Join us in person or live-streamed at 10AM or find our recorded service at your convenience. Details on our Worship page. Service words are below.
Prelude A Child is Born
Acknowledgement
Welcome
Gathering Hymn 145 Good King Wenceslas
Good King Wenceslas looked out on the Feast of Stephen, when the snow lay 'round about, deep and crisp and even. Brightly shone the moon that night, though the frost was cruel, when a poor man came in sight, gathering winter fuel.
"Hither, page, and stand by me, if thou knowest it, telling: yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling?" "Sire, he lives a good league, hence, underneath the mountain, right against the forest fence, by Saint Agnes' fountain"
"Bring me flesh and bring me wine, bring me pine logs hither; thou and I will see him dine, when we bear them thither." Page and monarch forth they went, forth they went together, through the rude wind's wild lament, and the bitter weather
"Sire, the night is darker now, and the wind blows stronger: fails my heart, I know not how I can go no longer" "Mark my footsteps, my good page; tread thou in them boldly. Thou shalt find the winter's rage freeze thy blood less coldly"
In his master's steps he trod, where the snow lay dinted; heat was in the very sod which the Saint had printed. Therefore, Christians all, be sure, wealth and rank possessing, ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing
Gathering of the Community (Prayers to share)
We welcome a new year
O God, light up our way
We face anxieties and fears
O God, be light in our darkness
We remember the troubled ones among family and friends,
O God, be the warm light of support.
In our world there is abuse, poverty, fear
O God, we will bring light to the dark places.
We will journey and venture as a faith community.
O God, your light will lead us forward
The old year is gone and we give you thanks, O God. We thank you for courage in the tough times. We thank you for joy in the good times. We thank you for a challenge when the days were easy; we thank you for endurance when the road was rough. The new year has begun and we have hope in our hearts. We hope for a strengthening of our faith community. We hope for a deepening of our own faith. We hope for a vision of truth and justice. We hope for an end to poverty and powerlessness. As you have blessed us in times past, O God, make us a blessing in the days that lie ahead. Amen
Prayer of the Day (together)
God of old ways and new starts, give us the courage and wisdom to honour both. May our ears hear and eyes see the ways that every part of your created world shouts, “Hallelujah.” Help us know, love, and live the Christmas born in each of us today! Hallelujah, Amen.
Collect (together)
Almighty God, you have shed upon us the new light of your incarnate Word. May this light, enkindled in our hearts, shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Hymn I Saw three Ships
I saw three ships come sailing in On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day I saw three ships come sailing in On Christmas Day in the morning
And what was in those ships all three On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day? And what was in those ships all three On Christmas Day in the morning?
The Virgin Mary and Christ were there On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day The Virgin Mary and Christ were there On Christmas Day in the morning
The Proclamation of the Word
A Reading from the book, Ecclesiastes 3:1-13
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
What gain have the workers from their toil? I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover, he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil.
Living word of God live in our lives today
Psalm 8 250 VU O God of Matchless Glory
O God of matchless glory,
Of all surpassing worth,
You fill the world with wonder;
You bring the stars to birth.
To whom shall we sing praises?
To whom, O God but you?
Alleluia! Alleluia!
You are our God; We belong to you.
With wisdom as your partner
You formed the earth and sea;
And still she calls the simple,
“Be wise and learn from me.”
Who else give rest in labour?
Who else, O God but you?
Alleluia! Alleluia!
We share your yoke;
We belong to you.
Your word gives life forever;
Our fear of death is stilled.
With living bread and water
Our deepest need is filled.
To whom shall we go seeking?
To whom, O God, but you?
Alleluia! Alleluia!
You are our God;
We belong to you.
A reading from the Revelation of John 21:1-6a
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.’
And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ Then he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.
Living word of God live in our lives today
Hymn 123 Once in Royal David’s City
Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed, where a mother laid her baby
in a manger for his bed. Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ, her little Child.
He came down to earth from heaven who is God and Lord of all, and His shelter was a stable,
and His cradle was a stall. With the poor and mean and lowly lived on earth our Saviour holy
Not in that poor lowly stable, with the oxen standing by, we shall see Him, but in heaven,
Set at God's right hand on high,
when like stars,
his children crowned
all in white shall be around.
The Lord be with you And also with you
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Matthew 25:31-46
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ
‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Then he will say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” Then they also will answer, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?” Then he will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’
The Gospel of Christ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ
Homily
Hymn O Holy Night
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is the night of our dear Savior's birth Long lay the world in sin and error, pining 'Till he appeared 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
Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love, and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful raise we
Let all within us praise His holy name
Christ is the Lord,
Oh praise his name forever,
His power and glory ever more proclaim.
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
An Affirmation of Faith (A Sanctified Art)
We believe that faith is active,
found on long walks,
and in long talks,
in future days,
and down memory lane.
We believe that those who seek will find,
although it may not be what they expected.
We believe that God finds us first.
We believe that God drops breadcrumbs along our way
in the shape of people,
invitations,
and even starlight.
We believe that being a seeker—
of God, of justice, of community—
is a holy thing.
So we strive to live with an open spirit,
with soft hearts,
and with room to grow.
May it be so.
This we believe. Amen.
Prayers of the People
God of the universe and the earth, God of all times and places, God of all people,
We pray for your vision.
God of quiet hearts and tender moments and babies held in loving arms,
We pray for your love.
God of our homeless, of our hungry, of our poor, of our war torn, of our world’s 45 plus million refugees, and asylum seekers,
We pray for your compassion.
God of those with restless hearts, and aimless lives, and pains deep inside,
We pray for your comfort.
God of those who strive for justice against all odds,
We pray for your courage.
O God, whose love is never-ending, whose dreams for us are greater than we can ever imagine,
We pray for your hope.
O God, whose Spirit is in all things, and who inspires us to be instruments of your love,
We pray for your peace.
Prayer of Confession (together)
Loving God, we thank you for the joy of Christmas and the birth of your son, our Savior, Jesus. We thank you for the peace and hope he brings to the world, to our community, to our church, and to our own lives. We confess how easily we leave Jesus in his cradle, forgetting that he and Mary and Joseph soon became refugees, fleeing for their lives to Egypt. We confess that we live our own comfortable lives, forgetting the refugees of our time, and all those who suffer hunger, pain, and oppression. Forgive us, God, and help us remember what we are celebrating: your presence among us, your gifts of love to us, and your call to service. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
We can be assured of God’s forgiveness when we remember and commit ourselves again to following God’s way. Thanks be to God!
The Peace
Offertory Hymn: 137 What Child is This? What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping? Chorus This, this is Christ the king, who shepherds guard and angels sing; Haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary. Why lies he in such mean estate where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christian, fear: for sinners here the silent Word is pleading. Chorus So bring him incense, gold and myrrh; come, peasant, king, to own him. The King of kings salvation brings; let loving hearts enthrone him. Chorus
Prayer over the Gifts
God of light, in the birth of your Son we see your glory. May we who share in this mystery grow daily in your love. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.
Eucharistic Prayer 3
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of heaven and earth, because in
the mystery of the Word made flesh you have caused a new light to
shine in our hearts, to give knowledge of salvation in the face of your
Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Now with angels and archangels and the
whole company of heaven, we lift our voices to proclaim the glory of
your name.
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of power and might Heaven and Earth of your glory are full Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest. Blessed is one who comes in the name of the Lord
Blessed is one who comes in the name of the Lord
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of power and might Heaven and Earth of your glory are full Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest.
We give thanks to you, Lord our God,
for the goodness and love you have made known to us in creation; in calling Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Saviour and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil,
and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life. On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, a death he freely accepted, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “ Take, eat: this is my body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you:
this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.” Therefore, Father, according to his command,
we remember his death,
we proclaim his resurrection,
we await his coming in glory;
and we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving
to you, Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine. We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts, that they may be the sacrament
of the body of Christ and his blood of the new covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we, made acceptable in him,
may be sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time,
reconcile all things in Christ, and make them new, and bring us to that city of light where you dwell with all your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation; by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are yours, almighty Father, now and for ever. Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
Breaking of the Bread
We break the bread of life, and that life is the light of the world.
God here among us, light in the midst of us, bring us to light and life.
The Communion
Carols During the Communion
Prayer after communion
Source of truth and joy, may we who have received the gift of divine life always follow the way of your Son. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen
Doxology
Glory to God,
whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more
than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen
Our Shared Ministry
The Blessing — St. Thomas à Becket (1118 or 1120—1170)
May God make your year a happy one!
Not by shielding you from all sorrows and pain, But by strengthening you to bear it, as it comes;
Not by making your path easy, But by making you sturdy to travel any path;
Not by taking hardships from you, But by taking fear from your heart;
Not by granting you unbroken sunshine, But by keeping your face bright, even in the shadows;
Not by making your life always pleasant, But by showing you when people and their causes need you the most, And by making you anxious to be there to help.
God’s love, peace, hope, and joy to you for the year ahead!
Closing Hymn 153 Good Christians all, rejoice
Good Christians all, rejoice With heart and soul and voice! Lisen now to what we say: Jesus Christ is born today; Ox and lamb before Him bow and He is in the manger now!
Christ is born today;
Christ is born today!
Good Christians all, rejoice With heart and soul and voice! hear the news of endless bliss: Jesus Christ was born for this; He has opened heaven's door and we are blessed forevermore!
Christ was born for this; Christ was born for this!
Good Christians all, rejoice With heart and soul and voice! Now you need not fear the grave; Jesus Christ was born to save: come at his most gracious call
to find salvation, one and all!
Christ was born to save; Christ was born to save!
The Dismissal
As Mary gave birth to Jesus, the Prince of peace,
so let us give birth to peace in our lives.
As Mary and Joseph cared for the baby Jesus,
so let us care for each other.
As God strengthened Jesus and Mary and Joseph on their journey,
so let us strengthen each other and all those in need.
And may the blessings of this joyous season be with us all. Amen. Alleluia
Postlude Auld Lang Syne Should auld acquaintance be forgot And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne
For auld lang syne, my dear For auld lang syne
We'll take a cup of kindness yet
For auld lang syne
And here's a hand, my trusty friend,
And gives a hand o' thine:
We'll take a cup of kindness yet
For auld lang syne
For auld lang syne, my dear For auld lang syne
We'll take a cup of kindness yet
For auld lang syne
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