Order of Service
Thank you for joining us today!
Please take the small square booklet home with you.
Huge thanks to our technicians and musicians, and all who have helped with today’s service
Welcome
Carol: O come all ye faithful
O come all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye,
O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!
God of God,
Light of light,
Lo, He abhors not the virgin’s womb;
Very God,
Begotten, not created O come, let us adore Him
Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;
Glory to God in the highest:
O come, let us adore Him
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born on Christmas morning,
Jesus, to Thee be glory given;
Word of the Father
Now in flesh appearing:
O come, let us adore Him
First Reading: Isaiah 9: verses 2, 6 and 7
Carol: Many years ago (to the tune of Jingle Bells)
Many years ago,
In a stable far away,
Christ the Lord was born,
What a happy day
Singing filled the air,
Glory shone around,
Shepherds heard the invitation
Seated on the ground.
Have no fear, have you heard,
Christ is born today?
Go and see him lying there
In a manger filled with ha-ay;
Then the sky came alive
Angels everywhere,
Singing songs of joyful praise
To God who sent them there.
On to Bethlehem
In a most excited way,
Shepherds went to see
Christ the Lord that day,
When they saw him there
They were filled with joy,
On their knees they worshipped him,
God’s special baby boy.
Second Reading: Luke 1:26-37
Prayers
Carol: The First Noel
The First Noel, the Angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
And by the light of a big bright star
Three Wise men came from country far
To seek for a King was their intent
And to follow the star wherever it went.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
Then entered in those Wise men three
Full reverently upon their knee
And offered there in His presence
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made Heaven and earth of nought
And with his blood mankind has bought.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
Third Reading: Luke 2:8-16
Carol: Silent Night
Silent Night! Holy Night!
All is calm, all is bright
Round the virgin and her child:
Holy infant, so gentle and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace;
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quail at the sight,
Glory streams from heaven afar:
Heavenly hosts sing, ‘Alleluia,
Christ the Saviour is born,
Christ the Saviour is born.’
Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light:
Radiant beams from your holy face
With the dawn of saving grace,
Jesus, Lord, at your birth,
Jesus, Lord, at your birth.
Talk
Carol: Hark the herald angels sing
Hark! The herald angels sing:
“Glory to the new-born King!”
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies,
With the angelic host proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem.
Hark! the herald angels sing:
“Glory to the new-born King!”
Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see!
Hail the incarnate Deity!
Pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing:
“Glory to the new-born King!”
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing:
“Glory to the new-born King!”