Today, Christmas Day, there is a service of Christmas Communion at 9.30am at St Bartholomew, Burstow, a Family Service with carols at 10am at St Mary the Virgin, Horne and a service of Christmas Communion at 11am at St John the Baptist, Outwood. And as always, there is an online service here, too, which this week is led by the Revd Nicholas Calver
To follow today’s online service just click on the arrow here and find the words below.
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 . . .
See how the shepherds,
summoned to his cradle,
Leaving their flocks, draw nigh with lowly fear;
We too will thither
bend our joyful footsteps:
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 this happy morning,
Jesu, to thee be glory giv’n;
Word of the Father,
now in flesh appearing:
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!
We have come together in the presence of God our Father to rejoice in the gift of Jesus to us as the light of the world, to hear and receive the story and message of the coming of Christ, and to offer to God our thanksgiving in prayer and song.
Christ has brought us out of darkness:
To live in his marvellous light.
Jesus Christ is the light of the world:
All a light no darkness can quench.
Let us pray:
The Collect for Christmas Day
Almighty God,
you have given us your only-begotten Son
to take our nature upon him
and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin:
grant that we, who have been born again
and made your children by adoption and grace,
may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen
The readings
by Rosemary Spruce
The first reading is Hebrews 1: 1-4
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Glory to you, O Lord.
The Gospel reading is Luke 2: 8-20
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Talk
by Revd Nicholas Calver
The Prayers
Led by Judith Calver
Father, on this holy day Christians the world over are celebrating the birth in human form of your Son our Saviour.
Open our hearts that he may be born in us today.
Lord in your mercy.
Hear our prayer
On this holy day there was no room for your Son in the inn.
Protect with your love those who have no home and all who live in poverty.
Lord in your mercy.
Hear our prayer
On this holy day your Christ came as a light shining in the darkness.
Bring comfort to all who suffer in the sadness of our world.
Lord in your mercy.
Hear our prayer
On this holy day the angels sang ‘Peace to God’s people on earth’.
Strengthen those who work for peace and justice throughout the world
Lord in your mercy.
Hear our prayer
On this holy day strangers found the Holy Family and saw the baby lying in the manger.
Bless our homes and those whom we love.
Lord in your mercy.
Hear our prayer
On this holy day heaven is come down to earth and earth is raised to heaven.
Keep in safety all those who have gone through death in the hope of heaven.
Lord in your mercy.
Hear our prayer
On this holy day angels and shepherds worshipped at the manger throne.
Receive the worship we offer in fellowship with Blessed Mary and all the saints.
Lord in your mercy.
Hear our prayer
Rejoicing in the presence of God here among us, let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come; thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
The anthem is ‘Away in a Manger’
Sung by Ginette and Peter Nye, Esther and Andrew
Blessing
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 Immanuel.
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!”
Organist: Peter Nye
Hymn words reproduced under CCLI: 845257.
Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England (2000), material from which is included in this service, is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2000.