The gift of Christmas Epiphany 2017

Welcome

+In the name of the Father… Peace be with you AND WITH YOUR SPIRIT We light our candle to remind us of Christ’s presence with us as we gather… +In the name of the Father…

Year 5 will now sing for us. DURING THIS HYMN YEAR 4 COME FORWARD TO PRESENT THEIR OFFERING to the front of the altar Year 5 will now sing for us.

Opening Prayer We gather to celebrate the closing of the Christmas season and the gift of our time to rest and renew. We gratefully accept all the good things we experienced during the break and remember those for whom Christmas might have been a sad or worrying time. We pray especially for Miss Heaton’s family sadness at this time. In our liturgy today we offer the fruits of our work to build cribs and thank God for the time we have had to reflect on the wonder of the birth of Jesus. We ask God to bless the term ahead and to help us remember that each of us are gifts for each other when we choose to walk hand in hand with God. AMEN

Silent night, holy night All is calm, all is bright Round yon Virgin Mother and Child Holy Infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight Glories stream from heaven afar Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia! Christ, the Saviour is born Son of God, love's pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth DURING THIS HYMN, EYFS AND MAPLE CLASS COME TO THE ALTAR AND PRESENT THEIR CRIB OFFERINGS. HYMN

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed. The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head. The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay. The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes. I love you Lord Jesus, look down from the sky And stay by my side until morning is nigh. Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay Close by me forever and love me I pray. Bless all the dear children in thy tender care And fit us for heaven to live with you there. DURING THIS HYMN HOLLY AND OAK COME FORWARD TO PRESENT THEIR CRIB OFFERINGS.

Closing Prayer

We three kings of Orient are Bearing gifts we traverse afar Field and fountain moor and mountain Following yonder star O star of wonder, star of night, Star of royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light. Closing Prayer DURING THIS HYMN YEAR 5 AND YEAR 3 COME FORWARD TO PRESENT THEIR CRIB OFFERING.

Born a king on Bethlehem's plain, Gold I bring to crown Him again, King forever, ceasing never Over us all to reign. O star of wonder, star of night, Star of royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light. Closing Prayer

Frankincense to offer have I Incense owns a Deity nigh. Prayer and praising all men raising, Worship Him, God on high. O star of wonder, star of night, Star of royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light. Closing Prayer

Myrrh is mine: Its bitter perfume Breaths a life of gathering gloom. Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, Sealed in a stone-cold tomb. O star of wonder, star of night, Star of royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light. Closing Prayer

Glorious now behold Him arise, King and God and Sacrifice. Alleluia, alleluia! Earth to heav'n replies. O star of wonder, star of night, Star of royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light. Closing Prayer

Do we have room for Jesus? Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if we have room for Jesus in our lives.

Closing Prayer God our father, we thank you for many gifts in our lives which enrich us and give us joy. We thank you above all for the gift of your Son Jesus whose birth, teachings, life and death pointed to your great love for us all. Help us to value the giftedness each one of us has and to use our many talents to build peace, harmony and justice in our world. We go from this place carrying our Christmas joy into a new year with all its possibilities. We ask this in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. AMEN

We know we are loved and so we say with confidence: In the week ahead let’s… Try to hold on to our Christmas joy. Remember that we are gifts for one another. Embrace the gifts that this new term and new year will unfold for us. We know we are loved and so we say with confidence: THANKS BE TO GOD

Now our story has been told, We have seen it all unfold, And the jigsaw has reminded us today How Joseph found the way To a stable far away And Mary bore God’s Son on Christmas Day. CHORUS Christmas bells ring out across the ages And the message is clear, Wishing you a very merry Christmas, And a happy New Year! And the jigsaw has reminded us today. Shepherds heard the angels sing, And a bright star led the kings To Jesus in a manger full of hay. To stop and think awhile Of this very special child Who was born to be the light, the truth, the way.

Have a wonderful weekend. Let’s go out in the world, making everyone know about the gift of our friend Jesus. Have a wonderful weekend.