Knox Church
Christchurch
Order of Service
Christmas Day, 2014
THIS IS DIFFERENT
WELCOME TO KNOX
Knox Church is a congregation within the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa
New Zealand. We aim to create Christian community in which people of all
ages, sexual orientations, cultural backgrounds and socio-economic situations
are included as equally valued participants in our congregational life. We
cherish our diversity, offering a safe place of belonging to any who wish to
explore their beliefs in an atmosphere promoting discussion, the development
of healthy relationships and spiritual growth. We strive to be open to dialogue
and shared experiences with people of other faiths. We enjoy worshipping the
God made known in Jesus, endeavouring to do so in ways that are relevant to
our daily lives, respect the integrity of creation, and make a positive difference
to our wider world.
A loop system for hearing aids operates at Knox
Toilets are available on the ground floor of the Knox Centre
This morning the Bible already has been placed on the lectern, so will not be
processed in. At 10 o’clock, with the congregation remaining seated, the minister
approaches the Advent Wreath. Once he has read the Nativity Passage from
Luke’s Gospel, he lights the Christ Candle. The service proceeds from there.
The Nativity: Luke 2:1-7
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of
the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius
was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. 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. He went
there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was
expecting a child.
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 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.
The Lighting of the Christ Candle
The Christmas Proclamation:
Behold I bring you good news of great joy;
for to you is born in the city of David,
a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.
Without announcement, we stand to sing
Hymn:
Adeste Fideles
John Francis Wade (c.1711-1786)
Organ Fanfare and organ solo verse
1.
O come, all ye faithful,
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!
2.
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 . . .
3.
Sing, choirs of angels,
sing in exultation,
sing all ye citizens of heaven above.
‘Glory to God,
glory in the highest’:
O come, let us adore him . . .
4.
Yea, Lord we greet thee,
born on Christmas morning,
Jesu, to thee be glory given;
Word of the Father,
now in flesh appearing:
O come let us adore Him . . .
John Francis Wade (c.1711-1786)
The congregation sits for
The Prayers of Approach
A Conversation with the Younger Ones
The Baptism of Jack Elyas Tennyson Ward:
Introduction
Brothers and sisters in Christ, we come now to baptize Jack Elyas Tennyson
Ward.
Baptism reminds us that God values each one of us. God’s love is already
around Jack. God wants for him a life of love, joy and achievement.
Through this baptism we receive this child into the fellowship of the church and
begin to care for him as a member of our church family.
In this act we are declaring our faith in God and we are stating our responsibility
as parents, grandparents, extended family, friends, and as Christians, to help
Jack to grow into someone who will be able, with energy and joy, to live a life of
faith, hope and love.
By sharing this sacrament we all take on ourselves the responsibility to play our
part in spreading love, joy, hope and faith to all people.
(Jack’s parents and supporters come forward to the font.)
Baptismal Vows
Minister: (to parents)
Parents:
Do you promise, as far as you are able to, to build
your family life on the love and truth that the church
has taught us?
Yes, we do.
Minister:
Parents:
Minister: (to congregation)
Congregation:
Minister:
Congregation:
And do you promise to go on giving expression to
that love and truth, for the sake of your own child,
all the children among us and every human being?
Yes, we do.
And all of you, relatives, friends and worshippers,
do you receive this child in the name of Christ?
YES, WE DO.
Will you endeavour to support him and his parents
through life with Christian love and understanding?
YES, WE WILL.
The congregation stands for
The Prayer of Consecration
The elder pours water into the font.
The minister says:
May God be with you.
AND ALSO WITH YOU.
Lift up your hearts.
WE LIFT THEM TO GOD.
Let us give thanks to the world’s creator.
IT IS RIGHT TO GIVE OUR THANKS AND PRAISE.
Eternal God . . .
The Baptism
The people remain standing for the act of baptism.
Jack Elyas Tennyson,
in the name of God, our Father;
in the name of Christ, our Lord;
in the name of the Holy Spirit
we baptise you.
The people respond: AMEN.
Lighting of the baptismal candle
Baptismal Prayer
The Presentation of Baptismal Gifts
A gift from the congregation is given.
Hymn:
Joy to the world
George Friedrich Handel (1685-1759)
1.
Joy to the world! Our God has come;
let earth rejoice and sing;
let every heart prepare a room,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
2.
Joy to the world! The Saviour reigns;
let all their song employ;
while fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
3.
Christ rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love.
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.
Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
The Bible Lesson:
Hebrews 1: 1-8
In this is the Word of God.
THANKS BE TO GOD.
The Christmas Reflection: This is different
Hymn:
Humility
John Goss (1800-1880)
1.
See, in yonder manger low,
Born for us on earth below;
See, the gentle Lamb appears,
Promised from eternal years:
Hail, O ever-blessed morn;
Hail, redemption’s happy dawn;
Sing through all Jerusalem:
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
2.
Low within a manger lies
He who built the starry skies;
He who, throned in height sublime,
Reigns above the cherubim:
Hail, O ever-blessed morn . . .
3.
Sacred infant, king most dear,
What a tender love was here,
Thus to come from highest bliss
Down to such a world as this!
Hail, O ever-blessed morn . . .
4.
Holy Saviour, born on earth,
Teach us by your lowly birth;
Grant that we may ever be
Taught by such humility.
Hail, O ever-blessed morn . . .
E Caswall (1814-1878)
Prayers for Others and Ourselves
Notices
The congregation stands to sing
Hymn:
Mendelssohn
1.
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Hark! the herald angels sing
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 th’angelic host proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem.
Hark! the herald angels sing
glory to the new-born king.
2.
Christ, by highest heav’n adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin’s womb:
Veiled in flesh the God-head see;
hail th’incarnate Deity!
Pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing
glory to the new-born king.
3.
Hail the heav’n-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.
Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Benediction and Sung Amen
Postlude
Music printed in this order of service is covered
under a music copyright licence agreement: LicenSing #604802
Christian World Service Christmas Appeal
Week by week Partners
Christmas
Eve
New gardens promise food security
for residents on Tonga’s Ha’apai
island group. Members of Ama
Takiloa have banded together to
establish a demonstration garden to
feed the community as well as the
motivation to replant family plots.
After January’s Cyclone Ian, the
people relied on each other for
support when they had lost homes
and livelihoods. Water, food and
temporary shelter came from outside
to help in the first months. Slowly
the locals are finding the strength
from each other to recover what they
have lost. Now the gardens are
growing they need help to replace
fruit trees and water tank systems
lost in the storm.
Knox Directory
28 Bealey Ave, Christchurch 8013
ph. (03) 379 2456,
fax (03) 379 2466
office@knoxchurch.co.nz
Office hours: Mon-Fri 9.00am-noon
Secretary: Diane Harrington,
ph. (03) 379 2456
Visit our website
www.knoxchurch.co.nz
Minister: Rev. Dr Matthew Jack
ph. (03) 3570 111,
minister@knoxchurch.co.nz
Session Clerk: Janet Wilson,
ph. (03) 338 7203
Organist: Daniel Cooper,
organist@knoxchurch.co.nz