Order of Service – 24th December 2020 6pm

The Order of Service follows below.

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Christmas Eve
December 24^th, 2020

Prelude

Opening Carol: Once in Royal David’s City

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, despised and lowly
lived on earth our Saviour holy.
And through all his wondrous childhood,
day by day like us he grew;
he was little, weak, and helpless,
tears and smiles like us he knew;
and he feels for all our sadness,
and he shares in all our gladness.
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 his children gather round
bright like stars, with glory crowned.

TiS 312 Cecil Frances Alexander 1818-95 alt. Public domain.

Welcome and Acknowledgment of Land

Prayer

Carol: Joy to the World

Joy to the world! The Lord is come;
let earth receive its king;
let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the earth! The Saviour reigns;
let us our songs employ;
while fields and streams, rocks, hills and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
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.

TiS 268. Isaac Watts, 1674 – 1748 alt. based on Psalm 98. Public Domain.

Lighting of the Advent Candles

Musical Reflection: Do You Hear What I Hear?

Regne and Shayne

First Lesson: The Prophet Isaiah Foretells the Birth of Christ

Isaiah 9:2-7

Carol: Star Child

Star-Child, earth-child, go-between of God,
love Child, Christ Child, heaven’s lightning rod:

This year, this year, let the day arrive
when Christmas comes for everyone,
everyone alive.
Street child, beat child, no place left to go,
hurt child, used child no-one wants to know:

This year, this year, let the day arrive
when Christmas comes for everyone,
everyone alive.
Grown child, old child, memory full of years,
sad child, lost child, story told in tears.

This year, this year, let the day arrive
when Christmas comes for everyone,
everyone alive.
Spared child, spoiled child, having, wanting more,
wise child, faith child knowing joy in store:

This year, this year, let the day arrive
when Christmas comes for everyone,
everyone alive.
Hope-for-peace Child, God’s stupendous sign,
down-to-earth Child, Star of stars that shine:

This year, this year, let the day arrive
when Christmas comes for everyone,
everyone alive.

All Together 520. Shirley E Murray, Carlton R Young
© Hope Publishing Co. Words used with permission under copyright CCLI Licence No 137219. Copyright cleared music for churches.

Second Lesson: Jesus is Born in Bethlehem

Luke 2:1-7

Musical Reflection: Balulalow

Ruth Elaine Schram

Third Lesson: The Shepherds Go to the Manger

Luke 2:8-16

While Shepherds Watched

Subtle Bricks

Musical Reflection: Go Tell It On the Mountain

Traditional

Fourth Lesson: The Wise Travelers are Led by the Star to Jesus

Matthew 2:1-11

Offering for the Christmas Bowl Appeal

This evening’s offering supports the Christmas Bowl Appeal – the Christmas Appeal of Act for Peace, the international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia. You may use the envelope available in the foyer, make a cash donation in the offering receptacle or go to bpuc.org/christmas2020. Thank you for supporting this vital ministry.

Prayers for Peace

Musical Reflection: Carol of the Bells

Traditional

Fifth Lesson: The Light Shines in the Darkness

John 1: 1-5

Carol: Silent Night

Silent night, holy night:
all is calm, all is bright
round the 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 Saviour is born,
Christ the Saviour is born.’
Silent night, holy night:
wondrous star, lend your light;
with the angels let us sing
Alleluia to our King;
Christ our Saviour is born,
Christ our Saviour is born.

TiS 311. Joseph Mohr 1792-1848, tr John Freeman Young 1820-85 alt. Public Domain

Prayer

Carol: O Little Town of Bethlehem

O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see you lie!
Above your deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by:
yet, in your dark streets shining
the everlasting light,
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in you tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary;
and, gathered all above,
while mortals sleep the angels keep
their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together
proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the King
and peace to all on earth.
How silently, how silently
the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming;
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him, still
the dear Christ enters in.
O holy child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin and enter in,
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
their great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Immanuel.

TiS 316. Phillip Brooks 1835-93. Public Domain.

Benediction

Postlude

In order to avoid crowding at the exits, please wait for a steward to indicate it is time to leave. May you know the peace, love, joy and hope the Christ child brings to all the world.