Welcome: –

Liturgy for Advent Four: –

Narrator: Today we light the candle of Love.

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

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. 

  “She will have a son, and you will name him Jesus – because he will save his people from their sins.”, so was the message that the angel gave to Joseph.  (Matthew 1: 21)  However, the English translation of this verse does not convey the richness of meaning of the original Greek words that Matthew recorded in his Gospel.  In the Greek, the name Jesus, is ieshua, while in the Greek, the words, “he will save” is ioshua.  (Randolph Tasker in Matthew p35)

  It is but a play on words, but the hearers and readers of Matthew’s Gospel would link these two words so as to say “Jesus Saviour”.  It is this notion of God as “Saviour” that is a consistent reference in the Old Testament.  Psalm 96 verse 2 states “Proclaim every day the good news that the LORD has saved us.”

The Prophet Isaiah foretells of a time in the future when the Jerusalem will be called “God’s Holy People”, “The People the LORD Has Saved.”  (Isaiah 62: 12a) 

Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, said, “Let us praise the Lord, he has provided for us a mighty Saviour.”  (Luke 1: 68a & 69a) 

What is God’s motivation to save his People?  Moses records God’s words to the Israelites, “Out of all the peoples on the Earth, I have chosen you to be my treasured possession.  (Exodus 19: 5, Deuteronomy 7: 6) 

The Prophet Isaiah states that Jerusalem will be called “The City That God Loves.”  (Isaiah 62: 12b) 

Zechariah said of his son, John, “he will go to tell his people that they will be saved by having their sins forgiven, (for) our God is merciful and tender.  (Luke 1: 76 – 78) 

Upon reflecting on the life and ministry of Jesus, the Apostle John was led to write:

“For God loved the World so much that He gave His only son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.”  (John 3: 16) 

From his birth, through his life, and death, and resurrection, and ascension, his name would have reminded all who met Jesus, of the love of God for them.

A poem by Helen Steiner Rice:

The Gift of God’s Love

All over the world at this Season

expectant hands reach to receive

gifts that are lavishly fashioned,

the finest that we can conceive.

For, purchased and given at Christmas

are luxuries we long to possess,

given as favours and tokens

to try in some way to express

that strange, indefinable feeling

which is part of this grand time of year

when streets are crowded with shoppers

and the air resounds with good cheer.

But back of each tinsel-tied package

exchanged at this gift-giving season,

unrecognised often by many,

lies a deeper, more meaningful reason.

For, born in a manger at Christmas,

as a gift from the Father above,

an infant whose name was called Jesus

brought to us the gift of God’s love.

And the gifts that we give have no purpose

unless God is part of the giving,

and unless we make Christmas a pattern

to be followed in everyday living.

  (Helen Steiner Rice in God’s Garden of Grace p8 & 9) 

Let us pray.

  Lord Jesus Christ, by being born as one of us, and lying humbly in a manger, you show how much God loves the world.  Let the light of your love always shine in our hearts.  Let it draw us to kneel in wonder at Heaven touching Earth.  Accept our heartfelt praise as we worship you, our Saviour and our eternal God.  Amen.

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

Hymn

You are invited to listen to, or join in singing ‘Love came down at Christmas’

MHB138  AHB243  TiS317 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pJxhhQWbBQ

Verse 1 of 3

Love came down at Christmas,

love all lovely, love divine,

love was born at Christmas

star and angels gave the sign.

Verse 2 of 3

Worship we the Godhead,

love incarnate, love divine;

worship we our Jesus:

but wherewith for sacred sign?

Verse 3 of 3

Love shall be our token,

love be yours and love be mine,

love to God and all men,

love for plea and gift and sign.

Christina Georgina Rossetti, 1830-94.CCLI Song# 1041050 CCLI Licence 203416

Prayer of Praise   

Creator and Redeemer, you did not plant the seed of this Earth into the Universe as if by chance.

It was your hand that placed it here, your plan to grow it here.

You did not populate this Earth with a people made in your image purely by chance. 

It was your hand that placed us here, your breath that keeps us here.

You did not come as a tiny child to walk this Earth as if by chance. 

It was your Love that brought you here, your Grace that saves us here.

Our Creator and Redeemer, you gave your all to the World.

In the bleakness of that stable, love was born that day; pure love, undiluted, poured out for all who call on your name.

Such Grace, unmerited, deserves a response in the life that we lead.  Forgive our ingratitude after all you have done.

Draw us to your Word, give us a new song to sing, that will resonate throughout this World and begin with us today.

We are not grains of sand upon the shore, buffeted by sea and storm.

We are individuals loved by you, more intimately than we could ever know.

Though from a distance we seem insignificant and frail, the creating breath that formed us now lives in and sustains us.

Thank you, Saving God, made known to us in Jesus Christ, not only by his words but through his sacrificial life.  May our lives reflect not only his love, but your glory, and the

whole Earth sing your praises.  Amen.

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

Copyright © John Birch, 2022 · Prayers written by the author may be copied freely for worship.

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

Hymn   

You are invited to listen to, or join in singing  ‘The First Noel’ 

TiS301  AHB221  MHB131 

Prayer of Confession   

God of love, the Psalmist was right in asking how long will you be angry with your people – because we, in our weakness, get caught up so easily in the ‘silliness’ of this season.

Our sense of wonder over the depth of your love for us becomes dulled.  Our preoccupation with choosing suitable gifts and preparing acceptable food can make us quite unloving as Christmas draws nearer.

Forgive us, O God, when we have failed in word or deed to proclaim that the birth of Jesus is the wonderful and true reason for the Christmas season.

Rekindle our sense of wonder, O God, at your choosing to share our humanity, by being born, as we all were, a vulnerable and helpless baby. 

Thank you Father, for your patience with a rebellious people,

loving you one moment, forgetting you the next.

Thank you for your endless love which does not give up,

but wants the best for us despite our faults.

Thank you for your promise, to all who believe,

and who put their trust in you, everlasting life.

You challenge us this Advent time, this season of preparation,

to put aside our pride, and understand our need for repentance, forgiveness and mercy.

Less of self,

more of you.

Merciful God, as we watch and wait for your breaking into our World once more, in the person of Jesus, shape and reshape our priorities,

so that the gift we give which is most cherished will be our witness to your love in ways that are transforming, visible and lasting. 

Purify our hearts, sanctify our lives,

that we might serve you faithfully this day and all days.  Amen.

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

Copyright © John Birch, 2022 · Prayers written by the author may be copied freely for worship.

  (Moira Laidlaw in Liturgies Online Year A Advent 4) 

Assurance of Forgiveness 

(from Hebrews 2: 11, 9: 14 & 28, 10: 10, 12 & 14) 

The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews tells us that because Jesus Christ did what God wanted Him to do, we are all purified from sin by the offering that he made of his own body, once and for all.  Having confessed our sins before God and confessed our faith in the saving work of Christ Jesus, we have the assurance that our prayers have been heard, that our sins have been forgiven and that we have been put right in our relationship with God.

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 Reading

Luke 1:

26  In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee named Nazareth.  27  He had a message for a girl promised in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was a descendant of King David.  The girl’s name was Mary.  28  The angel came to her and said,

“Peace be with you!  The Lord is with you and has greatly blessed you!”

29  Mary was deeply troubled by the angel’s message, and she wondered what these words meant.  30  The angel said to her,

“Don’t be afraid, Mary; God has been gracious to you.  31  You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.  32  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God.  The Lord God will make him a King, as was his ancestor David,  33  and he will be the King of the descendants of Jacob forever; his Kingdom will never end.”  (Isaiah 9: 6 & 7) 

34  Mary said to the angel,

“I am a virgin.  How, then, can this be?”

35  The angel answered,

“The Holy Spirit will come on you, and God’s power will rest upon you.  For this reason the holy child will be called the Son of God.  36  Remember your relative, Elizabeth.  It is said that she cannot have children, but she herself is now six months pregnant, even though she is very old.  37  For there is nothing that God cannot do.”

38  “I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary; “may it happen to me as you have said.”

And the angel left her.

39  Soon afterward, Mary got ready and hurried off to a town in the hill country of Judea.  40  She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.  41  When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby moved within her.  Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,  42  and said in a loud voice,

“You are the most blessed of all women, and blessed is the child you will bear!  43  Why should this great thing happen to me, that my Lord’s mother comes to visit me?  44  For as soon as I heard your greeting, the baby within me jumped with gladness.  45  How happy you are to believe that the Lord’s message to you will come true.”

46  Mary said, “My heart praises the Lord;  47  my soul is glad because of God my Saviour,

48  for He has remembered me, His lowly servant!  From now on all people will call me happy,  49  because of the great things the Mighty God has done for me.  His name is holy;  50  from one generation to another He shows mercy to those who honour Him.

51  He has stretched out His mighty arm and scattered the proud with all their plans.  52  He has brought down mighty kings from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly.  53  He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away with empty hands.

54  He has kept the promise He made to our ancestors, and has come to the help of His servant Israel.  55  He has remembered to show mercy to Abraham and to all His descendants forever!”

56  Mary stayed about three months with Elizabeth and then went back home.

This is the Gospel of our Lord.

Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

Hymn   

You are invited to listen to, or join in singing ‘Once in Royal David’s City’

  MHB859  AHB237  TiS312 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRIZ22dn-XY&ab_channel=NorthernBaptistAssociation

Verse 1 of 6

Once in royal David’s city

stood a lowly cattle shed

where a mother laid her baby

in a manger for his bed:

Mary was that mother mild,

Jesus Christ her little child.

Verse 2 of 6

He came down to Earth from Heaven,

who is God and Lord of all,

and his shelter was a stable,

and his cradle was a stall;

with the poor and meek and lowly

lived on Earth our Saviour holy.

Verse 3 of 6

And through all his wondrous childhood

he would honour and obey,

love and watch the lowly maiden

in whose gentle arms He lay.

Christian children all must be

mild, obedient, good as He.

Verse 4 of 6

For He is our childhood’s pattern,

day by day, like us, he grew.

He was little, weak and helpless,

tears and smiles, like us, he knew.

And he feeleth for our sadness,

and he shareth in our gladness.

Verse 5 of 6

 And our eyes at last shall see him,

through his own redeeming love,

for that child so dear and gentle

is our Lord in Heaven above.

And he leads his children on

to the place where He has gone.

Verse 6 of 6

Not in that poor lowly stable,

with the oxen standing by,

we shall see him, but in Heaven,

set at God’s right hand on high.

When like stars his children crowned

all in white shall wait around.

Cecil Frances Alexander, 1823-95. CCLI Song# 197156 Public Domain

Message

  There had been no prophetic revelation from God to the people of Judah since the time of the Prophet Malachi.  The state of affairs in Judah referred to in Malachi’s writings have been dated to around 430BC.  The following 430 years were ones of great political and social upheaval for the Jews, with Persian rule replaced by Greek rule in 332BC, followed by rule by the Ptolemaic dynasty from Egypt from 320BC to 198BC, followed by rule from the Seleucid dynasty of Syria until 166BC, followed by a century of self-rule until 63BC when the Romans conquered Palestine.  But throughout this period, God had been silent: no further words of instruction, no further words of judgement, no further words of encouragement or blessing.

  During this period the people of Judah had experienced oppressive rule from various foreign powers, and, at times, oppressive restrictions on their freedom to worship God in the Temple in Jerusalem.  It is little wonder then that they developed an understanding that the intent of the expectant Messiah would be one of ridding Judah of her foreign rulers, saving Judah from her enemies, and restoring self-rule to the Jewish Nation.

  At the end of these 430 years, God spoke, firstly to Mary, a young woman living in the village of Nazareth in Galilee, when the angel Gabriel announced God’s message to her saying, “You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.”  (Luke 1: 31)  .

  Michael Wilcock writes in his commentary on Luke’s Gospel, that “the stupendous claims the angel makes for this unborn baby would have staggered Jewish readers of the Gospel.”  (Michael Wilcock in The Message of Luke p35) 

  The angel Gabriel said of the boy to be named Jesus:

that “he will be great”,

that “he will be King of the descendants of Jacob”,

that he will be a King “as his ancestor David was”,

that “his Kingdom will never end”, and

that “he will be called Son of the Most High God”.  (Luke 1: 32 & 33) 

  But, this message that the angel Gabriel gave to Mary would surely have raised several questions in the mind of Mary.

  Mary came from a small and insignificant village in the backward province of Galilee, far from the centre of political, religious and social power in Jerusalem.  Given his likely upbringing, how could her son possibly acquire “greatness”?

  It is not explained how her son would be a descendant of David.  Was it because Mary herself was a descendant of David, or did she accept that Joseph, who was a descendant of David, would go through with his intent to marry her, despite her pregnancy and despite village gossip about ‘who was the father of her child’?  Was this why she had no concerns about Joseph being informed of her pregnancy?

  No descendant of David had had any authority in the land of Judah over the descendants of Jacob since Zerubbabel, who returned to Judah from Babylon with the first of the exiles in 537BC.  (Ezra 2: 2)  Yet, Zerubbabel was never a King, only a ‘Governor’  (Haggai 1: 1 & 2: 2)  , and the current Roman occupiers quickly and effectively eliminated any Jewish “pretenders to the throne”.  How, then, could her son become a King in the line of King David?

  Her son was of her own “flesh and blood”, with mortality, how then could he rule a Kingdom “without end”?

  How could her son be “a human descendant of David” and yet also be “Son of God”?

  How is all that the angel spoke of her son to be linked with the implications associated with the name ‘Jesus’, which her son is to be named, for Jesus means, “The Lord is salvation.”?  (Michael Wilcock in The Message of Luke p35, Luke 2: 11, John 4:42) 

  Yet we read of Mary’s trust in God, of her belief that God will fulfill all that has been told to her, and of her faith in the angel’s statement “For there is nothing that God cannot do.”  (Luke 1: 37)  , for Mary declares to the angel Gabriel:

“may it happen to me as you have said”.  (Luke 1: 38) 

  Mary sings of God’s mercy, where she states:

“He has remembered me, his lowly servant”  (Luke 1: 48) 

  Mary sings of God’s willingness and capacity to act in the lives of others:

“the great things the mighty God has done”  (Luke 1: 49) 

“God has stretched out His mighty arm”  (Luke 1: 51) 

  Mary sings of the futile plans of those who make empty boasts of what they can achieve by themselves, independent of God:

“(God) scattered the proud with all their plans”  (Luke 1: 51) 

  Mary sings of God’s faithfulness:

“God has kept the promise He made to our ancestors.”  (Luke1: 54) 

  Mary expresses a great trust in God, for although Jesus, the Saviour, had not yet been born, Mary’ s song declares that God’s salvation has already come;

“my soul is glad because of God my Saviour”  (Luke 1: 47) 

  Mary rejoices that “since God has set His saving work in motion, it is already as good as done”.  (Michael Wilcock in The Message of Luke p36) 

  Mary sings of God seeking a response from those in whose life He has done “great things”:

“From one generation to another God shows mercy to those who honour Him.”  (Luke 1: 50)  Mary, too, indicates that it is a change in the heart of the individual for which God is seeking, a transfer from a trust in themselves to a trust in God.

  It is here that Mary is also indicating that God is seeking to expand the definition of a “descendant of Abraham”, beyond “the basis of physical descent” alone.  (Gregory Beale and Donald Carson in Luke in Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament p262) 

  Mary understands that “it is through her that God has chosen to fulfill His Covenantal promise”, that the work of God in the World will show “decisively and unmistakably that He is in control of Human Affairs, and that the coming of God’s Kingdom is being realised.  (Joel Green in The Gospel of Luke p99 & 101)  But, she is also indicating that God is not seeking to work only in the lives of those who claim to be physical descendants of Abraham, but in the lives of those who are ‘spiritual’ descendants of Abraham, that is, all who honour him and put their trust in Him.  God is seeking to call all of Humanity to a renewed and right relationship with Himself.  It is in this light that we see that God calls us to respond to His love for us.

  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote the hymn “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” in 1862, while the Civil War was raging across the United States.  Thus he writes that :

‘in despair I bowed my head,

“There is no peace on Earth,” I said,

For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on Earth, goodwill to Men.”’

  But, using the words of Psalm 121: 4, he rejoices in the knowledge that:

“God is not dead, nor does He sleep,

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on Earth, goodwill to Men.”

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz_YyrFqjcQ&ab_channel=MartijndeGroot

  Kenneth Osbeck in discussing this hymn writes:

“The wording of the stanzas gives this clear message: (in spite of Humanity’s failings, in spite of the hatred and despair so prevalent in the World even today), God is still in command and in His own time will cause right to triumph and will bring peace and goodwill upon Earth once more.”  (Kenneth Osbeck in Joy to the World p33) 

  Artur Weiser writes about Psalm 121: 3, saying,:

“the Creator God is not dormant, he is a never-resting God.  He continues to act in the World because He is the Living God.”  (Artur Weiser in The Psalms p748) 

  It is our living God who has shown how much He loves us, in that He planned from the beginning of Time to provide the means for our salvation, the means for the forgiveness of our sins, the means for the restoration of our relationship with Him.  For it is through the birth of the baby born of Mary that God reveals His love for the World, that promises peace to those who honour God, that brings hope for the future and for eternity, and that is the source of joy for all how hear this Good News.  At this Advent time, may we not despair at the hatred and violence that permeates our society and that permeates our World.  May we act with the assurance that it is God’s love which will ultimately prevail on Earth.  Amen.

Hymn 

You are invited to listen to, or join in singing ‘Child in the manger’

TiS319  AHB241 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWWAUcYiFZE&ab_channel=EvangelicalMovementofWales

Verse 1 of 3

Child in the manger,

infant of Mary;

outcast and stranger,

Lord of all!

Child who inherits

all out transgressions,

all our demerits

on him fall.

Verse 2 of 3

Once the most holy

child of Salvation,

gently and lowly

lived below;

now, as our glorious

mighty Redeemer,

see him victorious

o’er each foe.

Verse 3 of 3

Prophets foretold him,

infant of wonder;

Angels behold him

on his throne;

worthy our Saviour

of all their praises

happy for ever

are his own.

Mary Macdonald 1817-c.1890

translated by Lachlan Macbean, 1853-1931.CCLI Song# 6319113 Public Domain

  I want to use this time in the worship service to invite people to come up to the microphone and share a special memory of Christmas.  It can be about anything that they had experienced at any time in their life, as long as it relates to Christmas.

I will leave you with this poem:

“As you bring your gifts to his cradle and worship him now as King,

do you bow your knees to his power?  Is your life the offering you bring?

What shall I give for Christmas to him who gave himself for me?

To him I give my life, my love, for time and eternity.”

  (in Our Daily Bread 14/12/2006 & 25/12/2006) 

Hymn   

You are invited to listen to, or join in singing ‘Away in a Manger’ 

TiS318  AHB242  MHB860 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVSoAM7YrxE

Verse 1 of 3

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.

Verse 2 of 3

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,

But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes,

I love thee, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky

And stay by my side until morning is nigh.

Verse 3 of 3

Be near me Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay

Close by me for ever, and love me, I pray,

Bless all the dear children in your tender care,

And take them to Heaven to live with thee there.

vv. 1-2 Anon ?1885 v3, Anon ?1892 Melody by William James Kirkpatrick 1838-1921.CCLI Song# 322031P/D

Offering

Offering Prayer    

Holy God, this Advent season we wait with love,

your love for Humanity,

which you seek for us to live out in our lives and to share with others.

And we give with love.

Receive these gifts offered as our response to your love for us,

and use them for your works of love in our World.  Amen.

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

Prayers for Others   

Loving God, knowing your love for all of Humanity, especially your compassion for the needy, we come to you with our cares and our concerns.

Send your Spirit of compassion upon the Earth.  Enter the places of hate and conflict and impose your amazing and lasting love.  Help them to see the way to peace and prosperity

Hear the cries of the forgotten and bring them comfort.  Hear the cries of those who are suffering and oppressed by those with power and control.  

Bless those who work in the caring professions that they are encouraged and strengthened for their work of giving to others.  Bless those who put themselves in harm’s way, to protect the defenceless. 

We pray for the Church around the world as it celebrates the birth of Christ.  Bless all those who are entrusted with Christian ministry that your Word might be proclaimed with truth and courage across our world.

Bestow your wisdom on all who govern others, that they may work towards reconciling differences and eliminating want and need.

We pray for all who are cold, hungry, or alone this Advent Season.  Embrace with your tender care all who wander alone or have no place to lay their head, that they may experience the hope of change for their lives.

We pray for all who are anxious, depressed, or ill, those are suffering or sick, in body, mind, heart, and soul, that they may feel your comfort.

We pray for parents, families, and newborn infants, for strengthen bonds of love and commitment, that they may delight in the joy of family life.

Thank you for loving us so much that You gave Your only Son to die for my sins, and be the way for a sinner such as myself to come before You. 

Lord, I pray that in our lives, you will multiply our love.  Help us to love friends and family more.  Teach us to love strangers the way You do. 

We pray for ourselves, that our hearts are open to your presence, that we may be transformed by your love.  Loving God, we bring these prayers to you, trusting in your compassion and care.  To your glory we pray.

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

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

Copyright © John Birch, 2022 · Prayers written by the author may be copied freely for worship.

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   

“Christians awake salute the happy morn” 

TiS306 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz_YyrFqjcQ&ab_channel=MartijndeGroot

Verse 1 of 5

Christians, awake!  Salute the happy morn,

Where on the Saviour of Mankind was born;

Rise to adore the mystery of love

Which hosts of angels chanted from above:

With them the joyful tidings first begun

Of God incarnate, of the virgin’s Son.

Verse 2 of 5

Then to the watchful shepherds it was told,

Who heard the angelic voice, “Behold,

I bring glad tidings of a Saviour’s birth

To you and all the Nations upon Earth;

This day has God fulfilled His promised word,

This day is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord.”

Verse 3 of 5

He spoke, and straightway the celestial choir,

In hymns of joy unknown before conspire,

The praises of redeeming love they sang,

And Heaven’s whole orb with hallelujah’s rang;

God’s highest glory was their anthem still,

“Peace upon Earth, and unto men goodwill.”

Verse 4 of 5

O may we keep and ponder in our mind

God’s wondrous love in saving lost Mankind;

Trace we the babe who has retrieved our loss,

From the poor manger to the bitter cross;

Tread in his steps, assisted by his grace,

Till man’s first Heavenly state again takes place.

Verse 5 of 5

Then may we hope, the angelic hosts among,

To join, redeemed, a glad triumphant throng:

He that was born upon this joyful day,

Around us all his glory shall display;

Saved by his love, incessant we shall sing

Eternal praise to our almighty King.

John Byrom, 1692-1763 alt.     CCLI Song#195385           Public Domain

Benediction 

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

  The true reason for our joy this Christmas season is the birth of God’s love in Human form in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.  As we go into Christmas week, let us be prepared to see beyond the tinsel to the Heavenly Father who guides us.  Let the light of God shine in us so that we can reflect to the World the love that God has for each person who lives on this planet.

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

Benediction Song

You are invited to listen to, or join in singing ‘Hark the glad sound the Saviour comes’

  TiS269  AHB197  MHB82 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZcj315D4-U&ab_channel=St.John%27sUnitedChurchElmvale

Verse 1 of 4

Hark the glad sound!  The Saviour comes,

the Saviour promised long;

let every heart prepare a throne

and every voice a song.

Philip Doddridge, 1702-51.  CCLI Song# 1748391       Public Domain