Welcome to our Action for Children Carol Service

Isaiah 40:1-5

Comfort for God's People 1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins. Isaiah 40:1-5

3 A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. Isaiah 40:1-5

5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” Isaiah 40:1-5

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Let earth and heaven combine

An opening prayer

Almighty God, We have all travelled to be at this service. Some may have come from a distance In order to spend Christmas with family or friends. Others may be here from the local community; Still others have come because this is their regular place of worship. An opening prayer

This evening we will hear of many journeys; Mary and Joseph travelling to Bethlehem; The shepherds running to see the baby; the wise men coming from afar with gifts; The holy family fleeing to Egypt. An opening prayer

As we hear again about these journeys, Give us a deeper understanding Of what it must have meant To play a part in this story. An opening prayer

But let us not lose sight of the greatest journey of all; That of Jesus, who though He could claim the highest place by right, Laid His glory aside, and came to be one of us, Born in a stable to an ordinary couple. An opening prayer

Even as we rejoice in the birth of this child, May we bow down in worship before Him; For He is the one who lived, died and was raised, So that just as He shared in our poverty, So we may share in His glory. Amen An opening prayer

O come, O come, Immanuel

Luke 1:26-38

The Birth of Jesus Foretold 26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.” Luke 1:26-38

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:26-38

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:26-38

38 “I am the Lord's servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her. Luke 1:26-38

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Joseph gets a visit

Joseph’s poem

Tell, out, my soul

Luke 2:1-5

The Birth of Jesus 1 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 his own town to register. Luke 2:1-5

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. Luke 2:1-5

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Joseph’s Monologue

Luke 2:6-7

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 room for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

The Virgin Mary had a baby boy

Luke

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, 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. Luke

11 Today in the town of David a Saviour 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.’ Luke

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.’ 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.’ Luke

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.’ Luke

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. Luke

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. Luke

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

See, amid the winter's snow

Matthew 2:1-12

The Visit of the Magi 1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-12

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 In Bethlehem in Judea, they replied, for this is what the prophet has written: Matthew 2:1-12

6 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.' Matthew 2:1-12

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” Matthew 2:1-12

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. Matthew 2:1-12

12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Matthew 2:1-12

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Riding out across the desert

A talk

In the bleak midwinter

A prayer for others

Gracious God, We bring our gifts to You with thankful hearts, For You are a generous God, And You have given us every good thing that we possess. Yet we know that this world is full of people in need. A prayer for others

And so we pray for the wider world, Thinking especially of people with power and influence. We ask that they may consider the needs of those they serve More than their own status. A prayer for others

We pray for Your church everywhere. We ask that those who believe in You May love one another as Christ commands. A prayer for others

We pray for those in need at this time; For the sick, especially any who are known to us. In particular, we pray for the work of Action for Children. We ask for your blessing upon paid staff And upon volunteers. A prayer for others

May they serve others as if serving Christ Himself. Be with the children and families with whom they work. May they truly experience the love of Christ Through the service of those who act in His name. A prayer for others

Finally, we pray for ourselves and for our families and friends. Grant that we may make room for Jesus In our hearts and our homes this Christmas. In His name we pray. Amen A prayer for others

Silent night, holy night

Joseph gets another visit

Offertory for Action for Children

Hark! the herald angels sing

A blessing

Gracious God, You called Mary and Joseph, Welcomed humble shepherds And guided the wise men. A blessing

May we go from here knowing ourselves accepted, Ready to hear Your call And to follow where You lead; And the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit Be upon you and remain with you this Christmas time and always. Amen A blessing

IDEAS is produced by the Family Friendly Churches Trust. For resources see © All material is copyright and should only be used by members of the scheme IDEAS is produced by the Family Friendly Churches Trust. For resources see © All material is copyright and should only be used by members of the scheme