (Malachi 1: 2) 

  However, God also promised that He would appear amongst the people of Israel, to judge those who do not respect Him,  (Malachi 3: 5)  , to judge “all proud and evil people”  (Malachi 4: 1)  , to “purify the people and the Priesthood”  (Malachi 3: 3)  , to call people back to a right worship of God  (Malachi 3: 7)  , and to bless those who obey Him  (Malachi 3: 10, 4: 2)  .

  Malachi writes of “a messenger” who God will send to “prepare the way” for God.  (Malachi 3: 1)  , someone in the same mould as “the Prophet Elijah”, someone who “will bring fathers and children together again”.  (Malachi 4: 5 & 6) 

  The Prophet Isaiah, similarly, wrote of “A voice (calling) out,

‘Prepare in the wilderness a road for the LORD!  Clear the way in the desert for our God!’”  (Isaiah 40: 3) 

  There is a period of 400 years from the time of Malachi, the last of the Old Testament Prophets, until the time of the New Testament.  This 400 years has been called a time of ‘silence’, for the voice of God was not heard nor was there any message given by God during those 400 years.  This time, however, was not a ‘quiet’ period in History, for it included the rising of the Empire of Alexander the Great, the subsequent conflicts between the Seleucid Empire based in Antioch and the Ptolemaic Empire based in Egypt over who controlled the land of Palestine, a brief period of self-rule by the people of Judea under the Hasmonean Monarchy, and then the conquest of Palestine by the Romans in 63BC.

  The People of God longed for the time when God’s voice would again be heard and proclaimed throughout the land, when God’s promise of “a descendant of His servant David, a mighty Saviour, who would come to ‘save them’”, would be fulfilled, when God’s rule would prevail over their foreign rulers, and when God’s peace would again descend upon the land. 

  The people of God were waiting for this Messenger to come with the word of hope for them of the coming of God among them, as God had promised.  Why do we accept that John, the son of Zechariah, the Priest, and his wife, Elizabeth, was this promised “Messenger of God”?  For several reasons.

  Zechariah prophesised at the birth of John, saying,

“You, my child, will be called a Prophet of the Most High God. You will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his road for him.”, quoting from Malachi 3: 1.”  (Luke 1: 76) 

  Jesus said of John,

“For John is the one whom the Scripture says:

‘God said, I will send my messenger ahead of you to open the way for you.’”, quoting from Malachi 3: 1  (Matthew 11: 10) 

  Matthew, Mark and Luke testified that,

“John was the man the Prophet Isaiah was talking about when he said,

‘Someone is shouting in the desert “prepare a road for the Lord; make a straight path for him to travel.”’”, quoting from Isaiah 40: 3.  (Matthew 3: 3, Mark 1: 2 & 3, Luke 3: 4-6) 

  John the Baptist, declared to some Priests and Levites, that,

“I am ‘the voice of someone shouting in the desert: “Make a straight path for the Lord to travel.”’”, quoting from Isaiah 40: 3.  (John 1: 23) 

  And, lastly, the angel said of John upon giving Zechariah the news of the impending birth of John, that,

“He will go ahead of the Lord, strong and mighty like the Prophet Elijah.  He will bring fathers and children together again; he will turn disobedient people back to the way of thinking of the righteous; he will get the Lord’s people ready for him.”, quoting from Malachi 3: 1 and 4: 5 & 6.  (Luke 1: 17) 

  The time was coming when John the Baptist would commence his call for people to come back to a right relationship with their God, for he was proclaiming that the hope of the coming of God among them would be fulfilled in the person of Jesus.

  But is the world of today any different to that of the time of Malachi?  In the time of Malachi, people showed a disregard for God, people had little time for God, people were not in a right relationship with God.  And, so it is today.

  In the song “No room for the King”, we hear these lines,

“the busy World rushed on, no time or space,

they missed the gift of Heaven’s perfect grace”,

“Are we making room for Him in our hearts?

With all our desires, pursuits, and plans

do we leave a place for God’s perfect Lamb?”

  Jesus is still undertaking his task of purifying hearts, of teaching the right way, of bringing people back to God, of bringing God’s hope to people of the forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God. 

  Sharon, the composer of the song exhorts us,

“Oh, let every heart prepare Him room

with open hands and hearts anew.

This time, may our hearts with love ignite

to welcome the Saviour, our guiding light.”

  May our focus be to open our heart and mind an soul to Jesus, not just at this time of Advent, but in our days and years ahead.  Let us finish be listening to this YouTube clip.

“Light of the World”  A Christmas poem

by Church in the Valley

You are invited to listen to, or join in singing the Hymn:

‘The People who in darkness walked’

(TiS274  AHB202)

John Morison

Offering

Offering Prayer    

Holy God, this Advent season we wait in hope.

hope for your coming reign;

hope because of your presence with us even now.

And we give back to you in hope.

Receive these offerings,

And use them for your work of healing and hope in our world.  Amen.

(from Offertory Prayers for Advent by Joanna Harader from Spacious Faith 1 December 2017)

Prayers for Others

Loving Jesus, you were born in a stable but worshipped by the angels.  Be with all who are lonely, and with all who feel distant from celebrations.  Be for us a living hope that lightens their hearts.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Jesus, as you healed the sick, bring healing to those in families who are ill today.  Guide and direct the doctors, nurses and medical staff who have accepted the responsibility to tend to the sick and injured, to find cures for illness and diseases, and to bring wholeness back into people’s lives.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Christ, for whom there was no room in the inn, give courage to all who are homeless, to  those desperate for a means to provide a livelihood for their family.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Christ, who fled into Egypt, give comfort to all refugees; that they will find acceptance in a new land and a means to provide for themselves and their family.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Christ, who fasted in the desert, give relief to all who are starving, to those affected by financial distress, to those affected by famine, to those affected by natural disasters.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Christ, who hung in agony on the cross, give strength to all who suffer oppression and discrimination, who are abused or disregarded by others.

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.

  (https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/topical-prayers/prayers-christmas) 

Loving God, seed in your World and in us your vision for shalom and refuge with you.  Heal those who are weary of body, mind and soul.  Heal the loss of identity that accompanies homelessness and statelessness.

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.

Reveal the hope of change into the hearts and minds of warmongers and peacemakers, restoring innocence and blessing them with the capacity to love their enemies.  Reconcile relationships between peoples and your created order.  May hostilities cease in places of conflict and war and in homes where safety has been unknown.

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.

Enter into the World with prophetic expectation, so that those who are lost to themselves and others might find their way into your light.  May the mistreatment of the vulnerable be replaced by a yearning to show respect and dignity for all.  

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.

May people’s hearts be stirred daily so that they will strive to be a blessing and source of hope for others in the world.

  (National Council of Churches in Australia Liturgy for Advent One – 2022) 

Lord of the Church, make us one in heart and mind to serve others with joy, help us to know you, to worship and to serve you.

Loving God, who has called us out of darkness into His marvellous light, source of our hope for our present and our future, bless us and fill us with peace.  Amen.

You are invited to listen to, or join in singing the Hymn:

“O little town of Bethlehem” 

MHB125  AHB240  TiS316

Phillips Brooks

Sacrament of Communion 

(following Uniting in Worship 2 p162 to p222) 

The Peace

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

The Invitation

Christ, our Lord, invites to his Table all who love him, all who earnestly repent of their sin and who seek to live in peace with one another.

Prayer of Approach

Lord God, we come to your Table, trusting in your mercy and not in any goodness of our own.  We are not worthy even to gather up the crumbs under your table, but it is your nature always to have mercy, and on that we depend.  So, feed us with the body and blood of Jesus Christ, your son, that we may for ever live in him and he in us. Amen.

Narrative of the Institution of the Lord’s Supper

Hear the words of the institution of this Sacrament as recorded by the Apostle Paul:

  “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it and said, ‘This is my body which is for you.  Do this in remembrance of me.’  In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new Covenant in my blood.  Do this, as often as you drink it, for the remembrance of me.  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.’”  (1 Corinthians 11: 23 to 26) 

  And, so, according to our Saviour’s command, we set this bread and this cup apart for the Holy Supper to which he calls us, and we come to God with our prayers of thanksgiving.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

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 our thanks and praise.

With all we are, we give you glory, God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the one and holy God, Sovereign of all Time and Space.  We thank you for this wide red land, for its rugged beauty, for its changing seasons, for its diverse people, and for all that lives upon this fragile Planet.  You have called us to be the Church in this place, to give voice to every creature under Heaven.  We rejoice with all that you have made, as we join the company of Heaven in their song:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and Earth are full of your glory.  Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed be the One who comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest.

We thank you that you called a covenant people to be the light to the Nations.  Through Moses you taught us to love your Law, and, in the Prophets, you cried out for justice.  In the fullness of your mercy, you became one with us in Jesus Christ, who gave himself up for us on the cross.  You make us alive together with him, that we may rejoice in his presence and share his peace.  By water and the Spirit, you open the Kingdom to all who believe, and welcome us to your Table: for by grace we are saved through faith.  With this bread and this cup we do as our Saviour commands: we celebrate the redemption he has won for us.

Christ has died.  Christ is risen.  Christ will come again.

Pour out the Holy Spirit on us and on these gifts of bread and the cup, that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.  Make us one with him, one with each other, and one in ministry in the World, until at last we feast with him in the Kingdom.  Through your Son, Jesus Christ, in your holy Church, all honour and glory are yours, Father Almighty, now and for ever.

Blessing and honour and glory and power are yours for ever and ever.  Amen.

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.

Breaking of the Bread

The bread we break is a sharing in the body of Christ.

The cup we take is a sharing in the blood of Christ.

The gifts of God for the People of God.

Lamb of God

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.

The Distribution

Receive this Holy Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, and feed upon him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving.

(after all have received the bread)

The body of Christ keep you in eternal life.

(after all have received the juice)

The blood of Christ keep you in eternal life.

Prayer after Communion

Blessed be God who calls us together.

Praise to God who makes us one People.

Blessed be God who has forgiven our sins.

Praise to God who gives us hope and freedom.

Blessed be God whose Word is proclaimed.

Praise to God who is revealed as the One who loves.

Blessed be God who alone has called us.

Therefore, we offer to God all that we are and all that we shall become.

Accept, O God, our sacrifice of praise.

Accept our thanks for we have seen the greatness of your love.  Amen.

You are invited to listen to, or join in singing the Hymn:

“To us a Child of Royal Birth”  

from  MHB141  AHB230  TiS308

[This YouTube clip is for another hymn, but is used here for the tune.  The words are printed below]

Verse 1 of 3

To us a child of royal birth,

heir of the promises, is given;

the invisible appears on Earth,

the Son of Man, the God of Heaven.

Verse 2 of 3

A Saviour born, in love supreme,

he comes our fallen souls to raise;

he comes his People to redeem

with all the fullness of his grace.

Verse 3 of 3

The Lord of Hosts, the God most High,

who quits his throne on Earth to live,

we welcome now with holy joy,

with faith into our hearts receive.

Charles Wesley

Benediction    

There’s more, much more, to Christmas

than candlelight and cheer,

it’s the spirit of sweet friendship

that brightens up the year,

it’s thoughtfulness and kindness,

it’s hope that we recall,

for peace and understanding

and for goodwill to all.

(There’s More to Christmas, unknown author, in The Greatest Gift  Stories songs and poems of Christmas  Julie Hogan ed p66)

And may the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, rest upon you and remain with you always.  Amen.

Benediction Song

“Rejoice and be Merry”  

Carols for Choirs 1 number 32

Verse 1 of 1

Rejoice and be merry in songs and in mirth!

O praise our Redeemer, all mortals on Earth!

For this is the birthday of Jesus our King,

who brought us salvation, his praises we’ll sing.

Traditional English Carol