Call to Worship
We waited and imagined a saviour. We imagined power, one like the world but stronger and on our side.
We imagined a king on a white horse wielding a sword; we got a baby born in a stable among the livestock.
We imagined the work done for us; through the destruction of our enemies.
We receive a baby who will teach us our calling to seek reconciliation and to love expansively.
Praise be to God for the unexpected babe of Bethlehem.
Praise to the wisdom of love. Amen!
Prayer of Invocation
From Mary’s sweet silence, Come, Word mutely spoken!
Pledge of our real life, Come, Bread yet unbroken!
Seed of the Golden Wheat, In us be sown.
Fullness of true Light, Through us be known.
Secret held tenderly, Guarded with Love,
Cradled in purity, Child of the Dove,
Come!
Please read Matthew 1:18-23
HE SHALL SAVE HIS PEOPLE
The angel said, “You shall call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.” The very next verse says that he will be called Immanuel, which means God With Us.
Jesus means Saviour.
Immanuel means God With Us.
We need both.
We need a Saviour because we are sinners. But the only way God could save us was to leave heaven and to live among us.
That’s what Christmas is all about:
· It’s about the truth that God actually came down to earth in the person of a little baby
· It’s about the truth that Jesus was born of a virgin named Mary in a village called Bethlehem
· It’s about the truth that Jesus was fully God and fully man, the God-man
As the familiar carol puts it:
See Him in the manger laid
Jesus, Lord of heaven and earth!
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
Sing with us our Saviour’s birth.
May that be your experience during this Christmas!
Prayer of intercession
A brief look at the news shouts out that there are many dark places in our world:
· Darkness through mindless violence
· Darkness through frustration and horror
· Darkness through grief and distress
· Darkness through pain and disease
· Darkness deep in the souls of those we love…
Holy One
· into these dark places
· into those unnamed dark places
· into the darkness of fear and loneliness
pour out your radiance, shower down your light, break through pure brilliance until the darkness is dispelled and our hearts find peace and the light of hope can shine forth again fresh and new with this new day – hear our prayers we pray, Amen
Benediction
Alleluia! Our God is now here!
Go forth to spread the Good News wherever you go, sharing God’s love and promise with all whom you meet.
Go into the world to:
· find the lost
· heal the broken
· feed the hungry
· release the prisoner
· rebuild the nations
· bring peace among people
· and make music in every heart.
Alleluia! Our God is now here!
In the name of our God, Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit, we cry out with the angels in the heavens and the shepherds in the fields:
Alleluia! Our God is now here! Amen.
Suggested listening Josh Groban – Angels We Have Heard on High www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtByTy_5jqI Carol Of The Bells – The Big Moon www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Xy2TMuHLiU Labour of Love – Andrew Peterson www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYjYi4tYvXU My Soul Magnifies the Lord – Chris Tomlin www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHzevDE3xhU
Have a happy and holy Christmas – God Blesses us all
