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ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF INDIGENOUS TERRITORY
First United Church is grounded on the traditional lands of the Nêhiyawak, people of the Sundance Culture in the Battle River watershed, which is a part of the North Saskatchewan River basin in the Metis homeland.
HYMN #45 Voices United “Joy is Now in Every Place” Verses 1 & 3
Joy is now in every place, Christmas lightens every face;
Now be with us, in your grace, O hear us, bless us, holy Jesus.
Through the New Year let it stay, leading us upon your way,
Making Christmas every day, O hear us, bless us, holy Jesus.
CALL TO WORSHIP
O come, Emmanuel, come to us, for we are lonely for God.
Come, bring the peace of God-with-us
O come, Wisdom from on high,
Lead us in the ways of knowledge and show us the paths of peace.
Glorious Shoot from the Jesse tree,
Come and bring life, fresh and green and lovely, to our spirits.
O Rose which blooms in the snow of winter,
Come and grant us the blessed gift of hope.
O Bright Morning Star of the darkened world,
Come and be for us the Light, the Truth and the Way.
Jesus our Christ, we welcome you.
Come and be known among us, for we want to be your people. Amen.
CHOIR PRESENTATION
PASTORAL PRAYER
AFFIRMATION OF OUR FAITH
A NEW CREED p. 918 Voices United
We rise together for the affirmation of our faith:
We are not alone,
we live in God’s world.
We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus,
the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others
by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church:
to celebrate God’s presence,
to live with respect in Creation,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God. Amen
HYMN #56 Voices United “Jesus, Our Brother”
Jesus, our brother, kind and good, was humbly born in a stable rude,
And the friendly beasts around him stood, Jesus our brother, kind and good.
“I,”, said the donkey, shaggy and brown, “I carried the mother uphill and down;
I carried his mother to Bethlehem town; I,” said the donkey, shaggy and brown.
“I,” said the cow, all white and red, “I gave him my manger for his bed,
I gave him hay to pillow his head: I,” said the cow and white and red.
“I,” said the sheep with curly horn, “I gave him my wool for his blanket warm.
He wore my coat on Christmas morn; I,” said the sheep, with curly horn.
“I,” said the dove, from the rafters high, “I cooed him to sleep that he should not cry,
We cooed him to sleep, my mate and I; I,” said the dove, from the rafters high.
Thus all the beasts, by some good spell, in the stable dark were glad to tell
Of the gifts they gave Emmanuel, the gifts they gave Emmanuel.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
Let us join together in the ancient ritual of the passing of the peace saying to each other:
The peace of Christ be with you
And also, with you.
Psalm 72, Part 1 (Refrain p. 790 VU)
Refrain Hail to God’s own anointed, who rules in equity.
Give the ruler your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to the royal heir,
for judging your people rightly,
and upholding the poor with justice;
that the mountains may bring forth peace for the people,
and the hills, prosperity with justice. Refrain
May your anointed defend the cause of the poor among the people,
save the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor.
May your anointed live as long as the sun endures,
as long as the moon from age to age.
May your anointed be like rain falling upon the grass,
like showers that water the earth;
may your anointed be one in whose days justice shall flourish
and peace abound till the moon is no more. Refrain
CHILDREN’S TIME
HYMN #469 Voices United “We Gather Here”
We gather here in Jesus’ name, his love is burning in our hearts like living flame;
For through the loving son God fashions us as one:
Come take the bread, come drink the wine, Come share the Lord.
No one is a stranger here, everyone belongs; finding our forgiveness here,
We in turn forgive all wrongs.
He joins us here, he breaks the bread, the One who pours the cup is risen from the dead;
The One we love the most, is now our gracious host:
Come take the bread, come drink the wine, Come share the Lord.
We are now a family, of which Christ is the head, though unseen he meets us here,
In the breaking of the bread.
We’ll gather soon where angels sing; we’ll see the glory of our Lord and coming King;
Now we anticipate the feast for which we wait:
Come take the bread, come drink the wine, Come share the Lord.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (Hebrews 13:16).
HYMN #68 Voices United “All Poor Ones and Humble” Verse 1 and Refrain
All poor ones and humble and all those who stumble, come hastening, and feel not afraid;
for Jesus our treasure, with love past all measure, in lowly poor manger was laid.
Though wise men who found him laid rich gifts around him, yet oxen they gave him their hay
and Jesus in beauty accepted their duty; contented in manger he lay.
Refrain Then haste we to show him the praises we owe him; our service he ne’er can despise;
whose love still is able to show us that stable, where softly in a manger he lies.
PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
Source of love and life,
Receive all we offer you this day,
And through the coming of your son,
Help us to see in others
Him who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
One God, now and forever. Amen.
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S VOICE
FOCUS SCRIPTURE
Ephesians 2:12-18
SERMON ~ Rev. Dr. Lloyd Nyarota “Fireworks of Life”
HYMN #87 Voices United “I am the Light of the World”
Refrain I am the light of the world!
You people come and follow me!
If you follow and love, you’ll learn the mystery
of what you were meant to do and be.
When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and the shepherds have found their way home,
the work of Christmas is begun: Refrain
To find the lost and lonely one,
to heal the broken soul with love,
to feed the hungry children with warmth and good food,
to feel the earth below, the sky above! Refrain
To free the prisoner from all chains,
to make the powerful care,
to rebuild the nations with strength of good will,
to see God’s children everywhere! Refrain
To bring hope to every task you do,
to dance at a baby’s new birth,
to make music in an old person’s heart,
and sing to the colours of the earth! Refrain
HOLY COMMUNION SERVICE
The Lord be with you.
And also, with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
… we give thanks and raise our voices to proclaim the glory of your name.
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
…Therefore, we proclaim our Hope and Peace.
Dying you destroyed our death.
Rising you restored our life.
Lord Jesus, come in glory and give us peace.
…Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
And now, as our Saviour Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen
THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD
We break this bread
to share in the body of Christ.
We, being many, are one body,
For we all share in the one bread.
Come for all is ready at this welcome table. The gifts of God for the people of God
Thanks be to God
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Let’s join together in prayer
Light eternal,
You have nourished us in the mystery
Of the body and blood of your son.
By your grace keep us ever faithful to your word,
In the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord.
All your works praise you, O Lord.
And your faithful servants bless you.
Gracious God
We thank you for feeding us with the body and blood of your son
Jesus Christ.
May we, who share his body, live his risen life;
We, who drink his cup,
Bring life to other;
We, whom the Spirit lights,
Give light to the world.
Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us, so that we and all your children shall be free, and the whole earth live to praise your name;
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
WE GO INTO THE WORLD TO SHARE GOD’S LOVE
CHANGING THE LIGHT
SENDING FORTH
BENEDICTION
HYMN #213 More Voices “Take Up His Song”
Take up his song of faith and go into the world. Take up his song of faith in every moment.
In every moment of the journey, we’re laying down our lives; lay them down in faith, lay them down,
And take up his song.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF INDIGENOUS TERRITORY
First United Church is grounded on the traditional lands of the Nêhiyawak, people of the Sundance Culture in the Battle River watershed, which is a part of the North Saskatchewan River basin in the Metis homeland.
We gather with gratitude for their stewardship of this land and we acknowledge that we too are treaty people, called to live with respect in Creation as we undertake our responsibilities as members of Treaty Six.
LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE
CALL TO WORSHIP (based on Psalm 98)
O sing to the Lord a new song!
For God has done marvellous things!
God had remembered His steadfast love and faithfulness.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Let all creation celebrate the coming of our God!
For the Lord will come to judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.
Come, let us worship the Lord!
OPENING PRAYER
HYMN #59 Voices United “Joy to the World”
Joy to the world! the Lord is come: let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the earth! the Saviour reigns: let all their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground:
He comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as the curse is found.
He rules the earth with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness and wonders of his love, and wonders of his love,
And wonders, wonders of his love.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you
And also, with you.
PRAYER FOR TRANSFORMATION
GODLY PLAY ~ Epiphany
HYMN #62 Voices United “Once in Royal David’s City”
Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed, where a mother laid her baby in a manager for his bed. Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.
He came down to earth from heaven who, with God, is over all, and his shelter was a stable, and his cradle was a stall. There among the poor and lowly lived on earth our saviour holy.
For he is our lifelong pattern, daily, when on earth he grew, he was tempted, scorned, rejected, tears and smiles like us he know. Thus he feels for all our sadness, and he shares in all our gladness.
And our eyes at last shall see him, through his own redeeming love; for that child who seemed so helpless is our Lord in heaven above; and he leads his children on to the place where he is gone.
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S VOICE
Loving God, you speak to us in so many ways.
Speak to us now through the reading of the scriptures.
FOCUS SCRIPTURES
Matthew 2:13-18
Hebrews 2:15-17
This is the trustworthy witness of God’s faithful people through the ages.
The divine word to us today. Amen.
SERMON ~ Rev. Pax Murry Speer
HYMN #48 Voices United “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn king,
Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Refrain Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn king!”
Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord.
Late in time behold him come, offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the God-head see; hail, the incarnate deity,
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel Refrain
Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by, born that we no more may die,
Born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth. Refrain
GOD INVITES US TO RESPOND IN FAITH AND HOPE
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
MISSION AND SERVICE STORY ~ “Rooted in Hope as a New Year Begins”
HYMN #542 Voices United “We Give You But Your Own”
We give you but your own, whate’er the gift may be;
all that we have is yours alone, we give it gratefully.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
God in Your mercy
Hear our prayers.
… we pray the prayer that Jesus taught us, each in the language of our hearts:
THE PRAYER OF JESUS, A Paraphrase, p. 916 Voices United
Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be.
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo
through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed
by peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done
by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us,
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
now and for ever. Amen.
HYMN #132 Then Let Us Sing “In a far-off place”
In a far-off place, Jesus comes to earth. Sheep and cattle grace the site.
As the angel songs begin, like the whisper of the wind,
nature’s hope awakes again; Jesus comes.
For the poor in heart, Jesus comes to earth. Humble shepherds start the news.
For each homeless infant born, for the meek and those who mourn,
for the weary and the worn, Jesus comes.
In our deepest night, Jesus comes to earth: radiant star to light our way.
Summer’s heat or winter’s chill, with a warm and loving will,
to a world that needs him still, Jesus comes.
WE GO INTO THE WORLD TO SHARE GOD’S LOVE
CHANGING THE LIGHT
SENDING FORTH
HYMN #45 Voices United “Joy is Now in Every Place” verses 1, 3, & 4
Joy is now in every place, Christmas lightens every face;
Now be with us, in your grace, O hear us, bless us, holy Jesus.
Through the New Year let it stay, leading us upon your way,
Making Christmas every day, O hear us, bless us, holy Jesus.
Now and ever may we find your good news to fill our mind:
Peace and love to human-kind, O hear us, bless us, holy Jesus.
This service of worship was initially prepared by Together We Worship and has been revised to fit practices of Wetaskiwin First United Church. Thanks to Rev. Pax Murray Speer, Calgary for the sermon and Rev. Aaron Miller, University Hill United, Vancouver, for the liturgy.
First United Church is grounded on the traditional lands of the Nêhiyawak, people of the Sundance Culture in the Battle River watershed, which is a part of the North Saskatchewan River basin in the Metis homeland.
LIGHTING THE CANDLE OF CHRIST
Throughout Advent we have lit a candle for Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.
Voice 1 – “Do not be afraid, for behold I bring you good news of great joy for all people (Luke 2:10)
Voice 2 – What gifts does Jesus bring to the world?
Voice 1 – Jesus brings hope for the world
Jesus brings peace like a river
Jesus brings joy everlasting
Jesus brings love for all creation
Voice 2 – Christmas is the beginning of this new world, a better world, that we are boldly invited to create together, as followers of the Christ child.
Voice 1 – May it be so.
Amen.
HYMN #7 Voices United “Hope is a Star”
Hope is a star, that shines in the night, leading us on till the morning is bright.
Refrain When God is a child, there’s joy in our song. The last shall be first
And the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid.
Peace is a ribbon that circles the earth, giving a promise of safety and worth. Refrain
Joy is a song that welcomes the dawn, telling the world that the Saviour is born. Refrain
Love is a flame that burns in our heart, Jesus has come and will never depart. Refrain
MODERATOR’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE The Right Rev. Dr. Kimberly Heath
CALL TO WORSHIP
Come join the journey!
We’re on a journey into hope!
Come closer that God might come close to you.
We’re on a journey into peace!
Come ready to wonder.
We’re on a journey into joy!
Come with thankful hearts.
We’re on a journey into love!
Come and worship: in song, in prayer, in community.
We’re on a journey, that was not only long ago, but still today, welcoming the birth of Christ in us, as we celebrate this Holy birth.
OPENING PRAYER from “If Darwin Prayed” by Bruce Sanguin
HYMN #6 Voices United “A Candle Is Burning”
A candle is burning, a flame warm and bright, a candle of hope in December’s dark night. While angels sing blessings from heaven’s starry sky, our hearts we prepare now for Jesus is nigh.
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.
A candle is burning, a candle of joy, a candle to welcome brave Mary’s new boy. Our hears fill with wonder, and eyes light and glow as joy brightens winter like sunshine on snow.
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.
We honour Messiah with Christ candle’s flame, our Christmas Eve candles glad tidings proclaim. O come, all you faithful, rejoice in this night, as God comes among us, the Christian’s true light.
SHARING THE STORY
Listening
Response:
HYMN #64 Voices United “O Little Town of Bethlehem” verse 1
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.
Listening
Response:
Luke 2:1-8
HYMN #69 Voices United “Away in a Manger” verse 1
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed.
The little lord Jesus lay down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky, look down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.
Listening
Response:
Luke 2:9-14
HYMN #38 Voices United “Angels we have heard on High” verse 1
Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plain.
And the mountains in reply, echoing their joyous strains.
Gloooooria In Excelsis Deo!
Gloooooria In Excelsis Deo!
Listening
Response:
Matthew 2:1-12
HYMN #15 All God’s Children Sing “We three kings of Orient are” verse 1
We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we travel so far.
Field and fountain, moor and mountain. Following yonder star.
Refrain O star of wonder, star of night. Star with Royal beauty bright.
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.
OFFERING
HYMN #59 Voices United “Joy to the World”
Joy to the world! the Lord is come: let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the earth! the Saviour reigns: let all their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground:
He comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as the curse is found.
He rules the earth with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness and wonders of his love, and wonders of his love,
And wonders, wonders of his love.
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Loving and Wonderful God,
This year, as before, we light candles to prepare for your winter arrival. We look to little flames to shine a bright light. Transform that little flame into a blaze, inviting us to live with hope, peace, joy and love, and inspiring us to live with generosity. Bright and blazing God, thank you for your light. Bless these, our gifts, to spread light to our world. Amen
REFLECTION
Rev. Dr. Lloyd Nyarota
BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
LIGHTING CANDLES
“Peace, Peace, Peace on Earth” with the Sunday Singers
and
HYMN #67 Voices United “Silent Night”
Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night! Holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight: glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Hallelujah, Christ the Saviour is born, Christ the Saviour is born.
Silent night! Holy night! Son of God, love’s pure light radiant beams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
First United Church, Wetaskiwin – Blue Christmas
Sunday, December 21, 2025, 7:00 pm
God calls us to create a community of faith where all are welcome and encouraged to participate fully: no matter where you’re from, when you were born, however you self-identify, whom you love,
GOD GATHERS US IN
WORDS OF WELCOME
OPENING PRAYER
To everything there is a time…
A time to weep and a time to laugh…
God of all the seasons of our lives, we come here to share in this season of sorrow and joy, hope and despair, light and dark, pain and celebration.
Here we lay our sorrow, our struggles, our pain before us.
Here we pray that we will be touched with your healing love.
Here we come to seek for hope, for light, for joy…
Amen
HYMN #1 Voices United “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” Verses 1, 4, 5, & 6
O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lowly exile here until the son of God appear. Refrain
Refrain Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, O Rod of Jesse’s stem, from every foe deliver them
that trust your mighty power to save, and give them victory o’er the grave. Refrain
O come, O Key of David, come, and open wide our heavenly home;
make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery. Refrain
O come, O Dayspring, from on high, and cheer us by your drawing night;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadow’s put to flight. Refrain
GOD SPEAKS TO US
SCRIPTURE
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
REFLECTION – The Candle of Circles
… But still the circles turn. Unendingly they turn, pulling us around with them,
bringing us up and down. And so,
We light this candle to remind us of the circles, to remind us that there is a time to weep and mourn but also a time to laugh and dance. May its light and warmth sustain us as the circles carry us through the years….
SCRIPTURE
Isaiah 35:1-10
REFLECTION – The Candle of Evergreens
… A place where the barrenness is replaced with life through the power of God.
We light this candle to remind us of the possibility of life. We light it to remind us that there is life, even when we may not expect it, there is life. May the light of this candle give us hope when we have lost it….
SCRIPTURE
Isaiah 40:1-11
REFLECTION – The Candle of Holly
… For God gathers us as a shepherd gathers the lambs, holding us close, holding us safe.
We light this candle to remind us that we carry our own wounds, but also to remind us of the One who brings comfort, who binds our wounds and shares their pain. May the light of this candle remind us that we are not alone…
SCRIPTURE
Genesis 1:1-5, 14-19
REFLECTION – The Candle of Light
… And order starts to take shape within the chaos, even if only to the point where it can now be called “ordered disorder”.
We light this candle to remind us of the light that was and is and yet will be. We light this candle to remind ourselves that we need not walk in darkness. May the light of this candle shine in our hearts whenever the shadows grow stronger and deeper…
HYMN #7 Voices United “Hope is a Star”
Hope is a star, that shines in the night, leading us on till the morning is bright.
Refrain When God is a child, there’s joy in our song. The last shall be first
And the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid.
Peace is a ribbon that circles the earth, giving a promise of safety and worth. Refrain
Joy is a song that welcomes the dawn, telling the world that the Saviour is born. Refrain
Love is a flame that burns in our heart, Jesus has come and will never depart. Refrain
SCRIPTURE
John 1:1-9, Luke 2:8-14
REFLECTION – The Candle of Christ
… Can we join with the angels, even if only with part of our being, and sing Glory to God for the Christmas gift?
We light this candle to remind us that though we are sometimes the people who walk in darkness there is a light that the darkness cannot overcome. We light this candle to remind us that while there are times when we are filled with fear for the future the angel still calls out “Fear Not” for there is Good News.
May the light and warmth of this candle be a source of comfort to us.
We are not alone. Thanks be to God!
GOD MOVES IN OUR HEARTS
WE LIGHT OUR OWN CANDLES
INVITATION
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen
HYMN #67 Voices United “Silent Night”
Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night! Holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight: glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Hallelujah, Christ the Saviour is born, Christ the Saviour is born.
Silent night! Holy night! Son of God, love’s pure light radiant beams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
BLESSING
We have lit a candle to mark the closing of another circle, the passing of another year.
We have lit a candle to remind us of the promise of life that continues.
We have lit a candle to remind us of the sharpness, the pain that lies hidden in the beauty of life.
We have lit a candle to remind us of the light that shines in the darkness.
We have lit a candle to remind us that Emmanuel, God-With-Us is born.
We have lit candles to name our own grief, to name our own hopes, to give us light and warmth in a world which sometimes feels cold and dark.
And now we carry the light of these candles in our hearts and souls as we go back into the world.
Indeed, we are not alone. God: Parent, Child, and Spirit, goes with us to light the way and lighten the load.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
BENEDICTION AND SENDING OFF