The Sunday worship service starts at 11am. Church and grounds open on Fridays 10-12. All welcome.
Categories
Advent & Christmas Online Worship worship

25th December 2022

Christmas Day

Service led by:  Tim Bell

Organist: John Riley

Welcome and Intimations

Call to Worship

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light.
For to us a child is born
to us a Son is given.
His name will be called Wonderful counsellor, mighty God
the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
Glory to God in the highest
and peace to his people on earth.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
he has come to his people and set them free.
Light has sprung up for the righteous
and joyful gladness for those who are true-hearted.
Glory to God in the highest
and peace to his people on earth.

Lighting of the Fifth Candle   

Hymn  284  Hope is a candle         (Tune:  Galloway Tam)

Gathering and the Lord’s Prayer     Niall Martin

Hymn:    Hills of the north rejoice   Tune:  Little Cornard)

1 Hills of the North, rejoice,
river and mountain-spring,
hark to the advent voice;
valley and lowland, sing. Christ comes in righteousness and love
he brings salvation from above.

2 Isles of the Southern seas
sing to the listening earth,
carry on every breeze
hope of a world’s new birth:
In Christ shall all be made anew,
his word is sure, his promise true.

3 Lands of the East, arise,
he is your brightest morn,
greet him with joyous eyes,
praise shall his path adorn:
your seers have longed to know their Lord;
to you he comes, the final word.

4 Shores of the utmost West,
lands of the setting sun,
welcome the heavenly guest
in whom the dawn has come:
he brings a never-ending light
who triumphed o’er our darkest night.

5 Shout, as you journey home,
songs be in every mouth,
lo, from the North they come,
from East and West and South:
in Jesus all shall find their rest,
in him the universe be blest.

First Thoughts

Scripture Readings:  Reader:  Jimmy Hudson

Old Testament Reading:  Isaiah 11: 1-9  The branch of Jesse
New Testament Reading:  Luke  2:  1-20
  The birth of Jesus

Hymn 324  Angels from the realms of glory  (Tune:  Iris)

Christmas Reflections

Hymn 313 See! in yonder manger low  (Tune: Humility) 

Dedication of the Offerings

Prayers for the World

Hymn 306 O come, all ye faithful  (Tune:  Adeste Fidelis)

Benediction and Threefold Amen

Closing Voluntary

INTIMATIONS   

Sunday Services: We are grateful to Tim Bell for leading our Christmas Day service today.

Next Sunday, 1 January 2023, there will not be a service in North Leith church. You are very welcome to attend the service at Newhaven (10:30) or South Leith (11.00).
The next service at North Leith will be at 11.00 as usual on Sunday 8 January.

Christmas Appeal: The Kirk Session has chosen the Red Cross Afghanistan Crisis Appeal to benefit from our ‘away’ Christmas appeal this year.
The appeal will be open through December and into early January.
(For individual anonymous donations up to £30, tax can be claimed through the Gift Aid small donations scheme, if you are giving over £30 please use a gift aid envelope if you can.)

Categories
Advent & Christmas Online Worship worship

4th December 2022

Second Sunday in Advent

Minister: Rev. Dr. Martin Scott

Organist: Iain Mackinnon

Welcome and Intimations

Opening Responses
Arise! Shine! Your light has come
PRAISE GOD FOR THE COMING LIGHT
Get ready! Stay awake! Your hope is near
PRAISE GOD FOR THE COMING HOPE
Rejoice! Rejoice! Your joy will be complete
PRAISE GOD FOR THE COMING JOY
Be still and listen: your peace is assured
PRAISE GOD FOR THE COMING PEACE

Hymn 290  The race that long in darkness pined

Prayer of Approach and Confession [closing with]

God in heaven, your name is to be honoured
MAY YOUR NEW COMMUNITY OF HOPE
BE REALISED ON EARTH AS IN HEAVEN.
GIVE US TODAY THE ESSENTIALS OF LIFE.
RELEASE US FROM OUR WRONGDOING
AS WE ALSO RELEASE THOSE WHO WRONG US.
DO NOT TEST US BEYOND OUR MEANS;
SAVE US FROM ALL THAT IS EVIL;
FOR YOUR EMBRACING JUSTICE, LOVE AND PEACE;
NOW AND TO THE END OF TIME.   AMEN.

We light this candle for peace, promised to us by
God’s loving presence.

Lighting of the Advent Candle

God, in this Advent season we look to you for peace.  Help us as we prepare again for your coming among us.  May the light of this candle remind us of Jesus, the Prince of Peace whose kindness and compassion we seek to mirror in our lives.  Amen.

Hymn 284  (verses 1 & 2)  Hope is a candle and Peace is a candle

Scripture Readings:             
Reader: Tim Bell

Old Testament Reading:  Isaiah 11: 1-10

Hymn 334  On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry

Gospel Reading:  Luke 3: 1-9

Sermon

Hymn 291  When out of poverty is born (no copyright)

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Response:    Watch, watch and pray, Jesus will keep to his word

Hymn 286  Tell out my soul the greatness of the Lord

Benediction and Threefold Amen

Closing Voluntary – Gloria.   Johann André.  (1742-1799)

INTIMATIONS   

Sunday Services: We are pleased to welcome Rev Dr Martin Scott to conduct the service today.
Next Sunday, 11 December, Rev Ron Smith will be with us again to lead our worship.

Leith Churches Together Lunch-time service: The December service is at North Leith, in the Session House, this Thursday, 8th, at 1pm. Remember to bring your own lunch, hot drinks will be provided.

We are collecting Christmas gifts for the Citadel children and families today and on 11th December.
Welcome gifts include board games, books, craft materials, toys, toiletries (for all the family, male and female), winter pyjamas (for 3 to 12 year-olds), clothes, and treats such as selection boxes.

Christmas Appeal: The Kirk Session has chosen the Red Cross Afghanistan Crisis Appeal to benefit from our ‘away’ Christmas appeal this year.
The appeal will be open through December and into early January.
(For individual anonymous donations up to £30, tax can be claimed through the Gift Aid small donations scheme, if you are giving over £30 please use a gift aid envelope if you can.)

Church Magazine: The latest magazine is available today for distributors and others who want a paper copy.

Refugees clothing appeal: Thank you to everyone who donated warm clothes.
Pauline says she has enough for now.

Christmas Gift Service

We shall be collecting Christmas Gifts for the Citadel Youth Centre.

Presents (toys etc) should be for children of age 3 and over and toiletries for teenagers aged 13 and upwards. Leaving the present unwrapped helps to ensure the gift is best targeted to the individual young person.