New Laigh Kirk A caring welcoming church at the heart of Kilmarnock reaching out to you this Christmas
A Service of Lessons and Carols 11th December 2016 3.30pm
Sing Traditional Carols and hear the Good News of Christmas
1. Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed, where a mother laid her Baby in a manger for his bed. Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little Child.
2 He came down to earth from heaven who is God and Lord of all, And his shelter was a stable, and his cradle was a stall. With the poor and meek and lowly lived on earth our Saviour holy.
3 And our eyes at last shall see him, through his own redeeming love; for that Child so dear and helpless is our Lord in heaven above; and he leads his children on to the place where he is gone.
4 Not in that poor lowly stable, with the oxen standing by, we shall see him; but in heaven, set at God’s right hand on high, where his children gather round, bright like stars, with glory crowned.
It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old, from angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold: ‘Peace on the earth, good will to you from heaven’s all-gracious King!’ The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.
But with the woes of sin and strife the world has suffered long; beneath the angels’ hymn have rolled two thousand years of wrong; and warring humankind hears not the love-song which they bring; oh, hush the noise and still the strife to hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come, with peaceful wings unfurled: and still their heavenly music floats o’er all the weary world; above its sad and lowly plains they bend on hovering wing, and ever o’er its Babel-sounds the blessèd angels sing.
And you, beneath life’s crushing load whose forms are bending low, who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow, look now! for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing; oh, rest beside the weary road, and hear the angels sing.
For lo! the days are hastening on, by prophet bards foretold, when, with the ever-rolling years, still dawns the Age of Gold, when peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendours fling, and all the world give back the song which now the angels sing.
1 On Christmas night all Christians sing, to hear the news the angels bring, on Christmas night all Christians sing, to hear the news the angels bring, news of great joy, news of great mirth, news of our merciful King's birth. 2 Then why should we on earth be so sad, since our Redeemer made us glad, then why should we on earth be so sad, since our Redeemer made us glad, when from our sin he set us free, all for to gain our liberty? 3 When sin departs before his grace, then life and health come in its place; when sin departs before his grace, then life and health come in its place; heaven and earth with joy may sing, all for to see the new-born King. 4 All out of darkness we have light, which made the angels sing this night: all out of darkness we have light, which made the angels sing this night; 'Glory to God, on earth be peace, goodwill to all shall never cease.'
Order of Welcome and Introduction Call to Worship Congregation: Once in Royal David’s city Prayer and Lord’s Prayer 1st Lesson - Genesis 1:1-5,14-18 God said, Let there be light
John McDowall
Congregation: It came upon the midnight clear 2nd Lesson - Genesis 22:15-18 God promises to Abraham that in his seed shall the nations of the earth be blessed
Niamh Craig Grange Academy
New Laigh Kirk Choir Bethlehem Follow the Star 3rd Lesson - Isaiah 9: 2,6,7 Robert Clark Christ’s birth and kingdom are foretold by Isaiah Congregation: On Christmas night all Christians sing 4th Lesson - Micah 5: 2-4 The prophet Micah foretells the glory of little Bethlehem Grange Academy Choir Christmas Lullaby Walking in the Air
Alexander Garfitt Grange Academy
f Service 5th Lesson - St Luke 1: 26-35, 38 Allan Kidd The angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary Congregation: Calypso Carol 6th Lesson - St Matthew 1: 18-23 St Matthew tells of the birth of Jesus
Esther Douglas
New Laigh Kirk Choir Christmastime 7th Lesson - St Luke 2: 8-16 The shepherds go to the manger
Robert Johnston Head Teacher Grange Academy Congregation: God rest ye merry gentlemen 8th Lesson - St Matthew 2:1-11 The wise men are led by the star to Jesus
Jean Munro
Grange Academy Choir Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
9th Lesson - St John 1: 1-14 Margaret Patterson St John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation Congregation: Still the night Prayer Congregation: Hark the herald angels sing Benediction
Calypso Carol 1 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 appear to men: just as poor as was the stable then, the Prince of glory when he came.
2 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
3 Angels, sing the song that you began, bring God's glory to the heart of man; Sing that Bethl'em's little baby can be salvation to the soul. Chorus
4 Mine are riches, from your poverty, from your innocence, eternity; mine, forgiveness by your death for me, child of sorrow for my joy. Chorus
1 Still the night, holy the night! Sleeps the world; hid from sight, Mary and Joseph in stable bare Watch o'er the Child beloved and fair, Sleeping in heavenly rest, Sleeping in heavenly rest.
2 Still the night, holy the night! Shepherds first saw the light, Heard resounding clear and long, Far and near, the angel-song, 'Christ the Redeemer is here! Christ the Redeemer is here!'
3 Still the night, holy the night! Son of God, O how bright Love is smiling from thy face! Strikes for us now the hour of grace, Saviour, since thou art born! Saviour, since thou art born!
1 GOD rest you merry, gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay, For Jesus Christ our Saviour Was born upon this day, To save us all from Satan’s power When we were gone astray: O tidings of comfort and joy.
3 The shepherds at those tidings Rejoicèd much in mind, And left their flocks a-feeding In tempest, storm, and wind, And went to Bethlehem straightway This blessèd Babe to find: O tidings of comfort and joy.
2 From God our heavenly Father A blessèd angel came, And unto certain shepherds Brought tidings of the same, How that in Bethlehem was born: The Son of God by name: O tidings of comfort and joy.
4 But when to Bethlehem they came, Whereat this infant lay, They found him in a manger, Where oxen feed on hay; His mother Mary kneeling Unto the Lord did pray: O tidings of comfort and joy.
5 Now to the Lord sing praises, All you within this place, And with true love and brotherhood Each other now embrace; This holy tide of Christmas All others doth deface: O tidings of comfort and joy.
1.
HARK! the herald angels sing, ‘Glory to the new-born 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’. Hark! the herald angels sing, ‘Glory to the new-born King’. 3.
2.
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 Godhead see; Hail, the incarnate Deity, Pleased as Man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel! Hark! the herald angels sing, ‘Glory to the new-born 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 new-born King’.
Advent and Christmas Services Christmas Nativity Service is on Sunday, 18th December beginning at 11.00am. Led by Kingz Kidz and Trekkers. Christmas Christingle is on Sunday, 18th December. Come for 6.30pm to make your Christingle Candle for the service beginning at 7.00pm. The service concludes with singing carols of your choice sitting around the Christmas tree. Christmas Eve Christmas Carol Singing begins at 11.00pm leading into our Watchnight Service beginning at 11.30pm. Enjoy tea or coffee or mulled wine, mince pies and Christmas cake served immediately after the service as you wish family and friends of New Laigh Kirk ‘Merry Christmas’. Worship on Christmas Day will begin at 11.00am. Children please bring your toys to show us. Come and begin your Christmas Day celebration with worship.