Welcome to our virtual service!
We’re really glad you can join us for this service. Everything you need for the service is on this webpage. Simply press the red play button on each of the videos as you come to them. You might also like to print out the service sheet below.
For those joining us at 10:30, please see the Zoom instructions on the service sheet, as we will run our service live over Zoom. If you are joining our virtual service at a different time, then just work your way down this webpage.
Today’s service sheet can be downloaded here
The thinking behind the song choices is explained in italics
WELCOME
Watch the video of Rich’s welcome.
At this time of year, we celebrate the joy of Christ’s birth.
CAROL
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.
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, wonders of his love
and wonders, wonders of His love
and wonders, wonders of His love
Joy to the world
The wonders of Your love
The wonders of Your love
God tells Joseph through a dream what would happen with the birth of Jesus
BIBLE READING Matthew 1:18-25
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: his mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’
22 All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
In our next song we marvel at Jesus being Emmanuel, God with us.
CAROL
PRAYERS led by Toni Davies
In our next song we continue to celebrate the birth of Jesus for us
CAROL
On Christmas night all Christians sing
to hear the news that the angels bring;
on Christmas night all Christians sing
to hear the news that the angels bring:
news of great joy, news of great mirth,
news of our merciful King’s birth.
Then why should men on earth be sad
since our Redeemer made us glad;
then why should men on earth be sad
since our Redeemer made us glad
when from our sins he set us free,
all for to gain our liberty?
When sin departs before his grace,
Then life and health come in its place.
When sin departs before his grace,
Then life and health come in its place.
Angels and men with joy may sing
All for to see the new-born King!
All out of darkness we have light,
which made the angels sing this night;
all out of darkness we have light
which made the angels sing this night:
‘Glory to God, and peace to men
now and forever more, Amen!’
Watch the video for the activity, bible reading and talk
ACTIVITY
Bible or Bananas?!
BIBLE READING and TALK from Richard Hopkins
The socially un-distanced first Christmas
Luke 2:1-7
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”
In our closing song we celebrate that Jesus didn’t come to be distant from us but to be with us!
CAROL
CLOSING PRAYER from Rich Adam
Some material in this service is © Used by permission CCL Licence # 1102690. The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.