Ardoch Parish Church

Sunday 20th December 2020

20th December Order of Service pdf

Download a copy of the Order of service

Ardoch Parish Church and our minister, Rev Mairi Perkins welcomes everyone to this Service celebrating the 4th Sunday in Advent and Liz Paterson lights the fourth Advent candle

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

In this season of expectation
We prepare to welcome Christ Jesus, Messiah
Into the bustle of our lives
and the hard to find moments of solitude
We prepare to welcome Christ Jesus, Messiah
Into our homes and situations
along with friends and families
We prepare to welcome Christ Jesus, Messiah
Into our hearts, and those often hidden parts of our lives
We prepare to welcome Christ Jesus, Messiah
For beneath the surface of your story
is an inescapable fact
You entered this world
as vulnerable as any one of us
in order to nail that vulnerability to the cross.

Our fears, our insecurities and our sins
all that can separate us from God
exchanged by your Grace for Love.
We cannot comprehend the reasoning
only marvel that Salvation comes to us
through a baby born in a stable,
and reaches out to a world in need.
In this season of anticipation
We prepare to welcome Christ Jesus, Messiah
In our worship we prepare for the birth of a baby in a dusty stable in Bethlehem,
and remind ourselves that this child will become the Saviour of the World
who will return again in power and glory to draw all of his children together with songs of everlasting praise.
The promise of the baby is also the promise of eternal life to all who believe.
God of hope and promise, be with us throughout this Advent season
and draw us ever closer as we journey together toward the stable and the birth of your Son, our Saviour.

Amen

Our First Hymn: People look East

People, look east. The time is near
Of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
Trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the guest, is on the way.

Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,
One more seed is planted there:
Give up your strength the seed to nourish,
That in time the flower may flourish.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the rose, is on the way.

Birds, though you long have ceased to build,
Guard the nest that must be filled.
Even the hour when wings are frozen
He for fledging time has chosen.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the bird, is on the way.

Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim
One more light the bowl shall brim,
Shining beyond the frosty weather,
Bright as the moon and stars together.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the star, is on the way.

Angels, announce with shouts of mirth
He who brings new life to earth.
Set every peak and valley humming
With the news, the Lord is coming.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Lord, is on the way.
Words by John Ferguson

© 1999 Neil A. Kjos Music Company

Eleanor Thomas reads

from

Luke Chapter 2 v 1-20

Hymn: Little Drummer Boy

Introduction and prayer

Makaton Christmas Nativity

Signed by Becky George and friends

Let us pray for others and ourselves

To you O Lord we bring our lives
Troubled, broken or at ease
A sacrificial offering
For you to use
Take away our selfishness
And teach us to love as you loved
Take away our sense of pride
And show us the meaning of humility
Take away our blindness
And show us the world through your eyes
Take away our greed
And teach us how to give as you gave
Show us your ways
Teach us your paths
That we might walk with you more closely
Our hand in your hand
Our feet in your footsteps
From the baby in a stable
To eternity,

For your word which endures
We give you thanks
For your promises to which we hold
We give you thanks
For such intimacy with you
We give you thanks
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies
We give you thanks
For those gathered here today
We give you thanks
For family, friend and stranger
We give you thanks
For those who minister your grace
We give you thanks
For the hope that lives each Advent
of a love that has no end
We give you thanks

Amen

We are delighted the Hot Chocolate Club members

are contributing each week to The Story

This week’s script is for two voices entitled “Good news – aye right”

Our closing hymn: Do they know it’s Christmas time at all

It’s Christmas time, there’s no need to be afraid
At Christmas time, we let in light and we banish shade
And in our world of plenty, we can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world at Christmas time

But say a prayer, pray for the other ones
At Christmas time, it’s hard, but when you’re having fun
There’s a world outside your window
And it’s a world of dread and fear
Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears
And the Christmas bells that ring there
Are the clanging chimes of doom
Well, tonight, thank God it’s them instead of you

And there won’t be snow in Africa this Christmas time
The greatest gift they’ll get this year is life
Where nothing ever grows, no rain or rivers flow
Do they know it’s Christmas time at all?

Here’s to you, raise a glass for everyone
Here’s to them underneath that burning sun
Do they know it’s Christmas time at all?

Feed the world
Feed the world

Feed the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time again
Feed the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time again
Feed the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time again
Feed the world

Let them know it’s Christmas time again
Feed the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time again
Feed the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time again
Feed the world
Let them know it’s Christmas time again

Benediction