Jesus Presented in the Temple<\/p>\n
(the words for hymn and bible reading follow the order of service)<\/p>\n
Welcome and Intimations<\/p>\n
Call to worship HYMN\u00a0 337<\/u>\u00a0 [MP]\u00a0 In the bleak mid winter 1 In the bleak mid-winter, 2 Our God, heaven cannot hold Him, 3 Angels and archangels 4 What can I give Him, HYMN 428<\/u> [MP]\u00a0\u00a0 Lord for the years<\/p>\n 1 Lord, for the years Your love has kept and guided, 2 Lord for that word, the word of life which fires us, 3 Lord, for our land in this our generation, 4 Lord, for our world where men disown and doubt You, 5 Lord, for ourselves; in living power remake us – \u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Luke 2: 21-40 HYMN 539<\/u>\u00a0 [MP]\u00a0 Once in royal David\u2019s city 1 Once in royal David’s city 2 He came down to earth from heaven, 3 And through all His wonderous childhood 4 For He is our childhood’s pattern; 5 And our eyes at last shall see Him, 6 Not in that poor lowly stable, 1 It came upon the midnight clear, 2 With sorrow brought by sin and strife 3 And those who journey now is hard, 4 And still the days are hastening on – HYMN 237<\/u> [CH4]\u00a0 Look forward in faith<\/p>\n 1 Look forward in faith, 2 Look forward in faith, 3 Look forward in faith Jesus Presented in the Temple (the words for hymn and bible reading follow the order of service) Welcome and Intimations Call to worship HYMN\u00a0 337\u00a0 [MP]\u00a0 In the bleak mid winter Prayer & Lord\u2019s Prayer All-age time HYMN 428 [MP]\u00a0\u00a0 … Continue reading
\n<\/em><\/strong>HYMN\u00a0 337<\/u>\u00a0 [MP]\u00a0 In the bleak mid winter
\nPrayer & Lord\u2019s Prayer
\nAll-age time
\nHYMN 428<\/u> [MP]\u00a0\u00a0 Lord for the years
\nReading:\u00a0 Luke 2: 21-40
\nHYMN 539<\/u>\u00a0 [MP]\u00a0 Once in royal David\u2019s city
\nSermon
\nHYMN 345<\/u> [MP]\u00a0 It came upon the midnight clear
\nPrayers for the world
\nHYMN 237<\/u> [CH4]\u00a0 Look forward in faith
\nBenediction <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/u><\/p>\n
\nfrosty winds made moan,
\nearth stood hard as iron,
\nwater like a stone;
\nsnow had fallen, snow on snow,
\nsnow on snow,
\nin the bleak mid-winter,
\nlong ago.<\/p>\n
\nnor earth sustain,
\nheaven and earth shall flee away
\nwhen He comes to reign;
\nin the bleak mid-winter
\na stable place sufficed
\nthe Lord God almighty,
\nJesus Christ.<\/p>\n
\nmay have gathered there,
\ncherubim and seraphim
\nthronged the air;
\nbut His mother only,
\nin her maiden bliss,
\nworshipped the Beloved
\nwith a kiss.<\/p>\n
\npoor as I am?
\nIf I were a shepherd,
\nI would bring a lamb;
\nif I were a wise man,
\nI would do my part;
\nyet what I can I give Him –
\ngive my heart.<\/p>\n
\nurged and inspired us, cheered us on our way,
\nsought us, and saved us, pardoned and provided;
\nLord of the years, we bring our thanks today.<\/p>\n
\nspeaks to our hearts, and sets our souls ablaze,
\nteaches and trains, rebukes us and inspires us;
\nLord of the word, receive Your people’s praise.<\/p>\n
\nspirit oppressed by pleasure, wealth and care;
\nfor young and old, for commonwealth and nation,
\nLord of out land, be pleased to hear our prayer.<\/p>\n
\nloveless in strength, and comfortless in pain,
\nhungry and helpless, lost indeed without You;
\nLord of the world, we pray that Christ may reign.<\/p>\n
\nself on the cross and Christ upon the throne,
\npast put behind us, for the future takes us;
\nLord of our lives, to live for Christ alone.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>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.
\nThe time came for making Mary \u201cclean\u201d as required by the Law of Moses. So Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Jerusalem. There they presented him to the Lord.\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>In the Law of the Lord it says, \u201cThe first boy born in every family must be set apart for the Lord.\u201d \u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>They also offered a sacrifice. They did it in keeping with the Law, which says, \u201ca pair of doves or two young pigeons.
\nIn Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was a good and godly man. He was waiting for God\u2019s promise to Israel to come true. The Holy Spirit was with him.\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>The Spirit had told Simeon that he would not die before he had seen the Lord\u2019s Messiah.\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>The Spirit led him into the temple courtyard. Then Jesus\u2019 parents brought the child in. They came to do for him what the Law required.\u00a0Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God. He said,
\n\u201cLord, you are the King over all.
\nNow let me, your servant, go in peace.
\nThat is what you promised.
\nMy eyes have seen your salvation.
\nYou have prepared it in the sight of all nations.
\n\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>It is a light to be given to the Gentiles.
\nIt will be the glory of your people Israel.\u201d
\nThe child\u2019s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him.\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>Then Simeon blessed them. He said to Mary, Jesus\u2019 mother, \u201cThis child is going to cause many people in Israel to fall and to rise. God has sent him. But many will speak against him.\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>The thoughts of many hearts will be known. A sword will wound your own soul too.\u201d
\nThere 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.\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>Then she was a widow until she was 84. She never left the temple. She worshiped night and day, praying and going without food.\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>Anna came up to Jesus\u2019 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.
\nJoseph and Mary did everything the Law of the Lord required. Then they returned to Galilee. They went to their own town of Nazareth.\u00a0And the child grew and became strong. He was very wise. He was blessed by God\u2019s grace.<\/p>\n
\n<\/u><\/p>\n
\nstood a lowly cattle shed,
\nwhere a mother laid her baby,
\nin a manger for His bed.
\nMary was that mother mild,
\nJesus Christ her little child.<\/p>\n
\nwho is God and Lord of all;
\nand His shelter was a stable,
\nand His cradle was a stall;
\nwith the poor and mean and lowly
\nlived on earth our Saviour holy.<\/p>\n
\nHe would honour and obey,
\nlove, and watch the lowly mother,
\nin whose gentle arms He lay;
\nChristian children all should be,
\nkind, obedient, good as He.<\/p>\n
\nday by day, like us He grew;
\nHe was little, weak, and helpless,
\ntears and smiles like us He knew;
\nand He feels for all our sadness,
\nand He shares in all our gladness<\/p>\n
\nthrough His own redeeming love;
\nfor that child, so dear and gentle,
\nis our Lord in heaven above,
\nand He leads His children on
\nto the place where He is gone.<\/p>\n
\nwith the oxen standing by,
\nwe shall see Him, but in heaven,
\nset as God’s right hand on high;
\nthere His children gather round,
\nbright like stars, with glory crowned.
\nHYMN 345<\/u> [MP]\u00a0 It came upon the midnight clear
\n<\/u><\/p>\n
\nthat glorious song of old,
\nfrom angels bending near the earth
\nto touch their harps of gold;
\n‘Peace on the earth, goodwill to men,
\nfrom heaven’s all-gracious king!’
\nThe world in solemn stillness lay
\nto hear the angels sing.<\/p>\n
\nthe world has suffered long,
\nand, since the angels sang, have passed
\ntwo thousand years of wrong;
\nfor man at war with man hears not
\nthe love-song which they bring;
\nO hush the noise, you men of strife,
\nand hear the angels! sing!<\/p>\n
\nwhose hope is burning low,
\nwho tread the rocky path of life,
\nwith painful steps and slow;
\nO listen to the news of love
\nwhich makes the heavens ring!
\nO rest beside the weary road
\nand hear the angels sing!<\/p>\n
\nby prophets seen of old –
\ntowards the fulness of the time
\nwhen comes the age foretold;
\nthen earth and heaven renewed shall see
\nthe Prince of peace, their King;
\nand all the world repeat the song
\nwhich now the angels sing.<\/p>\n
\nall time is in God’s hand.
\nWalk humbly with him
\nand trust his future plan.
\nGod has wisely led
\nhis people by his power
\nLook forward in hope
\nhe gives us each new hour.<\/p>\n
\nthe world is in God’s care.
\nHis purpose of love
\nhe calls on is to share.
\nIn our neighbour’s need
\nthe Lord is present still.
\nHe blesses the meek!
\nThe earth will know God’s will.<\/p>\n
\nGod gives us life each day.
\nGo onward with Christ,
\nhis Spirit guides our way.
\nNow God lets us live
\nwithin the sphere of grace.
\nTrust ever in him,
\nhe rules o’er earth and space!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"