Christmas Music to Play before service
Call To Worship &Introduction: Rev Alison
Congregational Carol: O Come all ye faithful
Prayer
Gracious God, your angels broke into the midnight of a sleeping world to sing
the news that Christ was born in Bethlehem.
Break into the midnight of our dark world and stir hearts to hear again
the message of your love.
O God, on this night of joyful and expectant wonder, we look forward to the
coming of the child whose birth was foretold by prophets, acclaimed by
angels, and greeted by shepherds.
Open our eyes to see in him your loving purposes, and arouse
within us the spirit of adoring praise.
Loving God, in the stillness of this midnight hour, touch our understanding
with your Holy Spirit, that we may know again in true reality the wonder of
your love in Jesus Christ; and though there was no room for him in
Bethlehem's inn, help us to make more room for him in our lives, responding
to his love and receiving his peace.
Come, Lord Jesus,
where there is hatred, give love,
where there is sadness, give joy,
where there is discord, give peace.
Come Lord Jesus, be light for our darkness, for the hour of your birth is near.
Come, Lord Jesus, be born in our hearts through faith. Amen
Setting the Scene
Congregational Carol: It came upon a midnight clear
Playing Music: Memories!
Scene 1: Mary remembered (Joan as Mary)
Bible Reading: Isaiah 9: 6-7 Ashley
Congregational Carol:In the bleak Midwinter
Scene 2: Heavenly Visit (Simon as Shepheard)
Bible Reading: Luke 1: 26-38 Joy
Congregational Carol: Silent Night
Scene 3: Journey to Bethlehem (Amy as donkey)
Bible Reading: Luke 2: 1-7 Bob
Congregational Carol: O little town of Bethlehem
Scene 4: The Shepherds (Diane as Shepheard)
Bible Reading: Luke 2: 8-20 Gordon
Congregational Carol: Hark the Herald
Scene 5:The Kings Norman
Bible Reading: Matthew 2: 1-12 Lisa
Congregational Carol: We three Kings
Talk
I want to express my thanks tonight to those who have creatively used their skills to retell the Christmas story from the more sideways look at things.
Women doing family research, angels who didn’t make it, donkeys who remember things so vividly, a shepherd’s wife and Kings companion – all who told of the birth of the Christ child and how this birth impacted their lives..
The truth is that the birth of the Christ child did have an impact on many many more people other than the obvious Holy family, Shepherds and Kings that we usual remember at this time, this story continues to have an impact on each one of us today, why else would you be hear at midnight on Christmas day?
For tonight, in this moment we have journeyed to the stable, we have travelled to Bethlehem to see Jesus born for us. Jesus born into our world - into our lives. Like many of those stories we have shared tonight, we were not there on that great night – we do not know first hand, and yet in many cases we have to say that the impact of this amazing story has changed our lives, shaped our thinking, affected our personalities.
We were not there, we heard no angels, we saw no bright star, and yet the hearing of this story, has caused us again to stop and wonder on how God took on our humanity and became a new born baby. Something within us is strangely stirred at the thought that this wonderful birth was for me too!
In our moments of helpless searching
On our long journeys when kids ask again and again “Are we nearly there?”
On those long sleepless nights
At times when we know rejection, helplessness and frustration.
In these moments Christ is born for us, and draws near again.
In our moments when our joy cannot be contained
When we shares gifts and time with friends and loved ones;
When our searching results in amazing finds
When we know deep joy, sincerity and peace.
In these moments Christ is born for us, and draws near again.
For tonight Christ is born for you, into this same world, sharing our stories, our lives, partaking in our flesh our humanity, travelling with us wherever we go.
May God bless you this Christmastime and always. And may the child in the Manger always be our friend and Companion on life’s way. Amen