(All our songs this morning are from Singing the Faith (StF) or Hymns & Psalms (H&P) numbers will be given where available)
This week’s written service has been prepared by Christine, Nick, and Phil using ideas from the Methodist Church’s Christmas outreach campaign, Out of the Ordinary. It can be used anytime over the Christmas and New Year period.
Click on the blue links to follow them for bible readings and associated links
Call to Worship:
If you can light a candle safely, you may wish to do so. Or use this picture of a candle shining with light as you share in the following:
God is with us, God is in us.
Emmanuel, God is with us, God is in us.
New life is celebrated this day,
Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, Saviour, the babe in a manger, Redeemer of the world light and life and love for the world.
Emmanuel, God is with us, God is in us.
Jesus born for us, each and every one of us. Not just for shepherds and for wise men, not just for those he knew then,
oh yes, for them and us and evermore.
Emmanuel, God is with us, God is in us.
The extraordinary transforming the ordinary. The extraordinary making sense of the ordinary. The extraordinary giving purpose and meaning. The extraordinary making me and making you.
Emmanuel, God is with us, God is in us.
Carol – O little town of Bethlehem – StF 213, H&P 113
The Methodist church has produced a specially recorded version of the carol which you can see at
or watch a more traditional version at
Opening Prayer:
Christmas God, you have led us through Advent and brought us to the dawning of this Christmas Day. You have transformed us and remade us, changed us, repurposed us, enlightened and envisioned us.
Our ordinary selves made new in you.
We marvel, overwhelmed and speechless, at the gift of a child who transformed the world, who offered and offers such love, such joy, such goodness, such purpose and such life.
Christmas God, we can’t now or ever thank you enough for all you have been,
all you are and all you will be; transforming your people, making all things new, redeeming and blessing each one of us. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
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.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
Readings – we suggest reading each passage of scripture all the way through, then read it a second time. As you read each passage again think about what is ordinary and what is extraordinary in each one. You may wish to use a piece of paper and pen to make two lists next to each other showing what comes to mind. Luke 2.1-20 could be used at Christmas and Luke 2.22-40 at New Year.
2 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
22 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’), 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.’
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon;[a] this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 ‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.’
33 And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon[f] blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’
36 There was also a prophet, Anna[g] the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, 37 then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child[h] to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Carol – See him lying on a bed of straw – StF 216, H&P 118
Reflections: Out of the Ordinary
Phil writes: When Ruth and I were in our late twenties we were attending Carver Street Wesley Methodist Church in Sheffield city centre. As well as the thousand-seater chapel which dated from the early nineteenth century there was also an extensive suite of ancillary rooms and halls. The minister of the church, Inderjit Bhogal, was intrigued to keep finding empty bottles left on the entrance steps to these rooms and was determined to find out more about those who left them. Out of this experience came ‘Homeless and Rootless at Christmas’ (HARC for short), which provided a welcome space in the daytime, including meals, and overnight accommodation for those who would otherwise be sleeping out on the streets during the Christmas and New Year period. Ruth and I volunteered to help with the project and spent several sessions assisting with a variety of tasks.
The session that I remember the most was a period of duty which ran from about 10pm on Christmas Eve through to the early hours of Christmas Day. Although it was night-time not all the guests were asleep and there was plenty to keep us occupied. At the end of the session – about 6 or 7am as I recall – there was only three or four hours until the Christmas Day service in the church, so rather than going home we went and slept in the church vestry, where Inderjit had arranged with the caretaker to leave the gas fire on to make sure the room was kept warm. After the service, we had arranged to go to my parents in Leeds, and stepping into the familiar surroundings of their house decorated for Christmas came as a complete contrast with the way we had spent the previous night. It had been a memorable way to spend Christmas night: a strange but wonderful experience, and one which helped us to reflect more deeply on the meaning of Christmas. ‘Out of the Ordinary’ indeed!
To consider:
- When you sing, “Be born in us today,” what do you think you are asking for?
- Do all people carry God’s image?
- What difference has Jesus made to you?
- Think of someone from a different generation – someone younger or older. Perhaps a grandchild, a neighbour, a work colleague, a teacher, a godchild, niece or nephew. With this person in mind, ask everyone to think of something that they would have in common, and one thing that is different between them. Give thanks and pray for all these people who are part of our lives, ask God to help us be a blessing in their lives.
Carol – It came upon the midnight clear StF 205, H&P 108
Christine writes When I was in my late twenties I had some trouble with an impacted wisdom tooth which had never come through (I was a late developer!). I had to have it taken out, and was given an appointment on 20th December. As a school teacher, that suited me well as it was in the holidays, so I duly went to the clinic and said tooth was extracted (I’ll spare you the details). However, over the next couple of days an infection set in and my face swelled up; and one morning my throat felt so swollen that I didn’t think I would be able to swallow the antibiotic. I went to A&E, and I was admitted to hospital and put on a drip. I spent Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day in hospital.
Although it wasn’t what I had planned – my parents were supposed to be spending Christmas with me and bringing lots of treats – it was actually not as bad as it might sound. If you have to be in hospital, Christmas is not such a bad time to be there. Because of the sense that ‘this shouldn’t happen at Christmas’, lovely people try to make it up to you. Various groups of people came and sang carols, the nurses were happy and chatty, and visiting times were relaxed. People who did not really need to be in hospital over Christmas had been discharged, so the staff were not rushed off their feet. There was a turkey dinner (the intravenous antibiotics had done their job and I was able to eat it) and various other entertainment and treats. It was certainly ‘out of the ordinary’, but everyone around tried hard to make it as nice as possible.
How do we try to make someone else’s Christmas as nice as possible? Do we reach out to friend and stranger alike?
Carol – Born in the night StF 193, H&P 95
this reminds us that Jesus was ‘born in a borrowed room’, one provided by a kind stranger.
Nick writes As we pass Christmas, rejoicing in God’s presence in the extraordinary ordinariness of a journey, a birth, a saviour, we look ahead and see a new year approaching.
It is natural to wonder, as the old year lays down its burdens and the new one readies itself for the fray, ‘What will this new year hold?’
How we answer may in part be determined by our perception and experience of the old year.
For some of us, 2023 has been a year of blessing. Life has been good, with much to enjoy and celebrate. Good days to remember, shared with good people. A bright year.
For others of us, the opposite is true. It may feel there has been more to curse than bless, with pain, loss, tedium, anxiety, a grey year.
For most of us, I guess, there will have been a mixture of the two, with good days and bad, sunshine and showers, summer and winter. Our frame of mind may depend on which half of the proverbial glass we choose to notice, rather than the vessel being full to overflowing or bone dry.
In our second reading we meet old Simeon, who is looking for God’s promise to come true. He has been waiting, praying, looking and listening for Gods spirit, and now, in this moment, he recognizes in this child God’s promise fulfilled. There have clearly been a lot of other days, months, years, when he has looked in vain, but now he can bless the child and speak his truth.
Whatever kind of year 2023 was for you, I pray that 2024 might be a year in which you can notice God’s presence, whether in sunshine or shower, and know God’s extraordinary love in the ordinariness of day to day living. Simeon’s truth is still true, that salvation and light for all is to be found in the child before him. May we have eyes open to see and hearts ready to welcome.
Carol – Hark! The herald-angels sing – StF 202 or H&P 106
Prayers at the turning of the year.
For those glad to see the back of 2023, for whom it has been a time of loss, or pain, of loneliness, or intense stress:
Give eyes to see your love O God, and touch our hearts with hope.
For those grateful for good times, and good people with whom to share:
Give eyes to see your love O God, and touch our hearts with joy.
For those facing expected change in 2024, as plans are made and put into practice:
Give eyes to see your love O God, and touch our hearts with peace.
For those looking for sense or shape or purpose at the turning of the year:
Give eyes to see your love O God, and touch our hearts with faith. Amen.
Closing responses:
Christmas God, life for the world, Emmanuel, God with us, we have celebrated and rejoiced,
marvelled at your gift and giving,
now we worship you again.
Christmas God,
we greet and meet you.
We have dreams and we have visions,
we have yearnings and desires,
we have hopes and fears,
but in Jesus we find consolation and redemption.
Christmas God,
we greet and meet you.
We are young and we are old,
we are from north and south and east and west, we are strong and we are frail,
we are well and we are ill.
Christmas God,
we greet and meet you.
We’ve heard your message in unexpected places. We’ve encountered you when we were seeking and when we were not.
We’ve heard you in a cacophony of voices.
Our waiting has been fulfilled. Christmas God,
we greet and meet you.
Christmas Day is passed but Christmas is not over. Out of the ordinary has come the most extraordinary. Out of the waiting has come the gift of life. Out of the unexpected has come glory, redemption and revelation. In others we have seen you and simply pray this day, that in us, others see you too.
Amen.
Carol – O Come, all ye faithful – StF 212 or H&P 110
Blessing
May the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with each one of you this Christmas time, and in the coming year. 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. Prayers taken from ‘Out of the Ordinary’ (the Methodist Church campaign for Advent and Christmas 2023). Photo of candle from theworshipcloud.com with permission to use in local acts of worship.
