Gathering

Welcome

Gathering Song              “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing”            # 270

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born king;
peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.”
Joyful, all you nations, rise; join the triumph of the skies;
with angelic hosts proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born king!”

Christ, by highest heav’n adored, Christ, the ever-lasting Lord,
late in time behold him come, offspring of the virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see! Hail, the incarnate deity!
Pleased as man with us to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel!

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born king!”

Hail the heav’n-born Prince of peace!

Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings, ris’n with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by, born that we no more may die,
born to raise each child of earth, born to give us second birth.

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born king!”

Dialogue for the New Year

For everything there is a season:

And a time for every matter under heaven:

A time to be born and a time to die.

A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted.

A time to break down, and a time to build up.

A time to weep and a time to laugh.

A time to keep and a time to throw away.

A time to be silent and a time to speak.

A time to love and a time to hate.

A time for war and a time for peace.

God has made everything suitable for its time.

God has put a sense of past and future into our minds.

God has done this, so that all should stand in awe before him.

Whatever God does endures forever.

Hymn of Praise   Angels We Have Heard on High     (# 289)

  1. Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains,

And the mountains in reply, echoing their joyous strains:

Refrain:           Glo ———– ria, in excelsis Deo;

Glo ———– ria, in excelsis Deo.

  • Shepherds, why this jubilee?  Why your joyous strains prolong?

What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heav’nly song? 

  • Come to Bethlehem and see him whose birth the angels sing;

Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn king.    Refrain

Prayer of the Day

P:        Let us pray, …

Word

First Reading

L:       A reading from Revelation, the 21st chapter.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

‘See, the home of God is among mortals.
He will dwell with them;
they will be his peoples,
and God himself will be with them;
4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,

for the first things have passed away.’

5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ 6Then he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.

            The Word of the Lord.

            Thanks be to God.

Gospel

P:                    The holy gospel according to John, the 1st chapter.

                        Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. 7So he said to the gardener, “See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?” 8He replied, “Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig round it and put manure on it. 9If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.” ’

            The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Hymn of the Day         “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”             # 265

  1.  O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
    our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home:
  • Before the hills in order stood or earth received its frame,
    from everlasting you are God, to endless years the same.
  • Time, like an ever-rolling stream, bears all our years away;
    they fly forgotten, as a dream dies at the op’ning day.
  • O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
    still be our guard while troubles last and our eternal home.

Creed

P:        We are made God’s people through our baptism into Christ.  Living     together in trust and hope, let us confess our faith:

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of the Father;

he will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.  Amen

Prayers

let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, have mercy.

P:        O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown.  Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

Sharing of the Peace

Meal

Offertory             Here Is Bread”  (verse 1 only)

Here is bread, here is wine,

Christ is with us, always with us.

Break the bread, taste the wine,

Christ is with us here.

In this bread there is healing, In this cup is life forever.

In this moment, by the Spirit, Christ is with us here.

Offertory Prayer

A:     God of all creation, all you have made is good, and your love endures forever.  You bring forth bread from the earth and fruit from the vine.  Nourish us with these gifts, that we might be for the world, signs of your gracious presence, in Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord.  Amen

The Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Eucharistic Prayer

O God most high, O God most merciful, O God our rock and our salvation:

Hear us as we pray.  Call us to your table.  Grant us your life.

When the world was a formless void, you formed order and beauty.  When Abraham and Sarah were barren, you sent them a child giving them hope for eternal life.  When the Israelites were enslaved, you led them to freedom.  Ruth faced starvation, David fought with Goliath, and the psalmists cried out for healing, and full of compassion, you granted your people your life.

You entered our sorrows in Jesus, our brother.  He was born among the poor, lived under oppression, wept over the city, and with infinite love, granted the people your life.

A plate of bread in each home may be lifted up.

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and broke it saying: This is my body given for you.  Do this for the remembrance of me.

A cup of wine in each home may be lifted up.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.  Do this for the remembrance of me.

O God, you are Breath: Send your Spirit on this meal.

O God, you are Bread: Feed us.

O God, you are Wine: Warm our hearts and make us one.

O God, you are Fire: Transform us.

O God most majestic, O God most motherly, O God our strength and our song, you show us a vision of a tree of life with fruits for all and leaves that heal the nations.  Grant us such life, the life of the Father to the Son, the life of the Spirit of our risen Saviour, life in you, now and forever.  Amen

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 and the power and the glory, forever and ever.  Amen

Distribution

If you are in a group, you may serve one another.  If you are alone, you may serve yourself.  All use these or similar words:

The body of Christ, given for you.

The blood of Christ, shed for you.

Blessing

P:      May the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen, keep, and unite us now and forever.  Amen

Sending

Announcements may be made.

Benediction                                                     

Sending Hymn         Greet Now the Swiftly Changing Year        [Tune: # 714]                

  1. Greet new the swiftly changing year

With joy and penitence sincere.

Rejoice! Rejoice! With thanks embrace

Another year of grace.

  • Remember now the Son of God

And how he shed his precious blood.

Rejoice! Rejoice! With thanks embrace

Another year of grace.

  • His love abundant far exceeds

The volume of a whole year’s needs.

Rejoice! Rejoice! With thanks embrace

Another year of grace.

  • “All glory be to God on high,

And peace on earth!” the angels cry.

Rejoice! Rejoice! With thanks embrace

Another year of grace.

Dismissal

A:        Christ is with you. 

Embrace the New Year with joy to the world!

Thanks be to God!