Morning Service Sunday 7 January 2024

Welcome and Intimations

Prayer and Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy 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 thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory
for ever and ever.
Amen.

CH4 328 Wise Men, They Came to Look for Wisdom

1. Wise men, they came to look for wisdom,
   finding one wiser than they knew;
   rich men, they met with one yet richer
   King of the kings, they knelt to you:
   Jesus, our wisdom from above,
   wealth and redemption, life and love.
   

2. Pilgrims they were, from unknown countries,
   searching for one who knows the world;
   lost are their names, and strange their journeys,
   famed is their zeal to find the child:
   Jesus, in you the lost are claimed,
   aliens are found, and known, and named.
   

3. Magi, they stooped to see your splendour,
   led by a star to light supreme;
   promised Messiah, Lord eternal,
   glory and peace are in your name.
   Joy of each day, our Song by night,
   shine on our path your holy light.
   

4. Guests of their God, they opened treasures,
   incense and gold and solemn myrrh;
   welcoming one too young to question
   how came these gifts, and what they were.
   Gift beyond price of gold or gem,
   make among us your Bethlehem.
   

Christopher Idle/Jubilate Hymns Ltd

1. Matthew 2:1-12
2. Mark 1:4-11

CH4 48 His Large and Great Dominion Shall

(Psalm 72)

1. His large and great dominion shall
   from sea to sea extend:
   it from the river shall reach forth
   unto earth's utmost end.
   

2. The kings of Tarshish, and the isles,
   to him shall presents bring;
   and unto him shall offer gifts
   Sheba's and Seba's king.
   

3. Yea, all the mighty kings on earth
   before him down shall fall;
   and all the nations of the world
   do service to him shall.
   

4. His Name for ever shall endure;
   last like the sun it shall:
   all shall be blest in him, and blest
   all nations shall him call.
   

5. Now blessèd be the Lord our God,
   the God of Israel,
   for he alone doth wondrous works,
   in glory that excel.
   

6. And blessèd be his glorious name
   to all eternity:
   the whole earth let his glory fill.
   Amen, so let it be.
   

Meditation

CH4 540 I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say

1. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
   ‘Come unto Me and rest;
   lay down, thou weary one, lay down
   thy head upon My breast’:
   I came to Jesus as I was,
   weary, and worn, and sad;
   I found in Him a resting-place,
   and He has made me glad.
   

2. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
   ‘Behold, I freely give
   the living water; thirsty one,
   stoop down and drink, and live’:
   I came to Jesus, and I drank
   of that life-giving stream;
   my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
   and now I live in Him.
   

3. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
   ‘I am this dark world’s light;
   look unto Me, thy morn shall rise,
   and all thy day be bright’:
   I looked to Jesus and I found
   in Him my star, my sun;
   and in that light of life I’ll walk
   till travelling days are done.
   

Offering

Prayer of Intercession

CH4 543 Longing for Light

1. Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
   Longing for truth, we turn to you.
   Make us your own, your holy people,
   light for the world to see.
   

   Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
   Shine through the darkness.
   Christ, be our light!
   Shine in your church gathered today.
   

2. Longing for peace, our world is troubled.
   Longing for hope, many despair.
   Your word alone has pow’r to save us.
   Make us your living voice.
   

   Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
   Shine through the darkness.
   Christ, be our light!
   Shine in your church gathered today.
   

3. Longing for food, many are hungry.
   Longing for water, many still thirst.
   Make us your bread, broken for others,
   shared until all are fed.

   Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
   Shine through the darkness.
   Christ, be our light!
   Shine in your church gathered today.
   

4. Longing for shelter, many are homeless.
   Longing for warmth, many are cold.
   Make us your building, sheltering others,
   walls made of living stone.
   

   Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
   Shine through the darkness.
   Christ, be our light!
   Shine in your church gathered today.
   

5. Many the gifts, many the people,
   many the hearts that yearn to belong.
   Let us be servants to one another,
   making your kingdom come.
   

   Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
   Shine through the darkness.
   Christ, be our light!
   Shine in your church gathered today.
   

© Bernadette Farrell

Blessing