Cruden Parish Church

The second Sunday of Advent

10.00am

Sunday 6th December 2020

 

Community Advent Candle Lighting

The Candle of Peace

Introduction- Joseph and the Angel

Lighting the second candle – the candle of peace

Prayer
As we light our advent candle
We thank you for the peace you give.
As we prepare for Christmas time
Light of the world, shine on us.

In our lives of confusion and stress
Bring peace to our hearts.
To all the people who don't know you,
Light of the world, shine through us.

In this world of pain and darkness
Help us to share the peace you give.
In our service here today,
Light of the world, light the way.

Advent Candle Song

A Candle is burning, a candle of peace,
a candle to signal that conflict must cease:
for Jesus is coming to show us the way
a message of peace humbly laid in the hay.

Blessing

And in this season of Advent, 
may the joy of the angels, the wonder of the shepherds
and the peace of the Christ Child,
fill yours hearts and home. Amen.

---

Our morning service continues

Hymn: Child in a manger

Child in the manger, Infant of Mary,
Outcast and Stranger, Lord of all,
Child Who inherits all our transgressions,
All our demerits on Him fall.

Once the most holy Child of salvation
Gently and lowly lived below.
Now as our glorious mighty Redeemer,
See Him victorious o’er each foe.

Prophets foretold Him, Infant of wonder;
Angels behold  Him on His throne.
Worthy our Saviour of all our praises;
Happy forever are His own.

Bible Readings

Leviticus 19:33-34 

When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.

Matthew 1:18-24

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

Sermon ‘Are you having an ethical Christmas?’

Church News

Prayers

Hymn O come O come Emmanuel

1.            O come, O come, Emmanuel,
                And ransom captive Israel,
                That mourns in lonely exile here,
                Until the Son of God appear.
                Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
                Shall come to thee, O Israel.

2.            O come, O come thou Lord of might,
                Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
                In ancient times didst give the law
                In cloud and majesty and awe.
                Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
                Shall come to thee, O Israel.

3.            O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
                Thine own from Satan's tyranny;
                From depths of hell Thy people save,
                And give them victory o'er the grave.
                Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
                Shall come to thee, O Israel.

4.            O come, Thou Key of David, come
                And open wide our heavenly home;
                Make safe the way that leads on high,
                And close the path to misery.
                Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
                Shall come to thee, O Israel.

5 .           O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer,
                Our spirits by thine advent here;
                Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
                And death's dark shadows put to flight.
                Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
                Shall come to thee, O Israel.

 Dismissal & Blessing

Lord Jesus,
Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.

We who have so much to do and seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day,
We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.
We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom.
We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence.

We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.
To you we say, "Come Lord Jesus!'

Amen.

(Henri J.M. Nouwen)

Now we take our worship out into the world

May the God of love fill Your heart with peace
and send You into the world to live it.
And the blessing of God Almighty,
our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer,
be with You and those You love,

Amen

CHURCH NEWS

Pastoral Care
Please advise the minister or member of the pastoral care team if you know of anybody would appreciate a visit or phone call. Sean can be contacted on 07791 755976 or sswindells@churchofscotland.org.uk

Walking for Health and Well-being
Meets on Tuesday 8th December at 10.30 am outside the St Olaf Hotel, Cruden Bay. Everybody welcome. (This is a permitted activity under the current Covid-19 rules and an officially recognised ‘Health Walk.’)  Group members are requested to make use of the track and trace smartphone app. Sorry no canine companions. In case of bad weather, please double check the group Facebook page.

Worship
W e meet every Sunday at 10.00 am. To provide a safe environment, we are strictly following the appropriate rules and guidance, including social distancing.

Angels, angels everywhere! -  Advent & Christmas @ Cruden Parish Church

Every Day
Daily Advent Calendar During the Season of Advent will be offering a daily Bible Reading, Reflection and Prayer.  Sean would welcome input from members and friends of the congregation. If you have any thoughts, stories, or memoires, that may be suitable, please contact Sean. Or why not write one of the daily reflections. (A max length of 500 words please!)

Every Sunday

Community Advent Reflection at 10.00 am to 10.15 am.
Each of the four Sunday’s of Advent & Christmas Day there will be a short family friendly reflection and the lightning of an candle on the Advent Ring. On Christmas Day we light the final candle – the Christ Candle. Copies of the template and instructions are available in church, Hatton Market and Cruden Bay Post Office.

10.00 am – In our Morning Worship we will be reflecting on the appearances of Angels in the Christmas story.

Christmas Eve

6.30 pm ‘Virtual’ Christingle Family Service for all the family.
Join us on Christmas Eve to make and light your very own Christingle and celebrate the story of Jesus birth. Christingle Kits containing everything required (except an orange or large satsuma) will shortly be available.

11.50 pm ‘Virtual’ Watchnight Reflection

Christmas Day

10.00 am – we light the final candle on the Advent Ring.