(All our songs this morning are from Singing the Faith (StF) or Hymns & Psalms (H&P) numbers will be given where available)
This service has been prepared by members of the Ministry Team using materials from the national Methodist campaign for Advent and Christmas, ‘Hush the noise’.
The service may be used at any time over the Christmas and New Year period.
Click on the blue links to follow them for bible readings and associated links
HEAR THE ANGELS SING
Welcome and introduction to the theme: The good news to get across
Christmas is loud, isn’t it? So much expectation. So many voices. Telling us how to celebrate, what to wear, what to eat and drink, what to watch and what to buy.
Instead, this Christmas we’re inviting everyone to hush the noise. To listen for the love song that the angels bring this and every year. They sang it for the first time more than 2,000 years ago, on the midnight clear. They’re just waiting for us to join in.
Opening liturgy
Light in our darkness, joy in our sorrow,
Our saviour is born, the Prince of Peace,
The King of all, Emmanuel, God with us.
Let’s share the song,
With angels let us sing.
Glory to God, revealed among us,
Given for us, offered for us,
Living within, one with us.
Let’s share the song,
With angels let us sing
The day is here, the time is now.
Promised long ago and promised still.
Within the laughter and the chat,
Let’s share the song,
With angels let us sing.
Song – StF 202 or H&P 106 Hark! The herald angels sing
ou might choose to listen to ‘Hark!’, a new recording commissioned by the Methodist Church as part of the ‘Hush the Noise’ campaign Or read or sing a carol of your own choice
Opening prayer:
God with us, Emmanuel,
In a world that is often full of noise, we listen carefully for your coming among us once again.
We listen in the places where noisy discord and harsh voices drown out the cries of the poor.
We listen in lands where the sound of drones and rockets bring fear to folk already fearful that peace will never come.
We listen in our homes and churches where raised voices or hard silence reflect our human tendency to hurt those closest to us.
God with us, Emmanuel, you are listening too, and your coming calls us to listen with you as well as for you.
So we hush the noise and listen.
We hear the cry of the new-born, quietened by the mother’s milk, and whispered love.
We hear the sounds of the world beyond, sounds of joy and pain, of life and death, and pray that the whisper of love might slip its way through into each ear, every heart.
We hear the far-off music of the angel choir, singing praise to God and peace on earth, and we dare to echo their song as we join both shepherds and kings and kneel to welcome and worship God with us, Emmanuel. Amen.
Reading
Song – StF 205 or H&P 108 – It Came upon the midnight clear
You might choose to listen to ‘It came upon the midnight clear’, a new recording commissioned by the Methodist Church as part of the ‘Hush the Noise’ campaign Or read or sing a carol of your own choice
Or read or sing a carol of your own choice
Reflections:
Can you describe a time when you have felt a deep sense of peace?
From Nick:
The question takes me to my last sabbatical, and the week I spent learning to kayak on the West Coast of Scotland. Towards the end of the week, we had the opportunity to kayak under the Skye Bridge. Below the bridge is a tiny island, and at one point the instructor drew our attention to a dark cloud approaching quickly from the North and led us to the island.
My memory is that there was only just time to get there, and only just enough room, but we made it moments before the squall hit. A few minutes of heavy rain and strong circling wind ensued, then just as quickly as it had arrived it was gone, and all was still and calm.
The stillness and calm stay with me as I remember that day, with the beauty of the setting, and the delight of sabbatical reflection and company adding to the deep sense of peace which the memory holds for me.
From Phil:
Thinking about this question whilst Storm Darragh is blowing about outside reminds me of two occasions from the early part of my ministry. I have always liked leading midnight services on Christmas Eve. In a place where usually there is so much activity, even on a Sunday, there is a different atmosphere leading into the midnight service. This was a point brought home to me the first two Christmas Eve’s I spent in Liverpool during my first appointment. For those two occasions were wild nights, and I had to battle through the wet and the wind to get to church for midnight communion. Outside, the gale roared and the rains poured, but inside was like being in the eye of the storm, a haven of peace.
Whatever storms may be blowing around us at the present time, we can come to know peace because of what God does for us in Christ.
From Lisa:
One of the best places I find that gives me peace is on the island of Lindisfarne (Holy Island) in Northumberland. And one of the best times for peace on the island was the year after the pandemic. The island had been shut down for a while and so the animals had claimed it back for themselves – we got to see deer leaping, and a parent kestrel feed her young within metres of where we stood. The grey seals were so relaxed that we got followed by an inquisitive seal pup in the waters around Cuthbert’s Isle – we turned around to find him just behind us, like a puppy wanting to play. Acreage of sky and sea and silence – utter bliss.
Ways readers can respond
Can you recall a time when you have felt a deep sense of peace?
Take a couple of minutes now to hush the noise. Consider how you might help others hear the angel’s love song in your community. How might you amplify the song?
Prayers of intercession
We pray this Christmas season that we will know peace between countries and peoples, in homes and families.
We pray for all who are not well in body, mind or spirit – for your healing touch and presence.
We remember at this time all who are dying and all who mourn – we pray for comfort and hope to return to them in time.
We hold in your light those who have no home, who long for a welcome, sanctuary, security, food, clothes and love – for you are the God who knows what it is to find rest in a borrowed stable.
We come humbly and pray for ourselves – with honesty and openness, we ask for what we need.
Through Jesus our Saviour – Amen.
Song: You might choose to listen to ‘Be Born’, a new recording commissioned by the Methodist Church as part of the ‘Hush the Noise’ campaign Or read or sing a carol of your own choice
Christmas Blessing
The angels are still singing.
Hush the noise, hear them sing, repeat the song.
And the blessing of God,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be yours/ours, now and always. Amen.
Acknowledgments: Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Opening liturgy and Blessing taken from ‘Hush the Noise’ worship material. Opening prayer, Nick Blundell; Prayer of intercession, Lisa Quarmby.
