ORDER OF WORSHIP THIS MORNING The Gathering of the People of God

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1 Sunday, 23rd December, :00am The Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year C) Blessed is she who believed that there will be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord. St Luke 1: 45. ORDER OF WORSHIP THIS MORNING The Gathering of the People of God ORGAN PRELUDE GREETING Welcome in the name of Christ. God s grace, mercy and peace be with you. And also with you. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY We acknowledge the Dharawal people as the custodians for many centuries of the land on which we gather today. CALL TO WORSHIP Let us worship God whose name is holy from one generation to another. The Lord shows mercy to those who honour God. 1 The Lord has stretched out his mighty arm; And scattered the proud with all their plans. God has brought down mighty kings from their thrones, God has lifted up the lowly, The Lord has filled the hungry with good things; The Lord has sent the rich away with empty hands. God has kept the promise made to our ancestors; The Lord has come to the help of his people. Adapted from Mary s Song, The Magnificat, in St Luke 1: OPENING PRAYER HYMN (TiS.265) O come, O come, Emmanuel

LIGHTING THE 4TH ADVENT CANDLE The first three Advent candles are already lit. Two particpants comment on the Mary s Song of Praise. The fourth Advent candle is lit.

Christ, have mercy. After each such instance, silence may be kept for a space.

2 LIGHTING THE 4TH ADVENT CANDLE The first three Advent candles are already lit. Two particpants comment on the Mary s Song of Praise. The fourth Advent candle is lit. After further comment by the minister, the people respond by singing: TiS.286: PRAYER OF CONFESSION In this prayer the following versicles and responses are used: Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. After each such instance, silence may be kept for a space. DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS And so, in the name of Jesus Christ, I declare peace to all who truly repent of their sin: Your sins are forgiven. Thanks be to God. Amen. INTRODUCTION TO THE THEME OF THE DAY HYMN (TiS.161) Tell out, my soul The Service of the Word of God Before the Bible readings, the reader says: Your word, O Lord, is a lamp to our feet: A light to our path. Psalm 119: 105. OLD TESTAMENT READING Micah 5: 2 5a 2 2 You, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. 3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labour has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; 5 and he shall be the man of peace. NRSV.

3 EPISTLE READING Hebrews 10: When Christ came into the world, he said, Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me; 6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7 Then I said, See, God, I have come to do your will, O God (in the scroll of the book it is written of me). 8 When he said, You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, See, I have come to do your will. He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. 10 And it is by God s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. NRSV. GOSPEL READING St Luke 1: In those days [, when she learned that she was to be the mother of the Messiah,] Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord. 46 And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, 48 for the Lord has looked with favour on the lowliness of God s servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is God s name. 50 The mercy of the Lord is for those who fear God from generation to generation. 51 The Lord has shown strength with the arm of God; the Lord has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52 God has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; 53 the Lord has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. 54 God has helped the Lord s servant Israel, in remembrance of God s mercy, 55 according to the promise God made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever. NRSV. After this final reading, the reader says: Here end today s readings. Lord, may your word live in us; And bear much fruit to your glory. SERMON God has exalted those of low degree We respond to the Word of God OFFERTORY HYMN (TiS.288) Not the powerful, not the privileged The people remain seated until the final verse. DEDICATION OF OFFERING 3 NOTICES & CONCERNS OF THE CHURCH PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION THE LORD S PRAYER

The People of God are sent out HYMN (TiS.

THREE-FOLD AMEN Then ORGAN POSTLUDE. A Word from the Minister 23rd December, 2018 Thank you to everyone who helped with our Christmas Sing-along last Sunday.

The Church Council has received a quote from an architect to prepare and review options to provide code compliant equitable access to the front of our Church.

Development Application. The position of part-time Tertiary Chaplain and parttime Minister at Wollongong Mission is currently being advertised with a closing date of 8th February, 2019.

4 The People of God are sent out HYMN (TiS.293) DISMISSAL AND BLESSING Unto us a boy is born In the dismissal, the following versicle and response are used twice: My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour. THREE-FOLD AMEN Then ORGAN POSTLUDE. A Word from the Minister 23rd December, 2018 Thank you to everyone who helped with our Christmas Sing-along last Sunday. Those of us who attended had a lot of fun, thanks to the leadership of Pamela Mildenhall. We didn t quite get through all the carols but we did raise $500 towards the Community Centre. The Church Council has received a quote from an architect to prepare and review options to provide code compliant equitable access to the front of our Church. An application was submitted to the Presbytery last Tuesday seeking approval to use our property sales proceeds to fund the appropriate consultants to progress this project to the stage of a Development Application. The position of part-time Tertiary Chaplain and parttime Minister at Wollongong Mission is currently being advertised with a closing date of 8th February, If you know of a suitable candidate, please encourage them to apply. This afternoon I have the pleasure of sharing in the launch of our new afternoon worship service in the Auditorium which will be conducted in French, the language of our newest members who have recently arrived from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Thanks to the generosity of Christmas Shoppers in the Illawarra, we received $9,000 from the Target-Uniting Christmas appeal for distribution to individuals and families suffering financial hardship. Tomorrow the Community Centre will be closed to allow Karen and her team to prepare the food so generously provided by local businesses. This year we have been overwhelmed by the number of persons who have volunteered to help with our Christmas Lunch. However, we always have room around the table for one more if you are facing spending Christmas day alone. The Church Office will be closed until Monday, 14th January. If you have any urgent pastoral concerns, you may contact me on my mobile phone (number below) as I will be working throughout January. For many of us, the next few days will bring an ending: the ending of the wrapping of presents, the ending of Christmas parties, the ending of shopping season, and the ending of another year. May I take this opportunity to remind you that for those of us who follow Christ, Christmas does not represent an ending; but rather, the beginning: the beginning of hope, the beginning of peace, the beginning of joy, and the beginning of love. Sharon and I thank you for your love and care this year and pray that you and your families will enjoy a holy Christmas and a joy filled New Year. Grace and peace, The Reverend Geoffrey Flynn, Wesley Uniting Church, Wollongong. 4

TODAY S SERVICES 23rd December, 2018 10:00am 6:00pm MUSICIANS TODAY READER THIS MORNING SERVICES TODAY, THIS WEEK AND NEXT SUNDAY The Revd Geoff Flynn and The Revd Tom Pardy Advent Bible Study 4 in

, 2018 9:00am The Revd Geoff Flynn SERVICES NEXT SUNDAY 30th December, 2018 10:00am The Revd Geoff Flynn MUSICIANS NEXT SUNDAY READER NEXT SUNDAY am NOTICES NEXT SUNDAY am (am) Ruth Procter Grace

DAY (25th December, 2018) OT Reading: Isaiah 62: 6 12 Psalm: Psalm 97 Epistle: Titus 3: 4 7 Gospel: St Luke 2: (1 7) 8 20 or OT Reading: Isaiah 52: 7 10 Psalm: Psalm 98 Epistle: Hebrews 1: 1 4, (5

5 TODAY S SERVICES 23rd December, :00am 6:00pm MUSICIANS TODAY READER THIS MORNING SERVICES TODAY, THIS WEEK AND NEXT SUNDAY The Revd Geoff Flynn and The Revd Tom Pardy Advent Bible Study 4 in Committee Room (am) Ruth Procter Marianne Samways TOMORROW, XMAS EVE 24th December, :00pm The Revd Geoff Flynn ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THIS WEEK TUESDAY, CHRISTMAS DAY 25th Dec., :00am The Revd Geoff Flynn SERVICES NEXT SUNDAY 30th December, :00am The Revd Geoff Flynn MUSICIANS NEXT SUNDAY READER NEXT SUNDAY am NOTICES NEXT SUNDAY am (am) Ruth Procter Grace Jenkins Pamela Mildenhall LECTIONARY FOR CHRISTMAS EVE (24th December, 2018) OT Reading: Isaiah 9: 2 7 Psalm: Psalm 96 Epistle: Titus 2: Gospel: St Luke 2: 1 14 (15 20) LECTIONARY FOR CHRISTMAS DAY (25th December, 2018) OT Reading: Isaiah 62: 6 12 Psalm: Psalm 97 Epistle: Titus 3: 4 7 Gospel: St Luke 2: (1 7) 8 20 or OT Reading: Isaiah 52: 7 10 Psalm: Psalm 98 Epistle: Hebrews 1: 1 4, (5 12) Gospel: St John 1: 1 14 LECTIONARY FOR NEXT SUNDAY Sunday after Xmas, Year C (30th December, 2018) OT Reading: 1 Samuel 2: 18 20, 26 For Psalm: Psalm 148 Epistle: Colossians 3: Gospel: St Luke 2: What Karen Zaini, supervisor of our Community Centre, would really like this week is stuff for Christmas. Just put your donations in the container in the church porch or drop them in directly to the Community Centre (Church office closed). Do it! OK? 5 Offerings for Last Sunday, 16/12/18 Cash... $ Envelopes... $ Received by EFT... $ Total collections for the day... $ Morning Tea... $ Christmas Bowl donations... $ Donations Box... $ Total income for the day... $ If you would like to transfer funds electronically to Wollongong Mission, talk to your bank. Our BSB is and our account number is HOLY DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS The day after Christmas Day, popularly known as boxing Day, is known in the Church Calendar as St Stephen s Day. Stephen was the first Christian martyr (see Acts 7: 58 60). He was a Deacon in the early church and, because his name is Greek rather than Hebrew, he may have been a Greek-speaking Jew. According to tradition, his relics were discovered and placed in a church in Jerusalem dedicated in his name on 26th December, 415 hence the choice of that date. St Stephen s shield shows rocks and the discarded coat. Sometimes the coat is replaced with a martyr s crown. Two days later, 28th December, is marked in the Church Calendar as Holy Innocents Day, a day to commemorate the children of Bethlehem under the age of two who were slaughtered by Herod s soldiers in an effort to eliminate the baby Jesus whom Herod saw as a rival to his own throne, see St Matthew 2: It is sobering to realise that, as we celebrate the birth of Christ as a baby on Christmas Day, within a very short time we are reminded of first Stephen and then the Holy Innocents, each of whom met their deaths in the service, directly or indirectly, of Christ.

6 WHAT IS THE CORRECT DATE FOR CHRISTMAS? According to the nativity storyin St Luke 2, Mary and Joseph travelled from their home in Nazareth (in what is now Israel) to Bethlehem (in what is now the West Bank) to take part in a census. Months earlier, Mary had been visited by the Angel Gabriel and told she would give birth to a boy who she would name Jesus, and who would be the son of God. The child was delivered in a stable. Shepherds and (according to St Matthew) wise men brought birthday gifts. The Bible does not specify the date of Jesus birth. Some people have suggested it was in the spring because of the custom of sending sheep into the fields at that time of year. And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night. (St Luke 2: 8.) In the fourth century, Pope Julius I chose 25th December as the date of the Feast of the Nativity. It took a while to catch on: Christmas wasn t celebrated in England until the end of the sixth century, and didn t reach northern Europe until the end of the eighth century. Christmas Day didn t become a federal holiday in the USA until th December is the day that the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches celebrate Christmas, but many Orthodox Christians use the Julian calendar, which runs 13 days behind the standard international Gregorian calendar, for religious festivals. Christmas is celebrated by Orthodox Christians on 7th January in Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, Belarus, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Mac edonia, Moldova and Montenegro. Pope Julius I picked 25th December so as to appropriate the pagan midwinter festivals and transform them into a Christian occasion. When Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England, Christmas was banned. Noting that the date of Jesus birth is not in the Bible, the Puritans decided it was all a just a pseudo-christian gloss for the earlier pagan festivals. In 1644, Christmas was outlawed no decorations, no mince pies and definitely no decadence. An Ordinance for Abolishing of Festivals was passed by parliament in June, 1647, banning Christmas, Easter and Pentecost (known then as Whitsun). In Scandinavia, the Norse celebrated Jul (Yule) from the winter solstice (21st Decem ber) for as long as it took for large logs to burn out, usually about 12 days. There was plenty of meat as animals were slaughtered so they wouldn t need feeding over the winter, and homebrewed wine and beer was ready for drinking at Yuletide. In Rome, Saturnalia honouring Saturn, the god of agriculture began just before the winter solstice and continued for seven days. Men dressed as women, masters dressed as servants, and there was much feasting and rowdy behaviour. 6 In the British Isles, druids cut and blessed mistletoe to mark the winter solstice. Many of these customs seem to have been absorbed into the current celebrations of Christmas! Christmas trees originated from Germany where, according to tradition, Martin Luther was impressed by seeing stars through a fir tree.

December 23, 2018 The Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 23, 2018 The Fourth Sunday of Advent Lector Prior to the service please check the service bulletin to confirm the readings and to determine if both the lesson and the epistle will be read. Please ask the celebrant if you have any questions