Welcome
By Rev Pete Dibdin, Horsham Churches Together Development Co-Ordinator & Minister at LIFE Community Baptist Church, Horsham
O Come All Ye Faithful
O come all ye faithful,
joyful and triumphant
O come ye O come ye,
to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him,
born the King of angels;
Chorus
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
God of God,
Light from Light Eternal,
lo, he abhors not the virgin’s womb;
Son of the Father,
begotten not created;
Chorus
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
Sing choirs of angels,
sing in exultation;
sing all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, glory in the highest;
Chorus
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
Words John Francis Wade, tr C. Frederick Oakeley © Public Domain
Luke 2:1-7 (Jesus’ Birth)
Read by Ali Chadwick, Debt Centre Manager at Christians Against Poverty at Lifespring Church, Horsham. If you’re struggling with debt, please visit the CAP Debt Service, or if you’d like help with budgeting skills, sign up for a CAP Money Coaching course.
O Little Town of Bethlehem
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.
For Christ is born of Mary,
and gathered all above
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars together,
proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the King,
And peace to all on earth!
How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is given;
so God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him,
still the dear Christ enters in.
O holy Child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin, and enter in,
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
our Lord Emmanuel.
Phillips Brooks © Public Domain
Luke 2:8-20 (The Shepherds)
Read by Lieutenant Rachel Abbott, Horsham Salvation Army. If you’re like to Be A Star and give a gift to children and families this Christmas, please visit the Horsham Salvation Army website.
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
all seated on the ground;
the angel of the Lord came down,
and glory shone around.
“Fear not!” said he, for mighty dread
had seized their troubled mind.
“Glad tidings of great joy I bring
to you and all mankind.”
“To you, in David’s town, this day
is born of David’s line
a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord,
and this shall be the sign:
The heavenly babe you there shall find
to human view displayed,
all meanly wrapped in swaddling bands
and in a manger laid.”
Thus spake the seraph and forthwith
appeared a shining throng
of angels praising God, who thus
addressed their joyful song:
“All glory be to God on high,
and on the earth be peace;
goodwill hence forth from heaven to earth
begin and never cease!”
Nahum Tate © Public Domain
Matthew 2:1-11 (The Magi)
Read by Dani Fray, Chaplain at YMCA DownsLink Group in Horsham. For more information about the work of the YMCA and how you can support children and young people on their way out of homelessness, please visit the Horsham YMCA website.
See Him Lying on a Bed of Straw
See Him lying on a bed of straw,
a draughty stable with an open door.
Mary cradling the babe she bore,
the Prince of glory is His name.
Chorus
O now carry me to Bethlehem,
to see the Lord of love again!
Just as poor as was the stable then,
the Prince of glory when He came.
Star of silver sweep across the skies,
show where Jesus in the manger lies.
Shepherds swiftly from your stupor rise,
To see the Saviour of the world.
Chorus
O now carry me to Bethlehem,
to see the Lord of love again!
Just as poor as was the stable then,
the Prince of glory when He came.
Angels sing again the song you sang,
sing the glory of God’s gracious plan.
Sing that Bethl’em’s little baby can,
be the Saviour of us all.
Chorus
O now carry me to Bethlehem,
to see the Lord of love again!
Just as poor as was the stable then,
the Prince of glory when He came.
Mine are riches from Your poverty,
from Your innocence eternity.
Mine forgiveness by Your death for me,
Child of sorrow for my joy.
© Words: 1965 Michael Perry – The Jubilate Group. CCLI Licence 266599
Talk
By Rev Tim Stilwell, Vicar at St Mark’s, Holbrook
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 men their songs employ;
while fields and floods,
rocks, hills and plains,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
He rules the world 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.
Isaac Watts © Public Domain
Prayer
By Rev Michael Hogg, Leader of Community Evangelism at Brighton Road Baptist Church, Horsham
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 hosts proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
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 the Virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see;
hail the incarnate Deity,
pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”
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 man no more may die,
born to raise the sons of earth,
born to give them second birth.
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Charles Wesley © Public Domain
Blessing
Clive Urquhart, Horsham Churches Together Moderator & Senior Pastor at Kingdom Faith Church, Horsham
What’s On at Christmas
There’s so much happening in our churches at Christmas, we’ve created What’s on at Christmas – your guide to Christmas services and festive events in Horsham District. Explore the guide, add the dates to your calendar, and enjoy this Christmas period with Horsham Churches Together.
The MESSage of Christmas
Christmas has a way of getting messy, doesn’t it? Wrapping paper everywhere, crowded kitchens, the lot. And the very first Christmas wasn’t any tidier. Mary and Joseph found themselves in a makeshift space, surrounded by animals, welcoming Jesus into the middle of it all. The heart of the story isn’t the mess itself, though. It’s the one who stepped into it. When ‘Mess’ becomes ‘Messiah’, everything changes.
Watch this Spoken Word video from the Bible Society reflecting on that simple but life-giving truth. We hope it speaks into whatever this season looks like for you.