ST · Web viewsang of old with one accord; whom the writings of the prophets promised in their faithful word; now he shines, the long-expected, let our songs declare his worth, evermore

Welcome to the Parish Church of St MarkServing the people of Broomhill & Broomhall

L i v i n g T h i n k i n g F a i t h

CELEBRAT INGCHRISTMAS

A Serv ice of Chr is t ian Hospita l i tyalso known as the Euchar ist

or the Holy Communion

Sunday 28 December 2014 at 10.00 am

Welcome

Welcome and warmest Christmas greetings, especially if you are visiting St Mark’s over Christmas. May you discover here what you are seeking and find encouragement along the way. Our worship is richer for having you here. Thank you.

About this service

The seasons of Christmas and Epiphany invite us to ponder not only the circumstances surrounding Jesus’ birth, but also the meaning and significance of incarnation – of how it is that ‘Eternity is in love with the productions of time’ (William Blake).

As the evangelists recognised, the wonder and vulnerability of new birth draw us into this mystery by challenging our sense of what constitutes power and how authority manifests itself when motivated by love.

To use the Induction Loop, please select the T Setting on your hearing aid.

LARGE PRINT versions of worship materials are available.

We ask that mobile phones and pagers be switched off or set to silent mode.

Before the service begins, you are invited to share in a time of quiet reflection in preparation for worship.

Preparing for worship

Jesus …hidden within this nameresides God’s salvation;

but where and when,

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how and from what or whomdoes God save?

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Gathering

Voluntary

Welcome

HymnOF THE FATHER’S love begottenere the worlds began to be,he is Alpha and Omega,he the source, the ending he,of the things that are, that have been,and that future years shall see,evermore and evermore.At his word they were created;he commanded; it was done:heaven and earth and depths of oceanin their threefold order one;all that grows beneath the shiningof the light of moon and sun,evermore and evermore.O that birth for ever blessèd!when the Virgin, full of grace,by the Holy Ghost conceiving,bare the Saviour of our race,and the babe, the world’s Redeemer,first revealed his sacred face,evermore and evermore.O ye heights of heaven, adore him;angel-hosts, his praises sing;powers, dominions bow before him,and extol our God and King:let no tongue on earth be silent,every voice in concert ring,evermore and evermore.

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continued overleaf...This is he whom seers and sagessang of old with one accord;whom the writings of the prophetspromised in their faithful word;now he shines, the long-expected,let our songs declare his worth,evermore and evermore.

Aurelius Clemens Prudentius (348-410),trans J M Neale (1818-66) & H W Baker (1821-77).

Prayers of Approach

The Lord be with you:and also with you.

FATHER OF LIGHT,you bring to light things hidden in darknessand know the shadows of our hearts:cleanse and renew us by your Spirit,that we may walk in the lightand glorify your name;through Jesus Christ,the Light of the world. Amen.

Christ, the Light of the world,has come to dispel the darkness of our hearts.In his light let us examine our livesand acknowledge our failings.

Pause for reflection.

Your servant Mary accepted your callto be the mother of Jesus.Forgive us when we refuse to listen.

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Lord, have mercy.Lord, have mercy.

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Your Son our Saviourwas born in the poverty of a manger.Forgive us when we give in to our greed.

Christ, have mercy.Christ, have mercy.

The shepherds left their flocksto go to Bethlehem.Forgive us when we become narrow-minded.

Lord, have mercy.Lord, have mercy.

May the God of forgivenessheal you of all that harms youand lead you into life eternal. Amen.

GloriaJoy to the world! The Lord is come;let earth receive her King;let ev'ry heart prepare him room,and heav'n and nature sing, and heav'n and nature sing,and heav'n and heav'n and

nature sing.

Joy to the earth! The Saviour reigns;let us our songs employ; while fields and floods, rocks, hills and plainsrepeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy,repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

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He rules the world with truth and grace,and makes the nations provethe glories of his righteousness,and wonders of his love,and wonders of his love,and wonders, and wonders of his love.

Isaac Watts (1674-1748), based on Psalm 98, alt.Tune: Antioch

CollectLet us pray.God of every creature,whose Son was bornfor all the world;we praise you for the shepherdswho lived between the earth and sky,who, with animals and angels,greeted the Word made flesh:may we share their urgencyto meet the promised childwith wonder and with joy;through Jesus Christ, who binds all things together. Amen.

Prayers for an Inclusive Church.

Attending

Reading – Galatians 4. 4 – 7 read by Robert Beard.

A reading from Paul’s letter to Christians in Galatia.

BUT WHEN THE FULLNESS of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6 And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,

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crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ 7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

Let us wait upon the Lord;in whose word is our hope. Psalm 130.5.

CarolWhile shepherds watched their flocks by night,all seated on the ground,the angel of the Lord came down,and glory shone around.'Fear not,' said he, (for mighty dread had seized their troubled mind) `glad tidings of great joy I bring to you and all mankind.To you in David's town this day is born of David's linea Saviour, who is Christ the Lord; and this shall be the sign:The heav'nly babe you there shall find to human view displayed,all meanly wrapped in swathing bands, and in a manger laid.'Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith appeared a shining throngof angels praising God, who thus addressed their joyful song: 'All glory be to God on high,and on the earth be peace,goodwill henceforth from heav'n to all begin and never cease.'

Nahum Tate (1652-1715).Tune: from Thomas Este's Psalter (1592)

Gospel – Luke 2. 15 – 21.

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The good news is proclaimed from the heart of the worshipping community.

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,and we have seen his glory.Alleluia.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.Glory to you, O Lord.

WHEN THE ANGELS had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 21 After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon – Revd Shan Rush.Followed by a period of silence for reflection.

Responding

Prayers of Solidarity & Concern, led by Eve Saunders.The following bidding and response is used after each petition.

Light of the world.Bring healing, bring peace.

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At the end.

Christ, Light of the world.May your healing peace bring hope to our troubled world;be born in us, we pray. Amen.

Greeting of PeaceUnto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:and his name is called the Prince of Peace.Of the increase of his government and of peacethere shall be no end. Isaiah 9.6.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.And also with you.Gestures of peace and goodwill are shared.

HymnA collection is taken for the ministry of St Mark’s. If you are a taxpayer and are not currently a member of the church’s planned giving scheme, please place your gift in one of the envelopes provided, writing your name and address on the front. Thank you.

WHO WOULD think that what was neededto transform and save the earthmight not be a plan or army,proud in purpose proved in worth?Who would think despite derision,that a child might lead the way?God surprises earth with heaven,coming here on Christmas Day.Shepherds watch and wise men wonder,monarchs scorn and angels sing;such a place as none would reckonhosts a holy, helpless thing;stable beasts and by-passed strangerswatch a baby laid in hay:God surprises earth with heaven,

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coming here on Christmas Day.Centuries of skill and sciencespan the past from which we move,yet experience questions whether,with such progress we improve.While the human lot we ponder,lest our hopes and humour fray,God surprises earth with heaven, John L Bell (b 1949)coming here on Christmas Day. & Graham Maule (b 1958).

AbidingPreparation

Tokens of our response to God, bread and wine, and the collection, are offered.

We bring to this table symbols of our lives.Bread to sustain us,wine to gladden the heartand money, the fruit of our labours.

As shepherds worshipped the Prince of Peace,these are our offerings of thanksgiving and praise.

The Great Prayer of ThanksgivingLet us pray. (Please sit or kneel)

May God be with you.And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.We lift them to God.

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Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.It is right to give thanks and praise.

In this mystery of the Word made fleshyou 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 visibleand so are caught up in the love of the God we cannot see.Therefore with all the angels of heavenwe lift our voices to proclaim the glory of your name, saying:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,God of truth and love,heaven and earth are full of your glory.Hosanna in the highest.Blessed is he, O blessed is he,who comes in the name of the Lord.Hosanna in the highest.

Father of all, we give you thanksfor every gift that comes from heaven.To the darkness Jesus came as your light.With signs of faith and words of hopehe touched untouchables with love and washed the guilty clean.This is his story.This is our song:Hosanna in the highest.The crowds came out to see your Son,yet at the end they turned on him.

On the night he was betrayedhe came to table with his friendsto celebrate the freedom of your people.

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This is his story.This is our song:Hosanna in the highest.Jesus blessed you, Father, for the food;he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and said:This is my body, given for you all.Jesus then gave thanks for the wine;he took the cup, gave it and said:This is my blood, shed for you all for the forgiveness of sins.Do this in remembrance of me.This is our story.This is our song:Hosanna in the highest.Therefore, Father, with this bread and this cupwe celebrate the crosson which he died to set us free.Defying death he rose againand is alive with you to plead for us and all the world.

This is our story.This is our song:Hosanna in the highest.Send your Spirit on us nowthat by these gifts we may feed on Christwith opened eyes and hearts on fire.May we and all who share this foodoffer ourselves to live for youand be welcomed at your feast in heavenwhere all creation worships you,Father, Son and Holy Spirit:Blessing and honour and glory and powerbe yours for ever and ever. Amen.

Common Worship, Prayer D.

Lord’s Prayer & Communion

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Rejoicing in God’s presence among us,we pray as Jesus taught us.

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 sinsas we forgive those who sin against us.Lead us not into temptationbut deliver us from evil.For the kingdom, the powerand the glory are yoursnow and for ever. Amen.The bread is broken.

We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.Though we are many, we are one body,because we all share in one bread.

Words of invitation follow.

Draw near to Bethlehem,House of Bread,where hungry hearts are satisfied,seeking souls find wisdom,and failing faith is kindled back to life.Today, God has turned the world upside-downand restored the dignity of all people. Alleluia!Everyone is invited to share in the communion through receiving the bread and wine or if preferred, a prayer of blessing. Please approach the altar rail with those around you. Gluten-free bread rolls are used.

During administration, we sing together:

In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful,

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in the Lord I will rejoice!Look to God, do not be afraid;lift up your voices: the Lord is near,lift up your voices: the Lord is near. Taizé.

At the conclusion, silence is shared.

VenturingPrayers of Commitment

Let us pray.

GOD of the stable,God of the manger,we thank you for revealing your gloryin the humility of our humanityand in ordinary things made holy:we offer you our lives in the serviceof those who walk in darknessand those who have seen a great light;that Christ may be found among us and his beauty transfigure the world. Amen.

BlessingMay the joy of the angels,the eagerness of the shepherds,the perseverance of the sages,the obedience of Joseph and Mary,and the peace of the Christ-childbe yours this Christmas;and the blessing of God,Creator, Christ and Sacred Spirit,be upon you and those whom you love,both living and departed, now and always. Amen.

Carol IT CAME upon the midnight clear,

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that glorious song of old,from angels bending near the earthto touch their harps of gold:‘Peace on the earth, good will to allfrom heaven’s all-gracious King!’The world in solemn stillness layto hear the angels sing.Still through the cloven skies they come,with peaceful wings unfurled;and still their heavenly music floatso’er all the weary world:above its sad and lowly plainsthey bend on hovering wing;and ever o’er its Babel-soundsthe blessed angels sing.Yet with the woes of sin and strifethe world has suffered long;beneath the angel-strain have rolledtwo thousand years of wrong;and warring humankind hears notthe love-song which they bring:O hush the noise of mortal strife,and hear the angels sing.

For lo, the days are hastening on,by prophets seen of old,when with the ever-circling yearscomes round the age of gold:when peace shall over all the earthits ancient splendours fling,and all the world give back the songwhich now the angels sing.

Edmund Hamilton Sears (1810-76).Tune: Noel

Commission (please face the back of church)

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When the song of the angels is stilled,when the star in the sky is gone,when the kings and princes are home,when the shepherds are back with their flocks,the work of Christmas begins:to find the lost, to heal the broken,to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner,to rebuild the nations, to bring peace among the people,to make music in the heart.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.In the name of Christ. Amen.

Voluntary.

Refreshments are served in the church lounge. Everyone is welcome to stay!

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Wishing youPeace and Joy

The following sources have been used in compiling this service: ‘Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England’; ‘Prayers for an Inclusive Church’, by Steven Shakespeare; ‘Shine on, Star of Bethlehem’, edited by Geoffrey Duncan; and locally produced texts. Hymns, songs and anthems are reproduced under Church Copyright Licence Number 294846.

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