Barn Carol
Service
St Stephen’s, East Hardwick
Ackworth Riding Club
Riding for the Disabled Association
at Berrill Farm
WF8 3DZ
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Welcome
In the name of Christ and his Church, welcome to Berrill Farm today. I am
Fr John from Kinsley with Wragby. My colleague Sue and I are between us
standing in for Reverend Shelagh while she is away.
Carol
Once in royal David’s city
Introduction
In these days before Christmas we are preparing to celebrate God among us. As
part of that celebration we remember the Christmas story.
Jesus born in poverty and laid in an animal feeding trough for warmth and
protection.
Those who looked after the community’s animals coming to worship, brining
their gifts of love, faith and adoration knowing that in Jesus, we can see what
God is like.
Carol
Away in a manger
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Prayer
In the beginning, the Lord God brought into being the creatures that inhabit the
sea, the sky and the earth. They share in the fortunes of human existence and
have a part in human life.
Let us pray together for ourselves and all creation.
Heavenly father
as Jesus was born in humility
help us to be generous and save is from greed
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Almighty God
as strangers from near and far travelled to find you
help us to be adventurous and faithful in our journey to find you
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Creator of all
give us such love for all creation that we may treat
living creatures entrusted to our care with gentleness and consideration
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
We commend ourselves and all whom we love to the unfailing mercy of our
heavenly Father, and say together, as Christ himself taught us,
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
May the humility of the shepherds, the faith of the wise men, the joy of the
angels, and the peace of the Christ Child, be God's gift to us and to everyone,
this Christmas and always.
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Carol
Silent Night
The work of Brooke Hospital
During our next Carol a collection will be taken for the work of the Brooke
Hospital for Animals.
In developing countries many very poor people depend for their living on
working animals such as horses, donkeys and mules. Perhaps half the world’s
population depends on animal power as its main energy source for agriculture,
industry and transport.
Brooke Hospital Charity works in Egypt, Kenya, Jordan, Guatamala, Israel and
the West Bank, Afghanistan and Ethiopia keeping working animals healthy. It
provides free treatment where necessary. Education and advice are given to
owners about provision of shade and water for animals working in heat, and
about proper care, communal water troughs are provided and owners
encouraged to allow adequate time for grazing.
The Brooke works to improve the lives of many poor people by ensuring the
wellbeing of the animals they depend on.
Today offers an easy and important way to give some of our wealth to support
people who depend on their animals but have little compared to us.
Carol
In the bleak midwinter
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Blessing of Animals
The gifts are received
God of Life, saviour of the poor
receive our thanks for your gifts to us
our sorrow for our pride
and our dedication to your service.
Through these gifts Bless the work of the Brooke Hospital for Animals
in Jesus Christ our Lord
The animals are blessed
God created us and placed us on this earth to be stewards of all living things and
so proclaim the glory of the creator.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who created the animals and gave us the ability to train
them to help us in our work and accompany us in our leisure.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who for the sake of our comfort give us domestic
animals as companions.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who through the lowliest creatures never cease to
draw us toward your love
O God,
you have done all things wisely;
in your goodness you have made us in your image
and given us care over other living things.
Grant that these horses, dogs and all our animals
may be faithful companions
serve our needs
and encourage devotion
that we may more confidently seek the goal of eternal life.
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Carol
Hark the herald angels sing
Conclusion
As we remember Jesus being laid in a manger as a baby, it is a pleasure and a
privilege to be here together amongst the animals in support of those less well
off.
Thank you to all those who made this possible.
 Freda Walker and family for their hospitality and all who prepared
 Ron for the music
 Ackworth Riding Club and the Riding for the Disabled Association
 John and Alison Harris for keeping the link with Brooke for us
 And all for coming in this particularly cold weather.
We finish with the carol:
Carol
O come all ye faithful
Blessing
May he who by his incarnation gathered into one
things earthly and heavenly,
bestow upon you the fullness of inward peace and goodwill;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be upon you and remain with you always.
Amen.
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Document1.7 — 09 February 2016