St. Mark’s Church

Christingle Service

6 January 2002

Picture of Christingle

Welcome

Opening Verse of Scripture: Isaiah 60 

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the LORD.

Opening Words

Minister: We have come together in the presence of God to rejoice in the gift of Jesus to us as the light of the world. In this service we hear and receive the story and message of the coming of Christ, and we offer to God our thanksgiving in prayer and song.
All: O holy child of Bethlehem,
descend to us we pray; 
Cast out our sin, and enter in, 
be born in us today. 
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; 
O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel. Amen.

Hymn

The first Nowell the angel did say 
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay: 
In fields where they lay a-keeping their sheep 
On a cold winter's night that was so deep: 
      Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, 
      Born is the King of Israel.

They looked up and saw a star, 
Shining in the east, beyond them far, 
And to the earth it gave great light, 
And so it continued both day and night:

And by the light of that same star, 
Three wise men came from country far; 
To seek for a king was their intent, 
And to follow the star wherever it went:

This star drew nigh to the north-west, 
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest, 
And there it did both stop and stay 
Right over the place where Jesus lay.

Then entered in those wise men three, 
Full reverently upon their knee, 
And offered there in his presence 
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense:

Then let us all with one accord 
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord, 
That hath made heaven and earth of nought, 
And with his blood mankind hath bought:

Confession

All: Almighty God, our heavenly Father 
we have sinned against you and against each other, 
in thought and word and deed, 
through negligence, through weakness 
through our own deliberate fault. 
We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins. 
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, 
who died for us 
forgive us all that is past; 
and grant that we may serve you in newness of life 
to the glory of your name. Amen.

The minister will declare the word of forgiveness using these or other words

May the Father of all mercies cleanse you from your sins, and restore you in his image to the praise and glory of his name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Minister
All:		 O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise. 
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, 
and to the Holy Spirit: 
as it was in the beginning, 
is now, and shall be for ever. Amen

The Offering

Thank you to those who have presented their gifts by standing order, through the bank. If you are a tax payer please use Gift Aid envelopes to enable us to reclaim tax. All stand as the Offering is brought forward. All stand as the Offering is brought forward.

Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power, 
the glory, the splendour and the majesty; 
for everything in heaven and on earth is yours. 
All things come from you, and of your own do we give you.

Hymn

He’s got the whole wide world in his hands, 
He’s got the whole wide world in his hands, 
He’s got the whole wide world in his hands, 
He’s got the whole world in his hands.

He’s got the tiny little baby, in his hands, x3 
He’s got the whole world in his hands.

He’s got you and me brother, in his hands, x3 
He’s got the whole world in his hands.

He’s got you and me sister, in his hands, x3 
He’s got the whole world in his hands.

He’s got ev’rybody here, in his hands, x3 
He’s got the whole world in his hands.

 

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Minister:  Glory to Christ, Son of Mary; born a child, you share our humanity: 
All:  Glory to God in the highest.
  
Minister: Glory to Christ, Son of David; born to rule, you receive gifts from the wise; 
All:  Glory to God in the highest.
  
Minister:  Glory to Christ, Son of Man; born our Saviour, you are the light of the world: 
All:  Glory to God in the highest.
  
Minister:  We celebrate the coming of our God with all the voices of heaven: 
All:  Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

The Collect 
Almighty God, your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ is the light of the world. May your people shine with the radiance of his glory, that he may be known, worshipped and obeyed to the ends of the earth; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Bible Readings 
You may follow the Bible readings on your Bible Weekly Notes sheet. 
After the Bible reading the reader will say

This is the word of the Lord. 
All: Thanks be to God.

Hymn

We three kings of Orient are; 
bearing gifts we traverse afar 
field and fountain, 
moor and mountain, following yonder star:

O star of wonder,
 star of night, 
star with royal beauty bright, 
westward leading, still proceeding, 
guide us to thy perfect light.

Born a king on Bethlehem plain, 
gold I bring, to crown him again— 
King for ever, ceasing never, 
over us all to reign:

Frankincense to offer have I; 
incense owns a deity nigh:
prayer and praising, all men raising, 
worship him, God most high:

Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume 
breathes a life of gathering gloom; 
sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, 
sealed in the stone-cold tomb:

Glorious now, behold him arise, 
King and God, and sacrifice! 
heaven sings alleluia, 
alleluia the earth replies:

Sermon 
The Reverend Charles Royden

Hymn

The orange of Christingle 
the world reminds us of, 
And how our God created us, 
And on us sheds his love.

O sing about Christingle, 
Your voices loud employ. 
Your praises bring to God our King; 
For Jesus and his joy.

The candle of Christingle, 
With shining flame so bright; 
Reminds us of our loving Lord 
Who is the world’s true light.

The red band of Christingle 
Which plainly we can see; 
Reminds us of how Jesus Christ 
was killed upon that tree.

The four sticks of Christingle, 
With which the orb we spear,
Remind us how God cares for us, 
thro’ the seasons of the year.

The whole of the Christingle, 
It is a joy to see; 
It shines to show how our Father God, 
Loves even you and me.

THE PRAYERS

Responses which may be used 

Leader
All
Leader  		 Lord have mercy upon us. 
Christ have mercy upon us
Lord have mercy upon us.
Leader Merciful father, 
Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, 
our saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.


The Lord’s Prayer is said

Leader Gathering our prayers and praises into one, let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
Our Father in heaven, 
hallowed be your name, 
your kingdom come, 
your will be done, 
on earth as in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread 
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us 
Lead us not into temptation 
but deliver us from evil. 
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours 
now and for ever. Amen.

 Hymn

O little town of Bethlehem, 
How still we see thee lie! 
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep 
The silent stars go by. 
Yet in thy dark streets shineth 
The everlasting light; 
The hopes and fears of all the years 
Are met in thee tonight.

O morning stars together 
Proclaim the holy birth, 
And praises sing to God the King, 
And peace to all the earth! 
For Christ is born of Mary; 
And, gathered all above, 
While mortals sleep, the angels keep 
Their watch of wondering love.

How silently, how silently, 
The wondrous gift is given! 
So God imparts to human hearts 
The blessing of his heaven. 
No ear may hear his coming; 
But in this world of sin, 
Where meek souls will receive him still 
The dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem, 
Descend to us, we pray; 
Cast out our sin, and enter in; 
Be born in us today! 
We hear the Christmas angels 
The great glad tiding tell; 
O come to us, abide with us, 
Our Lord Immanuel!

The Blessing


All 		Go in peace to love and serve the lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.

 

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