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Virtual CHRISTINGLE SERVICE The Sherburn in Elmet Group of Parishes Virtual CHRISTINGLE SERVICE Christmas Eve 2020 5.00pm www.youtube.com/channel/UC599OgAOHxcLnjGmriQB8k A/featured Welcome and Notices Greeting Minister Christ has brought us out of darkness: All to live in his marvellous light. Brothers and sisters in Christ, welcome to our service today. 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. 1 Carol: Come and sing the Christmas story [RSCM 54] (to the tune of "All through the night") 1 2 Come and sing the Christmas story Jesus, Saviour, child of Mary this holy night! this holy night, Christ is born: the hope of glory in a world confused and weary dawns on our sight you are our light. Alleluia! Earth is ringing God is in a manger lying, with a thousand angels singing – manhood taking, self denying, hear the message they are bringing life embracing, death defying this holy night. this holy night. 3 Lord of all! Let us acclaim him this holy night; King of our salvation name him, throned in the height. Son of Man – let us adore him, all the earth is waiting for him; Son of God – we bow before him this holy night. Opening Prayer Minister Today we come to celebrate Jesus, God's Light in the World. Our Christingles remind us that God's love brings light into dark places. When things are dark, it is easy to get lost. We wander into dangerous places. We remember and pray for children who are lost because there is little light and little hope in their lives: children in trouble with the law who don't know how to change their behaviour; children with disabilities whose voices have not been listened to; children forced to flee their homeland trying to live as refugees in a strange culture; children who are runaways, escaping the darkness of conflict at home. We remember and pray for the work of The Children's Society, seeking to shine God's light into the darkness so that these children might be given hope. Loving God, source of all light, help us to shine your light into the lives of children who live in darkness, so that they may no longer be lost. Turn their darkness into light so that they may see a future and have hope. Amen. 2 The Christmas Story Jesus is born in Bethlehem Carol: See him lying on a bed of straw [RSCM 112] 1 See him lying on a bed of straw, a draughty stable with an open door; Mary cradling the babe she bore – the Prince of glory is his name. O now carry me to Bethlehem to see the Lord of love again: just as poor as was the stable then, the Prince of glory when he came! 2 Star of silver sweep across the skies, show where Jesus in the manger lies; shepherds, swiftly from your stupor rise to see the Saviour of the world! O now carry me to Bethlehem … 3 Angels, sing again the song you sang, sing the glory of God’s gracious plan; sing that Bethlehem’s little baby can be the Saviour of us all. O now carry me to Bethlehem … 4 Mine are riches from your poverty, from your innocence eternity; mine forgiveness by your death for me, child of sorrow for my joy. O now carry me to Bethlehem … The Shepherds visit the stable 3 Carol: When God from heaven to earth came down [RSCM 130] 1 3 When God from heaven to earth The shepherds heard the angels sing came down on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day, to tell them of the Saviour King the songs rang out in Bethlehem town on Christmas Day in the morning. on Christmas Day in the morning. 4 2 Now joy be ours and all is well, For Christ was born to save us all on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day, so sound the organ, chime the bell and laid within a manger stall on Christmas Day in the morning. on Christmas Day in the morning. The wise men search for the Christ Child Carol: We three kings of Orient are [RSCM 149] 1 We three kings of Orient are, 3 bearing gifts we traverse afar – SECOND KING field and fountain, moor and mountain – Frankincense to offer have I – following yonder star. incense tells of Deity nigh: O star of wonder, star of night, prayer and praising all are raising: star with royal beauty bright: worship him – God most high! westward leading, still proceeding, ALL: O star of wonder... guide us to your perfect light! 4 2 THIRD KING FIRST KING Myrrh is mine – its bitter perfume Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain – breathes a life of gathering gloom: gold I bring to crown him again: sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, King for ever, ceasing never, sealed in the stone-cold tomb. over us all to reign. ALL: O star of wonder... ALL: O star of wonder... 5 ALL Glorious now behold him arise – King and God and sacrifice! Heaven sings ‘Alleluia!’ – ‘Alleluia!’ the earth replies, O star of wonder... 4 The Lighting of Christingles The Children's Society Christingle Song (tune: Give me oil in my lamp) 1 The Christingle begins with an orange, like the world which the Lord God made. For creation is full of his glory; all around we see his love displayed. Sing Christingle! Sing Christingle! Sing Christingle, it’s the light of Christ. Sing Christingle! Sing Christingle! Sing Christingle, light of Christ. 2 Every year we give thanks for the seasons, and the fruits of the earth to share. The Christingle is here to remind us that the love of God is everywhere. Sing Christingle! Sing Christingle!… 3 God of love, we give thanks now for Jesus; we remember his birth again. But the red ribbon round the Christingle tells the story of his cross and pain. Sing Christingle! Sing Christingle!… 4 To complete the Christingle: a candle, telling us of the world’s true light. For the darkness shall not overcome it, Jesus shines on in the darkest night. Sing Christingle! Sing Christingle!… A Christingle Prayer Minister Lord Jesus, I see the Christingle. Light, sweets, colour, but know that it is so much more precious than this; I hold it in my mind as a picture of your love. I imagine all the other special things I might hold and think about. 5 Lord Jesus, help me to remember those with little or nothing special in their lives, especially other children who do not have enough to eat or a safe place to live. Today, as I think about the Christingle and remember you, I pray that you would make me someone, like you, who will reach out my opened hands to give and love like you do. All Amen. Remember that Christ is the Light of the World. Whoever follows him will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. All May these Christingles remind us to shine as lights in the world, bringing light to those who walk in darkness. Carol: Away in a manger [RSCM 39] 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 on high and stay by my side until morning is nigh. 3 Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay close by me for ever and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in thy tender care, and fit us for heaven to live with thee there. The Lord's Prayer Now let us say the prayer that Jesus himself taught us: All Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. 6 The Collect for Christmas Eve Minister Almighty God, you make us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of your Son Jesus Christ: grant that, as we joyfully receive him as our redeemer, so we may with sure confidence behold him when he shall come to be our judge; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. All Amen Blessing Minister May the humility of the shepherds, the perseverance of the Wise Men, the joy of the angels, and the peace of the Christ Child be God's gifts to us this Christmastide. And the blessing of God almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always. All Amen. Dismissal Minister Let us go in the light of Christ, to bring light to all those whom we meet. All With the help of God. Amen. Carol: Hark! the herald angels sing [RSCM 69] 1 2 Hark! the herald angels sing Christ, by highest heaven adored, glory to the newborn King; Christ, the everlasting Lord; peace on earth and mercy mild, late in time behold him come, God and sinners reconciled! offspring of a virgin's womb: Joyful all ye nations rise, veiled in flesh the Godhead see, join the triumph of the skies; hail the incarnate Deity! with th' angelic host proclaim, pleased as man with man to dwell, 'Christ is born in Bethlehem'.
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