Service sheet (pdf)
Call to worship:
Light the candles – light up the darkness!Light the candles – Christmas has dawned!
Light the candles – Jesus has been born!
Carol
We sing together our Carol StF 196/HP 97 Come and join the celebration.Prayers
Loving God, we praise you that though we have walked a long time through the darkness, Christmas has come once again with its message of light and hope.In a year which has brought so many hardships to so many, we praise you that you came to us humbly, being born to a peasant family in a stable, in occupied territory.
In a year which has seen so many go without, we praise you that you came naked and vulnerable into the world, needing the love of your mother.
In a year which has seen people go the extra mile for love of friends, neighbours and strangers, we praise you that you came as a symbol of Love itself.
In a year that has been waiting for the hope of a vaccine, we praise you that you came to be our hope, not just for this life but for the one to come.
Where we have thought that Christmas was about enjoyment and not also about service, forgive us and help us to obey you as Mary and Joseph did.
Where our Christmas celebrations have been selfish and self-serving, forgive us and help us to share what we have with others, as the Wise Men did.
Where even our carol services have been solely for our enjoyment and have not made the story clear to others, forgive us and help us share your good news as the angels did.
Thank you that with you every day can be a new start – fill us with your love and help us to live for you. Amen
Reading
Let’s remind ourselves of the promise of God to Israel in our Reading: Isaiah 9:1-7:1 But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.
3 You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder.
4 For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness rom this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
Carol
We think of that promised child born for us as we sing the Carol StF 191/HP 94 Away in a manger (with the Baildon band and choir).Reading
After the birth of Jesus, angels gave the good news to shepherds. Let’s hear about it in our Reading: Luke 2:8-14:8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,[b] praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
The Shepherd's Tale
Written by Jackie Marshall, narrated by Roy Lorrain-Smith.
It all started that bitterly cold night. A proper weather breeder it was, with a clear sky and the stars shining like sheep’s eyes catching the firelight.
Mind I’m getting ahead of myself. I suppose the real start was when those greedy Roman so and sos decided to take a tally of us. Making sure they were wringing every last mite out of us in taxes, I’ll be bound. Anyway, that lot are so dim, they couldn’t count people where they lived – oh no, everybody had to start traipsing up and down the country back to where they were born – waste of good sandal leather if you ask me. Anyhow, the town - Bethlehem that is, was so full with all the folk arriving for the census, you couldn’t have squeezed another bed in for King David himself! Not that it bothered us much. A shepherd’s couch is usually a blanket next to the fire anyway.
Well, this particular frosty night, we were just settling down after a bite to eat and my eldest grandson James was spinning us a yarn – talk for Judah, he could – when this really bright star appeared over the hilltop to the east. Very strange it was – far bigger than any I’ve ever seen, and moving across the sky – not fast, like a shooting star, but – well – stately like.
Now when you hear this next bit, you’re going to think I’m crackers – spent so long with sheep, my brain’s full of wool – but as true as I’m stood here, this is what happened. The whole sky lit up and we heard singing – the most beautiful singing - and then before we knew it, a man was suddenly there in front of us and he was shining – shining so bright I had to shut my eyes. He said that a special baby had been born in the town. There was more singing, then everything went quiet. When I opened my eyes, there we all were, looking as if we’d been pole axed! Everybody started talking at once and the young ‘uns decided to rush off down to town to see if this shining fellah was right. They wanted me to go as well, but to be honest, my legs aren’t what they used to be, there were the sheep to think of … and besides, I wanted to have a good think on. I’m not really much of a Temple man – I’ve always found it easier to talk to God up here on the hillside, and this, this took some pondering.
When the lads came back, they were full of it, babbling about finding this baby in a stable and about how he was supposed to be the Messiah and how special he was. When they’d stopped skipping about like loopy lambs, I got out of them that it was young Joseph from Nazareth whose wife had had the baby. Well, that just about finished it for me. I remember Joseph when he were just a lad, Jacob the carpenter’s son – I couldn’t see how any baby of his could be that special!
To cut a long story short, a couple of days later one of my older ewes lambed – just one fine, big lamb, but she bagged up with enough milk for triplets! I thought on about that baby - special or not, some extra milk might be welcome. My Sarah always says there’s nothing like ewes milk for babies – she’s raised five children and a dozen grandchildren at the last tally, so she should know!
Off I went down into Bethlehem with the ewe and her lamb and what do you think I found outside the place Joseph and his family were staying? Camels – that’s what. Nasty, spitting creatures - give me a donkey any day! There were three of them, all trapped out with gold tassels and velvet saddle covers, looking proper out of place in a street down the rough end of Bethlehem, I can tell you! I couldn’t make head or tail of it. Anyhow, I decided that seeing as I was there, I’d better go on in. I could hardly credit it - there were three foreigners, dressed from head to foot in velvet and gold, with turbans the size of eagle’s nests on their heads, down on their knees in front of a young woman, just a girl really, who was holding the baby! I couldn’t hear what was being said, but they seemed to be giving the woman some sort of caskets. She opened one up and I caught sight of what was inside – gold – more gold than I’d ever seen in my life. Well, my old ewe seemed a shabby sort of gift to follow that, so I stepped back, meaning to slip out before I was seen. Just then the baby stirred and I looked at him properly for the first time. Now I know as well as you that babies a few days old can’t see properly and I know they can’t smile, but I’m telling you, that baby looked me straight in the eyes and gave me a beautiful smile. What’s more, I felt somehow warm inside. I could see what the lads meant about him being special. Then Joseph caught sight of me and hurried over. He seemed nearly as flummoxed by the visitors as I was, but he thanked me for the ewe and lamb and I came away.
I didn’t get chance to see them again. Next news, the family had upped and offed to Egypt - some tale about King Herod being after the baby. You know, call me an old fool, but with one thing and another, I’m beginning to think there really might be something in this Messiah business……
Carol
We follow that reading with our Carol StF 202/HP 106 Hark the herald-angels sing (Baildon band and choir).Nativity 2020
Christine Crabtree
Mary and Joseph had to go to the town of Joseph’s birth to register for the Covid vaccine, as Joseph’s underlying health condition would move him further up the queue. After self-isolating for two weeks they were able to travel, but it was now very close to Mary’s time to give birth.
They arrived in Bethlehem but couldn’t find anywhere to stay because the number of available rooms was reduced due to the need for social distancing within the inn.
The innkeeper showed them to his stable which had been made Covid-secure by the use of a disinfectant bomb. The innkeeper’s wife had been furloughed from work in the inn, and she put on full PPE to assist Mary as she gave birth to a baby boy and placed him in the manger.
Joseph was not able to wet the baby’s head as they were in a Tier 2 area and drinks were only available with a substantial meal – and the inn was out of Scotch eggs.
Out on a hillside, shepherds were looking after their flocks while adhering to the Rule of 6. An angel appeared to them and announced the good news that a baby had been born who was to be the Saviour of the world. The host of angels was limited to 30, who were all socially distanced as they sang God’s praises in the open air, this being specially allowed for Christmas carols.
The shepherds left their flocks and went into Bethlehem, where the innkeeper’s wife checked their temperatures and they sanitised their hands and put on face masks before entering the stable, keeping a 2 metre distance between themselves and the family. They told what they had seen on the hillside and Mary and Joseph marvelled at what they said while Jesus sucked his toes. Mary pondered all these things in her heart while Joseph changed the baby.
Wise Men had formed a bubble to travel from the East, but had missed the birth due to the need to quarantine. The Wise Men went first to the palace, thinking that the new king would be born there. King Herod did not believe in the virus – he called it ‘fake news’ and refused to social distance. He had his media team Google where the Messiah would be born, and they told him Bethlehem. He sent the Wise Men on their way, asking them to find the baby and return to let him know so that he might Tweet about it.
The Wise Men continued to follow the star they had seen till they came to the place where the child was. They had brought rich gifts with them, and left them in a secure location for 72 hours to ensure they were uncontaminated before Mary and Joseph collected them.
Having been warned in an anonymous text not to return to King Herod, the Wise Men checked their travel insurance and found they were able to make alternative arrangements to go home another way.
Is that just a comic take on the nativity story? Or can it remind us that Jesus is not just for then, for a children’s story, for people dressed in old-fashioned clothes with tea towels on their heads? He’s for here and now, for us. He comes to us as he came then into occupied territory and a subjugated people. He comes into our Covid-raddled world, into our losses, into our fear of the future, into our abuse of the planet’s resources, into the things we wrestle with on a daily basis. He comes to those who have much, and to those who have nothing. He comes to show the Father’s love for all his children, to draw their eyes away from possessions and status and towards himself, who loves us with an everlasting love. He offers peace on earth and peace in our hearts; peace between us and God, and peace between nations.
If you haven’t received the gift before, receive the gift this Christmas. Just ask him, and he will give himself to you. If you have received, open yourself up to receive more, for our God is a self-giving God who has more to give than we have yet received. Receive him, enjoy him, share him, and be part of the bringing in of the Kingdom that started with a baby’s cry
Lord Jesus, we thank you for giving yourself to us at Christmas. We thank you for the Christmases we have known, and the ways our faith has grown over the years. Thank you that there is so much more for you to teach us, and so each Christmas can be a new experience.
Mary and Joseph had to go to the town of Joseph’s birth to register for the Covid vaccine, as Joseph’s underlying health condition would move him further up the queue. After self-isolating for two weeks they were able to travel, but it was now very close to Mary’s time to give birth.
They arrived in Bethlehem but couldn’t find anywhere to stay because the number of available rooms was reduced due to the need for social distancing within the inn.
The innkeeper showed them to his stable which had been made Covid-secure by the use of a disinfectant bomb. The innkeeper’s wife had been furloughed from work in the inn, and she put on full PPE to assist Mary as she gave birth to a baby boy and placed him in the manger.
Joseph was not able to wet the baby’s head as they were in a Tier 2 area and drinks were only available with a substantial meal – and the inn was out of Scotch eggs.
Out on a hillside, shepherds were looking after their flocks while adhering to the Rule of 6. An angel appeared to them and announced the good news that a baby had been born who was to be the Saviour of the world. The host of angels was limited to 30, who were all socially distanced as they sang God’s praises in the open air, this being specially allowed for Christmas carols.
The shepherds left their flocks and went into Bethlehem, where the innkeeper’s wife checked their temperatures and they sanitised their hands and put on face masks before entering the stable, keeping a 2 metre distance between themselves and the family. They told what they had seen on the hillside and Mary and Joseph marvelled at what they said while Jesus sucked his toes. Mary pondered all these things in her heart while Joseph changed the baby.
Wise Men had formed a bubble to travel from the East, but had missed the birth due to the need to quarantine. The Wise Men went first to the palace, thinking that the new king would be born there. King Herod did not believe in the virus – he called it ‘fake news’ and refused to social distance. He had his media team Google where the Messiah would be born, and they told him Bethlehem. He sent the Wise Men on their way, asking them to find the baby and return to let him know so that he might Tweet about it.
The Wise Men continued to follow the star they had seen till they came to the place where the child was. They had brought rich gifts with them, and left them in a secure location for 72 hours to ensure they were uncontaminated before Mary and Joseph collected them.
Having been warned in an anonymous text not to return to King Herod, the Wise Men checked their travel insurance and found they were able to make alternative arrangements to go home another way.
Is that just a comic take on the nativity story? Or can it remind us that Jesus is not just for then, for a children’s story, for people dressed in old-fashioned clothes with tea towels on their heads? He’s for here and now, for us. He comes to us as he came then into occupied territory and a subjugated people. He comes into our Covid-raddled world, into our losses, into our fear of the future, into our abuse of the planet’s resources, into the things we wrestle with on a daily basis. He comes to those who have much, and to those who have nothing. He comes to show the Father’s love for all his children, to draw their eyes away from possessions and status and towards himself, who loves us with an everlasting love. He offers peace on earth and peace in our hearts; peace between us and God, and peace between nations.
If you haven’t received the gift before, receive the gift this Christmas. Just ask him, and he will give himself to you. If you have received, open yourself up to receive more, for our God is a self-giving God who has more to give than we have yet received. Receive him, enjoy him, share him, and be part of the bringing in of the Kingdom that started with a baby’s cry
Prayers of intercession
Lord Jesus who came to us and who comes to us still, open our eyes to see the needs around us, and open our hearts to feel the love you have for those affected. Open our hands to give, and open our lives to welcome in those who need our help, and who can teach us how to build a fairer world.
In the name of Jesus whose giving never ends, Amen.
Let us join together with all watching or reading this service as we say together the Lord’s Prayer.
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
Comments
Post a Comment