Mexborough Baptist Church Friday 25th December 2020
Christmas Day
Advent is over, the waiting has come to an end. The turkey is in the oven, veg prepped, table set, presents unwrapped and Jesus has been born. Time to sit down with a nice cuppa and a mince pie, take a breather and celebrate the joy and wonder of this most special day as we light the Christ Candle click on the link
Christ our Saviour is born and we sing 'O Come All Ye Faithful' click on the link
Here's a song for Jesus' birthday - 'Oh What A Special Night' click on the link
We invited our children to share their own prayers with us for Christmas Day...
Oscar - We pray for everyone at Christmas, we look to the holy star and it's so bright, merry Christmas. Amen
Lilly - We love Christmas and love seeing the stars at night. If you look closer you see a unicorn pushing the star closer to us then we can touch it and have a lovely Christmas. Amen.
Oliver - Hope everyone has a lovely Christmas. Hope everyone gets a little something this year as it's been so hard. Hope Santa gives everyone joy. Amen
Hannah sends a kiss. Amen
Elsie - Dear Lord, I wish that everybody takes care of all the people that have covid 19, are isolating, on the streets or in orphanages. It really would mean something to me, and I really would care. Amen
A favourite children's carol is 'Away in a Manger' which is a lovely prayer; we sing along with the Cedarmont Kids click on the link
Thank you to Lisa for these lovely pictures of our children and families enjoying Advent.
We have Christmas greetings from the Yorkshire Baptist Association team click on the link
Bible reading - Luke 2:1-14 click on the link
We sing together 'While shepherds watched' click on the link
In the children's Advent activity bags last Sunday were the materials to make a star. Elsie and her friend enjoyed making theirs...
Bible reading - Matthew 2:1-12 click on the link
We sing together "We Three Kings of Orient Are" click on the link
Christmas Quiz (answers on Sunday)
1. According to the Bible, did baby Jesus cry?
2. What city was Jesus born in?
3. What is the total number of gifts in the song The Twelve Days of Christmas?
4. Traditionally, what time is the Queen's Speech?
5 . What colour was Santa's coat before Coca-Cola rebranded him in red?
6. What were the three gifts that the Wise Men brought to Jesus?
7. According to the Bible, how many Wise Men came to visit Jesus?
8. According to the Bible, what animals were present at Jesus' birth?
9. How many letters are there in the angelic alphabet?
10. What's the second line of 'I'm dreaming of a white Christmas'?
11. What is Scrooge’s first name?
12. Complete the lyrics: On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me…
13. In which city does Miracle on 34th Street take place?
14. What date is epiphany?
15. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?
16. Who stole Christmas?
17. How many points does a snowflake have?
18. What colour are the berries on mistletoe?
19. What fruit do you need to make a Christingle?
20. What is traditionally hidden in a Christmas pudding?
21. What does the word ‘advent’ mean?
22. Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light – name the carol this is from.
23. Santa Claus is also known as Saint …?
24. In Elf, how does Buddy answer the phone?
25. When are the 12 days of Christmas traditionally celebrated?
a) December 14-25 b) December 13-24
c) December 25 – January 5 d) December 20-31
26. Which country banned Christmas in 1644?
27. In what year was the Christmas card invented?
a) 1834 b) 1852 c) 1901
28. Name the Christmas-themed ballet that premiered in Russia in 1892?
29. Stollen is a cake with fruit and marzipan, traditionally eaten at Christmas and originating from which country?
30. What is a female turkey called?
31. What year did Boney M record 'Mary's Boy Child'? Here it is click on the link https://youtu.be/8amHW-xdbzE
Through Advent, Paul and I have been reading together one of his favourite books - 'The Christmas Mystery' by Jostein Gaarder. It's about a little girl who runs after a lamb and ends up running from 20th century Norway all through Europe and the Middle East and down through 20 centuries to Bethlehem on the night of Jesus' birth, gathering a procession of sheep, shepherds, angels, wise men, and Romans on the way. As I'm writing this, we still have one more day to read and find out the solution to the mystery. But I'm not going to tell you what it is! Maybe you would like to read it for yourselves next Advent.
We began Advent by thinking about the 'essential travel' of various people from different places to Bethlehem. Now they've all arrived and there is a wonderful moment when glorious angels, poor shepherds, rich intellectuals and, maybe, furry animals all worship the baby Jesus - God in a body, Immanuel, God with us. And we are all together there too, represented in church by the tree with all our names on it, as we imagine the scene, hear or read the story, sing the familiar carols, and learn something of the huge, world-changing significance of it.
Then the journeys begin again - angels back to heaven, Wise Men back to their own country, Mary, Joseph and Jesus into Egypt, Jesus into the journey of growing up and discovering his purpose in life. We begin our journeys too - into a new year, back to school, back to work, back to our usual routines, but we can go, not just with the promise of immanuel, God with us, but also with the knowledge that he is right there with us, whoever we are, wherever we are and whatever we're doing.
One of my favourite carols is 'Hark the herald angels sing' click on the link
Merys leads us in a prayer...
Dear loving God, thank you for the blessing of this wonderful morning. We awake and are filled with joy that You are with us Immanuel. We have known your presence throughout the difficult year we have been through. Nothing could have prepared us for the challenges we have faced. Yet You have given us at the same time a period of reflection which we have found enriching. We have been comforted by the care and support of our congregation. We know that our prayers for one another and our love and support for Your people will have given You joy too. We continue to hold each other in prayer as we face the uncertainty of the coming year and know that as always You are with us.
When You came down from heaven to live amongst us You closed the breach that had existed between us. We know that the separation between Your Holy self and us sinners caused You sorrow and so on Christmas Day we see Your joy also. Living amongst us in human form, Jesus has brought us closer to you and in dying for our sins has given us the hope of being reunited with You as it was in the beginning.
As we move forward into uncertain and troubling times let the warmth of Your love and trust in Your power and wisdom strengthen our step and soften our hearts to one another. Your love is around us, before us, behind us, by our side and in our hearts and all because You sent Your precious and only son to live amongst us, Immanuel.
Thank you for Your gift of love to us and all who want it. Today your people in Mexborough and Maltby Baptist Churches and our wider church family join with all Christians around the world to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ our saviour and we are glad of it. Immanuel, God with us. Amen
Our closing carol is 'Joy Unto The World' click on the link
Benediction
Let us go from this place proclaiming that we have seen the glory of God, believing that there is a light that shines in the darkness which the darkness shall not overcome. And may the love of the Creator, the joy of the Spirit and the peace of the Christ-child be with you this Christmas, and evermore. Amen.
Christmas blessing by Cara Heafey
We leave you with a last look at our Family Christmas Tree, Nativity and Advent candles candles click on the link
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