CHRISTMAS SERVICE

I love to tell the story of Christ the new-born King

Sleeping in a manger while hosts of heaven sing;

Of shepherds on the hillside rejoicing in the song,

This day is born a Saviour we’ve waited for so long

I love to tell the story of Jesus and His glory,

Proclaim the wondrous story of God’s great gift of love.

I love to tell the story of Christ the new-born King,

Of how He came from heaven His gift of love to bring;

So we could be His children and evermore proclaim

The wonders of His glory and power of His name.

Prayer

Reading: Marie Gillespie

Luke          1:26 -38     An angel speaks to Mary

Children singing: Silent Night

Ohp           C  is for the Christ Child; Gospel Bells

Reading: Bill Simpson

Luke          1:46 -55     Mary’s response

Marjory Barton    Solo

Reading: Margaret Ewing

Matthew    1:18 -25     An angel speaks to Joseph

368                   O Little Town of Bethlehem

Reading: Winnie Somerville

Luke          2:1-7 The birth of Jesus

363                   Joy to the World

Reading: Thomas Vose

Luke          2:8-20 An angel speaks to Shepherds

  Net Shannon        Solo

Reading: Rena Cairney

Matthew    2:1-8 The Magi seek Jesus

Notices & Offering

Rev Tom Elsby       Solo

367           O Come all you faithful

Margaret Millar   

Matthew    2:9-15    An angel again speaks to Joseph

  Christmas Message

Angel is a transliteration of the Greek word, angelos which means "a messenger". In scripture it is used of any agent sent by God to carry out His purposes.

  It is used of an ordinary messenger,eg John the Baptist.                                      Luke 7:27 This is the one about whom it is written “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.”

  Of the disciples Luke 9:51 -52

 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem . And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him;

The Incarnation of the Son of God introduces a new era in the ministrations of angels. They come with their Lord to earth to do Him service while He is here.

They predict his advent;-

(Matt 1:20 ; But after Joseph had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet:

Luke 1:26-30; In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.

They ministered to Jesus after his temptation.

Matt 4:11 ; “Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.”

Luke 22:43 They attended Jesus at His Crucifixion.

“An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.”

They declared his resurrection and ascension 

(Matt 28:2-8; John 20:12 ,13; Acts 1:10 ,11).

Luke 15:10 They rejoice over one penitent sinner .

The revelations of Scripture concerning angels are very valuable:

1. They furnish a necessary safeguard against narrowness of thought as to the extent and variety of the creations of God.

2. They help us to acquire the proper conception of Christ, who is above the angels and whom the worship.

3. They make that unseen world to which we are hastening seem wonderfully attractive.

 4. They set before us an example of the perfect fulfilment of God's will. “Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven,” i.e., by the angels.

5. They put to shame our indifference to the great work of conversion. “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents”.(Luke 15:10 ).

 We may not fit the world's idea of an angel but God calls each one who names the name of the Lord Jesus to be His messenger carrying Good News to a needy world and our needy neighbours.