Jesus Presented in the Temple

(the words for hymn and bible reading follow the order of service)

Welcome and Intimations

Call to worship
HYMN  337  [MP]  In the bleak mid winter
Prayer & Lord’s Prayer
All-age time
HYMN 428 [MP]   Lord for the years
Reading:  Luke 2: 21-40
HYMN 539  [MP]  Once in royal David’s city
Sermon
HYMN 345 [MP]  It came upon the midnight clear
Prayers for the world
HYMN 237 [CH4]  Look forward in faith
Benediction

HYMN  337  [MP]  In the bleak mid winter

1 In the bleak mid-winter,
frosty winds made moan,
earth stood hard as iron,
water like a stone;
snow had fallen, snow on snow,
snow on snow,
in the bleak mid-winter,
long ago.

2 Our God, heaven cannot hold Him,
nor earth sustain,
heaven and earth shall flee away
when He comes to reign;
in the bleak mid-winter
a stable place sufficed
the Lord God almighty,
Jesus Christ.

3 Angels and archangels
may have gathered there,
cherubim and seraphim
thronged the air;
but His mother only,
in her maiden bliss,
worshipped the Beloved
with a kiss.

4 What can I give Him,
poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd,
I would bring a lamb;
if I were a wise man,
I would do my part;
yet what I can I give Him –
give my heart.

HYMN 428 [MP]   Lord for the years

1 Lord, for the years Your love has kept and guided,
urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way,
sought us, and saved us, pardoned and provided;
Lord of the years, we bring our thanks today.

2 Lord for that word, the word of life which fires us,
speaks to our hearts, and sets our souls ablaze,
teaches and trains, rebukes us and inspires us;
Lord of the word, receive Your people’s praise.

3 Lord, for our land in this our generation,
spirit oppressed by pleasure, wealth and care;
for young and old, for commonwealth and nation,
Lord of out land, be pleased to hear our prayer.

4 Lord, for our world where men disown and doubt You,
loveless in strength, and comfortless in pain,
hungry and helpless, lost indeed without You;
Lord of the world, we pray that Christ may reign.

5 Lord, for ourselves; in living power remake us –
self on the cross and Christ upon the throne,
past put behind us, for the future takes us;
Lord of our lives, to live for Christ alone.

 Luke 2: 21-40
When the child was eight days old, he was circumcised. At the same time he was named Jesus. This was the name the angel had given him before his mother became pregnant.
The time came for making Mary “clean” as required by the Law of Moses. So Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Jerusalem. There they presented him to the Lord.  In the Law of the Lord it says, “The first boy born in every family must be set apart for the Lord.”  They also offered a sacrifice. They did it in keeping with the Law, which says, “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.
In Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was a good and godly man. He was waiting for God’s promise to Israel to come true. The Holy Spirit was with him.  The Spirit had told Simeon that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.  The Spirit led him into the temple courtyard. Then Jesus’ parents brought the child in. They came to do for him what the Law required. Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God. He said,
“Lord, you are the King over all.
Now let me, your servant, go in peace.
That is what you promised.
My eyes have seen your salvation.
You have prepared it in the sight of all nations.
 It is a light to be given to the Gentiles.
It will be the glory of your people Israel.”
The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him.  Then Simeon blessed them. He said to Mary, Jesus’ mother, “This child is going to cause many people in Israel to fall and to rise. God has sent him. But many will speak against him.  The thoughts of many hearts will be known. A sword will wound your own soul too.”
There was also a prophet named Anna. She was the daughter of Penuel from the tribe of Asher. Anna was very old. After getting married, she lived with her husband seven years.  Then she was a widow until she was 84. She never left the temple. She worshiped night and day, praying and going without food.  Anna came up to Jesus’ family at that moment. She gave thanks to God. And she spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the time when Jerusalem would be set free.
Joseph and Mary did everything the Law of the Lord required. Then they returned to Galilee. They went to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong. He was very wise. He was blessed by God’s grace.

HYMN 539  [MP]  Once in royal David’s city

1 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.

2 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.

3 And through all His wonderous childhood
He would honour and obey,
love, and watch the lowly mother,
in whose gentle arms He lay;
Christian children all should be,
kind, obedient, good as He.

4 For He is our childhood’s pattern;
day by day, like us He grew;
He was little, weak, and helpless,
tears and smiles like us He knew;
and He feels for all our sadness,
and He shares in all our gladness

5 And our eyes at last shall see Him,
through His own redeeming love;
for that child, so dear and gentle,
is our Lord in heaven above,
and He leads His children on
to the place where He is gone.

6 Not in that poor lowly stable,
with the oxen standing by,
we shall see Him, but in heaven,
set as God’s right hand on high;
there His children gather round,
bright like stars, with glory crowned.
HYMN 345 [MP]  It came upon the midnight clear

1 It came upon the midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth
to touch their harps of gold;
‘Peace on the earth, goodwill to men,
from heaven’s all-gracious king!’
The world in solemn stillness lay
to hear the angels sing.

2 With sorrow brought by sin and strife
the world has suffered long,
and, since the angels sang, have passed
two thousand years of wrong;
for man at war with man hears not
the love-song which they bring;
O hush the noise, you men of strife,
and hear the angels! sing!

3 And those who journey now is hard,
whose hope is burning low,
who tread the rocky path of life,
with painful steps and slow;
O listen to the news of love
which makes the heavens ring!
O rest beside the weary road
and hear the angels sing!

4 And still the days are hastening on –
by prophets seen of old –
towards the fulness of the time
when comes the age foretold;
then earth and heaven renewed shall see
the Prince of peace, their King;
and all the world repeat the song
which now the angels sing.

HYMN 237 [CH4]  Look forward in faith

1 Look forward in faith,
all time is in God’s hand.
Walk humbly with him
and trust his future plan.
God has wisely led
his people by his power
Look forward in hope
he gives us each new hour.

2 Look forward in faith,
the world is in God’s care.
His purpose of love
he calls on is to share.
In our neighbour’s need
the Lord is present still.
He blesses the meek!
The earth will know God’s will.

3 Look forward in faith
God gives us life each day.
Go onward with Christ,
his Spirit guides our way.
Now God lets us live
within the sphere of grace.
Trust ever in him,
he rules o’er earth and space!