123: Once in Royal David City
The Gathering of the Community
Christ has brought us out of darkness:
to live in his
marvellous light.
As a
candle is lit
Brothers and sisters in Christ, welcome to this worship, at
the end of a calendar year, a year in which we marked the 250th
anniversary of this parish.
We have come together in the presence of God our Father to
rejoice in the gift of Jesus to us as the light of the world, to hear and
receive the story and message of the coming of Christ, and to offer to God our
thanksgiving in prayer and song.
Collect
Let us pray,
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 130: Born in the Night
Today we remember Jesus and the story of his birth;
Jesus is our
King.
As a
candle is lit
Jesus Christ is the light of the world;
Jesus is our
Way.
With Jesus even dark places are light;
Jesus is the
Truth.
In Jesus we shall live for ever:
Jesus is our
Life.
The Proclamation of the Word
Isaiah 63:7-9
The glory of the Lord has been revealed
and all flesh
shall see it together.
As a
candle is lit
Jesus Christ is the light of the world:
a light no
darkness can quench.
The shepherds kept watch by night,
and your glory
shone round about them.
The darkness is not dark to you,
the night is as
bright as the day.
Let your light scatter the darkness
and fill your
Church with your glory.
Hebrews 2:10-18
Gradual 137: What Child is this
The
Holy Gospel: Matthew 2:13-23
131: Love Came Down at Christmas
As a
candle is lit
Holy Jesus, by being born one of us,
and lying humbly in a manger,
you show us how
much God loves the world.
Let the light of your love always shine in our hearts,
until we reach our home in heaven,
and see you on
your throne of glory. Amen.
Homily: What Does the Lord Require
Affirmation of Faith
Let us declare our faith in God:
We believe in God the Father,
from whom every family
in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son,
who lives in our hearts through faith,
and fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit,
who strengthens us
with power from on high.
We believe in one God;
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
145: Good King Wenceslas
Prayers of the People: Incarnation
Confession & Absolution
As a
candle is lit
Christ the light of the world has come
to dispel the darkness of our hearts.
In his light let us examine ourselves and confess our sins.
You were born for our salvation:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have
mercy.
You came as Saviour to bring wholeness and peace:
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have
mercy.
You come to bring light into the darkness of our lives:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have
mercy.
May God who loved the world so much that he sent his Son to
be our Saviour forgive us our sins and make us holy
to serve him in the world, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Peace
The Peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with
you
Offering 91: People, Look East!
The Holy Eucharist
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. Amen.
The
Altar Candles are lit
Blessed are you, God of all glory,
through your Son the Christ.
His name is Jesus
because he saves
his people from their sin.
He will be called Emmanuel:
God is with us.
Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel:
he has come to
his people and set them free.
He gave up the glory of heaven
and took the
form of a servant.
The Word was made flesh
and we beheld
his glory.
In humility he walked the path of obedience
to die on the
cross.
God raised him to the highest place above
and gave him the name above every name:
Jesus Christ is
Lord.
So all beings in heaven and earth will fall at his feet,
and proclaim to the glory of God:
Jesus Christ is
Lord.
The Eucharistic Prayer Supplementary
Eucharistic Prayer 2 (S2)
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.
Eternal God, Source of all being, we give you thanks and
praise for your faithful love. You call us into friendship with you and one
another to be your holy people, a sign of your presence in the world.
When those we trust betray us, unfailingly you remain with
us. When we injure others, you confront us in your love and call us to the
paths of righteousness. You stand with the weak, and those, broken and alone,
whom you have always welcomed home, making the first last, and the last first.
Therefore we raise our voices with angels and archangels, forever praising you
and saying (singing):
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed are you, O Holy One: when Hagar was driven into the
wilderness you followed her and gave her hope. When Joseph was sold into bondage,
you turned malice to your people’s good. When you called Israel out of slavery,
you brought them through the wilderness into the promised land. When your
people were taken into exile you wept with them by the river of Babylon and
carried them home.
Restore us, O
God, let your face shine!
At
the right time you sent your Anointed One to stand with the poor, the outcast,
and the oppressed. Jesus touched lepers, and the sick, and healed them.
He accepted water from a woman of Samaria and offered her
the water of new life. Christ knew the desolation of the cross and opened the
way for all humanity into the redemption of your reconciling love.
On the night he was betrayed, Jesus, at supper with his
friends, took bread, gave you thanks, broke the bread, gave it to them, and
said, “Take and 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.”
Loving and Holy One, recalling Christ’s death and
resurrection, we offer you these gifts, longing for the bread of tomorrow and
the wine of the age to come.
Dying you destroyed our death,
rising you restored our life.
Lord Jesus, come in glory.
Pour
out your Spirit on these gifts that through them you may sustain us in our
hunger for your peace. We hold before you all whose lives are marked by
suffering, our sisters and brothers. When we are broken and cast aside, embrace
us in your love.
Restore us, O
God, let your face shine!
Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ in the unity of
the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are yours, O Source of all life, now and
for ever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Rejoicing in the presence of God here
among us,
as our Saviour taught us, so we pray
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.
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.
Giving of Communion
Christ is the true bread
which has come down from heaven.
Lord,
give us this bread always.
Anthem: Lamb of God
Hymns-during-communion
132: Of the Father’s Love Begotten
(Verses 1, 3, 4)
151: All Poor Folk and Humble
Choir Anthem: Lullaby of the Dove
The Sending Forth
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.
God sent his angels from glory to bring to shepherds
the good news of Jesus’ birth.
Amen. We thank
you, Lord.
You have heard his story,
the story of God’s own Son.
Amen. We thank
you, Lord.
May he fill you with joy
to bring this good news to others today.
Amen. We thank
you, Lord.
Blessing
May the God of infinite goodness scatter the darkness of
sin and brighten your hearts with holiness; and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you
always. Amen.
157: Rise up and Shine
Scattering
Go in peace. Alleluia!
Proclaim the Word made flesh.
Glory, thanks
and praise to God. Alleluia!
