NOTE: Pg #s refer to the BAS

I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day a Saviour, Christ the Lord. -Luke 2: 10-11

Processional Hymn: #153 Good Christians All, Rejoice

Good Christians all, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice!
Listen now to what we say,
Jesus Christ is born today:
ox and ass before him bow
and he is in the manger now!
Christ is born today;
Christ is born today.

Good Christians all, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice!
Hear the news of endless bliss,
Jesus Christ was born for this:
he has opened heaven's door
and man is blessed for evermore!
 Christ was born for this;
 Christ was born for this.

Good Christians all, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice!
Now you need not fear the grave;
Jesus Christ was born to save:
come at his most gracious call
to find salvation one and all!
   Christ was born to save;
   Christ was born to save.

Welcome & Acknowledgment of Land

Call to Worship 
Mysterious God,  you come to us this season;
Softly as a mother’s sigh, as startling as the cry of a newborn child. Come into our hearts, we pray, that we might be cradled in your love and stirred by your glory. We pray in the name of the One whose coming we celebrate, Jesus Christ, the Bethlehem baby. Amen (Seasons of the Spirit)

(We prepare our hearts for worship in silence)

The Gathering of the Community (Service begins on p. 185)

The Gloria p. 186

Kyrie Eleison p. 186

Collect  O god our Father, whose Word has come among us in the Holy Child of Bethlehem, may the light of faith illumine our hearts and shine in our words and deeds; through him who is Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen

The Proclamation of the Word   (Led by Tim Ray)

Hebrew Scripture:    ISAIAH 9:2-7

PSALM 96     R: Sing to the Lord, all the whole earth! 

The Epistle:        TITUS 2:11-14

Gospel Hymn:  #148 See Amid the Winter’s Snow

See amid the winter's snow,
Born for us on earth below,
See the tender Lamb appears,
Promised from eternal years.

Refrain
Hail, thou ever-blessed morn!
Hail, redemption's happy dawn!
Sing through all Jerusalem,
Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Lo, within a manger lies
He who built the starry skies;
He, who throned in height sublime
Sits amid the cherubim. R

Say, ye holy shepherds, say
What your joyful news today;
Wherefore have ye left your sheep
On the lonely mountain steep? R

"As we watched at dead of night,
Lo, we saw a wondrous light;1
Angels singing peace on earth
Told us of the Saviour's birth". R

Sacred infant, all divine,
What a tender love was Thine,
Thus to come from highest bliss
Down to such a world as this. R

The Gospel:        LUKE 2:1-14

Homily: (The Rev. Marion Edmondson Preaching)

Affirmation of Faith: The Apostles’ Creed     p. 189 (please stand as able)

Prayers of the People    (Led by Rev. Alastair)

Confession and Absolution p. 191

The Peace    p. 192

Offertory Hymn: #139 The First Nowell

The First Nowell the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds
in fields as they lay;
In fields as they lay, keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Refrain
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
Born is the King of Israel.

They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the east beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night. R

And by the light of that same star
Three wise men came from country far;
To seek for a king was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went. R

This star drew nigh to the northwest,
O'er Bethlehem it took it rest,
And there it did both stop and stay
Right over the place where Jesus lay. R

Then entered in those wise men three
Full reverently upon their knee,
and offered there in his presence
Their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense. R

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord;
That hath made heaven and earth of naught,
And with his blood mankind hath bought. R

 Prayer over the Gifts Generous Creator, in faith and joy we celebrate the birth of your Son. Increase our understanding and our love of the riches you have revealed in him, who is Lord now and for ever. Amen 

The Celebration of the Eucharist 

The Great Thanksgiving 

The Lord’s Prayer (sung)        p. 211

The Breaking of the Bread (prayer # 6)     p. 212

The Communion (all are welcome to receive communion)

Communion Hymn: #151 All Poor Folk and Humble 

All poor folk and humble,
all lame folk who stumble,
come hast ye, and be not afraid;
for Jesus, our treasure,
whose love passes measure,
in lowly poor manager was laid.
Though wise men who found him
laid righ gifts around him,
yet oxen they gave him their hay;
and Jesus in beauty
accept their duty:
contented in manger he lay.

Refrain
Then haste we to show him
the praises we owe him;
our service he ne’er can despise,
whose love still is able
to show us that stable 
where softly in manger he lies.

The Christ child will lead us,
the good Shepherd feed us,
and with us abide till his day.
Then hatred he’ll banish,
then sorrow will vanish,
and death and despair flee away.
And he shall reign ever,
and nothing shall server
from us the great love of our King.
His peace and his pity
shall bless his fair city;
his praises we ever shall sing.
Refrain

Prayer after Communion:  Source of truth and joy, may we who have received the gift of divine life always follow the way of your Son. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen

Doxology (Old 100th): Praise God from whom all blessings flow! 
Praise him all creatures here below! Praise him above ye heavenly
hosts! Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost! Amen

The Blessing

Closing Hymn:   #154 Joy to the World

Joy to the world! the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let ev'ry heart prepare him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing

Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns
Let us glad  songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy

No more let wrongs and sorrows grow,
nor thorns infest the ground;
he comes to make his blessings flow
far as our sin is found.

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 wonder wonders of His love

The Dismissal    p. 215