Welcome to Holy Communion for a New Year
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I bring you news of great joy
A Saviour has been born to you. Alleluia
Unto us a child is born
Unto us a son is been given. Alleluia.
He is Christ the Lord Alleluia
We worship and adore him Alleluia
Carol: Unto Us a Boy is Born https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvnceCVScDI
Confession:
As we come to the Lord at the start of this New Year,
let us seek his grace to number our days,
that we may apply our hearts to wisdom
as we confess our sins in penitence and faith.
Lord Jesus, you are mighty God and Prince of Peace:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you are Son of God and Son of Mary:
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you are Word made flesh
and splendour of the Father:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy
May the God of all healing and forgiveness
draw you to himself,
and cleanse you from your sins
that you may behold the glory of his Son,
the Word made flesh, Jesus our Lord.
Amen
We light the Christmas Candle
O God, by whose command
the order of time runs its course:
forgive our impatience, perfect our faith
and, while we wait for the
fulfilment of your promises,
grant us to have
a good hope because of your word;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Carol: The Virgin Mary had a baby boy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDluHt4_IRM
Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last,
the beginning and the end.
Alleluia.
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke:
Glory to you O Lord
15 When the angels had left them and
gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
‘Let us go now to
Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made
known to us.’ 16 So they went with haste and found
Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When
they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and
all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
19 But Mary treasured all these words
and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds
returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it
had been told them.
21 After
eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called
Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
This is the Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you O Christ
The Sermon:
A good hope. In our collect today- we prayed:
while we wait for the fulfilment of your promises,
grant us to have a good hope because of your word
As we read the account of shepherds and angels (apart from a
bit of quaking in fright) – it’s all good new. All very upbeat and positive.
The angels surprise the shepherds – (and who wouldn’t be sore afraid!)
but once reassured, they receive amazing news, good news.
Peace on earth, God’s favour for people. The shepherds
quickly recover and run off to see this wonder, this new born boy for
themselves.
They even go round spreading the good news themselves-
everyone is amazed and perhaps delighted?
And then they return to their flocks and fields, full of
praise and wonder. The privilege and excitement of it all. God had come to even
the lowliest of folk.
But it’s Mary once more who pauses. Ponders. Treasures these
words. Perhaps she weighed them up. Later on when they go to the Temple, the
old man Simeon also warns her.
A sword will pierce your own soul, he says.
As we reflect on the turn of this very strange, difficult and
challenging year, we are called to have hope. There is indeed really good news
at hand. We have a vaccine and they are already injecting people. Our hope says
that things will get better. But also know for the experience of the last year,
that there will be many twists and turns ahead too.
We need to remain vigilant and careful, adhering to all the
best advice that we’re given.
In the Christmas story, the various characters hear good
news but also face challenges. They are called to be obedient and to preserve through
difficult times.
And yet up ahead there is always hope.
Christian hope is this.
God is with you always.
It’s not the wishful thinking that longs for improvement but
is uncertain whether it will come.
It’s not resigning to fate, that what will be, will be
whatever.
God is active in our world still,
Whatever the circumstances, hope says this. God has come to
us at Christmas.
God will be with us throughout the New Year.
In response to this, as the year turn to 2021, we are going to have the opportunity to rededicate ourselves to God using the words from the Methodist covenant service. They are words of surrender, but not of resignation.
We are no longer our own but yours.
We are not giving up, but giving up our right to control. As if we have had any of that this year over circumstances! We do however, have control over how we respond to what life throws at us and who we turn to.
We surrender to God- who loves us and will not desert us.
This is hope.
The Creed:
Let us declare our faith in God.
We believe in God the Father,
from whom every
family
in heaven and on
earth is named.
We believe in God
the Son,
who lives in our
hearts through faith,
and fills us with
his love.
We believe in God
the Holy Spirit,
who strengthens us
with power from on
high.
We believe in one
God;
Father, Son and
Holy Spirit. Amen.
Prayers:
Eternal God,
in your faithful and enduring love
you call us to share in your gracious covenant
in Jesus Christ.
In obedience we hear and accept your commands;
in love we seek to do your perfect will;
with joy we offer ourselves anew to you.
We are no longer our own but yours.
I am no longer my own but yours.
Your will, not mine, be done in all things,
wherever you may place me,
in all that I do and in all that I may endure;
when there is work for me
and when there is none;
when I am troubled and when I am at peace.
Your will be done
when I am valued and when I am disregarded;
when I find fulfilment and when it is lacking;
when I have all things and when I have nothing.
I willingly offer all that I have and am
to serve you,
as and where you choose.
Glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
you are mine and I am yours.
May it be so for ever.
Let this covenant now made on earth
be fulfilled in heaven. Amen.
As we have entered this covenant not for ourselves alone,
but as God’s servants and witnesses,
let us pray for the Church and for the world.
Loving God, hear us as we pray for your holy catholic
Church:
make us all one, that the world may believe.
Inspire and lead all who govern and hold authority in the
nations of the world:
establish justice and peace among all people.
Have compassion on all who suffer from any sickness, grief
or trouble:
deliver them from their distress.
We praise you for all your saints who have entered
your eternal glory:
bring us all to share in your heavenly kingdom.
Lord our God,
you have helped us by your grace
to make these prayers,
and you have promised through Christ our Lord
that when two or three agree in his name
you will grant what they ask.
Answer now your servants’ prayers
according to their needs;
in this world grant that we may truly know you,
and in the world to come
graciously give us eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
The Peace
Unto us a Son is born unto us a Son is given
and his name shall be called the Prince of Peace
The peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you.
Let us offer another a sign of peace
Carol: In the Bleak Midwinter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_dO91hQhkU
Holy Communion
The Lord is here.
His Spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
And now we give you thanks because,
in the incarnation of the Word,
a new light has dawned upon the world;
you have become one with us
that we might become one with you
in your glorious kingdom.
Therefore with all the angels of heaven
we lift our voices to proclaim the glory of your name
and sing our joyful hymn of praise:
Holy, holy, holy
Lord,
God of power and God of might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest
We praise and bless you, loving Father,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord;
and as we obey his command,
send your Holy Spirit,
that broken bread and wine outpoured
may be for us the body and blood of your dear Son.
On the night before he died he had supper with his friends
and, taking bread, he praised you.
He broke the bread, gave it to them and said:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.
When supper was ended he took the cup of wine.
Again he praised you, gave it to them and said:
Drink this, all of you;
this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of
sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
So, Father, we remember all that Jesus did,
in him we plead with confidence his sacrifice
made once for all upon the cross.
Bringing before you the bread of life and cup of salvation,
we proclaim his death and resurrection
until he comes in glory.
Jesus Christ is Lord
Lord, by your cross and resurrection
you have set us free.
You are the Saviour of the world.
Lord of all life, help us to work together for that day
when your kingdom comes
and justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth.
Look with favour on your people,
gather us in your loving arms
and bring us with St Catherine and all the saints
to feast at your table in heaven.
Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory are yours, O loving Father,
for ever and ever.
Amen
As our Saviour has taught us, so we pray
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
Every time we eat this bread and drink this cup
we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Lamb of God,
you take away the sins of the world
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God,
you take away the sins of the world
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God,
you take away the sins of the world
grant us your peace.
Carol during communion: Candlelight Carol by John
Rutter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbudPRPrFWI
Prayer of Spiritual Communion
Thanks be to you, Lord Jesus Christ,
for all the benefits you have given me,
for all the pains and insults you have borne for
me.
Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally,
I ask you to come spiritually into my heart.
O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother,
may I know you more clearly,
love you more dearly,
and follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen
Son of Mary, Son of God,
We have joined with the worship of the angels;
May we never lose that heavenly vision.
Like the shepherds,
we have rejoiced at the news of your birth;
help us to proclaim that message in word and deed,
to your praise and glory.
Amen
The Blessing
May the joy of the angels,
the eagerness of the shepherds,
the perseverance of the wise men,
the obedience of Joseph and Mary,
and the peace of the Christ-child
be yours this Christmas;
and the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy
Spirit,
be with you now and remain with you always.
Amen
Carol: God Rest Ye Merry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku7ohU1IGls
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ.
Amen.