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Carol service 2013
- 1. Welcome to our Carol Service Who is the STAR of your Christmas?
- 2. HARK! the herald angels sing HARK! the herald angels sing 206 glory to the new-born King, peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled. Joyful, all ye 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.
- 3. HARK! the herald angels sing 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 men to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel. Hark! the herald angels sing glory to the new-born King.
- 4. HARK! the herald angels sing 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 man 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.
- 5. HARK! the herald angels sing Come, Desire of nations, come, fix in us Thy humble home; rise, the woman’s conquering seed, bruise in us the serpent’s head. Now display Thy saving power, ruined nature now restore; now in mystic union join Thine to ours, and ours to Thine! Hark! the herald angels sing glory to the new-born King. Charles Wesley, 1707-88
- 7. LUKE chapter 1 Luke 1:26–29 (NKJV) Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favoured one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.
- 8. LUKE chapter 1 Luke 1:30–33 (NKJV) Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
- 9. LUKE chapter 1 Luke 1:34,35 (NKJV) Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Luke 1:38 (NKJV) Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
- 12. Child in a Manger CHILD in the manger, infant of Mary; outcast and stranger, Lord of all! Child who inherits all our transgressions, all our demerits on Him fall. Once the most holy child of salvation, gently and lowly lived below; now as our glorious mighty Redeemer, see Him victorious over each foe. 200
- 13. Child in a Manger Prophets foretold Him, infant of wonder; angels behold Him on His throne; worthy our Saviour of all their praises; happy for ever are His own. Mary Macdonald, 1789-1872; tr. by Lachlan Macbean, 1853-1931
- 14. MATTHEW chapter 1 Matthew 1:18–21 (NKJV) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”
- 15. MATTHEW chapter 1 Matthew 1:22–25 (NKJV) So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.
- 18. While Shepherds Watched WHILE shepherds watched their flocks by night, all seated on the ground, the angel of the Lord came down, and glory shone around. ‘Fear not!’ said he, for mighty dread had seized their troubled mind; ‘Glad tidings of great joy I bring to you and all mankind. 220
- 19. While Shepherds Watched ‘To you, in David’s town, this day is born, of David’s line, a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord; and this shall be the sign: ‘The heavenly babe you there shall find to human view displayed, all meanly wrapped in swaddling bands, and in a manger laid.’
- 20. While Shepherds Watched Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith appeared a shining throng of angels praising God, and thus addressed their joyful song: ‘All glory be to God on high, And to the earth be peace: Goodwill henceforth from heaven to men Begin and never cease.’ Nahum Tate, 1652-1715
- 21. LUKE chapter 2 Luke 2:1–5 (NKJV) And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.
- 22. LUKE chapter 2 Luke 2:6–7 (NKJV) So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
- 23. LUKE chapter 2 Luke 2:8–9 (NKJV) Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Luke 2:10–12 (NKJV) Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
- 24. MATTHEW chapter 2 Matthew 2:1–2 (NKJV) Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:11 (NKJV) And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
- 25. STAR OF CHRISTMAS WISE MEN? SHEPHERDS?
- 26. STAR OF CHRISTMAS WISE MEN? SHEPHERDS? XX X X
- 27. O Come all ye faithful O COME, all ye faithful, 209 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!
- 28. O Come all ye faithful 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, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!
- 29. O Come all ye faithful 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, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!
- 30. O Come all ye faithful 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, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord! Latin, 17th cent.; tr. by Frederick Oakeley*, 1802-80
- 32. STAR OF CHRISTMAS John 3:16 (NKJV) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
- 34. STAR OF CHRISTMAS What Could You Put In As A Gift to Jesus?
- 35. Christians Awake CHRISTIANS, awake! salute the happy morn, on which the Saviour of the world was born; rise to adore the mystery of love which hosts of angels chanted from above: with them the joyful tidings first begun of God incarnate, and the virgin’s Son. 201
- 36. Christians Awake Then to the watchful shepherds it was told, who heard the angelic herald’s voice, ‘Behold, I bring good tidings of a Saviour’s birth to you and all the nations upon earth; this day has God fulfilled His promised word, this day is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord.’
- 37. Christians Awake He spoke; and straightway the celestial choir in hymns of joy unknown before conspire; the praises of redeeming love they sang, and heaven’s whole orb with hallelujahs rang; God’s highest glory was their anthem still, ‘Peace upon earth, and unto men goodwill.’
- 38. Christians Awake O may we keep and ponder in our mind God’s wondrous love in saving lost mankind; trace we the babe who has retrieved our loss from His poor manger to His bitter cross; tread in His steps, assisted by His grace, till man’s first heavenly state again takes place.
- 39. Christians Awake Then may we hope, the angelic hosts among, to sing, redeemed, a glad triumphal song: He that was born upon this joyful day around us all His glory shall display; saved by His love, incessant we shall sing eternal praise to heaven’s almighty King. John Byrom, 1692-1763
Editor's Notes
- Mary (Greek form of Miriam, “strong”). [1] The mother of Jesus Christ; her song of faith (Luke 1:46–55) reveals her deep faith (Matt. 1:16–20; cf. John 2:1–11). Her devotion to God’s purposes makes her a model servant of God: she chooses to bear the holy child even though it seems impossible because she is a virgin, and she does not consider the disgrace that would come from bearing a child out of wedlock. Luke 1:46–55 (NKJV) 46 And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. 49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. 50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty. 54 He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, 55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.” In Luke’s Gospel, Mary comes into her own—but her own is also God’s own: she is the ideal follower of Jesus because she wills the will of God, imitating her Son even before His birth. It is no surprise that Luke tells us that she is among Jesus’ followers in the upper room waiting for the promised Holy Spirit (Acts 1:14).
- The great moment for which all preceding generations have been waiting has finally arrived. Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV) 14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Gabriel had his orders. Take the message to Mary. Must be a special girl, he assumed as he traveled. But Gabriel was in for another shock. One peek told him Mary was no queen. The mother-to-be of God was not regal. She was a Jewish peasant who’d barely outgrown her acne and had a crush on a guy named Joe. Mary isn’t the STAR of Christmas – Her major role is that she gave herself to God, to use as He planned. Rightly considered, the story reveals the wonderful love of God. The climax too, namely, Mary’s expression of unqualified submission to God’s will, is all one could desire. This conception, moreover, will be unique, such as had never before occurred and will never again take place. It is to happen within the womb of a virgin! The mother-to-be, to whom the promise of the incarnation of the world’s Savior (Matt. 1:21; John 4:42; 1 John 4:14), the King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16; cf. 17:14), must be delivered, is living in … Rome certainly? No! In Jerusalem then? No! In Nazareth, a little Galilean town, by some lightly esteemed (John 1:46), never even mentioned in the Old Testament! And the womb that will carry this greatest of all treasures is that of … a princess? No! It is that of a virgin pledged to be married to the village carpenter! Cf. Isa. 55:8, 9. Isaiah 9:1 (NKJV) Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, As when at first He lightly esteemed The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, And afterward more heavily oppressed her, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, In Galilee of the Gentiles. Isaiah 9:2 (NKJV) The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.
- Joseph, The Husband of Mary, and Father to Jesus as He grew up. He didn’t understand, was he hurt, ‘had she found someone else?’ Mary is about four months pregnant, having spent three months with Elizabeth, her “relative” (Luke 1:36, 56). Betrothal among the Jews must not be confused with present-day engagement. It was far more serious and binding. The bridegroom and bride pledged their troth to each other in the presence of witnesses. In a restricted sense this was essentially the marriage. So also here, as is clear from the fact that from that moment on Joseph is called Mary’s husband (verse 19); Mary is called Joseph’s wife (verse 20). According to the Old Testament regulation unfaithfulness in a betrothed woman was punishable with death . Yet, though the two were now legally “espoused,” it was considered proper that an interval of time elapse before husband and wife begin to live together in the same home. Now it was before Joseph and Mary had begun thus to live together, with all this implies both as to domestic and sexual relations, that Mary discovered her pregnancy. ... She knew that Joseph had not made her pregnant. Matthew 1:18–19 (NKJV) 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. Joseph must have agonized about the proper thing to do under these circumstances. He loved Mary and wanted to have her with him as his wife, but, above all, he was a righteous person. A man of principle, one who with his whole heart wanted to live in accordance with the will of God, the God who took so very seriously the breaking of the marriage vow. However, Joseph was also kindhearted.
- He Knew What He Needed to Do, but Hadn’t Done it Yet. Must have been on his mind as he went to sleep. Suddenly [behold] an angel appears and tells him what he needs to know: Matthew 1:20 (NKJV) 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. Let him shrink no longer from fulfilling his, and Mary’s, desire, for the one and only obstacle has been removed: Mary had not been unfaithful after all! Joseph can safely take his wife into his home; in fact, he is even directed to do so. He is a star, but not the star! He Gave himself to God
- The greatest miracle in the history of the world, the eternal Son of God being born as a man, happens quietly in a stable in an obscure village in Judea. God’s Lamb (cf. John 1:29) was born in the same area that the sacrificial lambs used year round in the daily temple sacrifice.
- SHEPHERDS the glory of the Lord. The bright light that surrounds the presence of God himself, sometimes appearing as a cloud, sometimes as a bright light or burning fire I bring you good news is Greek euangelizomai, the verbal form of “gospel.” great joy. Luke 1:14 (NKJV) 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. The astonishing announcement, probably not fully grasped by the shepherds, is that this Messiah who has been born as a baby is also the Lord God himself. Lying in a manger See v. 7. Mangers—though quite familiar to the shepherds—were unusual beds for babies. This oddity served as a sign to the shepherds that they had found the Messiah. WISE MEN In earlier times, wise men (Gk. magoi, plural of magos) referred to priests and experts in mysteries in Persia and Babylon (cf. Septuagint of Dan. 1:20; 2:2, 10, 27; etc.), but by this time it applied to a wide range of people whose practices included astrology, dream interpretation, study of sacred writings, the pursuit of wisdom, and magic. we saw his star when it rose. The wise men would likely have been familiar with OT prophecy through interaction with Jews in Babylon, and they may have remembered Balaam’s prophecy that “A star shall come out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel” (Num. 24:17). The movement of the star (Matt. 2:9) suggests that it is not a natural phenomenon (e.g., a comet, supernova, or conjunction of planets) but was supernatural, perhaps a guiding angel that appeared as a star, or perhaps some specially created heavenly phenomenon that had the brightness of a star. If they had come from Babylon by the main trade route of about 800 miles (1,288 km), averaging 20 miles (32 km) per day, the trip would have taken about 40 days.
- NOT THE SHEPHERDS They are looking for the STAR Luke 2:15–16 (NKJV) 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Luke 2:17–18 (NKJV) 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. NOT THE WISE MEN They are being led to the STAR Matthew 2:9–10 (NKJV) 9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
- EACH OF THESE PEOPLE AND GROUPS ACT TO FOCUS ON THE REAL STAR OF CHRISTMAS Luke 1:31–32 (NKJV) 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. Matthew 1:21 (NKJV) 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Luke 2:11–12 (NKJV) 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” Matthew 2:2 (NKJV) 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:11 (NKJV) 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. THE LORD OF GLORY HIMSELF STEPPED INTO THE WORLD HE’S MADE TO RESCUE US Dogs are man’s best friends, so let’s assume that the dogs in your town have developed a problem that has them in deep distress and that only you can provide the help they need. If it would help all the dogs to become more like men, would you be willing to become a dog? Would you put down your human nature, family, job, hobbies, and all else and choose—instead of intimate communion with your beloved—the poor substitute of looking into the beloved’s face and wagging your tail, unable to smile or speak?
- ONE THING THAT MAKES CHRISTMAS TO BE CHRISTMAS IS THE SENSE OF ANTICIPATION. JESUS IS GOD’S GIFT TO US – THE GIFT ALL OF US NEED Everyone that came looking for Him knew they needed a Saviour and King They were living in difficult times, so are we when we are honest. We dream of better days – I hope they come – but you will find it’s not circumstances which are bad – just people! Will your wish for a White Christmas come true? A majority of the world will not see a white Christmas at any time in their life, much less this Christmas. But whatever the colour of your holiday, may it be a joyous one. Without Jesus to wash us whiter than snow, there can never be a genuinely white Christmas. Psalm 51:7 (NKJV) Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
- May the Christmas cheer remind you of Him who said, “Be of good cheer.” May the Christmas bell remind you of the glorious proclamation of His birth. May the Christmas carols remind you of the song the angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest.” May the Christmas season remind you in every way of Jesus Christ your King.
- “Mummy, what is Christmas?,” asked the three-year-old girl. Her mother carefully explained that Christmas is Jesus’ birthday. “Then why do we not give gifts to Jesus if it’s His birthday?” The mother explained the tradition of exchanging Christmas gifts as expressions of our love for each other, and that seemed to end the matter. It did not come up again until Christmas Eve when a sleepy little girl placed a package under the Christmas tree on her way to bed and explained that it was a birthday gift for Jesus which she was sure He would open during the night while she slept. After she was asleep, the mother not wanting her daughter to be disappointed, opened the clumsily wrapped package and found the box empty. On Christmas morning the little girl was thrilled to find the package had been opened and her gift was gone. “What was in it?” asked the confused mother. “It was a box full of love,” came the answer. How childlike! How Christlike!—Beverly I. White The Christian Reader Not long ago, a professor of psychology in one of our great universities gave a word suggestion test to his class of 40 students. He instructed them to write the word “Christmas,” and all the class did so. “Now,” said the professor, “right after the word ‘Christmas’ write the first thought that flashes through your mind regarding that day.” When the papers were turned in, such answers were given as “tree,” “holly,” “mistletoe,” “presents,” “turkey,” “holiday,” “carols,” and “Santa Claus,” but not one had written, “the birthday of Jesus.” As there was no room for the baby Jesus in the inn, there is no room for Him today in the celebration of Christmas.