Welcome to this Service of Worship
Christmas Day
Sunday 25 December at 10.30am
• PDF Order of Service Download HERE
GATHERS TO WORSHIP ALMIGHTY GOD
Organ Prelude
Welcome
Merry Christmas!
Call to Worship
The People Who Walked In Darkness Have Seen A Great Light’ (Isaiah 9:7)
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Leader: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light:
All: In the crying of a baby.
Leader: In the shining of a star.
All: In the surround sound from the sky.
Leader: In the stories of the first followers.
All: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.
Leader: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light:
All: In the history of two thousand years.
Leader: In the tales from the cafés and churches.
All: In the everyday acts of love and kindness.
Leader: In the carols, hymns and songs.
All: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.
Leader: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light:
All: In the pain and the trouble of these days.
Leader: In the gloom and the uncertainty of these nights.
All: In the glitter and the tinsel of this wonderful Christmas time.
Leader: In the birth of the Christ child, the light of the world.
All: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.
Hymn 321 - Come and Join the Celebration
Prayer of Approach, Praise and Confession & Lord’s Prayer
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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the
power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Reading - Luke 2:1 – 20
Good News Translation
Read by Sandra Carter
Lighting of Advent Candle
Hymn - Light a Candle Bright and Tall
‘A Lego Nativity!’
Hymn 305 - In the Bleak Midwinter
Reflection
Revd Dr Sandy Forsyth
Hymn 306 - O Come, All Ye Faithful
Prayer for Others
Hymn - Ding-dong! Merrily on high
Ding-dong! Merrily on high
in heaven the bells are ringing.
Ding-dong! Verily the sky
is riven with angels singing:
Gloria, hosanna in excelsis!
E'en so, here below, below,
let steeple bells be swungen;
and i-o, i-o, i-o,
by priest and people sungen!
Gloria, hosanna in excelsis!
Pray you, dutifully prime
your matin chime, you ringers;
may you beautifully rhyme
your evetime song, you singers:
Gloria, hosanna in excelsis!
‘Shepherds’ John August Swanson (1985)
Closing Responses
Leader: Let us go and believe:
All: it is now as the prophets said, and
the Christmas story has told us
Leader: Believe:
All: for hope is now among us
Leader: Believe:
All: For peace is present with us
Leader: Believe:
All: for love is born in each of us
Leader: Believe:
All: for light is within us
Leader: Believe:
All: for the Messiah has come;
and God is with us
Benediction & Threefold Amen
Song - 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.
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 1 January - 10.30am All-Age Morning Service
At Priestfield Church
www.mayfieldsalisbury.org
Scottish Charity Number SC000785
www.give.net/20311853