Morning Worship
Sunday 21st December 2014 at 11.00am
What is a Christingle and what does it teach us?
Introduction
Have you ever invented anything?
About two hundred years ago a priest or minister in a Christian church called the
Moravian church sat down and invented something very special. He invented a
‘Christingle’. He did it to try and teach the children in his church about God in a way
that was fun. He also wanted to give them a little decoration to keep in their homes
over Christmas to remind them about God. He must have been amazed when his
idea became so popular that churches all over the world started to make Christingles.
Two hundred years later churches are still making Christingles!
But what is a Christingle? And how can it teach us stuﬀ about God?
A Christingle is made of an orange.
The orange reminds us of the world and that God made the world and everything in it.
Stuck into the orange there are four cocktail sticks.
These remind us that God sends us the 4 seasons of autumn, winter, spring and
summer.
On the four sticks there are little sweets or dried fruit.
These remind us that God gives us all that we have. God provides us with food and
clothes and homes and friends and families and lots more.
Wrapped around the orange is a red ribbon.
It’s as if the ribbon is giving the orange a big ‘hug’.
That’s because the red ribbon reminds us that God loves us. But how does a red
ribbon remind us of God’s love? How did God show us that He loves us?
The red ribbon reminds us that Jesus died on the cross to take the blame for all the
wrong things we have done. It reminds us that if we ‘repent’ (Are willing to turn away
from all we know to be wrong) and ‘trust’ that Jesus died on the cross for our sin then
God will forgive us completely and God will become our best friend- our perfect
heavenly Father.
The last part of the Christingle is a candle.
When we light the candle it shines brightly.
It reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world. That means that through the light of
His teaching, Jesus exposes the wrong things in our lives. But it also reminds us that
Jesus came into the world to replace the darkness of hatred, jealousy, unkindness
and death with the light of love, forgiveness, kindness and life forever. Jesus also said
‘let your light shine brightly’. That means that when we love Jesus, when He is our
best friend, He helps us to swap the not so nice things in our lives with good things.
We hope you enjoy our Christingle service and we hope as you look at it in your home
over Christmas it will remind you of the gospel- the good news about how much
Jesus loves us and how much He can change us for the better when we trust and
follow Him.
Call to Worship
Lighting of Candles
Advent Candle Readings
Voice 1 - Jesus said, “I am the light of the world;
the one who follows me will not walk in darkness but have the light of life.”
We light these candles as a sign of the coming light of Christ.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness,
on them light has shined.
Light 1st Candle
Voice 2 - I will lead the blind
by a road they do not know,
by the paths they have not known
I will guide them.
I will turn the darkness before them into light,
the rough places into level ground.
These are the things I will do
and I will not forsake them.
Light 2nd Candle
Voice 3 - The LORD says to his servant,
“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
to raise up the tribes of Jacob
and to restore the survivors of Israel;
I will give you as a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
Light 3rd Candle
Voice 4 - Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up quickly;
your vindicator shall go before you,
the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Light 4th Candle
Voice 5 - Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
For the darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the LORD will arise upon you,
and his glory will appear over you.
Praise
Hymn 7(SP)
Advent Candles tell their story
Welcome and Announcements
Prayer
Reading
Matthew 1:18-25
18 耶稣基督降生的事，记在下面。他母亲马利亚已经许配了约瑟，还没有迎娶，马利亚
就从圣灵怀了孕。
19 她丈夫约瑟是个义人，不愿意明明地羞辱她，想要暗暗地把她休了。
20 正思念这事的时候，有主的使者向他梦中显现，说大卫的子孙约瑟，不要怕，只管娶
过你的妻子马利亚来。因她所怀的孕，是从圣灵来的。
21 她将要生一个儿子。你要给他起名叫耶稣。因他要将自己的百姓从罪恶里救出来。
22 这一切的事成就，是要应验主借先知所说的话，
23 说，必有童女，怀孕生子，人要称他的名为以马内利。（以马内利翻出来，就是神与
我们同在。）
24 约瑟醒了，起来，就遵着主使者的吩咐，把妻子娶过来。
25 只是没有和她同房，等她生了儿子，（有古卷作等她生了头胎的儿子）就给他起名叫
耶稣。
18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary
had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with
child from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and
unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20 But just
when he had resolved to do 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 as your wife, for the child
conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name
him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ 22 All this took place to fulfil
what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and they shall name him
Emmanuel’, which means, ‘God is with us.’ 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did
as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25 but had no
marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
Praise
Hymn 334
Reading
See Him lying on a bed of straw
John 1:1-14
1 太初有道，道与神同在，道就是神。
2 这道太初与神同在。
3 万物是借着他造的。凡被造的，没有一样不是借着他造的。
4 生命在他里头。这生命就是人的光。
5 光照在黑暗里，黑暗却不接受光。
6 有一个人，是从神那里差来的，名叫约
。
7 这人来，为要作见证，就是为光作见证，叫众人因他可以信。
8 他不是那光，乃是要为光作见证。
9 那光是真光，照亮一切生在世上的人。
10 他在世界，世界也是借着他造的，世界却不认识他。
11 他到自己的地方来，自己的人倒不接待他。
12 凡接待他的，就是信他名的人，他就赐他们权柄，作神的儿女。
13 这等人不是从血气生的，不是从情欲生的，也不是从人意生的，乃是从神生的。
14 道成了肉身住在我们中间，充充满满的有恩典有真理。我们也见过他的
独生子的
光，正是父
光。
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and
without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life,
and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the
darkness did not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to
testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light,
but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was
coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did
not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept
him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to
become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of
the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the
glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
Praise
Born in the night
Offering
Variations on ‘Twinkle, Twinkle’, JCF Bach
(Please stand as the Stewards bring the offering forward)
Prayer for the Offering and Prayers for Others
Song
Reading
Luke 2:1-7
1 当那些日子，该撒亚古士督有旨意下来，叫天下人民都报名上册。
2 这是居里
作叙利亚巡抚的时候，头一次行报名上册的事。
3 众人各归各城，报名上册。
4 约瑟也从加利利的拿撒勒城上犹太去，到了大卫的城，名叫伯利恒，因他本是大卫一
族一家的人。
5 要和他所聘之妻马利亚，一同报名上册。那时马利亚的身孕已经重了。
6 他们在那里的时候，马利亚的产期到了。
7 就生了头胎的儿子，用布包起来，放在马槽里，因为客店里没有地方。
1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be
registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor
of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the
town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because
he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with
Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were
there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn
son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was
no place for them in the inn.
Address
Christingle
Praise
Christ be our Light
Benediction
Organ Postlude
I saw three ships, Elliot
(Organ voluntaries – the organ voluntary played at the conclusion of each service is part of the
offering of worship. Members of the congregation are very welcome to remain in their seats or come
into the choir area to listen to the music)
At the end of the Service please join us for tea and coffee at the rear of the church. If you are visiting
Fisherwick for the first time please introduce yourself to our ministers, Rev Michael Anderson, Rev
Gary McDowell, or any member of the congregation.
PRAYER MINISTRY
Members of the Church’s Prayer Ministry Team are available in the Prayer Chapel
following morning worship for anyone who would like people to pray for them. Prayer is
available to everyone whether you are a church member or not.
TODAY
FISHERWICK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Presents
Sunday 21st December
At
7.00pm
(followed by candlelit supper)
CHURCH ORGANISATION YEAR END ACCOUNTS
Every organisation please ensure that you get your annual
accounts for the year to 31st December 2014 to Raymond
Robinson by Friday 9th January.
You will also need to provide a copy of your final bank
statement of the year showing the balance as at 31st
December. You can email this information to [email protected] or
give it to Raymond at the Sunday Services or at the Church
Oﬃce.
Thank you
CHURCH NOTICES
Friday 26th December 2014 - Friday 2nd January 2015
The Church and Church Halls will be closed during this period, however you can
ring the church oﬃce on 02890 666683 in the case of a pastoral emergency and
leave a message as the phone will be checked on a daily basis.
WORLD DEVELOPMENT APPEAL
World Development Appeal envelopes may be returned at any service through to
Sunday 28th December.
Church Organisations
Church Organisations will commence again in the new year as they now take a
break over Christmas. Dates will follow on the 4th January.
LITTLE FISHES
Little Fishes is in the parlour. It is a place for parents to leave their babies
and toddlers during the church service. There are supervised activities,
toys and a snack time. There is also a designated baby area
with a protective screen with a crèche leader supervising. The co-ordinator is Kathryn
Ward.
At the rear of the church there is a Visitors Book.
If you are a visitor with us today please take time to sign the book.
Thank you
PRAYER DIARY
At the end of today’s service please take this order of service home with you.
Through the week, pray for each of the church organisations and through the
events listed.
Also, pray for those in our congregation family who you know are in need of
prayer and each day pray for one of the prayer requests from the Presbyterian
Church in Ireland’s Mission Ireland and Overseas Prayerline.
Thank you.
PRAYERS FOR MISSION IRELAND
Arklow Presbyterian Church
Pray for:
Pray for the Kirk Session, Committee and Congregation and Vacancy Convener (Rev
Dr Kathryn Meyer) and that the congregation will be able to move swiftly to a position
of being granted leave to call a new minister.
First Magherafelt Presbyterian Church - Revd Jonathan Curry
Praise for:
• As a Church family we give thanks for the many different opportunities God has given
us to worship and serve Him in First Magherafelt:
• In all the regular church activities – especially as we prepare to take Christmas gifts
to those folks who are unable to come out to church.
• In all the local residential and nursing homes – especially as we continue to develop
the ‘befriending ministry’ into one of the nursing homes.
• In the local schools – especially as we begin to explore the development of a
partnership with one school in particular.
Pray for:
• Please pray for the ministry team as they visit many folks within the congregation
who are struggling with different health problems and for those who are grieving the
loss of a loved one. Pray, as we are welcomed into homes, we would be given wisdom
in every circumstance and that we would demonstrate Christ-like tenderness and
compassion.
• Pray that in the midst of the many church activities this week, our attention would
always be centred in the Lord Jesus Christ.
William Workman, Irish Mission Worker - Athy & Carlow
Praise and Prayer for:
• Praise God for the Community Carol Service in Athy on 7 December. The children
from the local children’s meeting took part and a good number of parents and others
from the local community came along. Continue to pray for the ongoing work among
children and teenagers.
• Please pray as William delivers gospel calendars to homes in Athy and Ballylinan
over the next few weeks. Pray that God will use the calendars throughout 2015 to
challenge and encourage people to think about their relationship with the Lord Jesus.
Pray that people will come to know Him as their Saviour.
Muriel Cromie, Deaconess - Belfast City Hospital
Prayer and Praise for:
• Please pray for all who will spend Christmas in hospital, that they will experience
God’s healing presence and peace.
• Pray for families and friends who will be visiting in hospital over the Christmas
Season, especially those who travel long distances.
• Give thanks for all Healthcare Staff, and their families too, and pray for those who will
be on duty over the very busy and often stressful Christmas period.
• Remember too, the work and ministry of all the Healthcare Chaplains, praying God
will renew and refresh them daily.
Jenny Clegg, Deaconess - Ballycrochan Presbyterian Church
Pray for:
• Please pray for Ballycrochan as they are vacant at this time. Pray that as the
congregation prepare in prayer and planning for a new minister, God will bless them
and that nothing will be left undone.
MISSION OVERSEAS
From MISSION OVERSEAS PRAYERLINE
WORLD DEVELOPMENT
This Advent, PCI congregations are encouraged to support PCI's 2014 World
Development Appeal, which this year aims to help restore and rebuild communities in
Haiti and Myanmar/Burma. Funds will be directed through Christian Aid and Tearfund
and their partners.
Materials have been distributed to congregations and a full range of resources to help
promote the Appeal including videos and background briefings on Haiti and Myanmar
are available at www.presbyterianireland.org/world-development
·
Give thanks for generous giving to the World Development Appeal and pray that
this year’s Appeal will also be well-supported.
·
Pray for PCI’s partners, Christian Aid and Tearfund as they support local
development projects amongst the poor and most vulnerable.
(World Development envelopes can be placed in the Sunday offering in
Fisherwick up to Sunday 28th December)
SPAIN
Steve Anderson continues to minister in the Torre del Mar congregation in southern
Spain which currently meets in a room in a hotel. The congregation has recently been
looking for suitable premises to rent, to use as a base for services and outreach
activities. They have found a suitable property, and over the next three days, they
need to make the final decision on whether to rent it for three years. This is a
significant step of faith for the congregation with financial implications, but also has
mission opportunities.
·
Pray for wisdom, direction and unity as the church council and members discuss
the contract and discern the way ahead.
ROMANIA
Csaba and Ilona Veres and family arrived safely in Ireland last weekend. Csaba and
the girls are due to return to Romania at the beginning of January, with Ilona staying
on in Ireland for a few weeks to undertake deputation in January.
·
Give thanks that the Veres family had a safe journey to Ireland.
·
Pray too for Ilona as she prepares for deputation engagements in January.
KENYA
Stephen Cowan writes, “The Junior youth camp was an amazing time as around 300
young people attended from the usual villages. The teaching was on ‘Growing in
Maturity’. Some of the children as young as nine years old, face challenges that most
people find unbelievable when they hear the stories. Yet, standing in Jesus is their
only hope of change.
Presently the Senior camp is on, with young people from the usual villages joined this
time by some from Kurungu and a Turkana village called Nachola. Attendance of
Tuum youth at the camps has improved. The team from the alumni of Eldoret
Polytechnic have been sharing their experiences of the Gospel and the challenges
they face as followers of Jesus Christ. Sadly, even as camps continue, some girls
who used to attend are planning their circumcisions.”
·
Pray for an understanding of ‘Listening’ as the youth gather together and learn
from other Kenyans.
·
Pray for individual conversations taking place, as some who seem mature in
Christ, talk about planning their marriage in the normal traditional way.
·
Pray for the last morning of the senior camp, finishing on Thursday 18th
December.
·
Pray that all the young people attending the camps will have a safe journey
home.
·
Pray for the team as they travel down country, as some go to graduate and
others attend the weddings of Christian friends.
·
Pray that efforts at national government level to challenge female genital
mutilation will have a local impact.
In their December Bulletin, Gary and Mary Reid share the following prayer points:·
Pray that God’s Holy Spirit will continue to move in the hearts and lives of the
Maasai, for His glory.
·
Pray for those in authority who often have very difficult cases to resolve, that
God will grant them His wisdom.
MALAWI
Matt Williams sends the following prayer requests:·
Pray that the semester ends well for all at the University of Livingstonia; that
exams are well administered but that the spiritual life of the community is not
neglected.
·
Pray that the church, particularly in Ekwendeni, would be at the forefront of
making sure that widows and orphans are well cared for at this challenging time
of year.
PAKISTAN
The attack by the Taliban on the army-run school in the Pakistani city of Pershawr on
Tuesday morning (16th) has shocked and appalled people throughout the world. It
also reminds us of the continuing struggle in Pakistan against extremists and of the
ongoing fears of Pakistani Christian community.
·
Pray for all who have lost loved ones, or been injured in the attack.
·
Pray for courage, strength and safety for all Pakistanis seeking to live in a
society where there is complete religious freedom.
·
Remember especially the minority Christian community at this time.
NEPAL
The United Mission to Nepal (UMN) reports that Nepali church groups have started
singing carols and preparing for Christmas celebrations! On Christmas day, churches
in Nepal have a special service followed by a church feast.
·
Pray that this would be a blessed time for all the Nepali churches and that the
good news of Christ would also reach out to friends of other faith groups.
Winter can be hard for the poorer communities in Nepal.
·
Pray for the poor families, women and children of Nepal living in the colder
regions.
·
Pray that there would not be sickness and deaths because of the cold weather.
BIBLE SOCIETIES
The Bible Society in N. Ireland (BSNI) and the National Bible Society in Ireland (NBSI)
are grateful for all the prayers that have supported their work in 2014, and send the
following prayer requests:·
Give thanks for the very special event in Lomé, Toga, West Africa on Sunday
7th December when huge crowds witnessed the dedication of the first ever Mina
language Bible. Pray that it will be a blessing to these people, and that the long
awaited Bassar (Ntcham) Bible will soon be printed / available in Togo so that
those speakers too can experience the joy of God speaking to them in words
that they understand.
·
Give thanks that Rev Edward Kajivora, General Secretary, Bible Society of
South Sudan has just reported that, despite the continuing political tension in
the country, he is still enabling groups of people to meet around God’s Word
and learn what the Bible has to say about past conflict and forgiveness. Pray
that tensions will ease and that the Bible Society’s vital work can continue
unhindered.
·
In the past year it has been estimated that Bible Societies have reached up to
680 million people on social media. Pray that these messages of
encouragement will impact many lives.
Youth Link: NI – Fundraising Ball, Belfast City Hall – Friday 20
February 2015
Councillor Nichola Mallon, Lord Mayor of Belfast, has kindly agreed to host
a celebratory and fundraising event in support of the work of Youth Link,
one of her beneficiary charities during 2014/15.
Youth Link is a unique partnership of the Churches working together to
develop excellence in youth work and ministry, enabling young people and
youth practitioners to be agents of transformation in a divided society. It is
the largest provider of accredited training for volunteer and part-time youth
workers and young people in Northern Ireland and the six border counties
and on an annual basis works with in excess of 10,000 young people and
adult volunteers. It is the only forum in Northern Ireland where the
Churches co-operate formally in the service of children and young people
and was formed in 1991 by a strategic alliance of the Catholic Church, the
Church of Ireland, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches.
Fisherwick has a tangible connection with Youth Link through provision of a
placement for Gary Farquhar who is currently studying through Youth Link’s
Centre for Youth Ministry Ireland for an Honours Degree in Youth &
Community Work and Practical Theology.
If you are able to support this event and the work of Youth Link tickets
are available from Helen Dickson, [email protected], Tel: 9032
3217, and will cost £40.00 per person.
Christmas is on its way..
so why not treat yourself or someone else
to a collection of songs by Gary McDowell.
There are 2 different CDs available.
A Song to You….£10
&
Open Doors….. £5
The CDs are available at the rear of the church at the
library near the sofas
Just take a CD and drop the money in the box!
CHRISTMAS SERVICES/CONCERTS
SUMMARY in FISHERWICK
December
Sunday 21st
Festival of Carols and
Lessons (7.00pm)
Monday 22nd
Sing for Life Concert
(7.30pm)
Wednesday 24th
First Holy Communion of
Christmas (11.30pm)
Thursday 25th Christmas Morning
Family Service
(10.00am)
Sunday 28th
Morning Worship
(11.00am)
(there is no evening service)
FISHERWICK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Address 4 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5DJ Telephone 02890 666683
Email oﬃ[email protected] Web www.fisherwick.net