Christmas Day 2020
Opening prayer
Lord Jesus Christ,
your birth at Bethlehem
draws us to kneel in wonder
at heaven touching earth;
accept our heartfelt praise
as we worship you,
our Saviour and our eternal God.
¶
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,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord!
God of God, Light of light,
lo, he abhors not the virgin’s womb;
very God, begotten, not created:
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…
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…
¶
See him lying on a bed of straw,
a draughty stable with an open door;
Mary cradling the babe she bore;
the Prince of glory is his name.
O now carry me to Bethlehem,
to see the Lord appear to men;
just as poor as was the stable then
the Prince of glory when He came.
Star of silver, sweep across the skies,
show where Jesus in the manger lies;
shepherds, swiftly from your stupor rise
to see the Saviour of the world.
O now carry me to Bethlehem …
Angels, sing again the song you sang,
bring God’s glory to the heart of man;
sing that Bethlehem’s little baby can
be salvation to the soul.
O now carry me to Bethlehem …
Mine are riches, from thy poverty,
from thine innocence, eternity;
mine, forgiveness by thy death for me,
child of sorrow for my joy.
O now carry me to Bethlehem
¶
Come and join the celebration
it’s a very special day;
come and share our jubilation,
there’s a new King born today!
See the shepherds
hurry down to Bethlehem;
gaze in wonder
at the Son of God
who lay before them.
Come and join the celebration …
Wise men journey,
led to worship by a star;
kneel in homage,
bringing precious gifts from lands afar, so
Come and join the celebration …
‘God is with us,’
‘round the world the message bring;
he is with us,
‘Welcome!’ all the bells on earth are pealing.
Come and join the celebration …
¶
Hark! the herald angels sing:
‘Glory to the new-born King!
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!’
Joyful, all you nations rise,
join the triumph of the skies,
with the angelic host proclaim,
‘Christ is born in Bethlehem.’
Hark! the herald angels sing:
‘Glory to the new-born King!’
Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see!
Hail the incarnate Deity!
Pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing:
‘Glory to the new-born King.’
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail, the Sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings;
mild, he lays his glory by;
born that men no more may die;
born to raise the sons of earth;
born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing:
‘Glory to the new-born King.’
¶
Closing prayer
Today we celebrate
because the angels sing on earth: Alleluia!
Today we celebrate
because Jesus Christ is born: Alleluia!
Today we celebrate
because the Saviour has come: Alleluia!
¶
We wish you a joyful Christmas
and look forward to seeing you in 2021!
¶
All songs used with permission, CCL no 5610