Read-along Service for Sunday, December 29, 2024 – Carols & Lessons

Trinity-St. Andrew’s United Church
Order of Worship
Sunday, December 29 – Carols & Lessons Service
Order of Service

Prelude
Words of welcome, announcements –Joy Curry 

Lighting the Christ Candle – Joy Curry
As we light our Christ Candle, we are reminded that we gather in the name of Jesus, who is the light of the world.  He bids us to come, just as we are, even if we are tired, worn, and weary.  As the winter season begins, may we seek to shine our light in the darkness.

Call To worship – Joy Curry 

First Carol          It Came upon the Midnight Clear                       VU 44

1. It came upon the midnight clear,
   that glorious song of old,
   from angels bending near the earth
   to touch their hearts of gold,
   “Peace on the earth, good will to all,
   from heaven’s all-gracious King!”
   The world in solemn stillness lay
   to hear the angels sing.

2. Still through the cloven skies they come
   with peaceful wings unfurled;
   and still their heavenly music floats
   o’er all the weary world;
   above its sad and lowly plains
   they bend on hovering wing,
   and ever o’er its Babel sounds
   the blessed angels sing.

3. Yet with the woes of sin and strife
   the world has suffered long;
   beneath the angel strain have rolled
   two thousand years of wrong;
   and warring humankind hears not
   the love song which they bring.
   O hush the noise, and cease your strife,
   to hear the angels sing.

4. For lo! the days are hastening on,
   by prophets seen of old,
   when with the ever-circling years
   shall come the time foretold,
   when peace shall over all the earth
   its ancient splendours fling,
   and the whole world send back the song
   which now the angels sing.

Prayer – Joy Curry
Holy God, you have appeared in the flesh, bringing redemption to all. Your glory is made known in this newborn child, who is our blessed hope. Today we sing a new song— a song of hope and justice, comfort and joy, peace and good will, and love for all.  May this Gift of God, be born anew in our hearts. Amen. 

Second Carol               Still, still, still                                              VU 47

1. Still, still, still; the night is calm and still.
   The Christchild in his crib lies sleeping,
   angels round him watch are keeping;
   Still, still, still: the night is calm and still.

2. Sleep, sleep, sleep: sweet Jesus, softly sleep,
   while Mary sings and gently holds you,
   safely in her arms enfolds you.
   Sleep, sleep, sleep; sweet Jesus softly sleep.

3. Joy, joy, joy; glad tidings of great joy!
   For through God’s holy incarnation
   Christ is born for our salvation.
   Joy, joy, joy; glad tidings of great joy!

First lesson Matthew 1:18-25 – Roy Vasey 

Third Carol                  The First Nowell                                        VU 91

1. The first Nowell the angel did say
   was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
   in fields where they lay akeeping their sheep
   on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
                   born is the King of Israel.

2. 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.            Refrain

3. And by the light of that same star
   three wise men came from country afar;
   and to the earth it gave great light,
   and so it continued both day and night.            Refrain

4. This star drew night to the northwest;
   o’er Bethlehem it took its rest,
   and there it did both stop and stay,
   right over the place where Jesus lay.                Refrain

5. Then entered in those wise men three,
   full reverently upon their knee,
   and offered there in his presence
   their gold and myrrh and frankincense.            Refrain

6. Then let us all with one accord
   sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
   that hath made heaven and earth of nought,
   and with his blood our life hath brought.           Refrain

Second Lesson: Psalm 148 – Roy Vasey 

Fourth Carol                Once in Royal David’s City                       VU 62

1. Once in royal David’s city
   stood a lowly cattleshed,
   where a mother laid her baby
   in a manger for his bed.
   Mary was that mother mild,
   Jesus Christ her little child.

2. He came down to earth from heaven
   who, with God, is over all,
   and his shelter was a stable,
   and his cradle was a stall.
   There among the poor and lowly
   lived on earth our Saviour holy.

3. For he is our lifelong pattern;
   daily, when on earth he grew,
   he was tempted, scorned, rejected,
   tears and smiles like us he knew.
   Thus he feels for all our sadness,
   and he shares in all our gladness.

4. And our eyes at last shall see him,
   through his own redeeming love;
   for that child who seemed so helpless
   is our Lord in Heaven above;
   and he leads his children on
   to the place where he is gone.

Poem “In The Bleak Midwinter” by Christina Rosetti – Melissa Friske 

Fifth Carol          ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime                        VU 71

1. ‘Twas in the moon of wintertime,
   when all the birds had fled,
   that mighty Gitchi Manitou
   sent angel choirs instead;
   before their light the stars grew dim,
   and wandering hunters heard the hymn:
   Jesus, your King is born,
                      Jesus is born,
                      in excelsis gloria.

2. Within a lodge of broken bark
   the tender babe was found,
   a ragged robe of rabbit skin
   enwrapped his body round;
   but as the hunter braves drew nigh,
   the angel song rang loud and high:          Refrain

3. The earliest moon of wintertime
   is not so round and fair
   as was the ring of glory on
   the helpless infant there.
   The chiefs from far before him knelt
   with gifts of fox and beaver pelt.              Refrain

4. O children of the forest free,
   the angel song is true,
   the holy child of earth and heaven
   is born today for you.
   Come, knell before the radiant boy,
   Who brings you beauty, peace, and joy:  Refrain
   

Reading: “When The World Was Dark” – Melissa Friske

The offering – Margo Aubert
We give thanks for everyone who continues to support TSA and our many ministries. Your gifts of support and encouragement mean a lot to us.  You can get more information about making a donation by contacting the church office or by visiting our website. There are also many opportunities to volunteer in our ministries so you can share your talents For all the gifts you share, for all the people you bless by your serving and giving as a disciple of Jesus, we give thanks.

The Offering Prayer – Margo Aubert
Loving God, bless every gift that we give and receive during these special days. May they be a sign of your love present in our world. Bless the givers and the gifts, that your peace might be made known for all the world to see.

Sixth Carol         See amid the Winter’s Snow                    VU 76

1. See amid the winter’s snow,
   born for us on earth below,
   see, the tender Lamb appears,
   promised from eternal years.
   Hail, thou ever-blessèd morn;
                      hail, redemption’s happy dawn;
                      sing through all Jerusalem,
                      Christ is born in Bethlehem.

2. Lo, within a manger lies
   God who built the starry skies,
   who enthroned in height sublime
   sits amid the cherubim.                            Refrain

3. Say, ye holy shepherds, say
   what your joyful news today;
   wherefore have ye left your sheep
   on the lowly mountain steep?         Refrain

4. “As we watched at dead of night,
   lo, we saw a wondrous light;
   angels singing ‘Peace on earth’
   told us of the Saviour’s birth.”         Refrain

5. Sacred infant, all divine,
   what a mighty love was thine,
   thus to come from highest bliss
   down to such a world as this!          Refrain

Pastoral Prayer – Margo Aubert 

Seventh Carol              While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks           VU 75

1. While shepherds watched their flocks by night
   all seated on the ground,
   the angel of the Lord came down,
   and glory shone around.

2. “Fear not,” said he, for mighty dread
   had seized their troubled mind;
   “glad tidings of great joy I bring
   to you and humankind.

3. “To you in David’s town this day
   is born of David’s line
   a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord;
   and this shall be the sign:

4. “The heavenly babe you there shall find
   to human view displayed,
   all meanly wrapped in swaddling bands,
   and in a manger laid.”

5. Thus spake the seraph; and forthwith
   appeared a shining throng
   of angels praising God, who thus
   addressed their joyful song:

6. “All glory be to God on high
   and to the earth be peace!
   Good will to all from highest heaven
   begin, and never cease.”
   

Benediction – Joy Curry
A child has been born for us. God’s grace has been given to us. From a stable in Bethlehem our savior has come. We have seen the glory of the Lord, revealed in the face of the Christ child. Tell the world. Treasure the story. Ponder it in your heart.  May it be the song that lifts your spirit when times are tough. Rejoice! Rejoice! Christ has come! Amen!

Postlude
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

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.