WORSHIPPING, CARING, GROWING, REACHING OUT, IN THE NAME OF CHRIST
Order of Service
“Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all
the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the
Messiah, the Lord.”
Luke 2:10b-11
The Gathering: We Come into God’s Presence
*Please rise and stand as you are able.
Organ Prelude Chorale Prelude on “In dulci jubilo” J. S. Bach
Matthew Larkin
Welcome and Announcements
*Hymn 146 Angels from the realms of glory “Regent Square”
Henry T. Smart (1813-1879) Words: James Montgomery (1771-1854)
*Call to Worship from Isaiah 9:2,6 Rev. Dr. Karen Dimock
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined.
For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlast of Peace.
Prayers of Approach
Call to Confession**
Prayer of Confession and Words of Forgiveness
Holy God, too often we feel as if change is hopeless, the problems of this world
too big,
the path forward is unclear, and we are not confident that we can make a
difference.
Sometimes we give up hope
(The candle of hope is snuffed out).
Together we pray
Forgive us for extinguishing Hope
Holy God, too often we believe that peace is a thing of fairy tales. Our spirits
are anxious and our bodies are weary.
Our world is fractured. Instead of praying for peace- both in ourselves and in
society- we assume that peace is no longer on the table and sometimes we
give up on it
(The candle of peace is snuffed out).
Together we pray
Forgive us for extinguishing Peace
Holy God, too often we paint joy as naïve, a luxury reserved for children and
pets.
We forget that you ate with friends, went to weddings, laughed and rested and
hiked up mountains.
We forget that you knew joy and that you want joy for us in this. Forgive us
for when we have turned from your light
(The candle of joy is snuffed out).
Together we pray
Forgive us for extinguishing Joy
Holy God, we confess that sometimes we treat love like a vending machine.
We put some coins in and assume we will get something back. However in our
wisest moments we also know that love is not meant to keep score.
It is meant to overflow and spill out to our neighbours, to be what you are
doing to transform the world. Forgive us for holding love so tightly.
(The candle of love is snuffed out).
Together we pray
Forgive us for extinguishing Love
Assurance of Forgiveness
(As the candles of hope, peace and joy are relit from the Christ candle.)
We are forgiven
We are loved
The good news of this day, the hope, the peace, the joy and the love
of this day,
They exist for you.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
Psalm 96 (responsive) - Sing to the Lord a new song
Prayer for Illumination** Melanie Abeysundera
Invitation to the Offering**
Like Mary,
we believe in cherishing the good news.
Like the angels,
we believe in singing God’s praise
Like the shepherds,
we believe that God’s presence in our life is something worth
talking about
Like the generations before,
we believe that God is with us.
Like the generations to come,
we believe that God is with us.
God is here, God is love,
Thanks be to God
We Respond to God’s Word
Scripture Reading Luke 2:1-20 NT Pg. 55
Hymn 149 Away in a manger “Cradle Song”
W.J. Kirkpatrick (1838-1921) Words: Children’s Book (1885)
Children’s Time
Hymn 168 See amid the winter’s snow “Humility”
John Goss (1800-1880) Words: Edward Caswell (1814-1878)
Poetic Reading of John 1:1-5** Jeanie Hicks and Joan Rivard
Anthem Solo In the bleak midwinter Gustav Holst (1874-1934)
Michael Carty
Meditation God dwells with us
Prayers of the People
Bidding: O God of Love
Draw us together in your light
The Sending: We Go out into God’s World
Hymn 139 Hark! The herald angels sing “Mendelssohn”
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) Words: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Prayer of Dedication
Charge and Benediction
Organ Postlude Chorale Prelude on “In dulci jubilo” J. S. Bach