Christmas Day

Eucharist

St Stephen’s Church

Tuesday 25th December 2018

10.00am

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Welcome to St Stephen’s Church on this Christmas Day.

The Vicar the Revd Canon Bernhard Schunemann will be preaching and

presiding at this service assisted by our Reader Mrs Trot Lavelle.

The music for the service is sung by our Choir, conducted by our Director of

Music, Mr Rupert Perkins.

The artwork for this order of service has been supplied by Elo Allik-

Schunemann

At St Stephen’s those who are confirmed or regular communicants in their

own church are welcome to receive Holy Communion. If you wish to receive

a blessing, please bow your head when getting to the front.

Gluten-free communion wafers and alcohol-free wine are available. If you

wish to receive either, please pick-up one of the small cards from the sides

people at the back of Church and hold this in your hand when you receive

Communion.

And the word became flesh

and lived among us,

and we have seen his glory,

the glory of a father’s only son,

full of grace and truth.

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We stand to sing the processional carol

The first Nowell the angel did say

Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;

In fields where they lay, keeping their sheep,

On a cold winter’s night that was so deep:

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,

Born is the King of Israel.

They looked up and saw a star,

Shining in the east, beyond them far;

And to the earth it gave great light,

And so it continued both day and night:

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And by the light of that same star,

Three Wise Men came from country far;

To seek for a king was their intent,

And to follow the star wheresoever it went:

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This star drew nigh to the north-west;

O'er Bethlehem it took its rest,

And there it did both stop and stay

Right over the place where Jesus lay:

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Then entered in those Wise Men three,

Fell reverently upon their knee,

And offered there in his presence

Both gold and myrrh and frankincense:

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Then let us all with one accord

Sing praises to our heavenly Lord,

That hath made heaven and earth of naught,

And with his blood mankind hath bought:

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In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

The Lord be with you

and also with you.

Prayer of Preparation

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,

that we may perfectly love you,

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Prayer of Penitence

Christ the Light of the world has come

to dispel the darkness of our hearts.

In his light let us examine ourselves and confess our sins.

Silence is kept

Father God, we are sorry for the things we do and say and

think which make you sad, and for not thinking of others

before ourselves. Please forgive us, and help us to love you

and other people more and more.

Amen.

The priest prays the prayer of absolution

God who loved the world so much that he sent his Son to be our

Saviour forgive you your sins and make you holy to serve him in the

world, through Jesus Christ our Lord

Amen.

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Gloria in Excelsis

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The Collect

Let us pray in the peace of this Christmas celebration that our joy in

the birth of Christ will last for ever.

Silence is kept.

Almighty God, you have given us your only-begotten Son

to take our nature upon him

and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin:

grant that we, who have been born again

and made your children by adoption and grace,

may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

We sit for

The Reading: The letter of St Paul to Titus 2,11-14

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

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We stand to sing the Gradual carol

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.

O morning stars, together

Proclaim the holy birth

And praises sing to God the King,

And peace to men on earth;

For Christ is born of Mary;

And gathered all above,

While mortals sleep, the angels keep

Their watch of wondering love.

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. 100 CfC p. 234

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The Gospel Reading: Luke 2: 1-20

The Choir introduces the Alleluia and it is repeated by all

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

The Choir sing the following sentence

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,

and we have seen his glory.

All repeat the Alleluia

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Gospel Reading

We sit for

The Sermon

We stand to say

The Creed

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

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the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father;

through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,

was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary

and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures;

he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,

the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,

who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

We sit or kneel for

The Prayers of Intercession

The following response is used

Hark, the herald-angels sing

Glory to the new-born King.

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And at the end

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

We stand for

The Peace

Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given,

and his name shall be called the Prince of Peace.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

and also with you.

All may exchange a sign of peace

Offertory Carol. During the singing of this carol a collection is taken to

support the work of St Stephen's. Please use the blue envelopes provided

or use our digital giving option: Text SSSD01 £2/£5/£10 to 70070 to

donate to St Stephen's South Dulwich. Using the blue envelope will gift aid

your donation, making it worth 25% more to St Stephen’s. It is also

possible to gift-aid your digital donation, a text message will be sent to your

phone.

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;

O come, let us adore him,

O come, let us adore him,

O come, let us adore him,

Christ the Lord.

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God of God, Light of Light,

Lo! he abhors not the Virgin’s womb;

Very God, begotten not created;

O come, let us adore him,

O come, let us adore him,

O come, let us adore him,

Christ the Lord.

See how the shepherds, summoned to his cradle,

leaving their flocks, draw nigh with lowly fear;

we too will thither bend our joyful footsteps;

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Lo! Star-led chieftains, magi, Christ adoring

Offer him incense, gold and myrrh;

We to the Christchild bring our heart’s oblations:

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Child, for us sinners poor and in the manger,

fain we embrace thee, with awe and love;

who would not love thee, loving us so dearly?

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Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,

sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;

glory to God, glory in the highest;

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Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;

Jesus, to thee be glory given;

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;

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The Eucharistic Prayer

The priest continues the Eucharistic Prayer, celebrating the work of God in

Christ…

The priest continues the Eucharistic Prayer, celebrating the work of God in

Christ…

The Choir sing the Sanctus and Benedictus from John Ireland’s Communion

Service in C

We kneel or sit, as the Priest recalls Jesus’ institution of the Eucharist…

Christ is the bread of life:

When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your

death, Lord Jesus, until you come in glory.

The priest recalls the work of Christ, and prays for the gift of the Holy Spirit

to work in the life and mission of the Church…

by whom, with whom, and in whom,

with all who stand before you in earth and heaven,

we worship you, Father almighty, in songs of everlasting praise:

Blessing and honour and glory and power

be yours for ever and ever.

Amen.

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The 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.

We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.

Though we are many, we are one body,

because we all share in one bread.

The Choir sing the Agnus Dei from John Ireland’s Communion Service in C

God’s holy gifts for God’s holy people.

Jesus Christ is holy, Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the Glory of God the Father.

At St Stephen’s those who are confirmed or regular communicants in their

own church are welcome to receive Holy Communion. If you wish to receive

a blessing, please bow your head when getting to the front.

Gluten-free communion wafers and alcohol-free wine are available. If you

wish to receive either, please pick-up one of the small cards from the sides

people at the back of Church and hold this in your hand when you receive

Communion.

During communion the Choir sing Thomas Hewitt-Jones: What child is this?

and John Rutter: I wonder as I wander.

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Prayer after Communion

Father of all, we give you thanks and praise,

that when we were still far off

you met us in your Son and brought us home.

Dying and living, he declared your love,

gave us grace and opened the gate of glory.

May we who share Christ’s body live his risen life;

we who drink his cup bring life to others;

we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world.

Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us,

so we and all your children shall be free,

and the whole earth live to praise your name;

through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

We sit for the notices and then stand for the Blessing

May the Father,

who has loved the eternal Son

from before the foundation of the world,

shed that love upon you his children.

Amen.

May Christ,

who by his incarnation gathered into one

things earthly and heavenly,

fill you with joy and peace.

Amen.

May the Holy Spirit,

by whose overshadowing Mary became the God-bearer,

give you grace to carry the good news of Christ.

Amen.

And the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always.

Amen.

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Recessional Carol

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.

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 Emmanuel. Hark…

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 Dismissal

Go in the peace of Christ.

Thanks be to God.

Organ Voluntary: Toccata in F from Symphony no 5 by Charles-Marie Widor

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The Vicar, Reader and Churchwardens of St Stephen’s would like to

wish all our parishioners and visitors a blessed and peaceful Christmas!

To be kept up to date with all services and events at St Stephen’s, visit our

website on: http://www.ststephensdulwich.org/

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