LEADER (from the rear): Look and listen, for this is wonder!

HYMN: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Tune: WOV 193)
O come, O come the time is near;
we yearn to know your presence here.
Creation stirs: the time is full.
Be born to us, Emmanuel.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to us,
a child shall be the sign.

O come, O Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by your advent here;
love stir within the womb of night
and death’s own shadows put to flight:
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to us,
a child shall be the sign.

O come, O Key of David come,
and open wide your heavenly home;
make safe the path to endless day,
and close the path to misery:
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to us,
a child shall be the sign. C/A

WELCOME AND NOTICES

CANDLE – LIGHTING (from CWS Christmas Appeal, Save My Place)
We light this candle signifying hope: our common need,
our common wealth.
Hope is our protest against injustice; Hope is God’s gift.
Come Jesus Christ, Hope of our hearts
Enter our lives so that all people may have a place to stand.

Sung Response: (Tune: WOV 671)
Where is the room? Where is the house of Christmas,
where shall we welcome Jesus, where are the signs of home?
© Shirley Murray (CoC)
AN ADVENT PRAYER

TIME WITH THE CHILDREN ~ Wayne Barton

CHRISTIAN WORLD SERVICE CHRISTMAS APPEAL: Lindsay Day

READINGS: Jeremiah 33: 14-16 Anne Johns
Luke 21: 25-36 Doug Johns

REFLECTION

AN AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe in God the Creator who created and is creating;
who goes on bringing to birth new things beyond our imagining.
We believe in Jesus Christ, who entered our journey as a fragile babe,
who experienced all our living and gave his life for us;
who can still be discovered in our midst.
We believe in the Holy Spirit who calls us on into all truth
in light beyond our seeing, who stirs within our being
new possibilities, who draws us onward into the very life of God.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER

THE OFFERING & THE PEACE
Generous God, with grateful hearts we acknowledge the abundance of our lives. With open hands we share these gifts as a reflection of your love for us, and for all people. Amen

COMMUNION HYMN: Let us Talents & Tongues Employ (WOV 658)
Let us talents and tongues employ,
reaching out with a shout of joy;
bread is broken, the wine is poured,
Christ is spoken and seen and heard.
Jesus lives again,
earth can breathe again,
pass the Word around:
loaves abound!

Christ is able to make us one;
at his table he sets the tone,
teaching people to live to bless,
love in word and in deed express. Jesus lives again…

Jesus calls us in, sends us out
bearing fruit in a world of doubt,
gives us love to tell, bread to share:
God-Immanuel everywhere! Jesus lives again… © Hope Publishing

COMMUNION PRAYER
Come, … where you can rest in the heart of love.
We come to this table, knowing our need for it.
Holy God … as our hearts echo an ancient cry:
O come, O come, Emmanuel.
We prepare … Then, Jesus asked us always to remember.
And so we remember – his life, his words, his love.

BREAKING THE BREAD AND SHARING THE WINE

PRAYER FOLLOWING COMMUNION

HYMN: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus (WOV 200)
Come, thou long-expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free,
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a king,
born to reign in us for ever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.

By thine own eternal Spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all-sufficient merit
raise us to thy glorious throne. C/A
THE BLESSING

NOTICES
A very warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning. Morning tea will be served after the service, and there is the Fireside Group’s Christmas Cake Stall.

NEXT SUNDAY’S service is at 10am. This is a combined family service with Beckenham Methodist, and will include a special Christmas drama. The service will be followed by a picnic at Merchiston, 75 St Martins Rd at 12 noon. Please BYO lunch – icecream, games, tea, coffee & umbrellas provided. All are welcome.

CUPPA & CHAT: EVERY Tuesday & Wednesday 10am – 12 noon. All welcome. Aubrey 930 2525. Please note the information in the “Messenger” is incorrect. The last session for 2012 is on 19th December, and Cuppa & Chat will resume on 8th January 2013.

WEDNESDAY WALKERS 5th December: Meet 9.30am in Bamford St, just round the corner to the left off Jubilee St, Woolston. Coffee at The Woolston Daily, a new cafe at 204 Cumnor Tce. June 332 8874.

CRAFTY CRAFTERS meets every Thursday 10am – 12 noon. $3 per session. New faces are always welcome ?. Beverley 332 7786.

GIFTS FOR WALTHAM COTTAGE: We will once again be collecting Christmas gifts for Waltham Cottage – men, women, teenagers and children. Please DO NOT wrap them as they are sorted and given to individuals by the staff. Bring them along on Sundays 9 & 16 December. Christmas baking and wrapping paper also very welcome. Many thanks.

FOOTCARE CLINIC: Next Session Monday 10th December 1-4pm at Beckenham Methodist. Please phone Anna 332 6192 to book.

HUB NEWS: Please see the noticeboard in the foyer for this week’s information.

KEEP AN EYE ON THE WEBSITE: www.stmartins.org.nz

BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK: Thu 6th Catherine; Fri 7th Florence; Sat 8th Eleanor.