(words for hymns and bible readings can be found below the order of service)
Welcome & Intimations
Call to worship
Lighting 4th Candle – Joy
Prayer of dedication
Hymn: Child in the manger
Baptism (including Lord’s Prayer)
Blessing – Aaronic
Video of UK blessing
Readings and Luke 2: 15 – 20
Hymn: See him lying in a bed of straw
Reflection
Prayer for others
Hymn: Ding dong merrily
Benediction
Call to Worship
A child is born to us
A son is given
He will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Eternal father, Prince of Peace
From Isaiah 9
Hymn: Child in the manger
1 Child in a manger, infant of Mary,
outcast and stranger, Lord of all!
Child who inherits all our transgressions,
all our demerits on Him fall.
2 Once the most holy child of salvation
gentle and lowly lived below;
now as our glorious mighty Redeemer,
see Him victorious over each foe.
3 Prophets fortold Him, infant of wonder;
angels behold Him on His thone:
worthy our Saviour of all their praises;
happy for ever are His own.
Reading – Luke 2: 15 – 20
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So, they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Hymn: See him lying in a bed of straw
1 See him liying on a bed of straw:
a draughty stable with an open door;
Mary cradling the babe she bore –
the Prince of glory is His name.
Chorus
O now carry me to Bethlehem
to see the Lord appear to men –
just as poor as was the stable then,
the Prince of glory when He came.
2 Star of silverm sweep across the skies,
show where Jesus in the manger lies;
shepherds, switfly from your stupor rise
to see the Saviour of the world!
Chorus
3 Angels, sing the song that you began,
bring God’s glory to the heart of man;
sing that Bethl’em’s little baby can
be salvation to the soul.
Chorus
4 Mines are riches, from Your poverty,
from Your innocence, eternity;
mine forgiveness by Your death for me,
child of sorrow for my joy.
Chorus
Hymn: Ding dong merrily
1 Ding dong! Merrily on High
in heaven the bells are ringing.
Ding dong! Verily the sky
is riven with angels singing:
Chorus
Gloria, hosanna in excelsis;
Gloria, hosanna in excelsis!
2 E’en so, here below below,
let the steeple bells be swungen:
and i-o, i-o, i-o,
by priest and people sungen!
Chorus
3 Pray you, dutifully prime
your matin chime, ye ringers;
may you beautifully rime
your eve-time song, ye singers:
Chorus