Welcoming the Christian New Year!
Welcome/ Explanation of Advent and welcoming the New Year - Leader
O Come, O Come Immanuel, v. 1 - All
O come, o come Immanuel
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
Reader 1:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
People get ready.
People:
Jesus is coming
O Come, O Come Immanuel, v. 2 - All
O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show
and teach us in its ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
Reader 2:
All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.
People get ready.
People:
Jesus is coming
O Come, O Come Immanuel, v. 3 - All
O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to your tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times did give the law
in cloud and majesty and awe;
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
Reader 3:
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
People get ready.
People:
Jesus is coming
O Come, O Come Immanuel, v. 4 - All
O come, O Branch of Jesse's stem,
unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save,
and give them victory o'er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
Reader 4:
He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him.
People get ready.
People:
Jesus is coming
O Come, O Come Immanuel, v. 5 - All
O come, O Key of David, come
and open wide our heavenly home.
Make safe for us the heavenward road
and bar the way to death's abode.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
Reader 5:
He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
People get ready.
People:
Jesus is coming
O Come, O Come Immanuel, v. 6 - All
O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
and turn our darkness into light
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel
Reader 6:
He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
People get ready.
People:
Jesus is coming
Prayer - Leader
Come Lord Jesus! Your Kingdom come. Your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven, until “the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.” Amen.
Meditation on Hebrews 12.1-2 - Leader
Lighting of the beacons
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus - all
Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.
Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.
Benediction
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you:
Wherever he may send you.
May he guide you through the wilderness:
Protect you through the storm.
May he bring you home rejoicing:
At the wonders he has shown you.
May he bring you home rejoicing:
Once again into our doors.