Family Carol Service
at
St. Augustine's

2000 December 10


Key :

directions
instructions for congregation
movements during service
prayers and readings
sections of the service

Other information :

There are some notes on our production of the service.

A rough plan of the church is available.

A note on copyright.


THE SERVICE.

St. Augustine's Carol Service

GOD'S GIFT TO US - JESUS

LeaderWelcome.

Please sit or kneel for the opening prayer.

( Offer a prayer appropriate to the circumstances. )

Please stand for the Carol.

1.  O little town of Bethlehem,
 How still we see thee lie;
 Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
 The silent stars go by :
 Yet in thy dark streets shineth
 The everlasting light;
 The hopes and fears of all the years
 Are met in thee tonight.

2.  For Christ is born of Mary,
 And, gathered all above,
 While mortals sleep, the angels keep
 Their watch of wondering love.
 O morning stars, together
 Proclaim the holy birth,
 And praises sing to God the King,
 And peace to men on earth.

3.  How silently, how silently,
 The wondrous gift is given !
 So God imparts to human hearts
 The blessings of His heaven.
 No ear may hear His coming;
 But in this world of sin,
 Where meek souls will receive Him, still
 The dear Christ enters in.

4.  O holy child of Bethlehem,
 Descend to us we pray;
 Cast out our sin, and enter in :
 Be born in us today.
 We hear the Christmas angels
 The great glad tidings tell;
 O come to us, abide with us,
 Our Lord Emmanuel.

Reader 1Please sit for the reading :
Luke 2 : 1, 3-6; 7b.

Poem Part 1

Throughout all parts of the poem, as each couplet is read a child carries the card with the appropriate letter down the centre aisle and places it in position and stands behind it. At the end of part 3 the word CHRISTMAS should be displayed round the manger.

Poem reciterC is for Census,
which the Romans did bring;
( Child dressed as Roman messenger carries the "C" card to the front. )
 T is for Travelling,
a long journey ahead;
( Child dressed as Joseph carries the "T" card to the front. )
 M is for Mary,
who had reason to sing, and
( Child dressed as Mary carries the "M" card to the front. )
 I is for Innkeeper
with no spare bed.
( Child dressed as innkeeper carries the "I" card to the front. )
LeaderPlease stand for the Carol.

1.  Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
 The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
 The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay,
 The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

2.  The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
 But little Lord Jesus no crying He makes.
 I love Thee, Lord Jesus ! Look down from the sky,
 And stay by my side until morning is nigh.

3.  Be near me, Lord Jesus : I ask Thee to stay
 Close by me forever, and love me, I pray;
 Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
 And fit us for heaven to live with Thee there.

LeaderPlease sit for the reading
Reader 2Luke 2 : 6-20.

Poem Part 2

Poem reciterH is for Hooray ! -
the baby Jesus was born;
( Child dressed as Holy child carries the "H" card to the front. )
 S is for Shepherds,
who sat on the lawn;
( Child dressed as Shepherd carries the "S" card to the front. )
 A is for Angels,
who sang before dawn.
( Child dressed as Angel carries the "A" card to the front. )
LeaderPlease stand for the carol.

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 lookéd 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

LeaderPlease sit for the reading.
Reader 3Matthew 2 : 1-11

Poem Part 3

Poem reciterS is for Star
the Wise Men did see, and
( Child dressed as Wise Man carries the "S" card to the front. )
 R is for Redeemer,
a Gift for you and me.
( Child dressed as Risen Lord carries the "R" card to the front. )
LeaderPlease stand for the carol

"At Christmas there are presents Underneath the tree".

The song is omitted for copyright reasons; further details.
During the song, the children move from behind the chairs and proceed round the church leaving a child in front of each 'present' letter. At a signal from the leader ( during the LAST chorus ) they simultaneously pull the cloths off.
LeaderPlease sit.
Stage hand places two chairs in front of the manger for Lady and Lady's friend to sit on.

Play : "The Gift"

Giver, carrying gift, and Friend walk up to front of church on organ side as Lady and Lady's friend come down Hospital side and then move towards the centre. Friend 2 comes down Hospital aisle and stands looking at tree.

As they walk :

GiverI do hope she likes what I got her. It was so hard to pick something, for she has everything one person could ask for.
Friend ( agreeing silently with many small nods of the head )Hhmmmmmmmmm.
Giver I've chosen something that changed my life. I do hope it does the same for her.
Lady and Lady's friend come down Hospital side and meet Giver and friend in middle at altar steps.
Giver hands gift to Lady, gives her a smile of greeting; meanwhile Friend walks over to Friend 2 who is looking at the tree thoughtfully and starts a silent conversation.
Lady mouths the words "thank you" to Giver with a small unfriendly smile.
Giver joins Friend and Friend 2 at tree; all three sit down become silent and still.
Lady places gift on floor next to her.
Lady's Friend ( points to gift )Are you not going to open it ?
Lady takes a quick look at the gift and then turns to Lady's Friend -
LadyOh, she never gives me anything I like, and I have everything in the world that I want.
Lady's Friend ( smiles at Lady warmly )Go on.... Open it... You never can tell with these people.
Lady ( reaches for the gift and picks it up placing it on her lap )Well....... if you insist.
Lady opens gift and children come running down aisle to look at gift.
Three Friends join them.
Lady takes each card from gift box and hands it to a child.
Children move into line at front of church along the altar rail and hold a card until they are read.
Lady walks around to front of cards saying -
LadyWhat could it be ? I've never seen anything like this before.
Lady reads out cards walking slowly down the line;
Children walk off around the church.
Friend 2For those who would like to respond to the invitation that the risen Jesus has given us, please follow this prayer, written on your programme, silently in your own mind, as I pray it aloud.

Lord Jesus, I am sorry for any wrong things I have done that might hurt You.
I invite You to be part of my life, and ask You to show me how to love You and others.
Amen.

LeaderPlease stand for the carol, during which a collection will be taken.

1.  Joy to the world; the Lord is come !
 Let earth receive her King !
 Let every heart prepare Him room,
 And Heav'n and nature sing,
 And Heav'n and nature sing,
 And heav'n, and heav'n and nature sing.

2.  Joy to the world; the Saviour reigns !
 Let men their songs employ,
 While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains,
 Repeat the sounding joy,
 Repeat the sounding joy,
 Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

3.  He rules the world with truth and grace;
 And makes the nations prove
 The glories of His righteousness
 And wonders of His love,
 And wonders of His love,
 And wonders, and wonders of His love.

LeaderBlessing.


THOSE TAKING PART

Poem Part 1
 Census Messenger
Travellers ( Joseph )
Mary
Innkeeper
Poem Part 2
 Holy child - Jesus
Shepherds ( two )
Angel
Poem Part 3
 Star - Wise Men ( two )
Risen Lord
Play
 Giver
Friend
Lady
Lady's Friend
Friend 2
Poem reciter
Leader
Readers