St Nicolas Church

Forest Hill with Shotover

Advent Carols and Christingle Sunday, 8th December 2019

in celebration of St Nicolas Day

WELCOME On arrival, members of the congregation are given a service leaflet, a shoe, and a ready-made Christingle if they haven’t brought one with them. Leader: Welcome to our Carols and Christingle to celebrate St Nicolas Day. St Nicolas, after whom our church was named over 700 years ago, is the patron saint of children and the original ‘Father ’. After reflecting a little on the life of this generous and kindly man, we will also celebrate the work of The Children’s Society who help us to look beyond ourselves, to reach out and to walk alongside children who need to experience our love in practical ways.

LIGHTING THE Leader: Heavenly Father, Your love is revealed to us in Christ, Son of God and Son of David. Help us to prepare ourselves to truly celebrate his birth this Christmas. Lord Jesus, Light of the world, the prophets said that you would bring peace and salvation to your people. Give us peace in our hearts this and help us to proclaim God's love for all the world. All: Amen.

After the candle is lit, all sit while the Choir sings: Advent Carol 1: ‘ to Mary Came’

Leader: People of God: be glad! Your God delights in you, giving you joy for sadness and turning the dark to light. Be strong in hope therefore; for your God comes to save. You are God’s children. All: Lord, make us one in the love of Christ today and for ever. Amen. Leader: Father God, We are sorry for the things we say and do which make you sad, and for not thinking of others before ourselves. We are sorry for times when we have seen people in need and ignored them and walked on by. Please forgive us and help us to love you and other people, so we may bring light and hope to the world. All: Amen.

All remain seated while the Choir sings: Advent Carol 2: ‘I Saw a Maiden’

WHO WAS ST NICOLAS? A short talk about the life and work of St Nicolas. Leader introduces the shoe activity, which takes place while the Choir sings: Advent Carol 3: ‘Put Out My Shoe’ All stand to sing: St Nicolas Hymn 1. Nicolas, the kindly bishop, With the cross upheld on high Preached the Word of love to all men Made them feel that heaven was nigh.

2. Taught the truth by his example, Showed the joy of Christian ways And the saint of cold December Warms our hearts to love and praise.

All remain standing for the St Nicolas Prayer: Leader: Lord Jesus, who came from heaven to lighten the darkness of this world, we give thanks for your servant Saint Nicolas. In your name he protected children, befriended sailors and gave help to the poor. We ask you to fill us with your grace, that we may do the same to those in need, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. All: Amen. CELEBRATING THE BIRTH OF JESUS All remain standing to sing: ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ 1. In the bleak midwinter Frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone: Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Snow on snow, In the bleak midwinter, Long ago.

2. Our God heaven cannot hold him Nor earth sustain; Heaven and earth shall flee away When he comes to reign: In the bleak midwinter A stable place sufficed The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

5. What can I give him, Poor as I am? If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb; If I were a wise man I would do my part; Yet what I can I give him Give my heart.

All sit for reading: Luke 2, v 1 – 7 The Birth of Jesus

All remain seated while the Choir sings: Advent Carol 4: ‘How Far is it to ?’ All remain seated for reading: Luke 2, v 8 – 20 The Shepherds and the Angels

All remain seated while the Choir sings: Advent Carol 5: ‘Torches’

INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTINGLE

A short talk about the work of the Children’s Society and the meaning of the Christingle.

LIGHTING THE CHRISTINGLES The leader lights a Christingle candle from the Advent Candle, then uses this to light the next Christingle candle and so on. During the lighting of the Christingles, the following prayers may be said: Leader: Lord Jesus, Light of the world, I hold this Christingle as a sign of your love. All: May your light shine in the darkness. Leader: The candle, planted deep within the world, as a sign that you made your home among us, and lived with the poor and neglected. All: May your light shine in the darkness. Leader: The ribbon, wrapped around the earth, a sign of your blood poured out on the cross, enfolding the whole world with your saving love. All: May your light shine in the darkness. Leader: The fruits and sweets, signs of all the good things you have made, given to us that we might share them fairly so everyone can have enough. All: May your light shine in the darkness. When all the Christingles are lit, the congregation return to their seats and the following prayers are said: Leader: Lord Jesus, born in a stable, yet surrounded by love, we pray for all children, that they may be nurtured in communities of care. Lord, in your mercy, All: Hear our prayer. Leader: Lord Jesus, cradled in a manger, kept warm and protected from harm, we pray for children and young people who feel unsafe and afraid. Help them to find places of safety. Lord, in your mercy, All: Hear our prayer. Leader: Lord Jesus, worshipped by shepherds and kings, we pray for the work of The Children’s Society and all those who form communities of support around vulnerable children and young people. Lord, in your mercy, All: Hear our prayer. Leader: Lord Jesus, God with us, we pray for children and young people who feel alone. Please give them someone to support and help them. Lord, in your mercy, All: Hear our prayer. Amen

All remain seated while the Choir sings: Advent Carol 6: ‘The Coventry Carol’

OFFERING OF GIFTS

All stand to blow out the Christingle candles and sing: ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ (a collection for the Children’s Society will be taken.) 1. Once in Royal David's city Stood a lowly cattle shed, Where a mother laid her baby In a manger for his bed: Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.

2. He came down to earth from heaven Who is God and Lord of all, And his shelter was a stable, And his cradle was a stall; With the poor and mean and lowly Lived on earth our Saviour holy.

3. And through all His wondrous childhood He would honor and obey, Love and watch the lowly maiden, In whose gentle arms He lay: Christian children all must be Mild, obedient, good as He.

4. For he is our childhood's pattern; Day by day, like us He grew; He was little, weak and helpless, Tears and smiles like us He knew; And He feeleth for our sadness, And He shareth in our gladness.

6. Not in that poor lowly stable with descant With the oxen standing by, We shall see him; but in heaven, Set at God's right hand on high; Where like stars his children crowned All in white shall wait around. THE LORD’S PRAYER 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.

BLESSING

Leader: We go in peace All: To share the peace of God with all we meet. Leader: We go in love All: To share God’s gift of love with the world. Leader: We go in the light of Christ All: To shine as lights in the world. Leader: To the glory of God the father All: Amen.