Merry Christmas to You!

Just come as you are – in PJs, housecoat, slippers, whatever!

Please brew up a pot or mug of the Christmas Morning tea we’ve provided and enjoy the flavour and fragrance.

The Light of Christ

Offer these words as you light the tea light or a candle special to you, or turn on your Christmas tree lights.

We light this light and remember you, Jesus, are here. We welcome you, Jesus, into this place just as your Mom and Dad welcomed you in the stable. We treasure your great gifts of love and peace. Shine on us, you who are light in the darkness, and help us remember and celebrate your birth. Amen.

Let’s Sing (or say) “O Come, All Ye Faithful”

Oh, come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant!
Oh, come ye, oh come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold him, Born the King of angels;

Chorus:
Oh, come, let us adore him; Oh, come, let us adore him;
Oh, come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord.

2. Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation;
Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above!
Glory to God, Glory in the highest

Chorus

3. Yea, Lord, we greet thee, Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be all glory giv’n, Son of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing.

Chorus

The Birth of Jesus – Luke 2:1-20

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” ¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

A Prayer to Thank God Today

Dear God,
We thank you for this wonderful Christmas Day, when we celebrate your birth as a little baby boy. You welcome us to the stable and invite us in to see you and know you. Let us feel the wonder of your birth, for you are God who has come to us, as one of us. Whatever this day will bring – help us feel your presence in the quiet or noise, the simplicity or the bustle, on the road or at home, in sadness or joy. Let our day be brightened by your love like this little candle shining before us now.
Amen.

The Legend of the Candy Cane

Many years ago, a candy maker wanted to make a candy at Christmas time that would serve as a witness to his Christian faith. He wanted to incorporate several symbols for the birth, ministry and death of Jesus. He began with a stick of pure white hard candy: white to symbolise the Virgin birth and the sinless nature of Jesus; hard to symbolise that Jesus is the solid rock, the foundation of the church, firmness to represent the promise of God.

The candy maker made the candy in the form of a “J” to represent the name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. He thought it could also represent the staff of the Good Shepherd, with which he reached down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray.

Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candy maker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received, by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life. Unfortunately, the candy became known as a candy cane – a decoration seen at Christmas time. But the true meaning is still there for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.

Let’s Sing (or say) one More Carol: “Joy to the World”

Joy to the world! The Lord is come.
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart
Prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and nature sing

Joy to the world, the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love;
And wonders of His love;
And wonders,…wonders of His love.

A Christmas Blessing to Share

Offer to those present or say aloud knowing that others from this congregation are offering the same blessing this morning:

“Let us celebrate this wonderful Christmas Day. Let us accept the gift of love for others. May God bless us all. Amen.”