here - Black Torrington Benefice

The United Benefice of Black Torrington,
Bradford with Cookbury, Thornbury and Highampton
Christian Love in Action
WELCOME TO WORSHIP
24th DECEMBER 2014
MIDNIGHT HOLY COMMUNION SERVICE
11.30PM
HOLY CROSS, HIGHAMPTON
Gospel
John 1: 1-14
In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2
He existed in the beginning with God.
3
God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
4
The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
5
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.
6
God sent a man, John the Baptist,7 to tell about the light so that everyone
might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he
was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light,
who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10
He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him.
He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who
believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
13
They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or
plan, but a birth that comes from God.
14
So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of
unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the
Father’s one and only Son.
NLT
11
At Holy Communion we invite communicant members of other Christian
churches to come forward to receive the sacraments.
If you would prefer to receive a blessing, please kneel at the rail with your
hands at your sides.
If you require gluten free wafers,
please inform the person on duty at the door.
Priest-in-Charge: Revd. Kathy Roberts
Tel: 01409 231 279 Mob: 0771 757 5554
email: [email protected]
www.black-torrington-benefice.org.uk
e-mail: [email protected]
Readings
Isaiah 9: 2-7
Hebrews 1: 1-3a
John 1: 1-14
Collect
Eternal God,
in the stillness of this night
you sent your almighty Word
to pierce the world’s darkness with the light of salvation:
give to the earth the peace we long for
and fill our hearts with the joy of heaven
through our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Advent Wreath
We light the Christ candle to remind us that the light of the world was born
this night. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those
who dwelt in a land of deep darkness - on them a light has shined. You, O
Lord, have multiplied the nation. You have increased its joy. For to us a child
is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder.
His name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace. He is also called Emmanuel, for in him God is with us.
Advent Prayer
Almighty God - you have made this night holy by the gift of your son, born of
the Holy Spirit and of Mary. Upon him rested all your grace, through him has
come all your mercy. Let his light shine within our hearts tonight even more
brightly than it shines from the candles in this place. Help us to hear your
word and to celebrate your everlasting love through him.
Amen
INTRODUCTION TO THE READINGS
Kathy and Peter Roberts
wish you
a Blessed Christmas
and
a Happy and Peaceful New Year.
ISAIAH 9:2-7
This messianic prophecy has had an honoured
place in Christian thought and liturgy from the 1st century when Matthew
quoted from it in relation to Jesus’ Galilean ministry (Matt:15-16).
HEBREWS 1:1-4
Using poetic quotations from the Greek text of
the Old Testament, the author of this Letter to the Hebrews begins his
proclamation of the meaning of the gospel story about the life, death,
resurrection, ascension Christ and the giving of the Holy Spirit to the
Christian Church. Because of the emphasis on the fulfillment of the Hebrew
scriptures, the intended audience was almost certainly Jewish but their
specific location and circumstances remain unknown.
JOHN 1:1-14
Whereas Matthew began his Gospel story with
ancestry and birth of Jesus and Luke began with his conception, John went
much further back to the creation of the world. He identifies the Christ with
the Word (Logos) of God. In this case, however, he is not simply the first
created being as Wisdom was identified in earlier Jewish writings, but was “in
the beginning with God.” He was co-creator and also the life and light of all
that is created.
Having so stated the divinity of Jesus, John goes on to state the other,
human aspect of his nature. He was in the world, a Jew among Jews, but
not accepted by his own people. This statement presages the controversy
Jews had with the Jews about his pre-existence and his authority to teach
and perform miracles (chs. 6-8). To those who did accept him, he gave
the power of the Spirit to be the children of God. This prologue to John’s
Gospel goes much farther than any of the other three Gospels in its
interpretation of what the Nativity means. It is theology, not story. It
declares the divine intention in the birth of this child.
©Rev. John Shearman
SERVICES IN THE BENEFICE DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON
Thurs Dec 25th
11.00am
CHRISTMAS DAY.
Family Holy Communion St Peter’s, Thornbury
Sunday Dec 28th
9.30am
Said Holy Communion, St Mary’s, Black Torrington
11.00am
Benefice Holy Communion at Bradford Village
Hall, with a Bring and Share Lunch afterwards
The cry of this world for meaning and hope and life,
was met one morning far away in the cry of a tiny babe.
And with that cry, time stopped and started again. And it was new.
- Anonymous
PLEASE PRAY FOR:
Revd Christopher Penn, Peter Ellis, Revd David Wheeler
Joyce Hursey whose sister died recently.
David Tanswell whose mother died recently.
RIP Richard Cobbledick
Clergy: Revd Kathy Roberts, Revd Gerry Matthews
3.2 million registered Syrian refugees: 1 million in Turkey, 1.1 million in
Lebanon. The World Food Programme announced that it had been forced to
suspend food assistance for more than 1.7 million Syrian refugees because of
a funding crisis. As winter approaches, the needs are becoming more acute.
The Christians in Northern Iraq who have set up a refugee tent, Tent for
Jesus in a refugee camp for this year. (Consider helping the Christians in the
Middle East this Christmas. Their tent for Jesus does in fact tell us, THAT
WHEN YOU HAVE LOST EVERYTHING JESUS IS ALL YOU HAVE LEFT. You can
give to those most in need via www.frrme.org/donate
There will be no Morning Prayer at St Mary’s
between Christmas and New Year
The altar flowers in St Mary’s are in memory of Mim and Les Allen,
Laura Luxton and Ernest Bathe.
Please take this pew sheet home with you as a reminder of prayers
and events.
Contact Kate Inniss if you would like a notice included in the pew sheet by
Wednesday latest, please. Phone 01409 231 234
or email [email protected] or [email protected]

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