8 The Parish Church of Forton, Saint John the Evangelist8 THE BLESSING Priest: May the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, OPENING SONG the humility of the animals, The Christingle begins with an orange, the obedience of Joseph and Mary, which is round like the world God made. and the peace of the Christ Child For he showed us his love in creation; be yours this Christmass; in the world we see his power displayed. and the blessing of God Almighty, Sing Christingle! Sing Christingle!  the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Sing Christingle, it’s the light of Christ. be upon you and those you love Sing Christingle! Sing Christingle! this day and forever. Sing Christingle, light of Christ. All: Amen Every year we give thanks for the seasons, and the fruits of the earth God gives. Priest: Go in the peace and light of Christ. The Christingle is here to remind us All: Thanks be to God. of the love of God for all that lives. Thank you for coming tonight. Sing Christingle… We hope you will join us again Then to show us his love God sent . for one of our other We remember his birth again, Christmass services and events but the red ribbon round the Christingle at School or Church. shows that our sins cost him blood and pain. Sing Christingle… As you leave this evening, To complete the Christingle, a candle, there will be a collection for the Children’s Society, shining out with a bright new flame, who work to help children across the UK. telling us of the true light of Jesus, Please give generously to this very good cause. shining in on those who love his Name. Sing Christingle… Mark Earey 27 72 THE GATHERINGLIGHT THE WORLDCHRISTINGLES Priest: WeThe candlemeet together reminds in us the of name Jesus, of God, Priest:The ChristinglesThe orange are remindsgiven out us and of lit.the world, whoFather, is the Son Light and of Holy the world.Spirit. Priest: whichDear God,God made and loves. He will lead us through life if we follow him. All: Amen. Thank you for loving us so much READINGthat you sent your Son Jesus Christ READING The angelto Gabrielbe born came in to a young and woman live as onecalled of Mary, us. Priest:Jesus is Dearthe Light brothers for everyone. and sisters in Christ, and told her: we have come together in the presence of God Bless these Christingles. The true Light came into the world at Christmass. “You willMay have they a son help and us nameto remember him Jesus. your love He becameto rejoice flesh andin the lived gift among of Jesus us, to us He will be the Son of God, as the Light of the world. this , this Christmass and forever. and we have seen his glory. andAll: he willAmen. rule over the world forever.” In this service, we hear(John the 1:4,9,14) story of his birth, (Luke 1:26-35) and say thank you to God in prayer and song. SWeONG sing “Away in a Manger.” SONG Let us say together the prayer SilentThe children night, holysing night,the first verse, then everyone joins in. that Jesus himself has taught us: All is clear, all is bright. God rest ye merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay, Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, RoundThe little yon Lord Virgin, Jesus Mother lays downand Child, his sweet head. All:For JesusOur Christ Father, our whoSaviour art wasin Heaven, born on Christmass day, Holy Infant, so tender and mild: To save usHallowed all from be Satan’s thy Name. power when we were gone astray: The stars in the bright sky look down where he lay, SleepThe little in heavenly Lord Jesus, peace, asleep on the hay. Oh, Thytidings Kingdom of comfort come, and joy, Sleep in heavenly peace. ComfortThy will and be joy, done The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, Oh, Ontidings earth of as comfort it is in heaven.and joy. SilentBut little night, Lord holy Jesus, night: no crying he makes. Give us this day our daily bread, Now to the Lord sing praises, all you within this place, SonI love of thee, God, Lord love’s Jesus, pure looklight, down from the sky, And forgive us our trespasses, RadiantAnd stay beams by my thyside holy until face morning is nigh. And withAs true we love forgive and thosebrotherhood who trespass each other against now us. embrace; With the dawn of redeeming grace, This holyAnd tide leadof Christmass us not into alltemptation, others doth efface: Jesus,Be near Lord, me, at Lord thy Jesus,birth, I ask thee to stay Oh, Buttidings deliver of comfort us from andevil. joy, Jesus,Close by Lord, me atforever, thy birth. and love me, I pray. ComfortFor thine and is joy, the Kingdom, the power and the glory, Bless all the dear children in thy tender care, Oh, Fortidings ever of and comfort ever. Amen.and joy. traditional English And fit us for heavenJosef to Mohr live with thee there. William James Kirkpatrick 63 63 THE LIGHTGATHERING THE CHRISTINGLESWORLD Priest: TheWe candlemeet together reminds in us the of name Jesus, of God, ThePriest: ChristinglesThe orange are remindsgiven out us and of lit.the world, who Father, is the Son Light and of Holy the world.Spirit. Priest: Dearwhich God,God made and loves. He will lead us through life if we follow him. All: Amen. Thank you for loving us so much READINGthat you sent your Son Jesus Christ READING The angelto Gabrielbe born came in Bethlehem to a young and woman live as onecalled of Mary, us. JesusPriest: is Dearthe Light brothers for everyone. and sisters in Christ, and told her: we have come together in the presence of God Bless these Christingles. The true Light came into the world at Christmass. “You willMay have they a son help and us nameto remember him Jesus. your love He becameto rejoice flesh andin the lived gift among of Jesus us, to us He will be the Son of God, as the Light of the world. this Advent, this Christmass and forever. and we have seen his glory. All:and he willAmen. rule over the world forever.” In this service, we hear(John the 1:4,9,14) story of his birth, (Luke 1:26-35) and say thank you to God in prayer and song. WeSONG sing “Away in a Manger.” SONG Let us say together the prayer TheSilent children night, holysing night,the first verse, then everyone joins in. that Jesus himself has taught us: All is clear, all is bright. God rest ye merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay, Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, TheRound little yon Lord Virgin, Jesus Mother lays downand Child, his sweet head. ForAll: JesusOur Christ Father, our whoSaviour art wasin Heaven, born on Christmass day, Holy Infant, so tender and mild: To save usHallowed all from be Satan’s thy Name. power when we were gone astray: The stars in the bright sky look down where he lay, TheSleep little in heavenly Lord Jesus, peace, asleep on the hay. Oh, Thytidings Kingdom of comfort come, and joy, Sleep in heavenly peace. ComfortThy will and be joy, done The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, Oh, Ontidings earth of as comfort it is in heaven.and joy. ButSilent little night, Lord holy Jesus, night: no crying he makes. Give us this day our daily bread, Now to the Lord sing praises, all you within this place, ISon love of thee, God, Lord love’s Jesus, pure looklight, down from the sky, And forgive us our trespasses, AndRadiant stay beams by my thyside holy until face morning is nigh. And withAs true we love forgive and thosebrotherhood who trespass each other against now us. embrace; With the dawn of redeeming grace, This holyAnd tide leadof Christmass us not into alltemptation, others doth efface: BeJesus, near Lord, me, atLord thy Jesus,birth, I ask thee to stay Oh, Buttidings deliver of comfort us from and evil. joy, CloseJesus, by Lord, me atforever, thy birth. and love me, I pray. ComfortFor thine and is joy, the Kingdom, the power and the glory, Bless all the dear children in thy tender care, Oh, Fortidings ever of and comfort ever. Amen.and joy. traditional English And fit us for heavenJosef to Mohr live with thee there. William James Kirkpatrick 45 45 THE FRUITS THE GIFT Priest: The sweets and fruits remind us Priest: The red ribbon reminds us of blood and pain. of all the good things that God has made. Jesus was born to bring us peace. We must share them fairly, so that nobody is in need. He gave us of all when he died to set us free. READING Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem. READING When they were there, Mary gave birth to her baby. There were shepherds in the fields, watching over their sheep. She wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, Suddenly an angel came to them and said: because there was no room for them in the inn. “Good news for everyone! (Luke 2:1-7) Today in Bethlehem, a Saviour has been born.” SONG And all the angels sang: Little donkey, Ring out those bells tonight: “Glory to God, and peace on earth!” Little donkey, Bethlehem, Bethlehem! (Luke 2:8-14) On the dusty road, Follow that star tonight: Got to keep on Bethlehem, Bethlehem! SONG Plodding onwards Ding Dong, merrily on high, in heav’n the bells are ringing. With your precious load. Little donkey, Little donkey, Ding Dong, verily the sky is riv’n with angels singing: Been a long time, Had a heavy day. Glo…ria, Hosanna in excelsis! Little donkey, Little donkey, Glo…ria, Hosanna in excelsis! Through the winter’s night. Carry Mary E’en so here below, below, let steeple bells be swungen, Don’t give up now, Safely on her way. And io, io, io, by priest and people sungen: Little donkey, Eric Boswell Glo…ria, Hosanna in excelsis! Bethlehem’s in sight. Glo…ria, Hosanna in excelsis!

George Ratcliffe Woodward