Following the announcement of the pregnancy of the
Duchess of Cambridge I have devised the following for
our Carol Service. Please feel free to use any of this for
yours. Alternatively, look on the Topical page of my site
Mary's news was shocking. She escaped from her
home town of Nazareth. Not to a hospital but to visit her
cousin Elizabeth, who had also got miraculous news.
Luke 1.39-56
some time before.
Matthew 2.1-12
4 As with gladness
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2012 Carol Service - A Royal Pregnancy
19 Once in royal David's city
Introductory words concluding with...
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.
And may the Lord when he comes find us watching and
waiting, now and at all times. Amen.
A Royal Revelation
A thousand years before Jesus was born the Psalmist
looks forward to the Anointed One ruling as King.
Psalm 2
11 Joy to the world
A Royal Announcement
We don't know when and how William & Kate
discovered they were expecting a baby. But Mary was
told by an angel she would be given a son who would be
King forever.
Luke 1.26-38
18 Angels from the realms of glory
The Royal Family
13 Silent night
A Right Royal Dilemma
When Kate went into hospital, the royal family had to
decide if they should tell of her condition.
Joseph was engaged to Mary yet had not fathered her
baby. What should he do? He could have separated
from her publicly, or quietly, or even stay with her? He
didn't have a press officer to advise him...
Matthew 1.18-25
6 Away in a manger
A Royal Journey & Birth
William and Kate's baby will almost certainly be born in
the King Edward VII hospital in London.
The Scriptures foretold the King would be born in
Bethlehem. God inspired a census to move Mary there
at the right time.
Luke 2.1-7
See him lying on a bed of straw
The Soiled Shepherds
Shepherds were regarded as inferior. Unclean when it
came to Temple worship. Yet it was to these people that
God chose to reveal King Jesus to. Even though they
could not witness in court, they could witness in the
streets and fields in and near Bethlehem.
Luke 2.8-20
7 While shepherds watched
Loyal Royal Visitors
When the royal baby is born next year, he will live in
Kensington Palace.
The Magi expected to find the new King in a palace, so
they came to King Herod. Yet, they found Jesus in a
house or home, as it says in verse 11. He was about two
years old by now & had probably moved from the stable
A Wrathful Royal
Herod the Great had been King for 34 years, though he
depended on the Romans to rule. He had great talents
in governing and defending his country, in rebuilding the
temple, and building up the cities of his kingdom. He
was, however, as well known for his cruelty and his
crimes as he was for his greatness.
He had intended to kill just this baby who he saw as a
threat. When the Magi failed to return he thought
nothing of killing all the boys up to two years old in
Bethlehem to safeguard his reign.
Matthew 2.13-18
1 O little town
A Royal Return
After Herod died in 4 B.C. his kingdom was divided
between his three sons. Archelaus, who had a cruel
streak like his father, ruled in Judea, in the South.
Guided by God, Joseph took his family North to
Nazareth where he and Mary had come from. Jesus
was to stay there until he began his public ministry,
some 30 years later.
Nazareth was a despised place. Certainly not the place
where an earthly King would live. But, as the we know,
this was no ordinary King.
Matthew 2.19-23
Address
10 Hark the herald angels sing
Prayers concluding with the blessing
12 O come all ye faithful