Coldstream District Churches : Sunday Focus

Welcome to our Sunday Focus for the 4th Sunday in Advent.

Christingle Service in Church. 4.00pm Christmas Eve.
Refreshments from 3.45pm

Carol - O Little Town of Bethlehem

Prayer of approach and confession

What do our souls magnify, O God, our light?
In this time of expectant waiting, may it be love.
Where hate and fear divide, show us how to embrace and cherish each other.
Where injustice sows the seeds of that hate and fear,
show us how to cede the centre of our own desires
and share Your carefully crafted creation equitably.

What do our lives magnify, O God, our light?
In this time of expectant waiting, may it be love.
Open the eyes and ears of our hearts to the joy that only comes in sharing.
Give us hands that hold others;
give us feet that walk with and beside, not over and away from;
may our lips sing a love song to the world.

When we get tired of waiting,
when we expect the worst in each other,
when we dim our lights so there's more for us, love us back to life.
Shine Your light on our path so we can find You and each other.
Magnify Your vision in our lives.
Amen.

Carol - The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came

Micah 5:2-5a

The Ruler from Bethlehem

2 *But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
   who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
   one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
   from ancient days.
3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time
   when she who is in labour has brought forth;
then the rest of his kindred shall return
   to the people of Israel.
4 And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord,
   in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great
   to the ends of the earth;
5 and he shall be the one of peace.

Carol - Adore - Chris Tomlin

Luke 1:46b-55

Mary’s Song of Praise

46 And Mary* said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
47   and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
48 for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
   Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
   and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him
   from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
   he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
   and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
   and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
   in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
   to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

Carol - Magnificat - My Soul does Magnify

Heavenly Father,
thank you for sending us Jesus as a tiny baby and for offering us through him hope... peace... joy and love…
As Christmas draws nearer, we think of those for whom this time is hard...
We think of people of all ages with no roof over their head.... sleeping rough…
We think of people with no food to put on the table…
And of families with no money for presents…
We think of those for whom the talk of the birth of a baby, reminds them of the family they longed for but couldn’t have –
And of children loved and lost.
We think of people who are too sick to celebrate…
And of those who are sad because they are separated from loved ones.
Our thoughts also turn to people who find this time of year so lonely...
Draw close to each one Lord God and help them to know you are there...and that you both understand and care.
Grant each one your strength in all that lies ahead.
We pray for all those affected by fluctuations in weather patterns…
As well as those fleeing troubled homelands.
We need your peace in our world, Lord Jesus, as much as ever…
We need your example of love – to moves us to hold out hands and to open up hearts….
As we bless you this Christmas – help us to be ready to be that blessing to others in your name and for your sake…. Amen

Hymn- Hark The Herald Angels Sing

Soon, but not yet …
Always, and yet to be …
Now, and then …
Birth, life, another day.
Go in peace to wait, to watch, to wonder.
Go in peace to think, to do, to dream.
Go in peace to welcome the Christ child and walk with him into the world. Amen

The Celtic Christmas Blessing