O come all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye O come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
Born the King of angels
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord
Sing choirs of angels
Sing in exultation
O sing all ye bright
Hosts of heav'n above
Glory to God
Glory in the highest
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord
Yea Lord we greet Thee
Born this happy morning
Jesus to Thee be all glory giv'n
Word of the Father
Now in flesh appearing
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord
10 Then the Lord spoke again to Ahaz: 11 “Ask for a sign from the Lord your God -it can be as deep as Sheol or as high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz replied, “I will not ask. I will not test the Lord.” 13 Isaiah said, “Listen, house of David! Is it not enough for you to try the patience of men? Will you also try the patience of my God? 14 Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, you Rod of Jesse, free
Your own from Satan's tyranny.
From depths of Hell your people save
And give them victory o'er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel
O come, you Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.
Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Oh, bid our sad divisions cease,
And be yourself our King of Peace.
|| Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel. ||
REPEAT
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
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
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 meek and lowly
Lived on earth our Saviour holy
Jesus 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 feels for all our sadness
And He shares in all our gladness
And our eyes at last shall see Him
Through his own redeeming love
For that Child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above
And He leads His children on
To the place where He has gone
In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Saviour was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to people he favours!
When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Shepherds why this jubilee
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ whose birth the angels sing
Come adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord the newborn King
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria in excelsis Deo
See him in a manger laid
Whom the choirs of angels praise
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid
While our hearts in love we raise
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death-that is, the devil - and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. For it is clear that he does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham’s offspring. Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine! O night when Christ was born
O night divine! O night, o night divine!
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
Over the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wise men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.
He knows our need, to our weakness he's no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
(interlude)
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine! O night when Christ was born
O night divine! O night, o night divine!
We three kings of Orient are.
Bearing gifts we traverse afar.
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.
Oh
Star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.
Born a king on Bethlehem's plain,
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign.
Frankincense for Jesys have I.
God on earth yet priest on high
Prayer and praising all men raising,
Worship is earth's reply
Oh
Star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.
Myrrh is mine: its bitter perfume
Tells of death and Calvary's gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Peals through the earth and skies.
Oh
Star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.
Minister's introduction.
Almighty God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, you made all things,
and you call everyone to account. With shame we confess
the sins we have committed against you, in thought, word and deed.
We rightly deserve your condemnation. We turn from our sins
and are truly sorry for them;
they are a burden we cannot bear.
Have mercy on us, most merciful Father.
For the sake of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive us all that is past.
Enable us to serve and please you in newness of life, to your honour and glory,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty God our heavenly Father, who has promised to forgive the sins of all who turn to him with repentance and faith, have mercy on you; pardon and deliver you from all your sins, strengthen you to do his will, and keep you in eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hear these words of assurance for those who truly turn to Christ. The apostle Paul said: ‘Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’. 1 Timothy 1:15
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
He is worthy of all praise.
Always and everywhere, it is right for us to praise you, Lord, holy Father, mighty Creator and eternal God.
We praise you for giving your only Son Jesus Christ to be made man for us. By the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the virgin Mary his mother, without sin, to make us free from all sin.
Therefore, with all those gathered around your throne in heaven, we proclaim your great and glorious name, in words of never-ending praise.
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Glory to you, Lord most high.
We do not presume to come to your table, merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your many and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table. But you are the same Lord whose nature is always to have mercy. Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of your dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen.
We thank you, our Father, that in your love and mercy you gave your only Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our salvation. By this offering of himself once and for all time Jesus made a full, perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world and commanded us to continue a remembrance of his precious death until his coming again.
Hear us, merciful Father, and grant that we who receive these gifts of your creation, this bread and this wine, according to our Saviour’s command, in remembrance of his suffering and death, may be partakers of his body and blood.
On the night he was betrayed, Jesus took bread and, when he had given thanks, he broke it, then gave it to his disciples, saying,
‘Take and eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’
In the same way after the meal, Jesus took the cup and, when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying,
‘Drink from this, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’
So let us eat and drink in remembrance that Christ died for us, and feed on him in our hearts by faith with thanksgiving.
Let us pray.
As our Saviour Christ has taught us, we are confident to say,
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 sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.
May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.
Joy to the world! The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing
Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders and wonders of His love
God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Saviour
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan's pow'r
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
From God our heavenly Father
A blessed 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 of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
Fear not then said the angel
Let nothing you affright
This day is born a Saviour
Of a pure virgin bright
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan's pow'r and might
O tidings of comfort and joy ..
The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest storms and wind
And went to Bethlehem straightway
The blessed Babe to find
O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
And when they came to Bethlehem
Where our dear Saviour lay
They found Him in a manger
Where oxen feed on hay
His mother Mary kneeling down
Unto the Lord did pray
O tidings of comfort and joy...
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 deface
O tidings of comfort and joy ...