Cruden Parish Church

The Fourth Sunday of Advent 10.00am

Sunday 20th December 2020

 

Community Advent Candle Lighting

The Candle of Love

IIntroduction- Mary & Joseph flee from nasty Herod!

Lighting the fourth candle – the candle of love

Prayer

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

In our lives of hurriedness and stress
Bring love 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 love you give.
In our service here today,
Light of the world, light the way.

Advent Candle Song

A candle is burning, a candle of love,
a candle to point us to heaven above,
A baby for Christmas, a wonderful birth,
for Jesus is bringing God's love to our earth.

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 323 The first Nowell

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

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.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!

This star drew nigh to the northwest
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest
And there it did both Pause and stay
Right o'er the place where Jesus lay.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!

Then entered in those Wise men three
Full reverently upon their knee
And offered there in His presence
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel! 

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 has bought.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!

Bible Reading Matthew 2:1-18

The Magi Visit the Messiah
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

The Escape to Egypt
When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

A voice is heard in Ramah,
    weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
    and refusing to be comforted,
    because they are no more.”

Sermon ‘Nasty Herod and the Angels’ message of love’

Massacre of the Innocents by Matteo di Giovanni - Santa Maria della Scala

 

Church News

Prayers of Intercession

The Lord’s prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
you 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 forever.
Amen

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
The Group has now ‘officially’ ended and will restart in January.  However, depending on the weather, we may organise a walk between Christmas & New Year. Please keep an eye on the group Facebook page!

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

Facebook
Our morning service will be broadcast live via the Church Facebook Page. To follow the service, you may have to reload the page just before the broadcast begins at 10.00 am.

Celebration of Holy Communion
There will be a virtual celebration of Holy Communion at 7.00 pm , Sunday 20th December. Please contact Sean or Robert for the link.

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.

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. Christmas Bags containing everything required (except an orange or large satsuma) are now  available – free of charge - from Hatton Market, Cruden Bay Post Office and here in the church.

11.50 pm ‘Virtual’ Watchnight Reflection

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