St John the Evangelist

Carols by Candlelight Sunday December 17th 2017

A Service of Readings and Carols

A warm welcome to the congregation of Kingston Methodist Church

and to anyone new to St John’s.

Welcome to this special service celebrating the good news of the birth of Jesus, the Christ Child, who is “God with us.” The service begins in darkness as we wait for the coming of God. Then our candles are lit, and the church fills with light, a sign of the love and goodness of God illuminating the darkness of the world.

A collection will be taken during the last hymn in support of the work of the church.

You are warmly invited to stay for mulled wine and mince pies

after the service.

Many thanks to all the people who have contributed to this service:

Those reading the lessons and poems.

Jan Gow, Chris Metherell, the Scratch Community Choir and members of Flutti Tutti, a local group of Flute players,

for providing the music.

Mimi Fagan and those who decorated the church.

Alice Fowles and those organising the refreshments.

St Johns is a member of Inclusive Church. www.inclusive-church.org.uk

Please see the back of the service sheet for information about our Christmas Services.

Welcome and Call to Worship

Opening Carol - Once in royal David’s city

The first verse will be sung as a solo, the second verse by the choir. During the second verse please light your candles and pass the light to others.

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 is God and Lord of all, And his shelter was a stable, And his cradle was a stall: With the poor and mean and lowly Lived on earth our Saviour holy. For he is our childhood's pattern, Day by day like us He grew; He was little, weak and helpless, Tears and smiles like us he knew; And he feeleth for our sadness, And he shareth in our gladness.

And our eyes at last shall see him, Through his own redeeming love; For that child, so dear and gentle Is our Lord in heaven above, And he leads his children on To the place where he is gone. Not in that poor lowly stable, With the oxen standing by, We shall see Him, but in heaven, Set at God’s right hand on high; Where like stars His children crowned All in white shall wait around.

The Bidding Prayer First Lesson - Isaiah announces the coming King Isaiah 9: 2, 6-7 read by Phil Harvey, Spring Grove Residents’ Association

Community Choir – Coventry Carol Pageant of the Shearman and Tailors, 15th Century

Second Lesson - The Angel visits Mary Luke 1: 26-38 read by Louise Walton, Kingston University Faith Advisor

Carol – O little town of Bethlehem during which the animals are placed in the crib

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. O morning stars, together Proclaim the holy birth, And praises sing to God the King, And peace to all the earth. For Christ is born of Mary; And, gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wondering love. How silently, how silently The wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of his 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.

Third Lesson - Jesus is born in Bethlehem Luke 2: 1-7 read by Alex McCormick, St John’s School

Community Choir – Wexford Carol

Irish Traditional

Poem – Christmas on the Edge by Malcolm Guite read by Andrea Campanale, Sacred Space Kingston

Carol – Joy to the World during which Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus are placed in the crib

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 Saviour reigns! Let us our 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, and wonders of His love.

Fourth Lesson - The shepherds go to the stable Luke 2: 8-20 read by Christina Golding, 3rd Kingston Scout Group

Poem – Song of the Shepherds by Richard Bauckham read by Josh Norman, St John’s Church

Fifth Lesson – Travellers come from the East Matthew 2:1-2, 7-11 read by Maggie East, Kingston Methodist Church

Carol – In the bleak midwinter during which the Shepherds and the Kings are placed in the crib

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain; Heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign: In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ. Angels and archangels may have gathered there, Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air; But His mother only, in her maiden bliss, Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; If I were a wise man, I would do my part; Yet what I can I give him, give my heart.

Please remain standing for:

Sixth Lesson - The Word became flesh John 1:1-14 read by Rev’d Dr Karl Rutlidge, Kingston Methodist Church

The reading is announced with these words:

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John Glory to you, O Lord At the end of the reading this response is used:

This is the Gospel of the Lord Praise to you O Christ

Community Choir – Gaudete Piae Cantiones 1582

The Prayers lead by Isobel Robinson, St John’s Church

The Prayers will finish with 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, For ever and ever. Amen

Carol – O come, all ye faithful During which a collection will be taken.

O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant, 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…

The Blessing

You are warmly invited to stay for

mulled wine and mince pies after the service.

Christmas Services at St John’s

www.stjohnskingston.co.uk

Christmas Eve

4pm Crib Service A service celebrating the nativity story for all ages

Children are invited to come dressed up as angels, shepherds or kings

11.30pm Midnight Communion

Christmas Day

10am Christmas Family Communion

Everyone is welcome

A service celebrating the nativity story for all ages Children are invited to come dressed up as angels, shepherds or kings

11.30pm Midnight Communion

Christmas Day

10am Christmas Family Communion

Everyone is welcome