#OnlineCarols2013 Order of Service

Welcome to Online Carols

1: Once in Royal David’s City, by Susannah, Imogen and Nick Morgan

2: Bidding Prayer — @HelentheRev

3: Winter Snow by Rev Leah Vasey-Saunders

4: First Lesson: Genesis 3: 8-15; 17-19 — Colin Dobson

5: This is the truth — Elly Hadaway

6: Second Lesson: Genesis 22:15-18 — Reuben VS

7: It came upon the midnight clear — Nick Morgan

8: Third Lesson: Isaiah 9:1,5-6 — Rev Dr Catherine Dowland-Pillinger

9: Silent Night — The Bridge UK

10: Fourth Lesson: Isaiah 11: 1-3a; 4a; 6-9 — Bryony Taylor

11: A Tender Shoot — Cantus Orientissimus

12: Fifth Lesson: Luke 1: 26-38 — @theabingdontaxi

13: What child is this? — Lucy Kennedy

14: Sixth Lesson: Luke 2:1,3-7 — Sian Lawton

15: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks — Metanoia UK

16: Seventh Lesson: Luke 2: 8-16 — @VicarOfDishley

17: Coventry Carol — Merry Evans

18: Eighth Lesson: Matthew 2:1-12 — Dr Sara Batts

19: Gaudete — Moss and Jones

20: John 1:1-14 by @drbexl

21: O Come, All Ye Faithful — Choir of St Mary’s Addington

22: Closing Prayers (written by @pamjweb) — Liz

23: Blessing — @revpamsmith and @philritchie

Retiring Collection for Shelter

Retiring collection for Shelter

Jesus was born in a stable and laid in a manger, because there was no room at the inn.

One homeless child at Christmas is a tragedy. 80,000 is a disgrace. Please, help find these children a proper home. Donate now: http://shltr.org.uk/4oa

23: Blessing — @revpamsmith and @philritchie

Whether young
Whether old

Whether far
Whether near

Whether lost
Whether found

Whether dross
Whether dear

Here is a new thing,

HEAR:

CHRIST was born for YOU

May God bless you, guide you, guard you and keep
you

and may
you walk in
the Christ light

now and forever

Amen

Text by Revd Pam Smith, read by Revd Canon Philip Ritchie
Picture by Maria Makepeace,
from her Stations of the Nativity https://www.dropbox.com/sh/m922mbinzw33ot5/4AaHnfiDmT#/
Used by permission of artist

22: Closing Prayers (written by @pamjweb) — Liz

Jesus, born in a stable,
a borrowed home,
a fragile start;
We pray for those
with no place to call their own,
no bed to rest in,
no safe place to be.
We pray for the agencies trying to help,
for those who give,
for those who care.
We pray that there may be havens,
rest,
security,
hope,
a home
for all who need it.

Jesus, whom shepherds came to see,
we pray for those who watch
and wait,
for those,
however surprised they may be,
listen to your voice,
your message,
and respond to it.
May we hear
what you have to say to us,
follow your calling to us,
gaze in wonder on you,
respond to your life in us.

We pray for those who work hard every day,
those who do difficult jobs,
who work while we sleep,
who do the unseen and unheralded work
who do the jobs we’re glad we don’t.
Give them strength for their tasks,
fulfilment in their achievements,
and the knowledge that they make a difference.

Jesus, worshipped by the wise men,
we bring our worship to you,
we kneel in adoration,
we bring our gifts,
our lives,
and lay them before you.
We ask you to take them and use them.

We pray for those in positions of leadership and responsibility,
for rulers,
heads,
governors,
those with the opportunity to make a difference,
all those who make decisions on behalf of others.
Give them understanding,
integrity,
hearts for justice.
May they be able to make clear judgements,
remembering the impact of those decisions
on others.

Lord,
as you guided before
those to your stable,
we pray for your guidance for ourselves.
May we see your way
and have the strength to follow,
to encounter you
in the places where we perhaps don’t expect,
in the ways we can’t imagine.
Guide us,
lead us,
equip us to follow
we pray.

Words by @pamjweb, read by Liz (@losthaystacks)

21: O Come, All Ye Faithful — Choir of St Mary’s Addington

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,
O come let us adore him,
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,
O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.

Sing choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing all ye citizens of heaven above.
Glory to God in the highest:
O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.

20: John 1:1-14 by @drbexl

John 1:1-14

New Living Translation (NLT)

Prologue: Christ, the Eternal Word

1 In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,[a]
and his life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.[b]

6 God sent a man, John the Baptist,[c] 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

14 So the Word became human[d] and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.[e] And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

19: Gaudete — Moss and Jones

Gaudete by Bertie Moss West, Age 6

Chorus:
Gaudete, gaudete: Christus est natus ex Maria virgine: gaudete!
Gaudete, gaudete: it means “rejoice now”; Christ is born of Virgin Mary to-day!

Now the time of grace is here and there’s no more waiting
let us with devoted verse start our joyful singing:

Chorus

God himself became a man; nature does admire it
for the world has been renewed by Christ, and we sing it:

Chorus

Ezekiel’s gate was closed (Mary was a virgin)
now salvation comes with light; let’s rejoice by singing:

Chorus

Everybody gathered here praises our Lord and King;
bless the baby born today, greet him brightly, singing:

Chorus

18: Eighth Lesson: Matthew 2:1-12 — Dr Sara Batts

File from http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/162844

A reading from the Gospel according to St Matthew

The Visit of the Wise Men

2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

² Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

³ When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

⁴ And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

⁵ And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

⁶ And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

⁷ Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

⁹ When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

¹¹ And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

17: Coventry Carol — Merry Evans

Lully, lullay, Thou little tiny Child,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.
Lullay, thou little tiny Child,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

O sisters too, how may we do,
For to preserve this day
This poor youngling for whom we do sing
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

Herod, the king, in his raging,
Charged he hath this day
His men of might, in his own sight,
All young children to slay.

16: Seventh Lesson: Luke 2: 8-16 — @VicarOfDishley

http://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:StJohns_Nativity_Clayton_and_Bell.jpg

Luke 2:8-16

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 Savior 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.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

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.