Celebrate Christmas!

by Peter Blount 25 December 2020

Welcome to Worship on Christmas Morning!

We echo the words recorded in Luke 2 : 11

‘Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord’ to which we add - Hallelujah! 

Christmas morning is often filled with the voices of excited children – now we hear them sing ‘Come and Join the Celebration’

Prayer                                                                                                                                               

Heavenly Father, it is with joy we bring our praise today, because your Son, the saviour of the world has come. He is the proof of your love and grace, in Him we see life and hope for our broken world.  Fill us today with your Holy Spirit , that we may bow before you and be made alive in your presence.  Help us, with shepherds and kings of old, to bring our adoration and worship to you with joy and gladness. Receive our praise in the name of Jesus our Lord. 

We confess that amid all the festivities of this season we have sometimes forgotten what Christmas really means, and have left the Lord Jesus out of our thinking and living.  Help us to remember that you loved this world so much that you gave your only son, who was born to be our saviour. 

We confess that we have allowed the most important event in history be become dulled by familiarity.  Help us in this act of worship to recapture a sense of wonder, and to discover again the stupendous fact that the Creator of the universe has come to us as a newborn baby. 

Lord guide our thoughts this morning and bring us closer to each other and to you. In Jesus name we pray. Amen 

We share together in 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. 

Away In a Manger – Sung by Kings College Choir

I have chosen a reading from the Old Testament this morning as it seems to reflect our current situation, particularly as the opening verse goes from darkness to light. 

Reading from Isaiah 9 : 2 – 7

Angels from the Realms of Glory

Christmas Morning Message

The First Noel

Prayer 

Lord Jesus as we celebrate the anniversary of your birth, again we give thanks for all that Christmas means to us. 

In these moments we a privileged to bring our prayers for others –

For our troubled, distressed and diseased world 

For the leaders, and medical teams of all nations

For your church in all it’s forms 

For every precious gift of life.

 

For our church at Newmount and it’s continuing work and witness

For our minister, stewards and leaders

For Sue and our work with young people

For the varying needs of every member of our congregation 

For those we know who are ill, saddened or depressed in any way

For the prayers placed of our Christmas tree cross and the nativity scene in the church window. 

 

A few moments of silence to offer our personal and private Christmas prayers 

 

Finally, Heavenly Father, we pray your peace on ourselves at this special time, that we may find strength to continue our walk with you. 

In Jesus name we pray. Amen 

   

O Come, All Ye Faithful

Blessing

If you would like to linger a little longer -This is a beautiful version of ‘O Holy Night’