Carolhark, the Herald Angels Sing

During the final carol, we offer our gifts to help and support the work of The Children’s Society.

CarolHark, the herald angels sing

Hark, the herald-angels sing

glory to the new-born King;

peace on earth, and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled.

Joyful, all ye nations, rise,

join the triumph of the skies;

with the angelic host proclaim,

‘Christ is born in Bethlehem.’

Hark, the herald-angels sing

glory to the new-born King.

Christ, by highest heaven adored,

Christ, the everlasting Lord,

late in time behold him come,

offspring of a Virgin’s womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see:

hail, the incarnate Deity!

Pleased as man with us to dwell,

Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Hark, the herald-angels sing…

Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace:

hail, the Sun of Righteousness.

Light and life to all he brings,

risen with healing in his wings.

Mild he lays his glory by,

born that man no more may die,

born to raise the sons of earth,

born to give them second birth.

Hark, the herald-angels sing…

Words: Charles Wesley (1707–1788), 1739

Music: Mendelssohn (Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholody, 1809–1847)

Blessing

Let us pray.
We offer these gifts for the work of The Children’s Society, that they may continue to show God’s love in action in the world.

May God, who gives us strength,

Bless us with courage.

May God, who is gracious,

Bless us with generosity.

May God, who sends light for all the world

Bless us with joy and hope.

God who loves us,

May we leave this place,

inspired to shine your light,

encouraged to share your welcome and

determined to offer your love to all.

We make this prayer through Christ, our new born Lord.

Amen.

Front cover

Should include

ORDER OF SERVICE in the text

Annie’s story

We are used to thinking about a baby at Christmas, a special one who gave up everything to reach out and come alongside us. We can picture the scene: a family without many possessions, huddling in a basic shelter, trying to make a good start for this new life against all the odds. Desperate to protect a precious child, who should they trust? Who should they let in when there are knocks at the door – shepherds? Wise men? What if Herod’s soldiers come?

This Christmas, The Children’s Society are asking us to think about a child called Annie. When she was born, her mum and dad were living on just £34 a week. Her mum, Rachel, decided to have her at home because she didn’t know who to trust. When she was little more than a child herself,Rachel’s previous children had been taken away from her because she was struggling with drugs.

With Annie, everything was different. Rachel had been clean for three years and was ready to be a mum. But she was frightened of ‘professionals’ and so refused the help she needed to care for their daughter. At first she wouldn’t even let The Children’s Society worker in when she came knocking.

But The Children’s Society kept reaching out, kept knocking until Rachel felt safe and knew she could accept help. Because of this, Rachel got the support she needed, immediately, through practical items and access to a local food bank, and for the longer-term because The Children’s Society helped her to access all the benefits the family were entitled to receive. This meant a huge difference to both Rachel and Annie.

A fourth candle is lit

ReadingMatthew 2:1-11

Reader:

To all who bring their gifts for others

And who are changed in the process.

All: Bring your light and hope.

CarolAs with gladness men of old

As with gladness men of old

did the guiding star behold,

as with joy they hailed its light,

leading onward, beaming bright;

so, most gracious Lord, may we

evermore be led to thee.

As with joyful steps they sped

to that lowly manger-bed;

there to bend their knees before

him whom heaven and earth adore;

so may we with willing feet

ever seek thy mercy-seat.

As they offered gifts most rare

at that manger rude and bare;

so may we with holy joy,

pure and free from sin’s alloy,

all our costliest treasures bring,

Christ, to thee, our heavenly King.

Holy Jesus, every day

keep us in the narrow way;

and, when earthly things are past,

bring our ransomed souls at last

where they need no star to guide,

where no clouds thy glory hide.

In the heavenly country bright,

need they no created light;

thou its light, its joy, its crown,

thou its sun which goes not down;

there for ever may we sing

alleluias to our King.

Words: William Chatterton Dix (1837–1898)

Music: Dix (Conrad Kocher, 1786–1872, arranged William Henry Monk, 1823–1889)

All stand

Reader:

Alleluia, alleluia! The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

All: The light shines in the darkness,

And the darkness did not overcome it.

Reading John 1:1-14

All sit

A third candle is lit

Reading Luke 2:8-16

Reader:

To all for whom debt and lack of support

meana life full of fear and uncertainty.

All: Bring your light and hope.

Carol While shepherds watched

While shepherds watched their flocks by night,

all seated on the ground,

the angel of the Lord came down,

and glory shone around.

‘Fear not,’ said he, for mighty dread

had seized their troubled minds;

‘Glad tidings of great joy I bring

to you and all mankind.

To you, in David’s town, this day

is born of David’s line

a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord;

and this shall be the sign:

The heav’nly babe you there shall find

to human view displayed,

all meanly wrapped in swathing bands,

and in a manger laid.’

Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith

appeared a shining throng

of angels praising God, who thus

addressed their joyful song:

‘All glory be to God on high

and on the earth be peace;

good will henceforth from heav’n to all

begin and never cease.’

Words: Nahum Tate (1625–1715)

Music: Winchester Old (Este’s Whole Book of Psalmes, arranged William Henry Monk, 1823–1889)

Order of service

Welcome and introduction

Carol Once in royal David’s city

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.

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 meek and lowly,

Lived on earth our Saviour holy.

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 feeleth for our sadness,

And he shareth in our gladness.

And our eyes at last shall see him,

Through his own redeeming love;

For that child so meek and helpless

Is our Lord in heaven above;

And he leads his children on,

To the place where he is gone.

Not in that poor lowly stable,

With the oxen standing round,

We shall see him; but in heaven,

Set at God’s right hand on high;

When like stars his children crowned,

All in white shall wait around.

Words: Cecil Frances Alexander (1819–1895)

Music: Irby, Henry John Gauntlett (1805–1876)

Opening prayer

Gracious God,

Meet us as we gather

at the dawning of your light.

As we hear again the story of

your love born among us,

strengthen us to face the

darkness of the world.

May we know our gifts and find our voice

and be emboldened to proclaim the joy of your kingdom,

fragile and dependent as a baby,

bright as your love shining light through

the darkness that will never overcome it.
We make this prayer in the name of Jesus,

your Son.
Amen.

A candle is lit

Reading Isaiah 9:2,6–7

Reader:

To all whose world seems overwhelmed by darkness,

All:Bring your light and hope.

Carol O little town of Bethlehem

O little town of Bethlehem,

How still we see thee lie!

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep

The silent stars go by.

Yet in thy dark streets shineth

The everlasting light;

The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in thee tonight.

O morning stars, together

Proclaim the holy birth,

And praises sing to God the King,

And peace to men on earth.

For Christ is born of Mary;

And gathered all above,

While mortals sleep, the angels keep

Their watch of wondering love.

How silently, how silently,

The wondrous gift is giv’n!

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of his heav’n.

No ear may hear his coming,

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive him, still

The dear Christ enters in.

O holy child of Bethlehem,

Descend to us, we pray;

Cast out our sin and enter in,

Be born in us today.

We hear the Christmas angels

The great glad tidings tell:

O come to us, abide with us,

Our Lord Emmanuel!

Words: Phillip Brooks (1835-1893)

Music: St Louis (Lewis Henry Redner, 1830-1908)

A second candle is lit

Reading Luke 1:26–38

Reader:

To all who feel they have no place,

for whom good news is rare.

All: Bring your light and hope.

Carol O come all ye faithful

O come, all ye faithful,

joyful and triumphant,

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;

Come and behold him,

Born the King of angels;

O come let us adore him,

Christ the Lord.

God of God, Light of Light,

Lo! He abhors not the Virgin’s womb;

Very God, begotten not created;

O come let us adore him,

Christ the Lord.

See how the shepherds,

summoned to his cradle,

Leaving their flocks, draw nigh with holy fear;

We too will thither bend our joyful footsteps:

O come let us adore him,

Christ the Lord.

Child, for us sinners, poor and in the manger,

we would embrace thee, with love and awe;

who would not love thee, loving us so dearly?

O come let us adore him,

Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,

sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above;

glory to God, glory in the highest:

O come let us adore him,

Christ the Lord.

Words: John Francis Wade (1711–1786)

Music: Adeste fideles (18th century melody, probably John Francis Wade, 1711–1786)