Key :directions
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Other information :There are some notes on our production of the service. A rough plan of the church is available. A note on copyright. |
| Narrator | Welcome !
We welcome you here in the blessed name of the Lord Jesus, Whose birthday we celebrate tomorrow. No collection will be taken during this service. If you would like to leave a donation, you'll find a box at the back for this purpose. If anyone would like the music for our hymns today, please put your hand up and we will bring it to you. | |
| Reader | Our theme for today's service is :
the JOY
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| Narrator | Please stand to sing the hymn | |
| During this hymn Pray-er comes up Hospital side and sits behind Christmas tree. | ||
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| Narrator | Please sit.
Tonight we will be making Christingles. ( Hold up Christingle and point to each part as appropriate. ) These are made up of four parts : The first part is the orange, which represents the world which God created; The second part is the four arms, which originally represented the four seasons, spring, summer, autumn and winter, but this year we have chosen to use them to represent the Christmas story and the Bible, The Word of God; The third part is the red ribbon around the whole world, which represents the blood of Jesus given for all people; - and the fourth, and last, part is the candle, to remind us that Jesus said "I am the light of the world". The first part of the Christingle is the orange. | |
| Helper 1 carries the demonstration orange from organ side, shows it to the congregation, puts it on the stand, and returns to seat. | ||
| Narrator | The orange represents the wonderful world that God created.
I expect all of us have been filled with awe and wonder at some stage in our lives by the wonders of God's creation. ( Story teller's name ) has three true stories to share. | |
| Helper 2, Helper 3, Helper 4 sit in the altar rail gap with pictures to illustrate the three stories.
Helper 2 stands and displays his picture. | ||
| Story teller | Story 1. | |
| As story 1 ends Helper 2 sits down.
Helper 3 stands and displays his picture. | ||
| Story teller | Story 2. | |
| As story 2 ends Helper 3 sits down.
Helper 4 stands and displays his picture. | ||
| Story teller | Story 3. | |
| As 3 ends Helper 4 sits down.
Helper 5 comes to front and shows "JOY OF ENCOURAGEMENT THROUGH GOD'S CREATION" card to the congregation. | ||
| Pray-er | Let us pray.
Thank You, God, for the joy of receiving encouragement through Your creation.
Thank You, God, for the wonders of Your creation.
Thank You that You speak to many of us in many different ways as we experience the wonders and joys of the world You created for us to live in.
Help us to be good stewards of Your creation, Lord. | |
| ALL | We thank You, God, for the times when the wonders of Your creation encourage us. Amen. | |
| Helper 2, Helper 3, Helper 4 put pictures on altar and return to their seats; Helper 5 places card on wall, organ side and returns to seat. | ||
| Narrator | Please stand to sing | |
| During this hymn - Angel Gabriel and Innkeeper ready near organ, Mary and Joseph ready at back. | ||
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| Narrator | Please sit.
In the original Christingle story the four arms of the Christingle represent spring, summer, autumn and winter. But this year we have chosen to use them to represent joy - four examples of joy which come from the stories of the birth of Jesus as told in the Bible. The first arm represents the joy of being called by God to be His servant. | |
| Helper 6 brings first arm from organ side, displays it to the congregation, places it in the big orange and returns to seat. | ||
| Reader | Today we're using "The Message" translation of the Bible for our Christmas story.
The birth of Jesus is announced.Luke Chapter 1 verses 26-35 and verse 38, and Matthew Chapter 1 verses 19-21 and 24-25. ( Mary comes up centre aisle and pretends to be dusting the altar rail. Meanwhile, Reader continues .... ) God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galiliean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin's name was Mary. | |
| Angel Gabriel comes out from organ side and stands to one side of Mary. When Mary sees him she looks surprised and shaken. | ||
| Angel Gabriel to Mary | Good morning !
You're beautiful with God's beauty, Beautiful inside and out ! God be with you. | |
| Reader | Mary was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. | |
| Angel Gabriel | Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you. You will become pregnant and give birth to a Son and call His name Jesus. He will be great, be called "Son of the Highest". The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. He will rule Jacob's house forever - no end, ever, to His kingdom. | |
| Mary | But how ? I've never slept with a man. | |
| Angel Gabriel | The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you; therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God.
Nothing is impossible with God. | |
| Mary | Yes, I see it all now. I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say. | |
| Angel Gabriel returns to his place by the organ. | ||
| Reader as Angel Gabriel moves | Then the angel left her. | |
| Mary goes to back down centre aisle; Joseph comes to front up centre aisle and walks agitatedly to and fro at the altar side of the altar rail. As Joseph passes the altar rail : | ||
| Reader | Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered Mary was pregnant. ( It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn't know that. ) Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced. | |
| Joseph gives up the problem, slumps wearily into the chair, and goes to sleep. | ||
| Reader | While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God's angel spoke to him. | |
| Angel Gabriel from beside organ | Joseph, Son of David, don't hesitate to get married. Mary's pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God's Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name Him Jesus - "God saves" - because He will save His people from their sins. | |
| Reader | Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly as God's angel commanded in the dream.
( Joseph wakes up and returns to back down centre aisle and stands next to Mary. ) He married Mary. The birth of Jesus : Luke Chapter 2 verses 1-7.
About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire.
Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for.
So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant. | |
| Joseph and Mary come up centre aisle, knock on altar rail.
Innkeeper comes running out from organ side. | ||
| Innkeeper | No room, no room.
( Pauses; looks at Joseph and Mary; understands. ) But I have room in my stable. | |
| Innkeeper shows Joseph and Mary to his stable and returns to his seat down organ aisle, taking with him the chair that Joseph slept on. Mary and Joseph sit on chairs by manger. | ||
| Reader | While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn.
( Baby placed in manger ) She wrapped Him in a blanket and laid Him in a manger. | |
| Helper 7 comes to front and shows "JOY OF BEING CALLED BY GOD TO BE HIS SERVANT" card to the congregation. | ||
| Pray-er | Let us pray.
Thank You, God, for the joy of being called by You to be Your servants.
Thank You, God, for the way You helped Mary and Joseph to follow Your plan for their lives and to become Your servants.
Help us, also, to desire to be Your servants and to discern and follow the plan You have for our lives. Amen. | |
| ALL | Help us, God, to discern and follow Your call to us to serve You. Amen. | |
| Helper 7 places card on wall, organ side and returns to seat. | ||
| Narrator | Please stand to sing the hymn | |
| During this hymn the shepherds, angels and Wise Men ready at back.
Stage hand places camp fire between altar and Hospital side. | ||
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| Narrator | Please sit.
The second arm represents the JOY OF EXPERIENCING THE GLORY OF THE LORD. | |
| Helper 7a brings second arm from organ side, shows it to the congregation, places it in the orange and returns to seat. | ||
| Reader | The shepherds learn about the birth of Jesus and go to visit Him.Luke Chapter 2 verses 8-20. There were shepherds camping in the neighbourhood.
( Shepherds come up hospital aisle and settle round the camp fire. )
They had set night watches over their sheep.
Suddenly God's angel stood among them.
( Angel Gabriel comes and stands by them; shepherds point to angel Gabriel and look terrified. )
and God's glory blazed around them.
They were terrified. | |
| Angel Gabriel | Don't be afraid, I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide. A Saviour has just been born in David's town, a Saviour who is Messiah and Master. This is what you are to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger. | |
| Angels come "flying" up centre aisle and stand behind shepherds. | ||
| Reader, as angels come | At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic host singing God's praises - | |
| ALL ( twice ) | All glory be to God on high
and to the earth be peace Good will henceforth from heaven to men begin and never cease. | |
| The angels including angel Gabriel "fly" to stand around the manger, leaving room for the shepherds to come between them and the manger.
The shepherds look at one another. | ||
| Shepherds | Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us. | |
| Reader | They left running. | |
| Shepherds run past lectern along congregation side of altar rail and kneel at sides of manger. | ||
| Reader | They found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.
Seeing was believing. Later they told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard were impressed. | |
| Helper 8 comes to front and shows "JOY OF EXPERIENCING THE GLORY OF THE LORD" card to the congregation. | ||
| Pray-er | Let us pray.
Thank You, God, that the shepherds experienced the joy of seeing the Glory of the Lord.
Thank You, God, for the times when we have experienced an overwhelming sense of Your presence. These times are wonderful and precious to us.
Help us to continue to be sure of Your presence in our lives even when You seem very far away. | |
| ALL | Thank You, God, for the times when we experience the glory of Your presence in our lives. Amen. | |
| Helper 8 places card on wall, organ side, and returns to seat.
Shepherds sit around the sides of the manger with the angels behind them. | ||
| Narrator | The third arm represents the joy of giving our gifts and talents to God. | |
| Helper 9 brings third arm from organ side, shows it to the congregation, places it on the orange, and returns to seat. | ||
| Reader | The Wise Men bring their gifts to Jesus.Matthew Chapter 2 verses 1-2, 5-6, 10-11.
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory, a band of scholars arrived from the East.
( Wise Men come down centre aisle with their gifts, stop half way down aisle, turn to congregation. )
They asked around - | |
| Wise Man 1 | Where can we find and pay homage to the new-born King of the Jews ? | |
| Wise Man 2 | We observed a star in the eastern sky that signalled His birth. | |
| Wise Man 3 | We're on pilgrimage to worship Him. | |
| Wise Men | Where is the Messiah supposed to be born ? | |
| ALL | Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly : It's you, Bethlehem, in Judah's land, no longer bringing up the rear. From you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel. | |
| Reader | Then the star appeared again - the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. | |
| Wise Men move forward to front pew. | ||
| Wise Man 1 excitedly | We're here ! | |
| Wise Man 2 excitedly | We're in the right place ! | |
| Wise Man 3 excitedly | We've arrived at the right time ! | |
| Reader | They entered the house -
( Wise Men go in and kneel in front of manger. Mary picks up baby. ) - and saw the child in the arms of Mary his mother. Overcome, they knelt and worshipped Him. They opened their luggage and presented gifts. ( Mary hands baby to Joseph. ) Gold ( Wise Man 1 gives gold to Mary. ) Frankincense ( Wise Man 2 gives frankincense to Mary. ) Myrrh. ( Wise Man 3 gives myrrh to Mary. ) | |
| Helper 10 comes to front and shows "JOY OF USING OUR GIFTS AND TALENTS IN GOD'S SERVICE" card to the congregation. | ||
| Pray-er | Let us pray.
Thank You, God, that the Wise Men experienced the joy of giving their gifts and talents to You.
Help us, too, to find how we can use our gifts and talents in Your service. Let us remain seated as we prayerfully sing : | |
| ALL ( twice ) | What can I give Him,
Poor as I am ? If I were a shepherd I would give a lamb; If I were a Wise Man I would do my part; Yet what I can I give Him ? - I will give my heart. | |
| Helper 10 places card on wall, organ side and returns to seat. | ||
| Narrator | The fourth arm represents the joy of reading God's Holy Bible. | |
| Helper 11 brings fourth arm from organ side, shows it to the congregation, places it in the orange, and returns to seat. | ||
| Testimony. | ||
| Helper 12 comes to front and shows "JOY OF READING AND UNDERSTANDING GOD'S HOLY BIBLE" card to the congregation. | ||
| Pray-er | Let us pray.
Lord God, may we all experience the joy of reading and understanding Your word as we read the Bible.
Thank You, God, for the Bible.
We thank You for all it means to us. May we read it regularly.
Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so that He may teach us how to understand and put into practice all that the Bible teaches us.
We thank You that the Bible has been translated into so many languages and ask that You will help provide even more translations, so that people of other languages may read Your Word in their own language too. Amen. | |
| ALL | Thank You, God, for the Bible; help us to read it regularly and follow its teachings. Amen. | |
| Helper 12 places card on wall, hospital side and returns to seat. | ||
| Narrator | Please stand to sing the hymn
"From heaven you came, helpless babe". | |
| During this hymn the actors all stand up and proceed to back :
first Mary and Joseph and the baby. second the Wise Men. third the shepherds and fourth the angels. They then prepare to be Candle Bearers. | ||
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| Narrator | Please sit.
The red ribbon represents the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus, God's Son who willingly gave His life for all people everywhere. | |
| Helper 13 shows red ribbon to the congregation then puts it round the Christingle and returns to seat. | ||
| Preacher | Message. | |
| Helper 14 comes to front and shows "JOY OF KNOWING JESUS AND RECEIVING HIS FORGIVENESS" card to the congregation. | ||
| Pray-er | Let us pray.
Thank You, God, for the joy of knowing Jesus as Lord and Saviour and receiving His forgiveness.
Thank You, Jesus, for Your willing sacrifice on the Cross.
Thank You that Jesus has paid the price for our redemption.
Help us all to reach a deeper understanding of all this means, and to turn to Jesus in repentance and receive forgiveness for all our sins. | |
| ALL | Help us all to know You more deeply this Christmas time and in the coming year. Amen. | |
| Helper 14 places card on wall, hospital side and returns to seat. | ||
| Narrator | - which brings us to the final part of the Christingle - the candle, which represents Jesus as the Light of the world. | |
| Helper 15 brings candle from organ side, shows it to the congregation, and lights it from the Christ candle ( the centre candle ) on the Advent Wreath. | ||
| Helper 15 | I light this candle from the centre candle of the Advent wreath, which is the candle that represents Jesus as the Light of the world.
( Helper 15 walks over to Christingle and places the candle in the orange. ) This Christingle candle is to remind us that we are invited to carry the light and joy of Jesus into our lives, our homes and our community. | |
| Jesus comes up centre aisle with a candle and he lights it from the Advent wreath Christ candle, then stands in front of altar near altar rail. | ||
| Reader | Jesus said in John Chapter 8 verse 12 : | |
| Jesus | I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness. | |
| Narrator | Please stand to sing the hymn | |
| During this hymn the Candle Bearers come up the centre aisle carrying unlit candles. As they pass Jesus they light their candles and stand in the altar area facing congregation. | ||
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| Narrator | Please sit.
- and in Luke Chapter 11 verses 33-36 Jesus says : | |
| Jesus | No one lights a lamp
( Candle Bearers hide their candles by turning their back on the congregation ) and then hides it or puts it under a bowl; instead it is put on the lamp stand ( Candle Bearers turn to face congregation ) so that people may see the light as they come in. ( Candle Bearers hold light up ) Your eyes are like a lamp for the body. When your eyes are sound, your whole body is full of light; but when your eyes are no good, your whole body will be in darkness ( Candle Bearers lower the candles and turn their backs on the congregation ) Make certain then, that the light in you is not darkness. If your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, ( Candle Bearers turn to face congregation and raise the candles again ) it will be bright all over, as a lamp shines on you with its brightness. | |
| Helper 16 comes to front and shows "JOY OF SHARING THE LIGHT OF JESUS WITH OTHERS" card to the congregation. | ||
| Pray-er | Let us pray.
Lord God, we thank You that You desire us to share the love and light of Jesus with others. | |
| ALL | Please keep our Jesus candle burning bright within us so that we may be living witnesses to Jesus throughout our lives. Amen. | |
| Helper 16 places card on wall, hospital side and returns to seat. | ||
| Narrator | Please stand to sing . | |
| Candle bearers go to back down centre aisle and blow out their candles. | ||
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| Narrator | Please sit. | |
| Leader | Explain Christingle and how to make it. | |
| Distribute the Christingle kits;
Make the Christingles; Light the Christingles; Helper turns off the main church lights; Leader blesses the Christingles; Helper turns on main lights. | ||
| Leader | Please blow out the candles !
( when that's done - ) Please sit or kneel to sing the Lord's Prayer. Prayerfully we sing : | |
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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. | ||
| Leader | Please stand for the Carol
"Silent Night". | |
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| Leader | Please remain standing for the blessing.
Blessing. We wish you all a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year ! | |
Those taking part :Angel Gabriel; Angels; Candle bearers; Helpers (16); Innkeeper; Jesus; Joseph; Leader; Mary; Narrator; Pray-er; Preacher; Reader; Shepherds; Story teller; Wise Men (3). |
