God of star and stable,
God of meal and table
Bless this food before me,
And all who do surround –
In hand or heart
That we may start
To share your grace around.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

And, the resources for worship on Sunday will be sent to you on Saturday.  (The plan for ZOOM connected worship at 10:00 on Sunday includes Communion.)  The Prayer List for Sunday will also be sent on Saturday so if there are changes to make to the list, please let us know.

We are gathered for worship and work in Treaty One territory, which is the traditional land of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dené peoples and the homeland of the Metis Nation. For thousands of years Indigenous Peoples walked this land and knew it to be the centre of their lives and their spirituality. We respect the Treaties that were made on these territories, we acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past, and we dedicate ourselves to move forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.

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We come to worship with an additional verse of ‘Hope is a Star’ 

Christ is the child that’s born here tonight,
Sharing God’s love and eternal light.
When God is a child, there’s joy in our song,
The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong,
And none shall be afraid.We come to worship today, knowing that
In the darkness,
There is a star.
In the quiet,
There is a song.
In this moment,
There is God.Our opening hymn is “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”

 

Jeff and Carol continue the annual tradition of a Rev. Julie story, Jeff tells the story and Carol reads the scripture of Luke 2:1-20: 
Printable Version:
Not Your Usual Christmas

“Away in a Manger”

Let us pray: 

God of stable and shepherds,
God of star and magi,
you gather us with the song of angels and by the light of the star of promise.
You lead us not only to hope for the future,
but to trust in your presence in every time and place.

God of All, we thank you for all your gifts to us this Christmas Eve.

We thank you for calling us to be your people and to live your love in this world.
Hear us as we pray for all your people.
For those who are sick with COVID, and all who grieve the many deaths from COVID throughout our world, may you give healing and hope.
For those who are afraid and oppressed, may you give courage.
For those suffering conflict and fear, may you bring peace.
For those who long for food and water, may they be filled.
For those who long for justice, may it be fulfilled.

O God, hear us as we pray for ourselves and our community.
That those in hospital and in care feel your strength.
That those who are alone and anxious feel you near.
That those who are ill in body and in spirit be comforted.
That our friends and family be blessed by healing and love.

Guide us this night, by the light of Your star.
Lead us to the mangers of this world,
where uncertainty and life mingle together.
and the transformation of this world is most deeply felt in love, one with another.
Be with us on this most wondrous of nights, we ask in Jesus’ name

And we pray tonight saying the words that Jesus taught his disciples
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.

Our closing hymn is “Silent Night”

May the light of the Christmas star shine in your heart
and bring you hope, peace, joy and love,
today and always.

Amen.

We keep you in our prayers,
Carol and Jeff