Week 4 of Advent
(words for hymns and bible readings are listed after the call to worship)
Welcome & Intimations
Call to worship
MP 644: The first Noel
Lighting the 4th Advent Candle
Prayer & Lord’s Prayer
Video : Beautiful Star of Bethlehem
Children’s songs
Reading Luke 2 : 1 – 12
CH4 302 : It was on a starry night
The Sweetie Nativity
Video :Away in a manger
MP 83 : Come and join the celebration
Prayer for others
CH4 313: See in yonder
Blessing
Call to worship
We come to celebrate
God’s love
God’s hope
God’s joy
Given through the birth of Jesus
So may our worship
Honour Jesus
And speak to us of his peace
MP 644: The first Noel
1 The first Nowell the angels did say,
was to Bethlehem’s shepherds in fields as they lay;
in fields where they kay keeping their sheep
on a cold winter’s nights that was so deep:
Chorus: Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel!
2 Then wise men from a country far
looked up and saw a guiding star;
they travelled in by night and day
to reach the place where Jesus lay:
3 At Bethlehem they entered in,
on bended knee they worshipped Him;
they offered the in His presence
their gold and myrrh and frankincense:
4 Then let us all with one accord
sing praises to our heavenly Lord;
for Christ has our salvation wrought
and with His blood mankind has brought;
Luke 2:1-12 New International Version
The Birth of Jesus
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.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
CH4 302 : It was on a starry night
1 It was on a starry night when the hills were bright,
earth lay sleeping, sleeping calm and still;
then in a cattle shed, in a manger bed,
a boy was born, King of all the world.
Chorus: And all the angels sang to him,
the bells of heaven rang for him;
for a boy was born, King of all the world.
And all the angels sang to him,
the bells of heaven rang for him;
for a boy was born, King of all the world.
2 Soon the shepherds came that way, where the baby lay,
and kneeling, kneeling by his side,
to celebrate his birth bringing peace on earth;
a boy was born, King of all the world.
MP 83 : Come and join the celebration
Come and join the celebration,
it’s a very special day;
come and share our jubilation
there’s a new King born today!
1 See the shepherds
hurry down to Bethlehem
gaze in wonder
as the Son God who lay before them.
2 Wise men journey,
led to worship by a star,
kneel in homage,
bringing precious gifts from lands afar, so
3 ‘God is with us,’
’round the world the message bring;
He is with us,
‘Welcome!’ all the bells on earth are pealing,
CH4 313: See in yonder
1 See! in yonder manger low,
born for us on earth below,
see! the tender Lamb appears
promised from eternal years.
Chorus: Hail, thou ever-blessed morn!
Hail, redemption’s happy dawn!
Sing, through all Jerusalem,
‘Christ is born in Bethlehem!’
2 Lo! within a manger lies
he who built the starry skies,
he who, throned in height subline,
sits amid the cherubim.
3 Say, ye holy shepherds, say,
what your joyful news today;
wherefore have ye left your sheep
on the lonely mountain steep?
4 ‘As we watched at dead of night,
lo! we saw a wonderous light;
angels, singing peace on earth,
told us of the Saviour’s birth.’
5 Sacred Infant, all Divine,
what a tender love was thine,
thus to come from highest bliss
down to such a world as this!