Christmas Eve Service

This joyful day we welcome you to our written Christmas service. Although we are not together in church we feel the wonder of this incredible time as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Shout for joy!
the whole earth,
and everything within.
Rejoice!
For Light has come into the world

The mountains sing,
the seas resound
to the praise of your name.
Salvation
once promised is here on earth

The angels’ song
rings in the air,
a child has been born.
Hallelujah!
The Saviour of the world is here

Once in Royal David’s City

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT3cfXd3Shk

The Collect

Eternal God,
who made this most holy night
to shine with the brightness of your one true light:
bring us, who have known the revelation of that light on earth,
to see the radiance of your heavenly glory;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Opening Carol – It came upon a Midnight clear

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtV477Cqni0

The Readings

Isaiah 9: 2-7
Titus 2: 11-14
Luke 2: 1-14

 

The Anthem – The Sussex Carol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxaLyJ5G4zM 

 

 

The Intercessions

Gracious Heavenly Father, we come before you this Christmas Eve to offer joyful thanks for the wonderful gift to the world of the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ; to pray that the world might heed the accompanying message of peace and hope; to ask for light in the darker days of the prevailing pandemic and strength for all who care for its victims; to seek your help to remind us to succour those less able to support themselves; and to pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide our vision for the future direction of our chaplaincy.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

In a world where military forces gather, posture, and often erupt into active conflict, Lord we pray once more for peace; a peace that avoids the unnecessary harm, destruction and suffering inevitable in war. Grant that those in power may realise that goodwill and cooperation to address and solve human problems underpin much nobler enterprises and form the basis for more praiseworthy legacies.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

Heavenly Father, we look towards those in authority, especially concerning ethical codes and behaviour patterns to follow. We pray that our Heads of State may exhibit such examples, helping to support social justice and stability in our respective countries. Grant also to the new government in the Netherlands the unity and resolve to rise above factional differences and to focus on solving the many issues they face at the threshold of their term of office.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

Lord, the homeless, the political refugees, and the victims of natural disasters are always with us and yet at Christmas we seem to become temporarily more aware of their condition and more open to contribute to their support. We pray that you will keep us ever mindful of our obligations to others. Help us to contribute effectively towards alleviating the plight of people who are in difficult circumstances despite the abundance and welfare of the wider society that surrounds them.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

As we pray for the victims of many recent natural disasters, teach us to be more concerned about the impacts of our human activity on the ecosystems of our planet and its climate. Help us to work towards better stewardship of our world so that the combined effects of millions of individual improvements may contribute substantially to global management of effective change.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

Lord, as another wave of pandemic infection sweeps through the world, disrupting social and economic life, we pray that you will help us to cope. Grant wisdom to the decision makers striving to ensure that health and hospital facilities remain available for those in need despite high Covid patient numbers. We pray especially for the members of the medical and healthcare professions whose ongoing dedication to duty has kept our healthcare systems functioning. Keep us ever conscious of the debt of gratitude we owe them.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

Lord, at this great festival time of rejoicing and reunions, we pray for the many who cannot be together, or who are ill and in need of comfort and relief. Look with mercy upon them, grant assurance and bring hope and healing. May an abiding sense of your presence uplift and sustain the downhearted with a renewed sense of joy and wellbeing. We especially remember Rianne and her family in our prayers.
Receive, we pray, the souls of all who have recently departed this life in your faith. Grant them eternal rest and the joy of remaining in your enduring presence.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

We thank you for the wonderful support given by our host priest, Robert, and the many visiting clergy who have helped us through our interregnum. Bless our Dean, Archdeacon, and Bishops for their guidance and enabling advice, ensuring that we continue with our corporate life and worship within the diocese.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

Help us, to we pray, to give Bruce, our new chaplain, and his wife Lauretta, a warm and joyful welcome into our community. Grant that with them we may continue to develop our vision to grow in grace and in greater service and relevance to those around us.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

In all the activity and preoccupation with the social aspects of this nativity festival help us to stand still and reflect on its central purpose. Help us to look upon the reasons for our Saviour’s birth and life on earth, as explained in scripture. Grant that each one of us may examine afresh our motives, aspirations, and how we live and relate to others. Through the example of Jesus’s life and the inspiration of your Holy Spirit grant us the resolve and power to grow in grace and in service to others wherever life may lead.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son our Saviour, Jesus Christ

 

Closing Carol – O come all ye faithful

Closing Prayers

We worship the birth of a baby,
and in doing so acknowledge
God reaching down to touch the earth
and bless it once again;
to walk within the garden
as once he did in Eden.
We worship the birth of a Saviour,
an infant in whose fragility
lay all the signs of sacrifice;
born in humility,
growing into his kingdom
as Scripture’s Promised One.
We worship Jesus, Saviour and King. Amen.

 

Thanks to faithandworship.com for some of our Christmas prayers.