WELCOME AND NOTICES
Fern to light Advent Candle during singing of this carol…
CAROL: Once in Royal David’s City
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 mean and lowly lived on earth our Saviour holy.
Not in that poor lowly stable, with the oxen standing by,
We shall see him: but in heaven, set at God’s right hand on high
When, like stars, his children crowned all in white shall wait around.
OPENING PRAYER & LORD’S PRAYER John Shanks
1st READING: Genesis 3: 8-15 John
Humanity’s sinfulness moves God to anger
CAROL: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
I heard the bells on Christmas day,
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth,good will to men.
I thought how,as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along th’un broken song
Of peace on earth,good will to men.
And in despair I bow’d my head;
“There is no peace on earth’,I said,
“For hate is strong,and mocks the song
Of peace on earth ,good will to men”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead,nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail,the right prevail,
With peace on earth,good will to men. ©Henry W Longfellow.
2nd Reading: Genesis 22: 1-19 John
God promises Abraham & Sarah that the nations of the earth shall be blessed.
CAROL: Of the Father’s Love Begotten (remain seated)
Of the Father’s love begotten ere 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.
O that birth for ever blessed when the virgin, full of grace,
by the Holy Ghost conceiving bore the saviour of our race,
and the babe, the world’s redeemer, first revealed his sacred face, evermore and evermore.
In the heights of heaven adore him, angel hosts his praises sing,
all dominions bow before him and extol our God and King;
let no tongue on earth be silent, every voice in concert sing
evermore and evermore.
3rd READING: Isaiah 9: 2, 6-7 The people who walked in darkness John
CAROL: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (remain seated)
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 thee, O Israel.
O come, thou key of David, come, and open wide our heavenly home
Make safe the way that leads on high and close the path to misery…
O come, thou rod of Jesse, free thine own from Satan’s tyranny; from depths of hell thy people save and give them victory o’er the grave…
4th READING: Isaiah 11:1-9 Audrey
The peace that Christ will bring is foreshown
CAROL: Above the Peaks the Angels Sing (Tune: Sussex Carol)
Above the peaks the angels sing, across the snow their voices ring, and musterers come riding down, to find the little country town
where Christ is waiting to be born,
our summer Child, this Christmas morn.
Across the hills the rata spread their signal fires of smokey red;
by golden sands and whit’ning shell pohutukawa flames to tell
that Christ is waiting to be born,
our summer Child, this Christmas morn.
Beneath a Southern Cross of light, led by Pointers, through the night
three travellers are hast’ning home from distant lands to find their own; for Christ is waiting to be born,
our summer Child, this Christmas morn.
We too would sing that ancient song and join the busy, hurrying throng, and take the road once more to find that hallowed place in heart and mind where Christ is waiting to be born,
our summer Child, this Christmas morn. ©Colin Gibson
5th READING: Luke 1:26-38 Audrey
The Angel Gabriel Salutes the Virgin Mary
CAROL: Silent Night (remain seated)
Silent night, holy night: all is calm, all is bright
round yon virgin mother and child: holy infant so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night: shepherds quake at the sight;
glory streams from heaven afar, heavenly hosts sing “Alleluia;
Christ the Saviour is born, Christ the Saviour is born.”
Silent night, holy night: wondrous star, lend your light;
with the angels let us sing Alleluia to our King;
Jesus, Lord, at your birth, Jesus, Lord, at your birth. C/A
6th READING: Luke 2:1-7 Luke tells of the birth of Jesus Audrey
CAROL: O Little Town of Bethlehem (remain seated)
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see you lie!
Above your deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by:
yet, in your dark streets shining the everlasting light,
the hopes and fears of all the years are met in you tonight.
How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming; but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in. C/A
7th READING: Luke 2:8-20 The shepherds go to the manger June
CAROL: O Come All Ye Faithful
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.
True God of true God, light of light eternal,
Lo, he abhors not the Virgin’s womb;
Son of the Father, begotten, not created:
O come,let us adore him…
Sing choirs of angels, Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above,
“Glory to God in the highest”:
O come, let us adore him…
8th READING: Matt 2:1-11 The wise men are led by the star June
CAROL: We Three Kings
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain, gold I bring to crown Him again.
King for ever, ceasing never over us all to reign.
O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.
Frankincense to offer have I, incense owns a deity nigh.
Prayer and praising, all men raising, worship Him, God on high.
Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume breathes a life of gathering gloom.
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone cold tomb.
9th READING: John 1:1-14 The Mystery of the Incarnation June
OFFERING
PRAYER ~ June Service
CAROL: Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Hark! the herald angels sing glory to the newborn king,
Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.
Joyful, all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic host proclaim, ‘Christ is born in Bethlehem’.
Hark! The herald angels sing glory to the new born King.
Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold him come, offspring of a virgin’s womb!
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail the incarnate Deity!
Pleased as Man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel. Hark
Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings. Hark…
BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK: Sun 20th Sarah Jayne; Tue 22nd Lyall; Wed 23rd Graeme; Fri 25th Isobel.
NOTICES
A very warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning, Please stay for morning tea following the service. Thanks to the Worship Commitee for leading our service.
SERVICES FOR CHRISTMAS & JANUARY:
Thursday 24th December Christmas Eve
You are invited to join Beckenham Methodist at 11.30pm, or come along to St Anne’s Anglican Church at 11pm, or attend a service near you.
Friday 25th December 9.30am Combined Christmas Day Celebration
Sundays 27th December and 3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th January 10am Combined Services
WEDNESDAY WALKERS: meeting informally in Palatine Tce by Kaizuka every week 9.30am until 3 Feb. All welcome to join us. Sonya 339 7038.
CRAFTY CRAFTERS resumes on Thursday 28th January 2016.
QUALITY USED CLOTHING SALE Saturday 30th January 2016 9am at St Mark’s Anglican Church Hall, 101 Opawa Rd. We will also be selling jams, pickles, preserves, cakes, sweets etc… All donations gratefully received.
PARISH OFFICE: Phone 332 6192, Email: stmartpresch@xtra.co.nz. Website: www.stmartins.org.nz. The office will close at 12 noon on 24th December and reopen 9am Friday 22nd January. Anna.
2015 CWS CHRISTMAS APPEAL: At the heart of the Appeal are stories of determination and courage that give a glimpse of the work of CWS partners helping to rebuild people’s lives one by one.
Advent 4: Love – Growing Good Gardens in Vanuatu.
18 year old Allick is replanting the family garden after Cyclone Pam. He will also build a new home strong enough to withstand further cyclones and collect rain water for survival. Preparing for disasters is now central to the work of ACT Alliance. Please give generously to this Appeal. Over 70 years, your gifts have helped people get through difficult times. www.christmasappeal.org.nz.
THE FINAL ALPINE PRESBYTERY NEWSLETTER for 2015 is on the noticeboard in the Lounge.