Welcome to this Service of Worship
Watchnight Midnight Service
Saturday 24 December 2022 at 11.30pm
• PDF Order of Service Download HERE
Singing of Carols Informally Before the Service
Hymn 296 - While humble shepherds watched their flocks
Hymn 324 - Angels from the realms of glory
Hymn 498 - Angel voices ever singing
Hymn 312 - Away in a manger
***
Service Begins
AS A DIVERSE PEOPLE, THE CHURCH GATHERS
TO PRAISE ALMIGHTY GOD
Organ Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Leader: Tonight is the night- to seeing a new star appear in the sky,
and those far off being drawn near to you.
All: Lord Jesus, draw us to you.
Leader: Tonight is the night - for the familiar stable scene,
the manger standing empty, waiting to receive you.
All: Lord Jesus, come to us anew.
Leader: Tonight is the night - for hearing again the angels singing
"Glory to God and Peace to all the earth".
All: Lord Jesus, let us take up their song.
Leader: Tonight is the night - for seeing shepherds and kings alike,
poor and humble, noble and wealthy, all bowing before you.
All: Lord Jesus, unite us in worship.
Leader: Tonight is the night - for a child, wrapped in linen, lying in
a manger, the light of the world and the saviour of all people.
All: Lord Jesus, fill us with joy as we celebrate.
Leader: Tonight is the night - for seeing, hearing and knowing once
more the good news that Jesus Christ, the son of God, is born.
All: Lord Jesus, we look, we wonder, and we worship. Tonight is the night.
Hymn 315 - Once in Royal David’s City
A Christmas Eve Parable
by Dave Hopwood
Chamber Group - The Infant King
Words: Sabine Baring-Gould (1834 - 1924)
Music: arranged by Desmond Ratcliffe
Sing lullaby! Lullaby baby, now reclining, Sing lullaby!
Hush, do not wake the Infant King.
Angels are watching, stars are shining
Over the place where he is lying. Sing lullaby!
Sing lullaby! Lullaby baby, now a-sleeping, Sing lullaby!
Hush, do not wake the Infant King.
Soon will come sorrow with the morning,
Soon will come bitter grief and weeping: Sing lullaby!
Sing lullaby! Lullaby baby, now a-dozing, Sing lullaby!
Hush, do not wake the Infant King.
Soon comes the cross, the nails, the piercing,
Then in the grave at last reposing: Sing lullaby!
Sing lullaby! Lullaby! is the babe a-waking? Sing lullaby!
Hush, do not stir the Infant King.
Dreaming of Easter, gladsome morning,
Conquering Death, its bondage breaking: Sing lullaby!
Prayer before Christmas
Hymn 304 O Little Town of Bethlehem
Bible Readings from the Old Testament Prophets
Isaiah
The Lord will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth
to a son, and will call him Immanuel, which means - God is with us
Jeremiah
The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, when I will raise up to David a
righteous branch, a king who will reign wisely and do what is right in the
land. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our
Righteousness.
Micah
Bethlehem… 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. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the
strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
Isaiah
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. They lived in a
land of shadows, but now light is shining on them. A child is born to us! A
son is given to us! And he will be our ruler. He will be called: Wonderful
Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Chamber Group - O Holy Night
Words: J S Dwight
Music: Adolphe Adam (1803 -1856)
O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
‘Til He appear’d and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born;
O night divine, O night, O night Divine.
Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.
He knows our need. He guarded us from danger,
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, Before Him lowly bend!
New Testament Reading
Luke 2: 1 - 16
Hymn 309 - Still the Night
Midnight
Merry Christmas Greetings
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year
Hymn 313 See! In Yonder Manger Low
Lighting of the Central Advent Candle
The Christ Candle
Prayer for Christmas
Hymn 301 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Closing Responses
One: HOPE looked down, and saw despair
All: ‘I WILL GO THERE’ said HOPE
One: PEACE looked down, and saw war
All: ‘I WILL GO THERE’ said PEACE
One:JOY looked down, and saw sorrow
All: ‘I WILL GO THERE’ said JOY
One: LOVE looked down, and saw hatred
All:‘I WILL GO THERE’ said LOVE
One: LIGHT looked down, and saw darkness
All:‘I WILL GO THERE’ said LIGHT
One:
So He:
The Source of HOPE, The Prince of PEACE,
The Bringer of JOY, The King of LOVE
The Lord of LIGHT
All: Came to our world and walked alongside us.
FOREVER
Blessing
Chamber Group – Fanfare
Music: Martin Shaw (1875-1958)
Gloria in excelsis Deo
[Glory to God in the highest]
Organ Postlude
Declamation on Gloria/Iris by Michael Bedford (b. 1949)
There will be a retiring collection in support of Christian Aid and CrossReach
Christian Aid is the relief and development agency of 41 Christian
(Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox) churches in the UK and Ireland, and
works to support sustainable development, eradicate poverty, support civil
society and provide disaster relief in South America, the Caribbean, Africa
and Asia. It works with hundreds of local partner organisations in some of
the world's most vulnerable communities and is a founder member of the
Disasters Emergency Committee, and a major member of The Climate
Coalition, The Fairtrade Foundation and Trade Justice Movement
campaigns. www.christianaid.org.uk
For over 150 years, CrossReach have offered loving care to people of all
ages who are in need of a helping hand, supporting them to live life to the
full whatever their circumstances. Today They are one of the largest care
providers in Scotland, with experience across a broad range of services.
They are still growing, learning and improving, thanks to the incredible
people we have the privilege to support, and all those who support us. www.crossreach.org.uk
FORTHCOMING SERVICES
Sun 25 December - 10.30am Christmas Day Service
Sun 1 January - 10.30am All-Age Morning Service
www.mayfieldsalisbury.org
Scottish Charity Number SC000785
www.give.net/20311853