December 25, 2021

WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE

Today’s service is led by Fiona McDougal

We spend a moment in quiet to prepare ourselves for worship……

 

Silence

GATHERING

On an ordinary night,

among people like us:

In an ordinary place,

with homes and streets for living and walking:

In a moment of time

when the stars wheeled across the skies

as they do now,

and sheep grazed in the grass

as they did each day:

All the earth received its Christ.

 

Christ who came in the silences amidst the angels,

the one who would never leave us nor forsake us

born of a woman and offered to us all.

Let us celebrate Christmas,

God is with us.                                                                                                    Dorothy McRae-McMahon

 

 

 

PROCESSIONAL HYMN                                                                         ‘God’s Surprise’

“Heaven shall not wait” Iona Community Book

Words: John Bell and Graham Maule © 1987, Iona Community, GIA Publications, Inc.

Music :Scarlet Ribbons (Trad)

 

1. Who would think that what was needed

to transform and save the earth
might not be a plan or army,

proud in purpose, proved in worth?
Who would think, despite derision,

that a child should lead the way?
God surprises earth with heaven,

coming here on Christmas Day.

 

2. Shepherds watch and wise men wonder;

monarchs scorn and angels sing;
such a place as none would reckon

hosts a holy helpless thing.

Stable beasts and by-passed strangers

watch a baby laid in hay;
God surprises earth with heaven,

coming here on Christmas Day.

 

3. Centuries of skill and science

span the past from which we move,
yet experience questions whether,

with such progress, we improve.
While the human lot we ponder,

lest our hopes and humour fray,
God surprises earth with heaven,

coming here on Christmas Day.

 

WELCOME

E te whānau a te Karaiti

Ngā mihi aroha ki a tātou katoa.

Kia ora tātou.

 

Invitation to Brunch

 

LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE
Today we remember God’s gift to the world of Jesus, God with us, bringing the gifts of hope, peace, joy and love, life in abundance.

On this Christmas Day we look to the Holy Land and we pray for its people. Jesus was born in Palestine under occupation. The people were taxed and denied justice. With his disciples, he wandered its roads, speaking truth to the people. In his life and ministry, he spoke words of healing and gave practical help.
Living in the same land, the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees keeps alive his message of love and always the hope of change. For more than seventy years, they have been a voice for refugees and their deep desire for a just peace for their neighbours and community.
Together we seek Peace with Justice.
Light the candle
Dear God
We celebrate your gift of life and light to the world today in the birth of the Christ-child. May we join in your work of bringing justice and wholeness to your creation and to all people.
Amen.
PRAYER
On this day of celebration,
we gather here to wonder and pray,
to sing and celebrate.
To hear retold the old familiar stories,
and look again for signs of hope and promise
for what is to come.
We bring memories of all the Christmases that have gone before,
different times and circumstances,
people who are no longer with us,
and those currently far away.
We yearn to know the sustaining and enlivening presence
of a reality greater than us
that cradles us lovingly in the fragile and fresh places
of our lives.
In the quiet of this morning hour
we make space to reach and
touch gently the face of the holy
in ourselves and each other.
Nurture us now that we may grow in strength and wisdom,
becoming the people you would have us be.

JESUS’ PRAYER Jim Cotter paraphrase

Eternal Spirit
Life-Giver, Pain-Bearer, Love-Maker,
source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
loving God, in whom is heaven:
the hallowing of your name
echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed
by the peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done
by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test,
strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory
of the power that is love, now and for ever.
Amen.
LIGHTING THE RAINBOW CANDLE
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN Fiona McDougal

BLESSING THE CHILDREN
(All stand)
We are glad of your presence with us today and bless you and children everywhere on this special day
We bless you. Amen.

There activities at the back of the church for children to enjoy
PASSING THE PEACE
Traditionally we shake hands to pass the peace and say “peace be with you. Now that Covid is here
we ask that you pass the peace without shaking hands.
HYMN CH4 311 ‘Jesus is born’
Words: Pat Bennet, Music: Basque traditional

 
1. Jesus is born:
formed in a womb and now a baby.
Jesus is born.
Swaddled and small, he sleeps in hay.
Setting aside his power and glory,
homeless he enters human story:
Christ comes to earth.

2. Jesus is born:
angels announce a joyful message,
Jesus is born.
Peace on the earth, goodwill to all.
This is the hour God shows God’s favour,
sending the Son, creation’s Saviour:
Hope comes to earth.

3. Jesus is born:
high overhead a start is shining,
Jesus is born.
Earth houses uncreated light.
Now is the hold of darkness broken
as hearts and minds to God are opened:
Light comes to earth.

4. Jesus is born:
this night the world is changed for ever,
Jesus is born
and in this babe for all to see,
Love is revealed, God’s heart lies open
as the incarnate Word is spoken:
God comes to earth.

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THE WORD IN TEXTS

Hebrew Bible: Isaiah 9:2-7 NRSV
Psalm 96 the Iona Abbey Worship Group Responsive reading

All: Sing a new song all the earth.
Sing a new song to God.
L: Sing and bless the holy name:
let God’s salvation be praise each day.
R: Declare God’s glory among the nations:
tell all people what God has done.
L: God is great deserving of worship,
worthy of praise more than worldly idols.
R: Earthly deities are custom-built
but God is the Maker of all.
All: Sing a new song all the earth:
sing a new song to God.
L: Honour and splendour belong to God
in whose sanctuary are beauty and strength
R: Give God the glory, you families of nations
offering your gifts in God’s house.
L: Praise the Creator, clothed in holiness;
tremble with reverence all the earth.
R: Say to the nations, “Our God reigns.
The world is stable; it shall not be moved;
God will judge it with fairness”
All: Sing a new song all the earth;
sing a new song to God.
L: Let heaven be glad, let earth rejoice;
let the sea roar and al its creatures;
let the fertile fields honour their Maker.
R: Let the trees of the forest sing for joy
for God is coming to judge the earth.
The world shall be judged with justice,
its nations judged with truth.
All: Sing a new song, all the earth;
sing a new song to God.
Gospel Luke 2:1-20 NLT
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks.

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HYMN ‘Glimmers of Joy’
Words: Fiona McDougal 2019, Music: French Traditional carol CH4 281

1. Glimmers of joy pervade our lives
if we will but open our eyes.
Sparkles the sea with light and movement,
dappled the bush with shade and shadow.
Glimmers of joy pervade our lives
Jesus Christ in them resides.

2. Depths of great joy infuse our lives
though the surface stormy is.
Fearful, we struggle, seek solutions,
doubting, we miss the Spirit’s holding.
Depths of great joy infuse our lives,
Jesus Christ in them resides.

3. Born into joy you touch our lives,
Jesus son of mother so wise.
Shepherds came hurrying through the pastures,
wise men brought gifts of worth and welcome.
Born into joy you touch our lives,
Jesus Christ in them reside.

4. Through all the world glad tidings sound
joy to all and justice announce.
Proclaiming news that God is with us,
Jesus is born, Love here we witness.
Through all the world glad tidings sound
“Jesus Christ, God’s Word” resounds.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Fiona McDougal
A period of silence…………..
You may wish to contemplate the prayer below during this time or just sit and enjoy the quiet.
In this season of Christmas,
breathe in life.
Life of the One
in whose image we are made.
In this season of Christmas,
breathe in love.
Love that was shown
when God gave his only Son.
In this season of waiting,
breathe in peace.
Peace from the One
who calmed the sea
and quiets our souls.
In this season of Christmas,
breathe in hope.
Hope that the One
whose birth we celebrate
is indeed making all things new.
Christine Sine (adapted)
OFFERTORY MUSIC
Offering of sweets to congregation.
Please feel free to make a contribution to Christian World Service for their Christmas Appeal. You may do this online https://cws.org.nz/get-involved/give/christmas-appeal/
OFFERING HYMN ‘In the bleak midwinter’ vs5 CH4 305
Words: Christina Rossetti. Music: Cranham

What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb,
if I were a wise man, I would do my part,
yet what I can I give him, give my heart.
OFFERING PRAYER
We give thanks for the sweet gift of life and new possibilities offered to us today in the birth of Jesus. With joy we offer our resources of money, prayers, skill and commitment that the Spirit may work anew in our world today.
Amen
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Ken Irwin
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius and the Comoros and the Christian Council of Churches in Madagascar. We hold all refugees in our hearts. We pray in particular for those detained for many years in Papua New Guinea & Nauru. We give thanks for progress that has been made and pray that their calls for justice might yet find a compassionate response. In New Zealand, we remember those in Parliament, and today we name Hon Damien O'Connor (West Coast-Tasman), Greg O'Connor (Ōhāriu). Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of Oroua Presbyterian Parish, Feilding.

You are invited to add your own personal prayers to the prayers of the people. Take a few moments to allow a prayer to rise in your heart and write some words, or draw a symbol for it on the tiny scroll you were given with the order of service. If you wish, place your prayer in the baby Jesus’ crib.
PRAYER FOR ST ANDREW’S

Renew your people, God,
and renew our life in this place.
Give us a new spirit of unity
with all who follow the Way of Jesus
and new bonds of love
with people of other faiths.

Bless the city in which we live
that it may be a place
where honest dealing,
good government,
the desire for beauty,
and the care for others flourish.

Bless this church
that what we know of your will
may become what we do,
and what we believe
the strong impulse
of our worship and work.

Amen
HYMN CC52 ‘You are born in us again’
Words © 1996 Mark Wilson. Music arr. Shona Murray, descant Colin Gibson

1. You are born in us again.
Like the warmth of the summer wind you come,
to melt away the icicles of vanity and pride;
you come to blow the very doors of loving open wide.
Like the warmth of the summer wind you come,
(repeat last line)

 
2. You are born in us again.
Like the scent of the summer rain you come.
You come to quench the thirsty and to freshen up the land;
you come to clean away the dust that’s settled in our hand.
Like the scent of summer rain you come, (repeat last line)

3. You are born in us again.
Like the light of the summer sun you come,
to give light to the places that have never seen the Son:
you come now to embrace us, you’re the holy, holy one.
Like the light of the summer sun you come, (repeat last line)

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BLESSING
O Christ, you are a bright flame before us.
You are a guiding star above us.
You are the light and love
we see in others’ eyes.
Keep us, O Christ,
in a love that is tender.
Keep us O Christ,
in a love that is true.
Keep us O Christ,
in a love that is strong,
today, tomorrow and always. J Philip Newell
SUNG AMEN
POSTLUDE