United Benefice of St.Mary, Higham Ferrers, and St. John, Chelveston
The United Benefice of
St Mary the Virgin, Higham Ferrers
with St John the Baptist, Chelveston-cum-Caldecott
THE WONDER OF CREATION
25th December
Christmas Day
Our service begins with a wake up hymn for Christmas Day
HYMN
Christians, awake, salute the happy morn,
whereon the Savior of the world was born;
rise to adore the mystery of love,
which hosts of angels chanted from above;
with them the joyful tidings were begun
of God incarnate and the virgin's Son.
Then to the watchful shepherds it was told,
who heard th'angelic herald's voice: "Behold,
I bring good tidings of a Savior's birth
to you and all the nations of the earth;
this day hath God fulfilled His promised word;
this day is born a Savior, Christ the Lord."
Words: John Byrom (1691-1763)
Music: J.Wainwright (1723-1768)
The Christmas story in Luke’s Gospel
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
Luke 2 : 1-7
THE ANGELS’ CAROL
Have you heard the sound of the angel voices
ringing out so sweetly, ringing out so clear?
Have you seen the star shining out so brightly
as a sign from God that Christ the Lord is here?
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Have you heard the news that they bring from heaven
to the humble shepherds who have waited long?
Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Hear the angels sing their joyful song.
He is come in peace in the winter's stillness,
like a gentle snowfall in the gentle night.
He is come in joy, like the sun at morning,
filling all the world with radiance and with light.
He is come in love as the child of Mary.
In a simple stable we have seen his birth.
Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Hear the angels singing 'Peace on earth'.
He will bring new light to a world in darkness,
like a bright star shining in the skies above.
He will bring new hope to the waiting nations,
when he comes to reign in purity and love.
Let the earth rejoice at the Saviour's coming.
Let the heavens answer with a joyful morn:
Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Hear the angels singing, 'christ is born'
Hear the angels singing, 'christ is born'
Words and music: John Rutter (b. 1945)
WHAT WAS THE LORD’S BIRTH REALLY LIKE IN LUKE’S GOSPEL?
HYMN –
Come and join the celebration
It’s a very special day
Come and share our jubilation;
There’s a new king born today!
See, the shepherds
Hurry down to bethlehem,
Gaze in wonder
At the son of God who lay before them
Come and join the celebration
It’s a very special day
Come and share our jubilation;
There’s a new king born today!
Wise men journey,
Led to worship by a star
Kneel in homage
Bringing precious gifts from lands afar, So
Come and join the celebration
It’s a very special day
Come and share our jubilation;
There’s a new king born today!
“God is with us”
Round the world the message bring
He is with us
“Welcome”, all the bells on earth are pealing
Come and join the celebration
It’s a very special day
Come and share our jubilation;
There’s a new king born today!
Valerie Collison 1972
MATTHEW’S gospel tells the Christmas story
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. Matthew 1 : 18-25
HYMN
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, glory in the highest!”
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!
Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!
Words:Frederick Oakley (1802-1880) and others
Tune: John Francis Wade(1711-1786)
Material used in this service is copyright of its respective rights owners. Music and hymn words are reproduced under ONE LICENSE number A-633137, Church Copyright License 2148907 and Music Reproduction License 2216255. Material in this order of service is taken from Common Worship, copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2000-2006 and is used here with permission. www.commonworship.com.
images by permission of www.christart.com