New year

WELCOME TO AMESBURY METHODIST

CHURCH

Today’s service will be

projected

Like a present newly opened before us

You give us new year to start and enjoy

Like a freshly opened book, with a clean ,blank page

You give us another opportunity to begin again.

Like a new-born child

wrapped against the cold

You will protect us while we learn and grow

We welcome this new year

We know that you will be in it and we are safe in your hands.

Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided,urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way,

sought us and saved us, pardoned and provided:Lord for the years, we bring our thanks today.

Lord, for that word, the word of life which fires us,speaks to our hearts and sets our souls ablaze,

teaches and trains, rebukes us and inspires us:Lord of the word, receive your people's praise.

Lord, for our land in this our generation,spirits oppressed by pleasure, wealth and care:

for young and old, for commonwealth and nation,Lord of our land, be pleased to hear our prayer.

Lord, for our world where men disown and doubt you,loveless in strength, and comfortless in pain,

hungry and helpless, lost indeed without you:Lord of the world, we pray that Christ may reign.

Lord for ourselves; in living power remake us-self on the cross, and Christ upon the throne,

past put behind us, for the future take us:Lord of our lives, to live for Christ alone.

ReadingMatthew 2:1-16

As with gladness, men of oldDid the guiding star beholdAs with joy they hailed its light

Leading onward, beaming brightSo, most glorious Lord, may weEvermore be led to Thee.

As with joyful steps they spedTo that lowly manger bedThere to bend the knee before

Him Whom Heaven and earth adore;So may we with willing feetEver seek Thy mercy seat.

As they offered gifts most rareAt that manger rude and bare;So may we with holy joy,

Pure and free from sin’s alloy,All our costliest treasures bring,Christ, to Thee, our heavenly King.

Holy Jesus, every dayKeep us in the narrow way;And, when earthly things are past,

Bring our ransomed souls at lastWhere they need no star to guide,Where no clouds Thy glory hide.

In the heavenly country bright,Need they no created light;Thou its Light, its Joy, its Crown,

Thou its Sun which goes not down;There forever may we singAlleluias to our King!

ReadingLuke 2: 21-38

Sermon

We astronomers learned are,Bearing gifts we traverse afarField and fountain, moor and mountainFollowing yonder star

O Star of wonder, star of nightStar with royal beauty brightWestward leading, still proceeding

Guide us to thy perfect light.

Born a King on Bethlehem's plainGold I bring to crown Him againKing forever, ceasing neverOver us all to reign



Frankincense to offer have IIncense owns a Deity nighPrayer and praising, all men raising,

Worship Him, God most high



Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfumeBreathes of life of gathering gloomSorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying

Sealed in the stone cold tomb.



Glorious now behold Him ariseKing and God and SacrificeAlleluia, Alleluia

Earth to heav'n replies



The home of God is among us.We are glad God is here.

Let us give God thanks and praise.We are thankful for our lives and praise God for blessings towards us

We are grateful to you, O God, Creator of a new heaven and a new earth, and of gifts yet to come, more than we can ever imagine.

You make all things new.

Wise men seeking Jesus,Travelled from afar,Guided on their journeyBy a beauteous star.

But if we desire Him,He is close at hand;For our native countryIs our Holy Land.

Prayerful souls may find HimBy our quiet lakes,Meet Him on our hillsidesWhen the morning breaks.

In our fertile cornfieldsWhile the sheaves are bound,In our busy marketsJesus may be found.

He is more than near us,If we love Him well;For He seeketh everIn our hearts to dwell.

Please use this time to pray

Spiritual

New year