St Mary Redcliffe
Christmas Eve 2020 9.30pm
Welcome to St Mary Redcliffe
2020 has been a year like no other and we face Christmas with guidelines that restrict our movements, the people we can be with and our ability to join in the well-known carols that form part of this service.
In this year like no other, we are approaching a Christmas like no other. Rather than our churches being full, with music and singing raising the roof, we have half empty churches with a socially distanced choir and no congregational singing. We cannot pretend this service is going to as you remember it last year, nor as we hope and expect it to be next year.
And, more than that, in this year like no other, I need to remind you of the following expectations: - you are asked to remain seated throughout the service so that you touch as little as possible and so help us keep the church as clean as possible for everyone - you may not sing any of the carols; but then many of carols will not be sung in the way you would expect - you are asked to receive Communion with your thumb and forefinger - you are asked to remain in your seat at the end until invited to leave by a steward and please take all papers with you - you may not mingle in the church or churchyard with anyone who is not from your household bubble - However, in this year like no other, one thing remains constant: we are here to celebrate the incarnation, the Good News of God in Christ, when, in a dark backstreet inn of a small town in an occupied country God became human flesh, little, weak and helpless, and in that moment hope was sparked amidst oppression, fear and anxiety.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness shall not overcome it.
In the midst of it all: Merry Christmas Supporting St Mary Redcliffe
You are encouraged to consider making a financial contribution to the life of the church through your giving to St Mary Redcliffe. Like many churches and charities we end 2020 with a sizeable deficit which will impact on our ability to continue our work in the parish and with our congregation, both regular attenders and those who look to this church as a well spring of faith and a beacon of hope for Redcliffe and the city.
Parish Giving Scheme To set up a regular monthly donation, please ring 0333 002 1271. Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm. You will need your bank details our parish name St Mary Redcliffe our parish code 050605010 You will be asked whether you are able to Gift Aid your contribution would be willing to receive an annual reminder about increasing your contribution
Standing Orders These can be set up on online or by contacting your bank. The correct account to credit is: Account Name St Mary Redcliffe PCC Sort Code 56-00-40 Account Number 00321710
On line donations These can be made at https://bit.ly/SMRdonate or by using this QR code
Donations in church After the service you can make a donation of £3.00 or multiples thereof using our Contactless Donation points. Order of Service
The president welcomes the congregation after which the choir sings the introit “A great and mighty wonder” (Praetorius).
THE PREPARATION
Welcome
Welcome all wonders in one sight! Eternity shut in a span.
Summer in winter, day in night, heaven in earth and God in man.
Great little one whose all-embracing birth brings earth to heaven and heaven to earth.
We meet in the presence of God who knows our needs, hears our cries, feels our pain, heals our wounds and was born as one of us.
And so, for all those for whom this Christmas is nothing but pain whose wounds are raw, whose needs are profound, as well as those who have died this distressing year, we light one more candle, the Paschal Candle, a sign of life within the manger and beyond the grave, a symbol of hope within our doubts and beyond our fears, a light that is kindled within broken hearts: The light that shines in the darkness and the darkness shall not overcome it.
Comfort and joy be with us all.
1 | P a g e Carol (sung by the choir)
O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting light; The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight.
How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven. No ear may hear his coming; but in the world of sin, where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in.
O holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin, and enter in, Be born in us today. We hear the Christmas Angels, The great glad tidings tell: O Come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel.
Prayers of Penitence
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.
Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. 2 | P a g e In your mercy, forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.
Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Gloria in Excelsis
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
The Collect
Eternal God, in the stillness of this night you sent your almighty Word to pierce the world’s darkness with the light of salvation: give to the earth the comfort that we long for and fill our hearts with the joy of heaven through our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. 3 | P a g e THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading At the end the reader says This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Gospel Reading
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to N. Glory to you, O Lord.
At the end the reader says: This is the gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon The Revd Aggy Palairet, Curate
Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man.
4 | P a g e For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
Father, in this holy night your Son our Saviour was born in human flesh. Renew your Church as the Body of Christ.
Holy God hear our prayer.
In this holy night there was no room for your Son in the inn. Protect with your love those who have no home and all who live in poverty.
Holy God hear our prayer.
In this holy night Mary, in the pain of labour, brought your Son to birth. Hold in your hand all who are in pain or distress, and especially …
Holy God hear our prayer.
In this holy night the angels sang, ‘Peace to God’s people on earth.’ Strengthen those who work for peace and justice in all the world.
Holy God hear our prayer.
5 | P a g e In this holy night strangers found the holy family and saw the baby lying in the manger. Bless our homes and all whom we love.
Holy God hear our prayer.
In this holy night heaven is come down to earth, and earth is raised to heaven. Hold in your hand all who have passed through death in the hope of your coming kingdom, and especially …
Holy God hear our prayer.
In this holy night Christians the world over celebrate Christ’s birth. Open our hearts that he may be born in us today.
Holy God hear our prayer.
Father, in this holy night angels and shepherds worshipped at the manger throne.
Receive the worship we offer in fellowship with Mary, Joseph and the saints through him who is your Word made flesh, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
THE LITURGY OF THE SACRAMENT
The Peace
This holy night the angels sang, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to all in whom he delights.’
The peace of the Lord be always with you and also with you.
From our seats, let us offer one another a sign of peace.
6 | P a g e Carol (sung by the choir)
It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old, from angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold: 'Peace on the earth, good will to men, from heaven's all-gracious king!' The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.
For lo, the days are hastening on, by prophet-bards foretold, when, with the ever-circling years, comes round the age of gold; when peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendours fling, and the whole world give back the song which now the angels sing.
The Eucharistic Prayer
The president takes the bread and wine. As the grain once scattered in the fields and the grapes once dispersed on the hillside are now reunited in bread and wine, so, Lord, may your whole Church soon be gathered together from the corners of the earth into your Kingdom. Amen.
7 | P a g e 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 thanks and praise.
All glory and honour be yours always and everywhere, mighty creator, ever-living God. We give you thanks and praise for your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who for love of our fallen race humbled himself, and on this night was born of the Virgin Mary by the power of your Spirit, and lived as one of us.
In this mystery of the Word made flesh you have caused his light to shine in our hearts, to give knowledge of your glory in the face of Jesus Christ. In him we see our God made visible and so are caught up in the love of the God we cannot see.
Therefore with all the angels of heaven we lift our voices to proclaim the glory of your name and sing our joyful hymn of praise: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Accept our praises, heavenly Father, through your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, and as we follow his example and obey his command, grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit these gifts of bread and wine may be to us his body and his blood; who, in the same night that he was betrayed, took bread and gave you thanks; he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me. 8 | P a g e In the same way, after supper he took the cup and gave you thanks; he gave it to them, saying: 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. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
Therefore, heavenly Father, we remember his offering of himself made once for all upon the cross; we proclaim his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension; we look for the coming of your kingdom, and with this bread and this cup we make the memorial of Christ your Son our Lord.
Great is the mystery of faith: Christ has died: Christ is risen: Christ will come again.
Accept through him, our great high priest, this our sacrifice of thanks and praise, and as we eat and drink these holy gifts in the presence of your divine majesty, renew us by your Spirit, inspire us with your love and unite us in the body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, with all who stand before you in earth and heaven, we worship you, Father almighty, in songs of everlasting praise: Blessing and honour and glory and power be yours for ever and ever. Amen.
9 | P a g e The Lord's Prayer
Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us .
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.
Breaking of the Bread
The president breaks the consecrated 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.
Invitation to Communion
The president invites God’s people to receive communion:
This is the table, not of the Church, but of the Lord. It is open to those who love Him and those who want to love Him. So come, you who have much faith and you who have little; you who have been here often and you who have not been for a long time; you who have tried to follow and you who have failed. Come not because I invite you, but because our Lord is calling you. It is his will that those who want Him should meet Him here
Christ is the true bread which has come down from heaven.
The clergy will bring communion to you in your seats. Anyone who normally receives communion is welcome to do so here. During communion, the choir will sing “In the bleak midwinter” (Darke) 10 | P a g e THE BLESSING AND DISMISSAL
Lighting the Advent Wreath
The candle is lit on the Advent Wreath to show that Christ is born
People of God: shout and sing! Tell the good news of peace on earth.
Lord, bring us today into Christ’s peace. Amen!
Angels dance and the bright star shines. All creation bows to the Lord of all.
Lord, bring us today into Christ’s light. Amen!
One with us, yet born to save, he will show us the way to God.
Lord, bring us today into Christ’s love. Amen!
People of God: rejoice and sing: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
Prayer after Communion
God our Father, in this night you have made known to us again the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: confirm our faith and fix our eyes on him until the day dawns and Christ the Morning Star rises in our hearts. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
11 | P a g e Prayer for the Coronavirus Outbreak
Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy in this time of uncertainty and distress. Sustain and support the anxious and fearful, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may rejoice in your comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Blessing
May God the Father, who loved the Son from before the foundation of the world, pour on you the overshadowing comfort of the Holy Spirit and the immeasurable joy of the Good News: Christ is born, hope is kindled, love will prevail: and the blessing of God almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, come down upon you wherever you are and remain with you now and always. Amen.
Dismissal
We go into the world to reflect God’s glory to rejoice in God’s love, and to walk in God’s light Amen.
12 | P a g e Carol (sung by the choir)
God rest you merry, gentlemen Let nothing you dismay, For Jesus Christ our Saviour Was born on Christmas Day To save us all from Satan’s power When we were gone astray O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy. O tidings of comfort and joy.
From God our heav’nly Father A blessèd angel came, And unto certain shepherds. Brought tidings of the same, How that in Bethlehem was born The Son of God by name O tidings …
Now to the Lord sing praises All you within this place, And with true love and brotherhood Each other now embrace; This holy tide of Christmas All others doth efface. O tidings …
13 | P a g e