| Leader
| Please sit or kneel for the prayers.
Lord God, we thank You for Your wonderful creation.
| People
| We give You thanks and praise.
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| Leader
| We praise You, Lord, that You saw all that You had made and said, "It is good".
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| People
| We give You thanks and praise.
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| Leader
| We give thanks that You invited Adam and Eve to walk in the garden with You in the cool of the evening.
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| People
| May we also enjoy fellowship with You.
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| Leader
| Forgive us, Lord God, for the times when we disobey You and fail to do all that You desire.
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| People
| Forgive us, Lord God.
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| Leader
| Help us, Lord God, to do better in the future.
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| People
| Help us, Lord God.
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| Leader
| Thank You for the gift of Your Son Jesus.
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| People
| We praise You, Lord God.
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| Leader
| Help us, Lord God, to come closer and closer to You.
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| People
| Help us, Lord God.
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| Leader
| Thank You for the wonderful blessings You pour upon Your people.
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| People
| Thank You, Lord God. Amen.
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| Leader
| Please stand for the Carol "Angels from the realms of Glory".
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|
1. Angels, from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o'er all the earth;
You who sang creation's story,
Now proclaim Messiah's birth :
Chorus :
Come and worship Christ the new-born King;
Come and worship, worship Christ the new-born King.
2. Shepherds, in the field abiding,
Watching o'er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing,
Yonder shines the infant Light :
Chorus
3. Though an infant now we view Him,
He shall fill His Father's throne,
Gather all the nations to Him;
Every knee shall then bow down;
Chorus
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( Villager 1 and Villager 2 prepare to come to the front after the reading. )
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| Leader
| Please sit for the reading.
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| Reader
| II : The red band,which reminds us of His Son Jesus.
This reading is from the Gospel of Luke Chapter 2 verses 4-18.
Joseph went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to the town of Bethlehem in Judaea.
He went to register with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him.
She was pregnant, and while they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have her baby. She gave birth to her first son, wrapped Him in strips of cloth and laid Him in a manger - there was no room for them to stay in the inn.
There were some shepherds in that part of the country who were spending the night in the fields, taking care of their flocks.
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone over them.
They were terribly afraid, but the angel said to them,
"Don't be afraid ! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people.
This very day in David's town your Saviour was born - Christ the Lord ! And this is what will prove it to you : you will find a Baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great army of heaven's angels appeared with the angel, singing praises to God :
"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased !"
The shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told us."
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and saw the Baby lying in the manger.
When the shepherds saw Him, they told them what the angel had said about the Child.
All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said.
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Good News Part 1
( Villager 1 and Villager 2 come to the front. )
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| Villager 1
| Have you heard the news of what happened last night ?
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| Villager 2
| No, what news is that ?
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| Villager 1
| The shepherds can't stop talking about it. They say that an angel came to speak to them.
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| Villager 2
| They must have been drunk !
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| Villager 1
| No, truly they saw one, telling them about a Baby born in a stable, who will be the Saviour, Christ the Lord, then masses of angels appeared to them singing Glory to God in heaven and Peace on earth.
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| Villager 2
| Oh, they're pulling your leg.
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| Villager 1
| No, they're not, 'cause they went to the stable to look and found a Baby there. They think He must be the Messiah, the Son of God.
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| Villager 2
| Surely you don't believe them ?
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| Villager 1
| Oh, yes, I do ! They're all saying the same thing. Go and talk to them and look in the stable if you don't believe me.
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| Villager 2
| I wonder - could it all be true ?
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| Leader
| Please stand for the Carol
"The First Nowell".
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|
1. The first Nowell the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay a-keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Chorus :
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
Born is the King of Israel.
2. They lookèd up and saw a star,
Shining in the east beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.
Chorus
3. And by the light of that same star
Three wise men came from country far;
To seek for a king was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went.
Chorus
4. This star drew nigh to the north-west;
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest,
And there it did both stop and stay,
Right over the place where Jesus lay.
Chorus
5. Then entered in those wise men three,
Full reverently upon their knee,
And offered there in His presence
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Chorus
6. 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 hath bought.
Chorus
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|
Good News Part 2 : Some months later
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| Reader
| Please sit for the reading.
This reading is from the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 2 verses 1-11.
Wise men come to find Jesus.
Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judaea. Soon afterwards some men who studied the stars came from the east to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the Baby born to be King of the Jews ? We saw His star when it came up in the east and we have come to worship Him."
King Herod called a meeting of the Jewish Religious leaders, and asked them, "Where will the Messiah be born ?".
"In the town of Bethlehem in Judaea", they answered.
So Herod called the wise men from the East and sent them to Bethlehem, and on their way they saw the same star they had seen in the east. When they saw it, how happy they were, what joy was theirs ! It went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the Child was.
They went into the house, and when they saw the Child with His mother Mary, they knelt down and worshipped Him. They brought out their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and presented them to Him.
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| Villager 3
| Did you hear the news about the camels ? Did you see them ?
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| Villager 4
| Camels ? I suppose they were going to the spice merchants with a load of spice.
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| Villager 3
| Not these camels - they went to that new carpenter's place.
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| Villager 4
| What, not that family that the shepherds were all talking about a few months back ?
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| Villager 3
| Yes, that family.
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| Villager 4
| What did they want to go there for ? They wouldn't be able to afford to buy any spices - they're too poor.
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| Villager 3
| Well, they stopped there, and I hear that they left wonderful gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
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| Villager 4
| Don't be silly - why would they do that ?
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| Villager 3
| Well, they also say that they knelt down and worshipped the CHILD, they say He is the King of the Jews !
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| Villager 4
| Go on - surely not ! How would people from the East know about that Child ?
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| Villager 3
| They said they had followed a star .....
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| Villager 4
| Now I know you're mad !
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| Villager 3
| No - truly they did !
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| Villager 4
| I'll go and see for myself - I want to find out more about this Child.
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| ( Star carriers ready with 'stars' "Good News", "Jesus", "Son of God", "Saviour", "Worship" )
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| Leader
| The story of Christmas is about the GOOD NEWS of the birth of JESUS, the SON OF GOD, who is SAVIOUR to all who WORSHIP Him.
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| ( Star carriers take their 'stars' to their places and put them on the wall. )
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| Leader
| Please stand for the Carol "Good Christians all rejoice".
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|
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| Leader
| Please sit.
III : The candle,which reminds us of the light of Jesus.
Our Christmas tree this year is decorated with symbols. Some of these symbols remind us of the many people throughout the generations who have taken the Good News of Jesus to people of every race, creed and nation, other symbols remind us of people who through their actions have offered the love and care of Jesus to those less fortunate than themselves.
Jesus invites each one of us to be His ambassador here on earth, telling one another of the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
One of His most famous ambassadors was St Paul, who left us this message in his letter to the Roman Christians :
|
| Reader
| This reading is from Romans Chapter 8 verses 1-5.
Life in the Spirit.
There is no condemnation now for those who live in union with Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit, which brings us life in union with Christ Jesus, has set me free from the law of sin and death. What the law could not do, because human nature was weak, God did. He condemned sin in human nature by sending His own Son, Who came with a nature like our sinful nature to do away with sin. God did this so that the righteous demands of the law might be fully satisfied in us who live according to the Spirit, and not according to human nature. Those who live as their human nature tells them to, have their minds controlled by what human nature wants. Those who live as the Spirit tells them to, have their minds controlled by what the Spirit wants.
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Good News Part 3
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| Leader
| The bad things we do - our sins - can leave us feeling guilty and condemned. But if we truly are sorry and repent and try not to do those things again we can know forgiveness because of Jesus.
|
| Forgive 1
| What's wrong ?
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| Forgive 2
| Oh, I feel awful - I was trying to help Mum get the table ready for Christmas and I broke one of her best glasses.
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| Forgive 1
| So what did you do ?
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| Forgive 2
| I was fooling around and dropped the glass and it broke, then I hid the pieces and ran out here to play.
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| Forgive 1
| But she's bound to notice. Why don't you go and tell her you're sorry ?
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| Forgive 2
| I hate it when everyone gets cross at me and knows I've done something silly
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| Forgive 1
| If you say sorry to your Mum and tell her what you did she won't be mad. It's like when you say sorry to God
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| Forgive 2
| Say sorry to God ? What for ? Why should I do that ?
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| Forgive 1
| We all do things that are wrong - every day - and we need to ask God to forgive us.
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| Forgive 2
| So if I say sorry to Mum and to God - I'm forgiven ?
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| Forgive 1
| Yes, God wants us to be free from feeling bad or guilty about things we've done wrong.
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| Forgive 2
| Guess I'd better go and find Mum and say sorry.
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| Preacher
| Message
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| ( Star carriers ready with 'stars' "Say sorry", "Wrong doing", "Forgive", "Ask", "Holy Spirit", "Receive", "New Life" )
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| Leader
| The Good News to all who follow Jesus is that when we SAY SORRY for our WRONG DOING we will be FORGIVEN, and if we ASK Jesus for the gift of His HOLY SPIRIT we will RECEIVE Him and begin to live a NEW LIFE.
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| ( Star carriers take their 'stars' to their places and put them on the wall. )
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| Leader
| Please stand for the Carol "You did leave Your throne and Your kingly crown".
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|
1. You did leave your throne and your kingly crown,
When you came to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem's home was there found no room
For Your holy nativity :
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus;
There is room in my heart for Thee.
2. Heaven's arches rang when the angels sang
Proclaiming Your royal degree;
But in lowly birth did You come to earth,
And in great humility :
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus;
There is room in my heart for Thee.
3. You came, O Lord, with the living word
That should set Your people free;
But with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn
They bore You to Calvary :
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus;
There is room in my heart for Thee.
4. When the heavens shall ring, and the angels sing,
At Your coming to victory,
Let Your voice call me home, saying, "Yes, there is room,
There is room at My side for thee :"
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus;
There is room in my heart for Thee.
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|
| Leader
| Please sit.
IV : The fruits,which remind us of the blessings which flow from God to us.
Just behind me is an Advent Wreath, with five candles. In the four weeks before Christmas we light one more small candle each Sunday, and then on Christmas Day we light the big candle in the middle, which is called the Christ Candle.
The first candle is the Candle of Hope.
May we pray as the man who wrote this verse in Psalm 42 verse 5 prayed :
"I will put my hope in God, and once again I will praise Him, my Saviour, my God."
The second Candle is the Candle of Peace.
May we receive the Peace that Jesus promised us in John Chapter 14 verse 27 :
"My peace is what I leave you, it is My own peace that I give you."
The third Candle is the Candle of Joy.
May God's joy strengthen us as is written in Nehemiah Chapter 8 verse 10 :
"The joy that the Lord gives you will make you strong."
The fourth Candle is the Candle of Love.
May God's love save and preserve us, as we read in John Chapter 3 verse 16 :"God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son so that everyone who believes in Him may not die, but have eternal life."
And as we think about these fruits, may God's Holy Spirit bring to us His blessing of healing in body, mind and spirit.
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| ( Star carriers ready with 'stars' "Healing", "Hope", "Peace", "Joy", "Love" )
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| Leader
| The Good News continues with the blessings which flow from God through His Holy Spirit to His people. Blessings which include HEALING in body, mind, and spirit - and the fruit of HOPE, PEACE, JOY, LOVE and many other wonderful gifts.
|
| ( Star carriers take their 'stars' to their places and put them on the wall. )
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| Leader
| Christingle explanation.
Please stand for the Christingle song.
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| ( Towards the end of the song, Christingle servers prepare to hand out the Christingles. )
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|
Chorus :
Christingle, Christingle, pretty little ball,
Telling us of Jesus and His love for us all.
1. The orange so round is the world that God made,
All people and creatures, the sun and the shade -
A beautiful orb in God's limitless space,
Its future ensured by God's limitless grace.
Chorus
2. The ribbon so red that encircles the ball
Is the blood Jesus shed through his love for us all
When He died on the cross that our sins be forgiven
So that we might at last be His children in heaven.
Chorus
3. The good things to eat bring us joy with each bite
As the love Jesus gives fills our hearts with delight;
We pass on that love in the kindness and care
We show to all those whom we meet everywhere.
Chorus
4. The candle above is the wonderful light
Jesus brings to our life leading us to the right;
He was born to bring hope to all people on earth -
Thank God for our Lord at the time of His birth !
Chorus
|
|
| ( At the end of the song, Christingle servers hand out the Christingles, then while the people are making the Christingles the servers prepare to light them. )
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| Leader
| Making the Christingle.
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| Leader
| Lighting and blessing the Christingle.
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| All
|
|
Happy Birthday to You,
Happy Birthday to You,
Happy Birthday dear Jesus -
Happy Birthday to You. twice
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|
| Leader
| Candles out !
Please sit or kneel for the prayers.
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| Pray-er 1
| Thank You, God, for the birth of Your Son Jesus. Teach us through Your Holy Spirit to live our lives the way that Jesus showed us. Amen.
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| Pray-er 2
| Thank You for our friends and families. Please give us joy as we meet each other this Christmas, and help us to share our things with one another. Amen.
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| Pray-er 3
| We pray for those who are lonely and sad; may Your peace and love surround them and comfort them. Amen.
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| Pray-er 4
| We pray for peace in our hearts, and that Your peace would rule in every land and nation, now and always. Amen.
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| Leader
| We will now sing the Lord's Prayer :
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| All
|
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come,
Your will be done, on earth, as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil,
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are Yours, now and for ever. Amen.
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| Leader
| Please stand for the Carol.
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|
1. Silent night, Holy night,
All is calm, all is bright,
Round yon Virgin Mother and child,
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace;
Sleep in heavenly peace.
2. Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight,
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia;
Christ the Saviour is born,
Christ the Saviour is born.
3. Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light,
Radiance beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.
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|
| Leader
| Blessing.
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