Christmas Eve...An order for midnight communion written by Phil Nevard (The service is simple in format, based around the building-up of a crib-scene.) Opening Sentences: Jesus, new-born child of all time, we greet your birth with wide-eyed delight: you are precious beyond words, for our world needs your presence more than ever. Let the angels’ promise of your good news, offering joy and peace to all the world, be heard by all those who lead and guide. Let Kings bow down, and all creation greet this holy moment as we seek to grasp its magnitude. For you are God’s gift, silently delivered to every human heart; Christ our Lord. Amen. Carol: On Christmas Night Reading: Luke 1:26-38 (Mary is placed in the scene) Prayer: Heavenly Father, you prepared for the coming of your Son into the world by calling Mary to be his mother. Thankyou for her example of humility and obedience and for the care she showed in his upbringing. Help us to welcome his coming with great joy as she did. May our homes be places where Jesus is always welcome, for his name’s sake, Amen. Reading: Matthew 1:18-25 (Joseph is placed in the scene) Prayer: We thank you Lord God, that the angel who visited Joseph found he was willing to follow your way. Help us to learn to obey and serve you, even when it may be hard and lead to ridicule and scorn. We pray that we may acknowledge your son as Jesus our Saviour, and as Emmanuel, God with us. We ask it in his name, Amen. Carol: Ring a Bell for Peace Reading: Luke 2:8-15 (Shepherds are placed in the scene ) Prayer: Gracious God, the fact that the birth of your son was announced first of all to ordinary shepherds encourages us to turn to him also. May we rejoice like them in discovering the truth of the message that Jesus is our Saviour, and may we share the message about him with those we meet. In his name we pray, Amen. Reading: Matthew 2:1-12 (Wise Men are placed in the scene ) Prayer: Thankyou, Father, for guiding the wise men by the light of the star to the place where they found Jesus, your son. With them we worship and adore him as our king. Help us to offer him our gifts, above all, the gifts of the heart - love and obedience - for the glory of his name, Amen. Carol: Silent Night Reading: John 1:1-14 (The baby Jesus is placed in the scene) Prayer: Almighty God, we can never fully understand how your son became a human being and lived among us, bringing your light into a world made dark by our disobedience and sin. Help us to welcome him and so become your very own children. May this Christmas Day be a real celebration of his birthday as we praise you for the birth of your son, Jesus, in whose name we pray, Amen. Christmas Greetings... (as midnight strikes, or has struck!) Carol: Love Came Down at Christmas Communion Communion words... This table is our Bethlehem, the holy place to which the star guides us. It is the place where we see the glory of God. It is the place where for us peace from God's own heart is given to the earth. It is the place to which we bring our shepherding, the duties and responsibilities of our lives, that they may be gathered up into the mystery and miracle and meaning of the incarnation. It is the place to which we bring all human learning and riches and kingship that they may be made holy. It is the place to which we bring our gifts of bread and wine that God might become incarnate for us. It is the place where we celebrate in sign and symbol the whole story of our faith. As Jesus grew, Mary treasured all these things in her heart: the visits of the angel, shepherds and the wise men, the star, the blessings of Simeon and Anna, yet, Simeon had told her that sorrow, like a sharp sword, would break her heart. On the night before he died, Jesus gathered his friends together, and shared with them his last meal. At that meal, he took some of the bread, gave thanks to his Father God, broke it in pieces, and gave it to them. He said, “Take and eat, for this is my body, given for you. Keep on doing this, when I am gone, in remembrance of me. Later on, he took the cup and said, “Drink some of this, now and when I am gone. It represents my blood which seals the new covenant between you and my Father God. Whenever you eat bread like this, and drink the cup together, do it in remembrance of me.”
Eternal God, (Communion according to tradition) Carol : Hark the Herald Angels Sing 159 Blessing |