A Service of Nine Readings & Carols 2010
Introduction, welcome and Opening Prayers for Nine Readings and Carols: In the name of Christ and his Church, I welcome you to this Scottish Episcopal Church of St Mary a member church of the Anglican Communion. We have come together as the family of God in our Father's presence to prepare to celebrate the festival of Christmas. In this service we hear and receive the good news of the birth of Jesus, the Christ, and we offer to God our thanksgiving in the joyful singing of carols. But first we pray..for faithful people in every circumstances and in all kinds of need, that by this festival they may be renewed to fulfill Christ's work in this world; and especially for Bob our Acting Bishop, and all the clergy and people of this diocese. For the world, which is already Christ's, that those who bear responsibility for its future, in politics, in industry, in commerce, and in education and communication, may be inspired by the message of Christmas to work together for the establishment of justice, freedom and peace everywhere; For all in special need, the sick, the anxious, the lonely, the fearful, and the bereaved and for those whom we name in our hearts, in the silence that God understands... I heard the bells on Christmas day Their old familiar carols play And wild and sweet The words repeat, Of 'Peace on earth, good will to men!' And thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along The unbroken song, Of 'Peace on earth, good will to men!' Till ringing, singing on its way, The world revolved from night to day - A voice, a chime, A chant sublime, Of 'Peace on earth, good will to men!' And in despair I bowed my head; 'There is no peace on earth,' I said, 'For hate is strong And mocks the song Of peace on earth, good will to men!' Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: 'God is not dead; nor doth he sleep! The wrong shall fail, The right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men!' Our Father in heaven. Christmas Bells: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
FIRST READING Reader: Vestry Secretary The prophet Isaiah foretells the coming of the Saviour. Those who walked in the dark have seen a great light. And it shines upon everyone who lives in the land of darkest shadows. A child has been born for us. We have been given a son who will be our ruler. His names will be Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace. His power will never end; peace will last forever. He will rule David's kingdom and make it grow strong. He will always rule with honesty and justice. The LORD All-Powerful will make certain that all of this is done.
SECOND READING Reader: Church Member The prophet Isaiah, in around 735 BC records for us how Ahaz defied God and as a consequence his kingdom, Judah, came under attack. Ahaz was full of wickedness and ignored the warnings of the prophets. Isaiah now speaks of a present hope and gives a hint of the hope still to come when God shall truly be with us. Once again the LORD God spoke to King Ahaz. This time God said, "Ask me for proof that my promise will come true. Ask for something to happen deep in the world of the dead or high in the heavens above." "No, LORD," Ahaz answered. "I will not put you to the test!" Then Isaiah said: Listen, every one of you in the royal family of David. You have already tried my patience. Now you are trying God's patience by refusing to ask for proof. But the LORD will still give you proof. A virgin is pregnant; she will bear a son and will name him Emmanuel, which means God-with-us).
THIRD READING Reader: A Vestry Member In this letter of Paul to Titus we hear how the hope we share for Jesus return at the end of time shapes us for life in the present God has shown us how kind and true he is by coming to save all people. He taught us to give up our wicked ways and our worldly desires and to live decent and honest lives in this world. We are filled with hope, as we wait for the glorious return of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. He gave himself to rescue us from everything that is evil and to make our hearts pure. He wanted us to be his own people and to be eager to do right.
FOURTH READING Reader: Director of Music Ministry Christmas by John Betjeman The holly in the windy hedge And round the Manor House the yew Will soon be stripped to deck the ledge, The altar, font and arch and pew, So that villagers can say 'The Church looks nice' on Christmas Day. And is it true? and is it true? The most tremendous tale of all, Seen in a stained-glass window's hue, A Baby in an ox's stall? The Maker of the stars and sea Become a Child on earth for me? And is it true? For if it is, No loving fingers tying strings Around those tissued fripperies, The sweet and silly Christmas things, Bath salts and inexpensive scent And hideous tie so kindly meant. No love that in a family dwells, No carolling in frosty air, Nor all the steeple-shaking bells Can with this single Truth compare - That God was Man in Palestine And lives to-day in Bread and Wine.
FIFTH READING Reader: A Welcomer St Luke tells of the circumstances surrounding Jesus birth as we hear the words again, we too travel in our hearts to see and experience what the Lord has revealed to us. About that time Emperor Augustus gave orders for the names of all the people to be listed in record books. These first records were made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to go to their own hometown to be listed. So Joseph had to leave Nazareth in Galilee and go to Bethlehem in Judea. Long ago Bethlehem had been King David's hometown, and Joseph went there because he was from David's family. Mary was engaged to Joseph and travelled with him to Bethlehem. She was soon going to give birth, and while they were there, she delivered her first-born son. She dressed him in baby clothes and laid him on a bed of hay, because there was no room for them in the inn. That night in the fields near Bethlehem some shepherds were guarding their sheep. All at once an angel came down to them from the Lord, and the brightness of the Lord's glory shone around them. The shepherds were frightened. But the angel said, "Do not be afraid! I have good news for you, and for people everywhere. This very day in King David's hometown a Saviour was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. You will know who he is, because you will find him dressed in baby clothes and lying on a bed of hay." Suddenly many other angels came down from heaven and joined in praising God. They said: "Praise God in heaven! Peace on earth to everyone who pleases God." After the angels had left and gone back to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let us go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about."
SIXTH READING Reader: Member of the Mothers Union Christmas Seen Stuart Barrie A Saviour was born light cleaving darkness. Jesus! You were a little early. It s now that you are needed, these days the darkness is really frightening. But you came to save our souls, not the world. Is that right? Because if not, you need to know that the world s jacket is on a shaky nail. You should see what they have done to your birthday! I ve read that you didn t laugh much but you ll laugh yourself silly at this Greed wrapped in tinsel; naïve yearnings, struggling, stumbling, mugged in the alleyways of commerce. Actually.you re not that well remembered Red, red robin s more in evidence than you. Santa Claus has hijacked the whole thing. Mind you, he s a saint or something so maybe things aren t so bad. But don t despair, not everyone swallows plum pudding platitudes; I don t, dentures deny me such delectation. Every day s Christmas to me. Every morning you are born in my heart, though every single night I go to bed having caused your crucifixion. But you are a realist you ll understand that..maybe someday.
SEVENTH READING Reader: A Eucharistic Minister St Paul writes to the early church at Philippi, encouraging them and directing them in how best to relate our love for God to each other this is the best way for us to watch and wait for Christ s return by rejoicing, praying, and being gentle and loving with one another. Always rejoice and be glad because of the Lord! I will say it again: Rejoice! Be glad! Always be gentle with others. The Lord will soon be here. Do not worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts, offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will direct and guide every aspect of your life.
EIGHTH READING Reader: A Guest Maybe by Thom M Shuman Maybe it is in the waiting for God, not in the wandering from store to store, that we find our way. Maybe it is in the friendship of God, not in the frenzy of the crowds, that we are led to the manger. Maybe it is in the steadfast love of God, not in the pile of stuff under the tree, that we find what we have been searching for all our lives. Maybe, just maybe, God of Advent, this year will be different. Maybe, just maybe, we will let you lead us to Bethlehem.
NINTH LESSON Reader: The Rector St John unfolds for us the great mystery of the Incarnation God s Word becoming flesh In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father s only son, full of grace and truth.