Light and peace, in Jesus Christ our Lord
All: Thanks be to God
Last Sunday we lit the Candle of Love. We light it and the Candles of Hope and Peace again as we remember that Jesus, born in Bethlehem, will come again to fulfill all of God’s promises and bring us everlasting peace and joy.
(A person lights the Candles of Hope, Peace, and Love)
Today we light the Fourth Candle of Advent, the Candle of Joy. When the angel Gabriel told Mary that a special child would be born to her she was filled with joy. She sang a song that began with the words: “My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour. Just as the birth of Jesus gave great joy to his mother, so his presence in the world gave joy to those who had none before. He healed them and gave them hope and peace when they believed in him.
From hope, peace, and love grows joy.
We light the Candle of Joy to remind us that when Jesus is born in us we have joy and that through him there will be everlasting joy on earth.
(A person lights the Fourth Candle the Candle of Joy)
Joy is like a light shining in a dark place. As we look at this candle we celebrate the joy we find in Jesus Christ.
Leader:
Let us pray:
All: Thank you God for the joy you give us. We ask that as we wait for all your promises to come true, and for Christ to come again, that you would remain present with us. Help us today, and everyday to worship you, to hear your word, and to do your will by sharing your joy with each other. We ask it in the name of the one who was born in Bethlehem. Amen.
*New Year’s Eve featuring Denise Pelley on December 31
Doors and Bar Opens at 7:30, Show at 8:30, Pizza, Music and Dancing from 10:00 till past midnight!
Ring in the New year the right way with London musical great Denise Pelley, piano extraordinaire Stephen Holowitz, and Adam Corrigan Holowitz and Kydra Ryan with music, stories and comedy.
See Adam for tickets; or call 519-615-2210; or visit
www.alvegoroottheatre.com. $35.00 includes chips, Everfresh Pizza, and Sparkling Wine. The evening has a licensed cash bar.
*Thank you for Preaching Rev. Peter on Sunday Dec. 22.
*Christmas Eve. 7:00 Carols. 7:30 Service.
*Our food cupboard. Butch 519-615-9106.
*We are seeking a new webmaster for our church website.
*Mint smoothies Sandra $3
*Meat/Veggie Pie Making Day Saturday January 18, 9:00 am start. Come and help and have fun socializing. Orders can be placed through Barb by calling 519-680-0649.
*Trivia Night – Sat.January 25th 7:30 – 10:00 pm Book tickets at www.alvegoroottheatre.com or by calling 519-615-2210.
*Turkey Dinner. Sat. February 22. $25.00 includes Tea, Coffee, Dessert.
*Canadian church calendars. $8 Barb
*Cancelled stamps. Gloria Thompson.
*Rinsed empty drink containers Dan Davies
*If you wish, our regular weekly donations or special donations may be sent to our Envelope Secretary:
The flowers in the Sanctuary today are to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Rae Whittington given in love by her husband Garfield and her family..
Bible Readings for December 22
Micah 5:2-5a
Luke 1:46b-55
Psalm 80:1-7
Hebrews 10:5-10
Luke 1:39-45
Christmas Set I
Isaiah 9:2-7
Psalm 96
Titus 2:11-14
Luke 2:1-14,(15-20)
Audio Service for Christmas 2024
Opening:
God of glory,
your splendor shines from a manger in Bethlehem,
where the Light of the world is humbly born
into the darkness of human night.
Open our eyes to Christ’s presence in the shadows of our world,
so that we, like him, may become beacons of your justice,
and defenders of all for whom there is no room. Amen.
Reading John 1:1-14
The Word became flesh
1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1:2He was in the beginning with God.
1:3All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being
1:4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.
1:5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.
1:6There was a man sent from God whose name was John.
1:7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.
1:8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
1:9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
1:10He was in the world, and the world came into being through him, yet the world did not know him.
1:11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.
1:12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God,
1:13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
1:14And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
Sermon
Christmas Eve 519
John 1:1-18
Christmas is a surprising time, isn’t it?
It’s a time when we are allowed to feel more charitable,
more decent,
more loving.
Christmas at its best
is a reflection
of the love of God.
===
CHRISTMAS,
JOHN TELLS US,
WAS IN GOD’S PURPOSE FROM THE BEGINNING.
“In the beginning was the Word,”
John says in his prologue,
The Word was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made;
Later in John’s prologue
we learn that the Word
was Jesus.
Christmas was God’s purpose
right from the very beginning.
===
Now
What a wondrous thing is creation.
Paul Davies in his book,
God and the New Physics,
notes that
“had the big bang been weaker,
the cosmos
would have soon fallen back on itself
in a big crunch.
On the other hand,
had it been stronger,
the cosmic material
would have dispersed so rapidly
that galaxies would not have formed . . .
If this balance had been off by 1 to 10 to the 60th power,
we couldn’t exist . . .
what is 1 to 10 to the 60th power?
Suppose” he says,
“you wanted to fire a bullet at a one inch target
on the other side of the observable universe,
20 billion light years away.
Your aim would have to be accurate
to that same 1 to 10 to the 60th power.”
What an amazing event Creation is.
It is far more difficult
to believe such an event happened
by accident
than to believe there was a Divine Mind,
behind it all.
This idea is in John’s Writing we read again today,
Thousands of years later.
==
The perspective in John’s Gospel,
This cosmic view
IS Like Carl Jung’s near death experience
That showed him
The earth from so far out in space.
Carl Jung accurately described
The earth Seen for the first time
From that distance
till the astronauts tell us later what the earth looks like
from out in space.
===
NOW
The same distant view as John’s Gospel,
As in Carl Jung’s near death experience
Is also in
Frank Capra’s Christmas classic,
It’s A Wonderful Life,
Except In the film
the first thing we see and hear
is prayer.
The first thing
we learn about George Bailey
is that there are people praying for him.
We know this
before we know
the troubles he faces,
but we know there are people praying
to help him
get through those troubles.
Then we learn
those prayers
have brought the attention of the angels,
and we learn that there are a angels
looking out for George.
We don’t know how
or what will work out,
that would spoil the film,
but we know they will work out
because we understand
that prayer
coupled with
people caring and acting
in good ways works.
==
In our John reading this Christmas
there are
No shepherds, no angels, no star
yet here ultimately is the story of Christmas.
Pretend something like this
happened for a moment:
The angel Gabriel
got back to heaven
rushed up to God and said,
“I’ve got good news,
I’ve got bad news.”
“The good news is,” said the angel,
“mission accomplished.
I’ve visited those people
you told me to visit.
I told them what you told me to tell them.
It’s all accomplished.”
God said,
“So what’s the bad news?”
“The bad news,” the angel said,
“is that those people
down there on earth
are fearful of you.
Every time I visited someone
I had to start it off
with ‘fear not,’
because they got so frightened
that you were coming close.”
God said to the angel,
“That’s the reason
I have to carry out the plan I’ve made.”
“You see,” he said to the angel,
“I need to go to earth
because my people are so frightened.
They are so full of fear
that I’ve got to bring the message
that they no longer need to be afraid.”
I understand and love them like a parent.
God said,
“There’s one place on earth
that people are not afraid:
that place is a little baby.
So I will go to earth.
I will become a little baby,
and they will receive me with no fear at all,.
In Christmas
God acted in the only way
God could have acted.
===
God knew right from the beginning
what God was doing.
God gave us what we most needed.
As John writes:
“He came to those who were his own,
but his own did not receive him.
Yet to all who received him,
he gave the right to become children of God
That’s who we are
children of God.
When we know that,
the meaning and purpose of life
changes.
====God became a tiny baby.
And God told us who we are:
God’s own children.
We don’t need to fear anything.
We belong to God.
We are family.
=====
A bus driver
Tells of an amusing incident
that took place when he was working
on one of TV’s most popular “soap operas.”
A subway strike was in progress
the producers of the “soap” called The Guiding Light.
provided a bus for tourists to the studio.
At one of the stops on the bus’ schedule,
an expected rider was nowhere to be seen.
Then the driver noticed a man standing on the corner,
looking uptown, then downtown, on tiptoe.
The driver stopped,
got out of the bus
walked up to the man and said,
“Are you looking for ˜The Guiding Light’?”
The man’s face glazed.
“I have no time for fanatics,” he said,
then backed away in fear.
He made a hasty retreat across Broadway.
===============
Well, fear not….
Christ is our guiding light
In life.
In him we can see love
that can transform the world.
Love is the guiding light
That came at Christmas.
Christmas was God’s purpose
from the beginning.
Christmas is the celebration of light
coming into
a dark and unfriendly world.
But one thing more:
CHRISTMAS IS THE UNFINISHED
Year Long BUSINESS
OF THOSE WHO FOLLOW JESUS.
And as children of God,
we are involved
in the unfinished business of Christmas.
We are those who carry the light
into the dark places of the world.
We are those who carry love
into hostile and hurting places.
We are the agents
Of Christ.
Hymn:
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again
to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Carol: Silent Night
Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born
Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love’s pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Prayers:
May our gracious God,
whose light shines in the darkness of our lives,
the One who formed creation,
now hear the prayers we offer this day for all people.
.Prayers: Lois; Barry and Linda B; (Church);Debbie R. (Mary Liz)Jamie;Jackie M (Gloria); Paul; Suzanne; Peter (Ron and Jan);Kenny; Jim T.; Norma A,;Dave F.; Peter T.; Dan B.;. (Garfield & Diane Mike J.; Scott H.; Lisa (Keeling), Roger & Maxine M.; Wendy;Eric P,; Beverley P.;,Sarah-Jane P.; Linda H.; Jacquie and Cam .; Janice & Darrin R; .(Suzie D.)
Splendor of eternal glory,
grant that we may be faithful witnesses
to the light that dawns this morning [day],
proclaiming Christ’s word of peace and salvation
in acts of justice and mercy. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Glory to God,
whose power, working in us,
can do infinitely more
than we can ask or imagine.
Glory to God from generation to generation,
in the Church and in Christ Jesus,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer based on Scripture:
God,
you spoke and your Word became flesh,
breathing a new song of joy and praise
into the world.
Grant that we may bear the good news of your salvation,
proclaiming your promise of peace
to the ends of the earth. Amen.
Blessing from the Book of Common Prayer:
The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen.
Our Parting Blessing Song:
May God’s blessing surround you each day
As you trust Him and walk in His way
May His presence within guard and keep you from sin,
*Carols and Lessons Service Sunday Dec 08. 7 p.m. . Tea & goodies. Raffles
*Christmas Eve. 7:00 Carols. 7:30 Service.
*New Year’s Eve Tuesday December 31st Variety Show at 8:30 PM featuring Denise Pelley, Adam, Kydra, Jack Sizeland and Stephen. Pizza, music to midnight. Tickets 519-615-2210 or visit www.alvegoroottheatre.com. $35.00 includes chips, Everfresh pizza, midnight bubbly. Licenced. Cash bar.
*Our food cupboard. Butch 519-615-9106.
*We are seeking a new webmaster for our church website. Ron Stewart has done a great job and will assist the new webmaster.
*DRAWS: *Cookie draw, $5, 5 for 20$. Sandra W.
*Handmade Afghan by Heather Jamieson. $2 or 3 for $5.
*Hockey tickets (Millard George) $2 or 3 for $5. Judy C.
*Mint smoothies Sandra $3
*Meat/Veggie Pie Making Day Saturday January 18, 9:00 am start. Come and help and have fun socializing. Orders can be placed through Barb by calling 519-680-0649.
*Trivia Night – Sat. January 25th 7:30 – 10:00 pm Book tickets atwww.alvegoroottheatre.com or by calling 519-615-2210.
*Turkey Dinner. Sat. February 22. $25.00 includes Tea, Coffee, Dessert.
*Canadian church calendars. $8 Barb
*Cancelled stamps. Gloria Thompson.
*Rinsed empty drink containers Dan Davies
*If you wish, our regular weekly donations or special donations may be sent to our Envelope Secretary:
The flowers in the Sanctuary today are to the Glory of God and in loving memory of dear husband and father Gord Cronk and parents George and Dolores Walker given by daughters Connie, Wendy and families
Bible Readings for Dec 08
Malachi 3:1-4
Baruch 5:1-9
Luke 1:68-79
Philippians 1:3-11
Luke 3:1-6
Audio Service – Lessons and Carols from December 2020:
Service of Lessons and Carols:
Listen to the audio service, and follow along here.
Prelude: French Carols Set
Performed by Celtic Shift: Stephen Holowitz, Amy Barten, Dave Nuttall
Opening: The Story of the First Lessons and Carols
Rev. Teresa Corrigan
Carol: Once in Royal David’s City
Performed by Katy Clark and Angus Sinclair
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 Savior holy.
And through all
His wondrous childhood
He would honor and obey
Love and watch the lowly mother,
In whose gentle arms He lay.
Christian children all should be
Mild, obedient, good as He.
For He is our child-hood’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 dear and gentle,
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 by,
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 be around.
1st Lesson: Genesis 1: 26-31 and 5: 1-2
God Blesses Humankind
Ron Stewart, Reader
Carol: Oh Come All Ye Faithful
Performed by Celtic Shift and the Congregation at Epiphany’s 2019 Lessons and Carols
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;
Refrain:
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,
Refrain
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above:
Glory to God, in the highest!
Refrain
See how the shepherds, summoned to His cradle,
Leaving their flocks, draw nigh with lowly fear
We too will thither Bend our joyful footsteps
Refrain
Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing,
Refrain
2nd Lesson: Isaiah 9:2-7
Christ’s Birth and Influence is Foretold
Suzie Dann, Reader
Carol: Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel
Performed by Jack Sizeland, Katy Clark, Paul Grambo, Victoria Piovesan, Stephen Holowitz
O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show
and teach us in her ways to go.
Refrain
O come, O Rod of Jesse’s stem,
from every foe deliver them.
That trust your mighty power to save,
and give them victory o’er the grave.
Refrain
3rd Lesson: Luke 1: 26-38
Mary is Visited by the Angels
Judy Caley, Reader
Carol: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Performed by Adam Corrigan Holowitz and Stephen Holowitz
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King:
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th’angelic hosts proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Refrain:
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King”
Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,
offspring of the Virgin’s womb:
veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail th’incarnate Deity,
pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel.
Refrain:
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King”
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 we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.
Refrain:
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King”
4th Lesson: Luke 2: 1- 7
The Birth of Jesus
Carole Hawkins, Reader
Carol: In the Bleak Midwinter
Performed by Adam Corrigan Holowitz and Stephen Holowitz
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter, long ago.
Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
but his mother only, in her maiden bliss,
worshiped the beloved with a kiss.
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.
5th Lesson: Luke 2: 8-16
The Shepherds seek Jesus at the Manger
Jan Stewart, Reader
Carol: Away in the Manger
Performed by Celtic Shift and the Congregation at Epiphany’s 2019 Lessons and Carols
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
but little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky,
and stay by my side until morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay
close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
and fit us for heaven to live with thee there.
6th Lesson: Matthew 2: 1-12
The Wise Ones Led by a Star
Peter Leonard, Reader
Carol: O Holy Night
Performed by Paul Grambo and Angus Sinclair
O Holy night! The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
‘Til He appears and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees; O hear the Angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born
O night, O Holy night, O night divine!
Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here come the Wise Men from Orient land
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend
He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend
Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His Gospel is Peace
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother
And in His name, all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us Praise His Holy name
Christ is the Lord; O praise His name forever!
His power and glory evermore proclaim
His power and glory evermore proclaim
7th Lesson: John 1: 1-14
The Mystery of God in Christ
Brian Garrett, Reader
Anthem: Lo! How a Rose E’er Blooming
Performed by Katy Clark, Paul Grambo, Victoria Piovesan, Jack Sizeland, Stephen Holowitz
Poem: Image of Christmas 2020 by Ron Stewart
Poem: Balthazar’s Story by Jan Stewart
The Prayers
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God’s people on earth.
Blessed are you, Prince of Peace. You rule the world with truth and justice. Send your gift of peace to all nations of the world.
Blessed are you, Son of Mary. You share our humanity.
Have mercy on those especially in need of your loving presence and care.
Blessed are you, Son of God. You dwell among us as the word made flesh. Reveal yourself to us in word and sacrament that we may bear your light to all the world.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done;
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power and the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen.
Blessing: May you be filled with the wonder of Mary, the faithfulness of Joseph, the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the determination of the magi, and the peace of the Christ Child. God, Creator, Redeemer and Spirit bless you and those you love now and forever. Amen.
Carol: Joy to the World
Performed by Katy Clark, Paul Grambo and Angus Sinclair
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive its king;
let ev’ry heart prepare him room,
and heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let all their songs employ
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
nor thorns infest the ground.
He comes to make his blessings flow
far as the curse is found,
far as the curse is found,
far as, far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.
