Christmas Day Family Service

Welcome and introduction

Names say something special about us. Surnames tell which family we belong to. Christian names often express a hope that our parents had for us or a link with some other person of the same name. As we celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus this year, lets reflect on some of the names he was given, so that we might understand more of his significance for us.

Carol

Carol : O Come, All You Faithful (simplified) Joy to the World I Cannot Tell Why He Whom Angels Worship Angels, From the Realms of Glory Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus Hail to the Lord's Anointed Hark! The Herald Angels Sing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel O Holy Night O Little Town of Bethlehem Of the Father's Love Begotten Once in Royal David's City Silent Night Tell out, My Soul, the Greatness of the Lord! The Holly and the Ivy Unto Us a Boy is Born While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night A Child This Day is Born O Come, All Ye Faithful Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendour Away in a Manger The First Nowell God Rest Ye Merry People All It Came Upon The Midnight Clear n/a Good Christians All, Rejoice As With Gladness Men of Old While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night (Simplified) Once in Royal David's City (Simplified) Angels, From the Realms of Glory (Simplified) The First Nowell (Simplified) O Little Town of Bethlehem (Simplified) Silent Night (Simplified) It Came Upon The Midnight Clear (simplified) Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Come To Us The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy

First Reading

More than 700 years before the birth of Jesus, God promised that a son would be born to a virgin, who would call him Immanuel, which means ‘God with us'. The child would be a sign of God's commitment to rescue and keep his people.

Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14

Prayer

Almighty God, thank you for keeping your promise in the birth of Mary's son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for coming among us to speak to us and give us the hope of new life. Help us to understand the true meaning of Christmas, and to respond to your love with our love. Amen.

Carol

Carol : O Come, All You Faithful (simplified) Joy to the World I Cannot Tell Why He Whom Angels Worship Angels, From the Realms of Glory Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus Hail to the Lord's Anointed Hark! The Herald Angels Sing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel O Holy Night O Little Town of Bethlehem Of the Father's Love Begotten Once in Royal David's City Silent Night Tell out, My Soul, the Greatness of the Lord! The Holly and the Ivy Unto Us a Boy is Born While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night A Child This Day is Born O Come, All Ye Faithful Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendour Away in a Manger The First Nowell God Rest Ye Merry People All It Came Upon The Midnight Clear n/a Good Christians All, Rejoice As With Gladness Men of Old While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night (Simplified) Once in Royal David's City (Simplified) Angels, From the Realms of Glory (Simplified) The First Nowell (Simplified) O Little Town of Bethlehem (Simplified) Silent Night (Simplified) It Came Upon The Midnight Clear (simplified) Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Come To Us The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy

Second Reading

Matthew proclaims the fulfilment of Isaiah's prophecy and the coming of God in the person of Jesus. As well as being Immanuel, he was called Jesus, because he came to ‘save his people from their sins'.

Reading: Matthew 1:18-25

Prayer

God of grace and truth, we acknowledge our need for Jesus and the forgiveness he made possible by his death on the cross. Turn us away from sin. Help us to live as forgiven children of God and to please you in everything we do, for the sake of Jesus our Saviour. Amen.

Carol

Carol : O Come, All You Faithful (simplified) Joy to the World I Cannot Tell Why He Whom Angels Worship Angels, From the Realms of Glory Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus Hail to the Lord's Anointed Hark! The Herald Angels Sing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel O Holy Night O Little Town of Bethlehem Of the Father's Love Begotten Once in Royal David's City Silent Night Tell out, My Soul, the Greatness of the Lord! The Holly and the Ivy Unto Us a Boy is Born While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night A Child This Day is Born O Come, All Ye Faithful Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendour Away in a Manger The First Nowell God Rest Ye Merry People All It Came Upon The Midnight Clear n/a Good Christians All, Rejoice As With Gladness Men of Old While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night (Simplified) Once in Royal David's City (Simplified) Angels, From the Realms of Glory (Simplified) The First Nowell (Simplified) O Little Town of Bethlehem (Simplified) Silent Night (Simplified) It Came Upon The Midnight Clear (simplified) Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Come To Us The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy

Third Reading

Angels announced to a group of shepherds that the baby Jesus would be the Christ, the promised king of Israel, who would rule the nations and bring people from everywhere into his eternal kingdom.

Reading: Luke 2:8-15

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we confess that you are the Christ, the promised saviour king. Rule in us by your Spirit today. Send out your word to bring many into your kingdom. Deliver your people from injustice and persecution. Bring on the day when every knee will bow and all will proclaim that you are Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Carol

Carol : O Come, All You Faithful (simplified) Joy to the World I Cannot Tell Why He Whom Angels Worship Angels, From the Realms of Glory Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus Hail to the Lord's Anointed Hark! The Herald Angels Sing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel O Holy Night O Little Town of Bethlehem Of the Father's Love Begotten Once in Royal David's City Silent Night Tell out, My Soul, the Greatness of the Lord! The Holly and the Ivy Unto Us a Boy is Born While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night A Child This Day is Born O Come, All Ye Faithful Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendour Away in a Manger The First Nowell God Rest Ye Merry People All It Came Upon The Midnight Clear n/a Good Christians All, Rejoice As With Gladness Men of Old While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night (Simplified) Once in Royal David's City (Simplified) Angels, From the Realms of Glory (Simplified) The First Nowell (Simplified) O Little Town of Bethlehem (Simplified) Silent Night (Simplified) It Came Upon The Midnight Clear (simplified) Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Come To Us The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy

Sermon

Carol

Carol : O Come, All You Faithful (simplified) Joy to the World I Cannot Tell Why He Whom Angels Worship Angels, From the Realms of Glory Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus Hail to the Lord's Anointed Hark! The Herald Angels Sing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel O Holy Night O Little Town of Bethlehem Of the Father's Love Begotten Once in Royal David's City Silent Night Tell out, My Soul, the Greatness of the Lord! The Holly and the Ivy Unto Us a Boy is Born While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night A Child This Day is Born O Come, All Ye Faithful Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendour Away in a Manger The First Nowell God Rest Ye Merry People All It Came Upon The Midnight Clear n/a Good Christians All, Rejoice As With Gladness Men of Old While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night (Simplified) Once in Royal David's City (Simplified) Angels, From the Realms of Glory (Simplified) The First Nowell (Simplified) O Little Town of Bethlehem (Simplified) Silent Night (Simplified) It Came Upon The Midnight Clear (simplified) Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Come To Us The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy

Concluding Prayers

Carol

Carol : O Come, All You Faithful (simplified) Joy to the World I Cannot Tell Why He Whom Angels Worship Angels, From the Realms of Glory Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus Hail to the Lord's Anointed Hark! The Herald Angels Sing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel O Holy Night O Little Town of Bethlehem Of the Father's Love Begotten Once in Royal David's City Silent Night Tell out, My Soul, the Greatness of the Lord! The Holly and the Ivy Unto Us a Boy is Born While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night A Child This Day is Born O Come, All Ye Faithful Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendour Away in a Manger The First Nowell God Rest Ye Merry People All It Came Upon The Midnight Clear n/a Good Christians All, Rejoice As With Gladness Men of Old While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night (Simplified) Once in Royal David's City (Simplified) Angels, From the Realms of Glory (Simplified) The First Nowell (Simplified) O Little Town of Bethlehem (Simplified) Silent Night (Simplified) It Came Upon The Midnight Clear (simplified) Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Come To Us The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy

This service may contain material which is © 2001-2009 The Archbishop of Sydney's Liturgical Panel, © 1978, 1995 The Anglican Church of Australia Trust Corporation and © 2000 Common Worship, and used by permission. See www.bettergatherings.com/copyright for details.