Welcome: –

Call to Worship: –   

We look at the World around us and feel so sad and discouraged.

But you, God, remain with us.

We look at the World around us and see unspeakable violence, terrorism and hatred.

But you, God, see who Humanity can become.

We look at the World around us and find ourselves sliding into anger and hatred.

But you, God, remind us of who we are, and you see the good within.

We look at the World around us and see death and destruction.

But you, God, see hope.

We look at the World around us and see greed, power seeking, and fear having its day.  We are ready to give up on our Human Race.

But you, God, never give up.  You promise that despite these tough times you will never give up on Humanity.

God came into the world amidst violence, oppression, and despair, and brought life and light into that darkness.  God is identifying with Humanity in all of its challenges and suffering, trying to bring good out of that which is bad.  And that is what makes God, God.

written by Tim Graves, and posted on LiturgyBits.  https://liturgybits.wordpress.com, and written by Loren Richmond. Posted on Worship Words.  http://worshipwords.co.uk/

So let us gather together to worship Almighty God, who has displayed His majesty and authority at that first Christmas, and has continued to display His majesty and authority in the life and witness of His Church ever since.

You are invited to listen to or join in singing Hymn ‘From Heaven above to Earth I come’  (MHB126  AHB219  TiS296) 

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

Verse 1 of 5

Give heed my heart, lift up your eyes,

who is it in yon manger lies?

Who is this child so young and fair?

It is the Christ child lying there.

Verse 2 of 5

We welcome you, O noble guest,

through you our sinful World is blessed.

And my poor life you enter too,

how can I give my thanks to you?

Verse 3 of 5

Ah, dearest Jesus, holy child,

prepare a bed, soft, undefiled,

within my heart, that it may be

a quiet room that’s kept for thee.

Verse 4 of 5

For joy, then, let me jump and sing

and join the praise the angels bring,

the only fitting lullaby,

the sweetest song they sang on high:

Verse 5 of 5

‘Glory to God on His high throne,

for He has given us His Son!’

And so, the angels bring us cheer,

to everyone a glad new year.

Martin Luther  –  translated by Catherine Winkworth and by David Schubert

Prayer of Praise  

(from Psalm 148) 

Praise the LORD from Heaven, you that live in the heights above.

Praise Him, all His angels, all His Heavenly armies.

Praise Him, Sun and Moon: praise Him shining stars.

Praise Him, highest heavens and the waters above the sky.

Let them all praise the name of the LORD!  He commanded, and they were created;

By His command they were fixed in their places for all Time, by a command that lasts forever.

Praise the LORD from the Earth, sea monsters and all ocean depths;

Lightning and hail, and snow and clouds, and strong winds, which all obey His command.

Praise Him hills and mountains, fruit trees and forests,

All animals, domesticated and wild, all reptiles and birds.

Praise Him Kings and all Peoples, Princes and all other Rulers;

Girls and young men, old people and children too.

Let them all praise the name of the LORD! 

His name is greater than all others; His glory is above Earth and Heaven.

And the LORD has raised up a King, who is the assurance of God’s salvation for His People.

Let us praise the LORD.  Let the People of God, so near and so dear to Him, exalt His majesty and power.  Hallelujah!

You are invited to listen to or join in singing the Hymn ‘Ring out wild bells, to the wide sky’  [MHB905]

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

Verse 1 of 5

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,

for those that here we see no more;

ring out the feud of rich and poor,

ring in redress to all Mankind.

Verse 2 of 5

Ring out a slowly dying cause,

and ancient forms of party strife;

ring in the nobler modes of life,

with sweeter manners, purer laws.

Verse 3 of 5

Ring out false pride in place and blood,

the civic slander and the spite,

ring in the love of truth and right,

ring in the common love of good.

Verse 4 of 5

Ring out old shapes of foul disease,

ring out the narrowing lust of gold,

ring out the thousand wars of old,

ring in the thousand years of peace.

Verse 5 of 5

Ring in the valiant people, free,

the larger heart, the kindlier hand,

ring out the darkness of the Land,

ring in the Christ that is to be.

Alfred Lord Tennyson

Prayer of Confession   

Merciful God, we confess the times when we fail to involve ourselves in planting any seeds of faith in the lives of others.

Too often we are hesitant in our proclamation; seeking safe and suitable opportunities to speak of our faith.  Forgive us.

Merciful God, we confess the times when our personal agendas become more important than yours; the times when we have denied others the opportunity to expand their faith through our lack of interest or involvement.

Too often we are half-hearted in our service; reluctant to stand out from the crowd or to attract criticism.  Forgive us.

Merciful God, we confess the times when our lives become so entangled with the values of the World that we forget what you have said and done and promised.

Too often we live as if dependent wholly on our own resources; relying on our perceived skills and modest insights.  Forgive us.

Merciful God, we know that when we become disconnected from you, our lives become parched and unfruitful, and our faith becomes stunted and dry.

Too often we look to the clouds for our inspiration, in the vain hope of finding you there.  Forgive us.

Forgive the poverty of our efforts and the frailty of our faith, and open wide our hearts and minds to the presence of our Risen, Living and Ascended Lord Jesus Christ.

Bless and renew our lives, we pray, so that we remain connected to you at all times and in all places, strengthening our faith to expand and, growing strongly and vigorously, to bear the fruit of your mercy, your love, your undying life.  To your glory we pray.  Amen.

written by Moira Laidlaw, and posted on Liturgies Online.  Visit that site for many other lectionary-based worship resources.  http://www.liturgiesonline.com.au/  , and also written by Rev. Malcolm Macdougall, and posted on the Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website. http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/

Assurance of Forgiveness 

(from Hebrews 2: 11 & 17) 

The writer of the Book of Hebrews clearly reminds us that it is through Jesus Christ that our sins are forgiven and that we are made pure in God’s sight.  Having confessed our sins before God and confessed our faith in the saving grace of God, let us move forward with confidence that, indeed, God has heard our prayers and has forgiven us.

Thanks be to God.

You are invited to listen to or join in singing the Hymn ‘Standing at the portal’  [MHB955]

Francis Ridley Havergal

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)

(https://www.reformedworship.org/article/september-1991/pioneer-reformed-worship-celebrating-500th-anniversary-martin-bucer)

Reformed Worship 21 © September 1991 Worship Ministries of the Christian Reformed Church.  Used by permission.

Bible Readings

A reading from Matthew 2.

1  Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the time when Herod was King.  Soon afterward, some men who studied the stars came from the East to Jerusalem  2  and asked, “Where is the baby born to be the King of the Jews?  We observed the rising of his star, and we have come to worship him.”

3  When King Herod heard about this, he was very upset, and so was everyone else in Jerusalem.  4  He called together all the Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law and asked them, “Where will the Messiah be born?”

5  “In the town of Bethlehem in Judea,” they answered.  “For this is what the Prophet wrote:

  6  “Bethlehem in the land of Judah, you are by no means the least of the leading cities of Judah; for from you will come a leader who will guide my People Israel.’ ”  (Micah 5: 2)  

7  So Herod called the visitors from the East to a secret meeting and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.  8  Then he sent them to Bethlehem with these instructions:

“Go and make a careful search for the child; and when you find him, let me know, so that I too may go and worship him.”

9  And so they left, and on their way they saw the same star they had seen in the East.  When they saw it, how happy they were, what joy was theirs!  It went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 

11  They went into the house, and when they saw the child with his mother Mary, they knelt down and worshipped him.  They brought out their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and presented them to him. 

12  Then they returned to their country by another road, since God had warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod.

13  After they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph and said, “Herod will be looking for the child in order to kill him.  So get up, take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you to leave.” 

14  Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and left during the night for Egypt,  15  where he stayed until Herod died.  This was done to make come true what the Lord had said through the prophet, “I called my Son out of Egypt.”  (Hosea 11: 1) 

16  When Herod realized that the visitors from the East had tricked him, he was furious.  He gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its neighbourhood who were two years old and younger – this was done in accordance with what he had learned from the visitors about the time when the star had appeared.  17  In this way what the prophet Jeremiah had said came true:  18  “A sound is heard in Ramah, the sound of bitter weeping.  Rachel is crying for her children; she refuses to be comforted, for they are dead.”  (Jeremiah 31: 15) 

19  After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt  20  and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go back to the land of Israel, because those who tried to kill the child are dead.”

21  So Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went back to Israel.  22  But when Joseph heard that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as King of Judea, he was afraid to go there.  He was given more instructions in a dream, so he went to the Province of Galilee  23  and made his home in a town named Nazareth.  (Mark 1: 24, Luke 2: 39, John 1: 45)  And, so what the prophets had said came true: “He will be called a Nazarene” (which in Hebrew means ‘branch’) .  (Isaiah 11: 5, Jeremiah 23: 5 & 6, 33: 15 & 16, Zechariah 3: 8) 

[Today’s English Version]

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  ‘Sing to the Great Jehovah’s praise’  [MHB959  AHB484]

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

Verse 1 of 5

Sing to the great Jehovah’s praise,

all praise to Him belongs,

who kindly lengthens out our days

demands our choicest songs.

Verse 2 of 5

His providence has brought us through

another various year,

we all with vows and anthems new

before our God appear.

Verse 3 of 5

Father, your mercies past we own,

your still continued care,

to you presenting, through your Son,

whate’er we have or are.

Verse 4 of 5

Our lips and lives shall gladly show

the wonders of your love;

while on in Jesu’s steps we go

to see your face above.

Verse 5 of 5

Our residue of days or hours

yours, wholly yours shall be,

and all our consecrated powers

a sacrifice to you.

Charles Wesley

Sermon

Religious affiliation, Count of persons for 1996, 2016 and 2021
	1996	2016	2021
Christian	12,582,764	12,201,600	11,148,814
Other religions(b)	652,218	1,920,835	2,538,587
No Religion(c)	2,948,888	7,040,717	9,886,957
Total	17,752,829	23,401,892	25,422,788
b. Other religions includes Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and other religions.
c. No religion includes Secular Beliefs (e.g. Atheism) and Other Spiritual Beliefs (e.g. New Age).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Cultural diversity: Census 2021

  The 2021 census data indicates that this was the first census undertaken in Australia, in which more people identified themselves as affiliated with non-Christian religions or not affiliated with any religion, totalling 12,425,544 people, than those who identified themselves as affiliated with the Christian religion, of whatever Denomination, totalling 11,148,814 people. 

  Bear in mind that not everyone who completed a census form completed this section of the census form, as it was not compulsory to do so.  A quick adding up of the figures indicates that 1,848,430 people, or 7.2% of those who completed a census form, did not enter anything in this section of the census form.

Religious affiliation in Australia, 1971-2021
Year	Christianity (%)	Other religions (%)	No religion (%)
1971	86.2	0.8	6.7
1976	78.6	1.0	8.3
1981	76.4	1.4	10.8
1986	73.0	2.0	12.7
1991	74.0	2.6	12.9
1996	70.9	3.5	16.6
2001	68.0	4.9	16.7
2006	63.9	5.6	19.3
2011	61.1	7.2	23.1
2016	52.1	8.2	30.1
2021	43.9	10.0	38.9
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Religious affiliation in Australia 4/07/2022

  None-the-less, this table indicates that 56.1% of the population of Australia did not identify themselves as affiliated with the Christian religion.

  In a recent article in December 23-24 edition of The Weekend Australian, Chris Kenny, an Associate Editor of the Newspaper, wrote about the hypocrisy of this 56.1% of the Australian population, when he wrote:

“we do not hear from atheists or non-Christian devotees who disagree with the sacred provenance of Christmas and Easter, and demand (that) they should be able to work through those traditional holiday breaks.  On the contrary, they seem capable of accepting these public holidays – religious origins and all – and making of them what they choose.”  (Chris Kenny in an article titled “It’s a mixed-up, muddled up bizarro world” in The Weekend Australian  December 23-24, 2023  p30) 

  I am willing to call this behaviour on their part, hypocritical, because, as we see from the 2021 census data, atheists and non-Christian devotees do not identify themselves as affiliated with the Christian religion, yet they are quite content to enjoy the personal and social and cultural joys derived from participating in activities that are affiliated with the Christian religion, as long as they can call it by another name, and delude themselves into believing that they are not affiliating with the Christian religion in doing so.

  Peter Craven, in his article in the same edition of The Weekend Australian, says much the same thing, when he writes:

“People continue (to) take their kids to Carols by Candlelight to listen to Silent Night or Away in a Manger, (in the belief that doing so is part of) the culture (that) we inherit.”  (Peter Cravan in Story that unlocks our Culture in The Weekend Australian December 23-24,  2023  p34) 

  Also in the same edition of The Weekend Australian, Greg Sheridan wrote of the absurdity of the stance undertaken by the 46.1% of the population of Australia who either did not enter any response in the section in the 2021 census relating to a religious affiliation or who did not identify themselves as having any religious affiliation.  In his article he writes:

“It’s a truism that in the West, Christianity is in social and statistical decline.  In most of the rest of the World, religion is on fire.  But the West, mainly North America, Western Europe and Australia and New Zealand, have trapped themselves is a strange, dark little oubliette, (or a concealed, confined dungeon) of paradoxical credulousness, in which they’ll believe anything at all except the religious realities almost all (of) Humanity hungers for all of the time.”

  (Greg Sheridan in an article titled “An audience with God’s unlikely online superstar” in The Weekend Australian  December 23-24, 2023  p35) 

  I believe that Greg Sheridan is quite correct in what he wrote, because this 46.1% of the population of Australia, or 56.1% if you include those who indicated in the census an affiliation with a non-Christian religion, have rejected the person and saving work of Jesus Christ in spite of the reality of the person and saving work of Jesus Christ as witnessed to in the four Gospels and in the history and ministry of the Christian Church throughout its 2000 year history.

  But what has this to do with Matthew’s account of the visit of the Magi?  Because, in Matthew’s account of the visit of the Magi we see the identical hypocrisy in the actions of people, and we see the identical rejection of the person and saving work of Jesus Christ in the actions of people, in spite of the reality of the birth of Jesus Christ.

  Two things need to be clarified.

  Firstly, every Jewish male would have been taught in their local synagogue to recite the Old Testament prophesies concerning the Messiah, and it is hoped that this teaching would have been passed on to girls in their homes.

  Therefore, at the time of the birth of Jesus, everyone, conceivably, had the knowledge of ‘the what’, ‘the how’, and ‘the where’ concerning the coming of the Messiah, especially from three passages from the Book of Isaiah and one from the Book of Micah.

‘Therefore, the LORD Himself will give you a sign: ‘The virgin (the Hebrew word can mean the young woman about to be married) who is pregnant will give birth to a son, and she will call him Immanuel (which in Hebrew means ‘God with us’)’.’  (Isaiah 7: 14) 

‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, authority rests upon his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’  (Isaiah 9: 6) 

‘A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.  The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.’  (Isaiah 11: 1 & 2) 

‘But you Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.  Therefore, Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labour gives birth.’  (Micah 5: 2 & 3) 

  It was common knowledge among the Jews at the time of the birth of Jesus, that the Messiah would be born as the son of a virgin, born as a descendant of King David, and born in Bethlehem, the hereditary home of the family of David.  This understanding was passed on from generation to generation.  The missing piece to the puzzle of the birth of the Messiah was ‘the when’, for the date of his birth was not foretold in prophesy.

  The second thing that needs clarifying concerns the Magi themselves. 

  The Magi’s journey to Jerusalem would have taken them several months, travelling slowly northwest through the lands of the Parthian Empire, crossing into Roman occupied Syria, before journeying southwards through Roman occupied Syria and Palestine until they reached Jerusalem in Judea.  There would not have just been their small group travelling to see the newly born child, as you see on Christmas cards or in Nativity scenes.  They would have been accompanied by a reasonably large entourage, bringing with them enough provisions to sustain the group on their journey west to Judea and the return trip east, back home.  (Henry Halley in Halley’s Bible Handbook p328)  Included in their group would have been an armed escort, to ward off attacks by bandits and also to ensure that their valuable gifts arrived safely and securely.  The Magi were not ordinary travellers or merchants, but men of enough status and prestige to warrant an audience with King Herod.  (Matthew 2: 7)  They would have carried letters of introduction and greetings, and letters guaranteeing their safe passage throughout the lands through which they would have travelled.

  The size and appearance of their group as they entered Jerusalem would have caused people to stop and wonder at the intent of their visit, the purpose for their long and hazardous journey.  But it was the question they asked upon their arrival that caused much consternation.

  “Where is the baby born to be the King of the Jews?”, they asked, “We observed the rising of his star, and we have come to worship him.”  (Matthew 2: 2) 

  There are four distinct groups of people mentioned in today’s reading, each group having a different reaction to the news of the birth of “the baby born to be the King of the Jews”.  (Matthew 2: 2) 

  We read in Matthew’s account that when King Herod heard about the Magi’s search for “the baby born to be the King of the Jews”, he was “very upset” (GNB), “greatly perturbed” (NEB), “disturbed (NIV), “frightened” (NRSV), or “troubled” (ESV).  Suffice it to say that “any King would have been worried at the report that a child had been born who was to occupy his throne.”  (William Barclay in The Gospel of Matthew Volume 1 p28)  And we will look at King Herod in more detail later. 

  But it is the people living and visiting Jerusalem at the time of the Magi’s visit, who we will look at first.  We read that, in the same manner at their King, they too were “very upset” with the Magi’s search for the baby.  The NIV reads, “and all of Jerusalem (were disturbed) (along) with (King Herod)”.  (Matthew 2: 3)  We understand that they were upset / disturbed, not because of how the Magi’s search affected them personally, but solely because King Herod was upset / disturbed in regard to the Magi’s search.  This puzzles me.  For centuries since the Prophet Isaiah uttered his prophesies, the people of Judah had been expecting the birth of their Messiah, as their teaching had led them to understand.  Now, here were some exotic visitors from the East who gave the indication that the Messiah’s birth was imminent or had recently taken place.  But, instead of rejoicing at the fulfillment of prophesy, the people were terrified for their wellbeing because of the unknown manner in which King Herod would react to the news, and how his reaction would personally affect them. 

  What was their priority in life?  Was it eagerly anticipating and welcoming the coming Kingdom of God, or were they preoccupied with safeguarding their comfortable existence and commercial enterprises?  I believe it was the latter, that they had such a shallow desire to serve and to worship God that they capitulated in the face of potential adversity.  In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus warns of those who are like “the seeds that fall on rocky ground”, “(who) hear the message but it does not sink deep into them”, so that “when trouble or persecution comes because of the message, they give up at once”.  (Mark 4: 16 & 17) 

 Perhaps it was the scholarly presentation by the Magi or their obvious grasp of ancient knowledge and understanding that aroused the interest of King Herod, or it could have been the earnestness and sincerity of their quest.  The mention of a star rising in the sky could have been interpreted by King Herod as a celestial sign of certain changes which will occur, as was the current understanding of the time.  King Herod needed to ascertain the motivation behind this question being asked by the Eastern visitors.  Was there to be a new King of the Jews, or was this all just the mistaken ramblings of pagan astrologers?  And Matthew records that it was so obvious to those who conversed with the Magi about whom they were referring, that even King Herod is led to ask his religious advisors, “the Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law”, “Where will the Messiah be born?”  (Matthew 2: 4) 

  The reply of the Chief Priests and Teachers of the law was straightforward and concise, for there was only the one appropriate answer.

“In the town of Bethlehem in Judea,” the Chief Priests and Teachers of the Law answered,  “for this is what the Prophet wrote.”  (Matthew 2:5)  , quoting from Micah 5: 2 & 3.

  But that is the last that we hear from the Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law.  I also find this puzzling.  Here were the top religious leaders and teachers of Judah.  They had grasped in the words of the Magi that the Magi had an understanding of the coming of the Messiah of which the Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law had no understanding.  How could this be?  Should not this revelation have aroused in the Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law the deepest desire to clarify once and for all, not just how the Magi obtained their understanding, but whether or not their understanding was correct.  And, surely, the easiest way by which to test the veracity of the Magi’s claims was to accompany them to Bethlehem to determine whether or not the baby born to be the King of the Jews, the long hoped for promised Messiah, actually had been born.  But they did not go.

  We see King Herod’s religious advisors, the Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law, those who had the ‘head knowledge’ regarding God’s Messiah, failing to choose to follow the Magi in their quest to visit the baby.  They had no desire within their hearts to investigate whether or not what the Magi had shared with them was the truth, whether or not it was the evidence of God at work in the World.  You would have expected that they, of all people, had the most to gain from following the Magi, and to offer their worship of the “Immanuel”.  Yet they did not, and we can see how Jesus was justified in calling them “hypocrites”  (Matthew 15: 3)  , displaying an outward faith in God but inwardly failing to live out such a faith.  Henrietta Mears writes:

“The priests knew where Christ was to be born, but they did not know Christ when he was born.”  (Henrietta Mears in What the Bible is all about p361) 

  We see in the lack of action by the Chief Priests and Teachers of the Law God’s condemnation of these Jewish religious leaders, for God was making His announcement through Gentiles, non-Jews, because God was unable to speak through the Jewish religious leaders, who had closed their hearts and minds to God.  They were ‘worshipping’ God’s Law rather than worshipping God, by their adding of restrictions and compulsions on to the Law that were not warranted, such that it governed everyday life and behaviour in ways that were not intended when God gave the Law to their ancestors.  They were more concerned with a strict adherence to the rites and rituals of their sacrificial worship, stating that this was the only way to please God, instead of the sincere faithfulness and worship which God required of them. 

  Henry Halley, in his Bible Handbook writes about King Herod, saying:

“The Herods were an Edomite line of Kings, who, under Rome, got control of Judea, the Land of the Jews before (the birth of) Christ.  Herod the Great got his throne, and kept it by crimes of unspeakable brutality, murdering even his first wife and two of his sons.  He was cruel, cunning, (and) coldblooded.”  (Henry Halley in Halley’s Bible Handbook p329) 

  Alan Millard writes of Herod the Great, saying:

“Herod was suspicious of anyone whom he thought could try to take the throne away from him.  One-time friends, servants, countless enemies, priests, and nobles, and all who crossed him in some way, were killed.  (Alan Millard in The Lion Handbook to the Bible p552 & 553) 

William Barclay writes of King Herod, saying:

“Herod has one terrible flaw in his character.  He was almost insanely suspicious.  He had always been suspicious, and the older he became the more suspicious he grew, until, in his old age, he was, as someone said, ‘a murderous old man’.”  (William Barclay in The Gospel of Matthew Volume 1 p29) 

  Thus, we can find King Herod, in the latter part of his life and rule, choosing a tragic course of action.  Judging “the baby born to be the King of the Jews” as a threat to his own position and rule as the current King of the Jews, ‘he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its neighbourhood who were two years old and younger.’  (Matthew 2: 16)  Robin Nixon writes:

‘This action is quite typical of what is known about (King) Herod.  There may have been only a score or so children of that age-group in the area, so that there is no reason why this should have been recorded by secular historians in comparison with some of his more notorious deeds.  (Robin Nixon in Matthew in the New Bible Commentary p819) 

  Henry Halley is led to write of Herod, ‘Strange that one who displayed a belief in the coming of the Christ  (Matthew 2: 4)  , could have been conceited enough and stupid enough to think that he could thwart His coming.’  (Henry Halley in Halley’s Bible Handbook p329) 

  Randolph Tasker writes “the devices of Man can never thwart the ultimate purposes of God”.  (Randolph Tasker in Matthew  An Introduction and Commentary p42)  As the Prophet Isaiah writes of the coming of God’s Future King:

“The LORD Almighty is determined to do all this.”  (Isaiah 9: 7c) 

  If God wills it to be done, it will be done.

  In his Gospel, Matthew sharply contrasts the acceptance of the new King by the Gentile strangers, with the violent rejection of Jesus by the Jewish ruler.  “For Matthew, this undoubtedly symbolized the future rejection of Jesus by his own people and the acceptance of the Gospel by the Gentiles.”  (Douglas Hare in Matthew  A Bible Commentary p15) 

  Having clearly identified “the baby born to be the King of the Jews” whom they had come to visit, the Magi are led to proclaim:

“We have come to worship him.”  (Matthew 2: 2) 

  Knowing that God’s promised Messiah had been born, and knowing where God’s promised Messiah had been born, the Magi were compelled to make a response.  Their choice was to continue their travels so as to see him in person and to “worship him”.  The Greek word that is used is translated as “worship” in most English translations of Matthew’s Gospel.  It is the Greek word pros-koo-neh-o, and has been translated as “to prostrate oneself in homage, to revere, to adore, or to worship”  (Strong’s NT4352)  .

  Everyone, faced with the knowledge and understanding of the person of Jesus Christ as God’s Messiah, the Lord and Saviour of Humanity, is, likewise, called to make a response.  We see the Magi, fully understanding the person and position of this baby who has been born, prepared to make all the effort that is needed, to pay homage to him in person, to offer their worship to God in Human form, come to work God’s redemption for Humanity.

  In his narrative, Matthew clearly portrays Jesus as ‘truly God’, ‘God with us’ as Isaiah writes, yet Matthew also clearly writes that ‘Jesus is also the fully Human one who ‘saves his people’ by the cross.  Thus, Matthew invites his (readers) to consider and worship the God who accepted the ultimate vulnerability, born as an infant to humiliated and probably relatively poor parents into a World hostile to his presence.’  (Craig Keener in The Gospel of Matthew p97) 

  William Barclay writes that ‘when any (person) realizes the love of God in Jesus Christ, (they), too, in the same manner as the Magi, should be lost in wonder, love and praise’, and offer their worship of Jesus.  (William Barclay in The Gospel of Matthew p31) 

  In her article in a recent edition of The Weekend Australian, Angela Shanahan writes:

‘(Christmas) is a time of joy, for fun and family, yes.  But most importantly, it is the Nativity that reflects the central mystery of Christianity: the birth of the Christ, the Saviour of the World and God made man.’  (Angela Shanahan in an article “Nativity honours Francis, the Father of our Christmas’ in The Weekend Australian December 23 – 24  2003  p13) 

  May this be the source of our joy as we move into a new year of worship and service of Almighty God.  Amen.

Dedication of the New Year 

(from Uniting in Worship 1 p66 and 72 to 74) 

On this New Year’s Eve, let us recommit ourselves to God, renewing our promise to love and to serve God.  In so doing we are submitting our will to the will of God, and restating our hope and trust in the grace and benevolence of God.

In the Old Covenant, God chose Israel as His People, and gave them the gift of the Law.  In the New Covenant, He made the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, who fulfills the Law for us.  We stand within the New Covenant and we bear the name of Christ.

God promises us new life in Him.  We receive this promise and pledge to live not for ourselves but for God. 

Today we meet to renew that which binds us to God.  Beloved in Christ, let us again claim this Covenant for ourselves and take the yoke of Christ upon us.

To take this yoke upon us means that we are content that God appoints us our place and work, and that He Himself will be our reward.

Christ has many services to be done: some are easy, others are difficult, some are undertaken in public, others are undertaken and known only to God.  Yet the power to do all things is given to us in Christ, who strengthens us.  In our Baptism we are brought into union with Christ who fulfills God’s gracious Covenant.  In the Communion elements, we receive the fruit of obedience.  So, with joy, we take upon ourselves the yoke of obedience and commit ourselves to seek and to do God’s perfect will.  I am no longer my own, but God’s.

I am no longer my own, but yours, O God.  Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will; put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for you or laid aside for you; let me be full, let me be empty; let me have all things, let me have nothing; I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal.  And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours, to the glory and praise of your name.  Amen.

You are invited to listen to or join in singing the Hymn  ‘Great God we sing that mighty hand’  [AHB52  TiS124]

Verse 1 of 4

Great God, we sing that mighty hand

by which supported still we stand;

the opening year your mercy shows,

and mercy crowns it at its close.

Verse 2 of 4

By day, by night, at home, abroad,

still are we guarded by our God,

by His incessant bounty fed,

by His unerring counsel led.

Verse 3 of 4

With grateful hearts the past we own,

the future, all to us unknown,

we to your guardian care commit,

and peaceful leave before your feet.

Verse 4 of 4

In scenes exalted or depressed

you are our joy, and you our rest,

your goodness all our hopes shall raise,

adored through all our changing days.

Philip Doddridge

Offering

Offering Prayer    

“For the life that you have given”  TiS774  

[This hymn is being sung to the tune Austria – there is no introduction.]

[This YouTube 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

Jesus, Humble King, we remember that your family had nowhere to stay when you were born.

Please be with the homeless, the refugees, and those who are struggling to make ends meet this Christmas Season.

Jesus, King of Kings, we remember that powerful leaders visited you when you were born.

Give your wisdom, boldness and grace to our World leaders, to politicians, business people, and those with influence.

Jesus, King of Peace, we remember Herod’s jealously, lies and violence when you were born.

Bring your peace in places of conflict, anger and hatred, across the World and also right here in our communities.

(Sam Hargreaves – https://engageworship.org/ideas/king-jesus-christmas-intercessions )

Loving God, we live in a World where the innocent are the ones who suffer in times of conflicts, where the unprotected are the ones who are the victims of terror and crime.

We pray for your protection over children and their families.  May they experience your care such that their lives and their livelihoods are prosperous and fulfilling.

Loving God, we live in a World where many suffer pain from accident or illness, where many are disabled or sick in body, mind, and spirit.

Please bring relief to those who suffer, please bring healing and wholeness to the ill and the injured.  Please bless the efforts of medical and nursing staff, of counsellors and service providers.

Loving God, we live in a World where the Church seen as irrelevant or, at the very least, distrusted.

Reawaken in your Church its calling to be the light of the World, to provoke the World to judge itself in terms of your standards and principles.  Reawaken in your Church its calling to boldly proclaim your Gospel message of hope for the sinful and the lost.  Reawaken in your Church its calling to show leadership in the caring for the needy and in proper stewardship of your Creation.

(from Leading Intercessions p5, Prayers for the Seasons Year A p30 & 31)

Almighty God, we pray for the Church, that we may know this day how close you are to us, how blest we are, and how you are always with us.

We pray for all peoples on the Earth, that your gift of peace will bring forth goodwill; reconciliation, forgiveness, and an end to terrorism.

We pray for an outpouring of your favour in our time; that the Holy Spirit will rekindle a childlike spirit of wonder and awe within us and an openness to all the opportunities that you offers us.

We pray for a greater awareness of our true identity, that we may recognize our call to be your children and manifest in our lives the deeds of your love and compassion.

We pray for a spirit of connectedness, that as you united yourself with Humanity through the birth of Jesus, we may grow in our relationship with you and with all who walk the Human journey with us.

We pray that, like the angels, we may announce the good news of your saving love and be instruments of peace to all we meet this day.

We pray for the healing of all fear,: that the angel’s message, “Fear Not!”, may free all the Human family from the bonds of fear and impel us to live boldly.

We pray for all who are experiencing darkness through isolation, depression, grief, or violence, that the light of Christ may scatter the darkness and bring hope to their hearts.

We pray for Christian unity, that the vulnerability of the Christ Child may lead to a breaking down of the walls and misunderstandings that divide the Body of Christ.

We pray for all children, that they may be welcomed into this World with joy, nurtured and cared for as they grow, and encouraged to dream great things.

We pray for all who are new parents, that they may recognize the gift from you that they hold and faithfully nurture the gifts and talents that you have given to their child.

We pray for reconciliation in families, that you will heal old wounds and help us to recognize the gift of each person.

We pray for all who are suffering, that that you will heal the sick, give hope to those recovering from disasters, lead the homeless to safe places, and help refugees to find new homes.

We pray for all who are assisting others this Christmas season, that you will guide and protect healthcare workers, public safety officials, and utility workers.

We pray for all who are traveling or away from home this day, particularly members of the military and those who volunteering in remote places, that you will guide their movements, preserve them in love, and bring them home safely.

We pray for our nation, that you will preserve public peace and guide leaders to new cooperation in addressing the needs of the poor and vulnerable in our society.

We pray for peace throughout the World, that the Prince of Peace may bring an end to violence in all areas afflicted by violence and lead all peoples to greater cooperation in overcoming poverty and disease.

Copyright © 2020. Joe Milner. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use. – https://liturgy.slu.edu/ChristmasB20/ideas_other.html

We pray for the success of the Scripture Union run Sanctuary Family Retreat at Camp Coolamatong that runs until Monday, where local Christian families and newly arrived refugee & asylum seeker families gathering together for fellowship and fun.

We give thanks for the Big Tent Family Mission being run with the community in Victor Harbor, SA.  We pray that the Holy Spirit guide, lead, provide and protect his people as they reveal Jesus to many.

We pray for the Merry Beach Mission operating in the first week of January 2024. We pray the team can be wise, Gospel-focused, and Christ-like in their leadership and interactions with participants.

We pray for WA holiday camps and Community Missions being run in January.  We pray for peace & rest for the Team Leaders, and pray campers would come to know Jesus’ love.  We pray for opportunities to share God and his story with the communities in the small towns where they will be.  We pray for the volunteers that they will be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s promptings and for the soft hearts of individuals and families who will encounter them.

We pray for the leaders preparing for the Autism Spectrum Focus camp starting this Sunday, for an enjoyable and uplifting holiday experience for these families.

We give thanks for SUPA SUMMA FUN being held in Mannum this coming week.  We pray for unity within the team, guidance for the Team Leaders and soft hearts ready to receive the good news of Jesus.

We pray for the Pt Vincent Mission which is restarting these school holidays.  We give

thanks for the enthusiastic team that has gathered. And pray for wisdom, strength and guidance for the first-time team leaders.  We pray the community will join the activities & program, and have a transformative experience of Jesus.

SU SEQ-Prayer-Guide-DEC23-FEB24.pdf

We pray for the Anandaban Hospital, located in southern Lalitpur (on the outskirts of Kathmandu).  We pray that its outpatient department has the required staff and resources to continue to provide the quality orthopaedic and dermatology services, which serve the general community of southern Lalitpur and beyond.  

We pray for the Mycobacterial Research Laboratory that is situated in the grounds of the hospital, that it too will have the resources and building space needed to provides clinical laboratory services, as well as conducting important leprosy research.  

We pray for The Leprosy Mission Nepal’s Training and Technical Support Centre, for the continued success of its residential training facility, providing leprosy training and training on other Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD).  

We pray for its success on building the capacity of the Nepal Government’s health staff, national and international medical students, doctors, and community level volunteers.  We pray for the success of the Nepal Government’s national leprosy elimination programme through case validation, joint supervision, and monitoring of its programmes.

We pray for those who plan to undertake Religious Instruction classes at Bald Hills State School in the new year.  Guide them in their preparation for the words to say and the approach to take with the children in their classes. 

We pray for Kylie Conomos, the Scripture Union Chaplain at Bald Hills State School, as she rests during these holidays before returning in the new school year to address the concerns and needs of children, parents and teachers at the school.

We pray for those who we have not seen for some time and who are unable to attend worship.  Please guide and comfort them in their particular circumstances.  May they be aware of your care for them as they meet what each new day brings.

Lord God, we bring these prayers to you, trusting in your lovingkindness.  To your glory we pray.

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 ‘Another year is dawning’ [MHB954]

Frances Ridley Havergal

Benediction 

(A New Year Meditation) 

Give us through the coming year quietness of mind,

teach us to be patient and always to be kind,

give us reassurance when everything goes wrong

so our faith remains unfaltering and our hope and courage strong,

and show us that in quietness we can feel your presence near,

filling us with joy and peace throughout the coming year.

  (Helen Steiner Rice in Loving Thoughts P88) 

  Lord, please guide us as we head toward a new year.  We ask for Your love to permeate our lives.  We’re grateful for all we have, and we ask that we can keep our focus on what is right and what is good.  Please protect us throughout the coming months and prepare our hearts for what is to come in the days ahead.

— Author Unknown  –   (https://www.boomershub.com/blog/25-best-christmas-prayers) 

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

You are invited to listen to or join in singing the Benediction Song ‘By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered’  [TiS617]

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

Verse 1 of 1

By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered,

and confidently waiting come what may,

we know that God is with us night and morning

and never fails to greet us each new day.

We shall remember, all the days we live through,

all of our life before our God we lay.

Dietrich Bonhoffer  Translated by Frederick Pratt Green  (adapted)