The Gift of Christmas

Transcription

1 Gift Child of Bethlehem (by Ruth Bowen) We come before you, Christmas child, in silent amazement. May we welcome you among us Gift Child of Bethlehem As Mary welcomed you and rejoiced in God s holiness and mercy, We pray for the church as Christmas appears, Gift Child of Bethlehem, The Gift of Christmas As shepherds welcomed you, disturbing their work and lives, We pray for your disturbing presence in our world. Gift Child of Bethlehem As Joseph welcomed you, giving you a home and a name, We pray for all who seek shelter in our community tonight. Gift Child of Bethlehem As angels welcomed you, singing of glory and peace, We pray for all who seek healing and hope. Gift Child of Bethlehem, As wise ones welcomed you, risking a journey and following a star, We pray that we may take risks in following you Gift Child of Bethlehem, The love of God is in us The spirit of joy is with us, Emmanuel, Jesus, Now and always, AMEN Islington United Church Open Hearts Open Minds Open Doors 25 Burnhamthorpe Road, Toronto, ON M9A 1G Islington United Church Christmas Eve :00 & 9:00 pm

2 Islington United Church The Gift of Christmas We acknowledge the history, spirituality, culture, and stewardship of the land of the Indigenous peoples of this region, most recently the Mississaugas of the New Credit who are Anishinaabe Ojibwe people. We seek right relations with them as we live, work, and worship upon their traditional territory. Piano, Flute & Handbell Prelude Jason Locke, piano Cathy Richardson, flute Congregational Carol VU 62 Please stand, if able Once in royal David s city stood a lowly cattle shed, where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed. Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child. 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. 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. 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. Welcome & Call to Worship -2- Rev. Maya Landell Congregational Carol VU 60 Please stand, if able O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem: come and behold him, born the King of angels; O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Sing, choirs of angels; sing in exultation; sing, all ye citizens of heaven above: Glory to God in the highest! O come, let us adore him, O come let us adore him, See how the shepherds summoned to his cradle, Leaving their flocks draw nigh with lowly fear; We too will thither bend our joyful footsteps; O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning; Jesus, to thee be glory given; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing; O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Lighting the Memorial Lights

3 -3- The Gift of the Prophets Isaiah 9:2-6 Senior Choir My Lord, He s is a Comin Soon P. Drennan The Gift of Elizabeth & Zechariah Senior Choir Magnificat C. Stanford The Gift of Mary Congregational Carol VU 64 Remain Seated O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by; Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light; The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. For Christ is born of Mary; and gathered all above, while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love. O morning stars together proclaim the holy birth, and praises sing to God the King, and peace to all on earth. The Gift of the Baby Luke 2:1-7 How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts the blessed gift of heaven. No ear may hear his coming; but in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in. O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin, and enter in; be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel. -4- The Gift of the Angels and Shepherds Luke 2:8-20 Senior Choir Hark! the Herald Angels Sing J. Locke Prayers the People/The Lord s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. The Gifts of the Wise Ones Matthew 2:1-12 Congregational Carol Remain Seated until invited to stand We three kings of Orient are; bearing gifts we traverse afar, Field and fountain, moor and mountain following yonder star. O, star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light. Born a King on Bethlehem s plain, gold I bring to crown him again, King forever, ceasing never, over us all to reign. Frankincense to offer have I; incense owns a deity nigh; Prayer and praising, voices raising, worshiping God on high.

4 The Offering of Our Gifts -5- Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume breathes a life of gathering gloom; Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, Sealed in the stone-cold tomb. Glorious now behold him arise; King and God and sacrifice: Alleluia, Alleluia, sounds through the earth and skies. Senior Choir All is Well arr. L. Larson -6- Silent night! Holy night! Shepherds Quake at the sight: Glories stream from heaven afar, Heavenly hosts sing Hallelujah, Christ, the Saviour is born, Christ the Saviour is born. Silent night! Holy night! Son of God, love s pure light, Radiant, beams from thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth. Christmas Blessing Postlude Rev. Maya Jason Locke Offering Prayer Holy One, bless our offerings and transform them into compassion for others, community for the lonely, and hope for the church and the world. Amen. The Gift of the Incarnation John 1:1-14 The Lighting of the Christ Candle Senior Choir O Holy Night arr. J. Locke Reflection The Gift of Christmas Rev. Maya The Passing of the Light Congregational Carol VU 67 Remain Seated Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright round yon virgin mother and child. Holy infant so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace; sleep in heavenly peace. Immediately following the service, please join us in the reception room as we gather around the fire for hot cider, punch, and seasonal refreshments. Special thanks tonight to the Senior Choir of Islington United Church with staff singers Jennifer Taverner, Lyndsay Promane, Peter Barnes, and accompanist, Jim Corbett Readers: 7:00 pm Dorothea Vickers, Colleen Pringle, James Aitchison, Andrew Pollock, 9:00 pm Dale Kucharczyk, Ryan Richardson, Lynne Bullock and Ron Jewell

5 -7- Christmas Celebrations Continue LATER THIS EVENING Communion by Candlelight 11:00 pm First Sunday After Christmas One Service December 30, :30 am Worship & Baptism Epiphany Sunday January 6, :30 & 11:15 am Worship /Children & Youth Ministry On behalf of the entire staff team at Islington United, may the Gifts of Christmas find you: God is with Us. It is our privilege to draw near to the Christ light with you, and to be part of this ministry. It is with tender and grateful heart that we say thank you for four years of ministry and say goodbye on December 30 th to Rev. Karen. We are blessed that Randee Marquez will be coordinating the children and youth program until June, as our congregation prays, visions and discerns our staffing needs ahead, God is with Us now and always, Rev. Maya Landell, Lead Minister Jason Locke, Minister of Music Rev. Karen Eade, Minister to Children, Youth, Young Adults Alana Martin, Minister to the GO Project James Aitchison, Pastoral Care Visitor Andrew Aitchison, Music Staff Associate Youth and Bell Choirs Christy Cummings, Music Staff Associate Junior Choir Randee Marquez, Children & Youth Coordinator Leslee Armstrong, Office Administrator Paul Mates, Facilities Lead Worku Gebrekidan, Dragan Mrkovic, Paul Vallillee, Facilities Team -8- Christmas Holiday Hours at Islington M&P and Rev. Maya remind us that our busiest season is upon us and following the Christmas Eve celebrations the church office will be closed for Leslee Armstrong s much deserved vacation from December 25 to January 4. Rev. Maya will be checking messages daily, and pastoral care will be available throughout the period. From December 27 th to 30 th, your year-end donations to close the tax year will be accepted by depositing in the office drop box. The building schedule is as follows: December 25 & 26 closed for Christmas & Boxing Day December open December 31 January 4 closed The entire building will be closed December 31 to January 4 for some much needed floor maintenance in high traffic areas. Please contact Paul Mates, Facilities Manager (paul@islingtonunited.org or , if your group must have access to the church during this period (e.x. Mabelle Food Program). There is no other time in our busy schedule to accommodate this work so we appreciate your understanding. Here s to starting 2019 rested and ready for healthy ministry together. Islington Offers Great Family, Children, and Youth Programs. Every Thursday night there is a lot happening for the artistic, the sporty and musical, including basketball, choir, and an art program. All this begins with dinner at 5 pm in Stewart East Hall. The junior youth group RISE (grades 5-8) and senior youth group Seekers (grades (9+) spend time hanging out, having fun, growing closer to God and each other on outings and retreats. For more info contact Randee@islingtonunited.org Summer Camps at Islington United VBS July 2 5 (campers: grades 2 6, volunteers: grades 7-12) The GO Project Youth August 4 11 (participants: grades 9+) The GO Children s Camp August (campers: grades 2 6, volunteers: grades 7-12)

6 -9- Who Is in Your Neighbourhood? Neighbourhoods: What thoughts come to mind when you say that word? Belonging? Connected? Caring for common space and for one another? Mr. Rogers? The Oxford Dictionary defines a neighbourhood as a district or community within a town or city. Our congregation is like the city or town and we are geographically all in neighbourhoods. Some near some farther away. Good neighbourhoods are positive words that describe something we all yearn for. A good neighbourhood doesn t just happen. It takes intentional acts of caring. A good neighbourhood has fun together, knows who their neighbours are, watches out for newcomers, pays attention when someone is ill, and celebrates milestone events. Islington United is a collection of neighbourhood a loving church that brings us all together to grow our faith and care for one another. But, as a whole, we are very big and, especially for newcomers, it can take a while before you feel connected and feel you truly belong. Our Elders and Belonging Team have been seeking new ways to help connect with a busy and changing congregation. One-on-one home visits work for some and will continue, but for many, travel, busy schedules, and Elders who have retired, has meant that not everyone feels connected. A suggestion made a while back was to look at our church as a collection of smaller neighbourhoods based on where we live and travel to Islington United from. Many of us live close by and some of us have moved further away but continue to see Islington as our church home. As a collection of 12 neighbourhoods, we believe that it will be easier to welcome newcomers warmly and help them find their way and make their spiritual home at Islington United. It will also be easier to look after one another. It is in caring for one another that we are continuing to do the work that Jesus began in his neighbourhood. We are planning some fun events to bring us together. More information to come in January What s coming up in 2019 Down Home East Kitchen Party January 6 pm Jiggs Dinner! Entertainment and good times! Tickets $25 Meditation with James resumes on Monday, January 7 7 pm in the Chapel. An additional meditation opportunity will begin in 2019 running on the last Friday of the month from 3 to 4 pm in the chapel. Talk to James Aitchison james@islingtonunited.org to find out more information. All are welcome to attend. Eastern Traditions Understanding Pathways to Spirituality An Interfaith Lecture Series Join us to learn more about pathways to spirituality. Islington United 7:30 9:30 pm Wednesday, January 9, 2019 Hinduism Swamini Shivapriyananda from the Chinmaya Heritage Center Brampton Wednesday, January 16, 2019 Buddhism Rev. Dr. Bahnte Saranapala, Urban Buddhist Monk from the West End Buddhist Temple Mississauga Wednesday, January 23, 2019 Speaking Together A Panel Discussion - Michelle Voss Roberts, Principal, Emmanuel College, University of Toronto, joins our two lecturers to discuss Christian engagement with Eastern Traditions Deeper Into the Heart of God May 4 - An Adult Spirituality Retreat Led by Sharon Garlough Brown, author of the Sensible Shoes Series, and her husband, Jack Brown, co-founder of Abiding Way Ministries - Tickets: $50 For more information and to register for May 4 th, visit or iucretreats@gmail.com, or call x230.