Song of the ages

Psalm 148 and John 1 

This One commanded

This One created

This One now here with us 

We praise the Word

We praise You, Wisdom,

Jesus, we praise Your Holy being 

Sun and moon and shining stars

Heavens and waters and earth

praise You, present through all creation 

Promise and presence

Prophet and Messiah

Your song is sung through time 

the Word became flesh

Christmas Blessing with John 1:1–14 

Word at the beginning,

Word without end;

Light in the darkness,

Light that God sent; 

born among us long ago,

born again, anew, now! 

This Jesus is born in you,

today/tonight, new life again and always: 

may his light guide your way,

beginnings, new beginnings, 

to the end. Amen. 

a multitude of the heavenly host

Christmas Praise with Luke 2:8–20 

angels fill our sky with gold:

our eyes blink with wonder! 

angels fill the air with music:

our hearts sing a song long awaited! 

angels fill the sky with light:

our souls dance, amazed! 

angels fill the air with life:

our lungs expand and – sigh! 

Praise to You, our Holy One,

Source of Life and Love,

born again in the wondrous story,

born again in us tonight / today! 

No place for them

Christmas Intercessions with Luke 2:1–7 

We remember Joseph and Mary,

displaced

and we pray for our neighbours, 

displaced 

silence 

We remember Joseph and Mary,

uprooted

and we pray for our neighbours, 

uprooted 

silence 

We remember Joseph and Mary,

expectant

and we pray for our neighbours, 

expectant 

silence 

We remember Jesus,

born 

and we pray for our neighbours, 

and ourselves 

silence 

Amen 

Praying with Simeon

 

Luke 2:22–40 

As Simeon waited to see the child, 

the promise, the hope, the light;

so we remember those who wait

for promise, for hope, for light,

through long years and many trials. 

We remember: God, remember with us. 

As Simeon trusted God and listened, 

faithful, attentive, patient, 

so we remember those who listen for you

with faithfulness, attention, patience, trust,

through long years and many trials. 

We remember: God, remember with us. 

As Simeon recognised the Holy Child,

sang praise and thanks and peace,

so we remember those who praise you

with gratitude and peace, in their words and living,

through long years and many trials. 

We remember: God, remember with us. 

As Simeon saw in the Holy Child

challenges and a cost to pay, 

so we remember those who embrace

the challenge and cost of Jesus' way

through long years and many trials. 

We remember: God, remember with us. 

And God, we, like Simeon,

wait, listen, hope, praise,

and try to understand; 

remember us, also: God, remember us. 

Amen. 

Ancient Song of Release

Isaiah 52:7–10 

When we tell the story 

of a child born to change the world,

we sing in heart and voice,

in body, soul, and mind; 

we sing with all creation 

as if at last released 

from all that held us captive – 

How beautiful are the feet!

Even the feet, so wonderful

in all the earth, the feet

of the messenger who brings

us this song of release to sing! 

How beautiful the hands

of these angels who open again

our tired eyes to see again 

that Holy One is here! 

How beautiful the song, even

on the voice of ruins, the stones

and rubble of our broken lives

sing too of liberation, sing

out with joy! What joy! 

Look, earth! Listen, stars! 

Shout, dance, all that lives – 

for the life restored by Holy One

is beautiful indeed! 

We tell the story and we sing

the ancient song of liberation, 

release from captivity,

release into life! 

Sing the song of joy, today, 

sing every day of joy,

fro life is born, Christ is born

again, Holy One's promises 

come true – rejoice! 

Christmas Lament

Isaiah 9:2–7 

Though he has come,

this wonderful counsellor, 

still we walk in darkness

searching for the light,

still we wander, lost, 

searching for the Way. 

Though he is born,

this child of God, 

his might we turn 

back into war-like heroism,

even while You burn

warrior boots, add blood-

soaked garments to the fire. 

Though he brings peace

to last forever, still

we wait; still we are weighed

down with burden, with

oppression, while our neighbours

are not free. 

Though justice comes through

him, and restoration

of relationships and wholeness,

we have not upheld this way

with You, with the child

born of You, gift to us. 

Our season of waiting is done,

Christmas has arrived,

and still we wait

for justice, healing, peace,

to be born again in us; 

still we wait, for light,

Your light to disrupt the dark. 

Word in the World

John 1:10 

golden thread woven

all fabric glitters with light

unseen one to other

Wisdom come again

Wisdom of Solomon 10:15–21 

As Wisdom delivered God's people of old,
we pray with the oppressed today.
We pray for liberation,
we pray for Wisdom to come again.

As Wisdom has entered souls before,
we pray for God's prophets today;
we pray for resistance of injustice,
we pray for Wisdom to come again.

As Wisdom has guided God's people before,
we pray for all who still seek your Way;
we pray for the peace we strive for,
we pray for Wisdom to come again.

As Wisdom has sheltered God's people of old,
we pray for the scared and lost today;
we pray for protection and light;
we pray for Wisdom to come again.

As Wisdom has travelled with God's people through time,
we pray for ourselves and our world;
we pray for your presence with us,
we pray for Wisdom to come again.

Amen.


this prayer might work well in two voices, taking two lines each in turn 

Gabriel and Maria

The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
surprising her by calling out her name:
‘Fear not,’ he said, ‘for God has seen and favours you,
You’re chosen for a blessing, Maria.

‘You will become a mother, Mary,
by Holy Spirit, with a child holy;
he is the one earth’s waiting for – the child of God,
O chosen for a blessing, Maria.’

‘But Gabriel how can this be, my friend?’
‘With God no thing’s impossible,’ he said.
‘Then let it be as you have said, I sing God’s praise.’
O, chosen for a blessing: Maria.

And so in Bethlehem she bore her boy
beneath a star as angels sang for joy:
Immanuel, our God with us, through Mary.
O chosen for a blessing, Maria.

words (c) Sarah Agnew 2019
music ‘Gabriel’s song’ Basque tune

Story Eucharist for Advent and Christmas

Those who gather at this table have chosen to follow a story

the story of God, who loves
who, from an eternal well of love,
created all that lives – created humans for love,
and invited us into a relationship for life: full, rich, life.

The story is a story of human turning away, and returning,
of prophets calling, men and women singing,
God forgiving and restoring, again and again.

The story of this table, this meal,
is the story of Jesus, who we follow;
who was born under a special star,
inhabited by the Sacred Spirit.

Jesus looked at women and welcomed, men, and healed,
children, and delighted.
The story of Jesus is a story of love,
of peace and justice and courage.

On the night when he was betrayed –
for not all understood, or accepted –
he took the bread they were to eat, gave thanks and broke it.
He looked at his friends and said, this is my body, breaking for you
Eat, and whenever you eat, remember me.

At the end of the meal he took a cup and gave thanks.
He said, this cup is a new covenant made through the spilling of my blood.
drink, and whenever you drink, remember me.

We pray that the Spirit, ever present, will bless this bread and this wine,
will bless us, making these gifts the body of Christ in us.

break bread & distribution

The story is told again and again with this reenacting at tables all over the world.
In this season, we await the story of Jesus come among us,
Immanuel, God with us,
as it is told anew, unfolds anew, in our midst, in our lives, in our world,
bringing hope, joy, peace, and love
May we know again hope, joy, peace, and love.

May the story we have enacted here infuse our living with love long beyond this moment;
May the Christ we have remembered be our Wisdom, our hope,
may the Creator scatter seeds and birth ever new, joy-filled, life,
and may the Spirit breathe in us and through us, peace, deep peace.
Amen

Christmas Psalms

1. All sing to our God 
a psalm of praise (after Psalm 96)

Sing, sing a new song to our God!
Sing, sing a new song, all the earth! 

Sing with praise, with thanks for this hope;
proclaim the grace of God, day after day,

declare it far and wide, the shining Divine glory,
sing with all peoples what the Holy is and had done!

Sing, sing a new song to our God!
Sing, sing a new song, all the earth! 

Holy One is marvellous, wondrous, worthy of praise;
above all, most worthy of our love and honour, Holy One.

Creator – Wisdom – Spirit breathed life into being:
sing with all that lives the shining splendour of our God!

Sing, sing a new song to our God!
Sing, sing a new song, all the earth! 

Families and nations, sing your loyalty to Holy One,
worship with your all, the source of life and love.

Holy One will look on all with equal love,
Holy One offers welcome: let us sing, let us sing!

Sing, sing a new song to our God!
Sing, sing a new song, all the earth! 

The heavens resound with joy, the earth with gladness;
the seas sing fathoms deep, the earth reaches high;

mountains, forests, birds fly high;
dolphins, starfish, coral dance below.

Sing, sing a new song to our God!
Sing, sing a new song, all the earth! 


2. Hope will overcome 
an affirmation / response to the story (after Psalm 97) 

Hope reigns, hope will overcome.
From furthest shore to tallest mountain,
in villages and cities, on farms and dusty tracks.

Hope reigns, hope will overcome.

Clouds assemble, thunder forebodes,

justice rises from rubble, a sure, resilient throne. 

Hope reigns, hope will overcome. 

Those who would oppress, who bow

before idols of power and wealth: beware! 

Hope reigns, hope will overcome. 

Earth remembers its Creator,

the people join the restoration. 

Hope reigns, hope will overcome. 

Light is born in the timeless story,

love is born in hearts that listen. 

Hope reigns, hope will overcome. 

Love, be thankful, look up:

hope reigns, hope will overcome. 

 3. Go out rejoicing 
A sending out (after Psalm 98) 

Marvel, wonder, rejoice!
Holy One plays us a new song.
Holy Presence revealed again,
in ever new melodies, so sing:

Marvel, wonder, rejoice!
Holy One remembers love,
Holy Presence revealed again,
for all, for all: so love!

Marvel, wonder, rejoice,
Holy One restores hope and justice.
Holy Presence revealed again
in you, your hope, your justice.

As you go to sing the song,
to love and hope and do justice,
know that Holy One is with you,
always again, revealed in the light.
Amen.

Beautiful promise

An Advent / Christmas carol

Hold on now,
good earth, all creation;
hold on now,
it won’t be long.
God has heard
and will not abandon:
gather ‘round,
for hope is coming.
Ah! Ah!
Beautiful is the promise
Ah! Ah!
Beautiful is the peace.

Wake up now,
you people, get ready!
Wake up now,
the prophets have seen!
Listen to the Spirit,
she’s stirring,
calling out,
‘Make haste, and follow!’
Ah! Ah!
Challenging is the promise.
Ah! Ah!
Challenging is the peace.

Christ will come,
be born here among us,
when we tell
the story again.
Angels came in dreams
to whisper,
angels sang in
dazzling chorus:
Ah! Ah!
Beautiful is the promise!
Ah! Ah!
Beautiful is the peace.

words: Sarah Agnew (c) 2019
music: ‘Bring the torch, Jeanette, Isabella’ – Traditional French Carol
recording: Calvary Rochester, Minnesota, 1 December 2019. Music Director Brian Williams. 

Shine like Zion

After Isaiah 61:10-62:3 

We come to rejoice in Holy One;
with our all we sing our praise.
for Holy One clothes us in hope,
enfolds us in kindness and love.

As earth presents its precious shoots,
new life sparkling treasure,
so Holy One evokes justice and joy,
new life sparkling before all.

And we will not be silent - no!
And we will not be complacent.
We shall be like Zion of old,
sparkling in praise of Holy One,
shining light for all to see
our precious, treasured, Holy One.

A story of justice, peace and joy

God give you comfort, gentle folk,
disturb you on the Way;
remember Jesus, child of Love,
was born on Christmas day
to save us all from tyranny,
for we have gone astray.

O, story of justice, peace and joy, peace and joy.
O, story of justice, peace and joy.

From Spirit, Wisdom, Creator,
the blessed angels came,
revealing to the shepherds:
the world has changed today!
A child is born, to Mary,
the Son of God, by name.

O, story of justice, peace and joy, peace and joy.
O, story of justice, peace and joy.

Now to our God sing praises,
all you within this place,
and with true loving kindness
each other do embrace;
thus Christ is born, and born again -
we need his light to blaze.

O, story of justice, peace and joy, peace and joy.
O, story of justice, peace and joy.

'A story of justice, peace and joy.'
Words: (c) Sarah Agnew 2018.
Tune: God Rest You Merry Gentlemen

The Shepherd’s Story

Luke 2:1-20 

In that region,
shepherds lived,
watching over flocks
in fields.

On that night,
in those fields,
an angel standing
startled shepherds.

The angel spoke,
to calm their fear
with good news
of great joy for all.

A baby born
in David’s town,
your long awaited hope
he is: Messiah! See!

Go find the child,
wrapped up tight,
lying in a manger.

A multitude - a
sudden multitude
of singing, praising,
angels - Glory be
to Holy One, and peace
be known on earth. 

A silence - a sudden,
still and shocking
silence fell
among the shepherds.

Then urgency, we
must go - now -
to Bethlehem, to find
this hope, this child.

On that night
Shepherds left
their fields, their
flocks, and flew
Into town in a flurry

Then fell to silence,
Once again,
at the foot
of a newborn’s bed.

Mary heard,
Joseph heard,
everyone awake
heard the shepherd’s tale.

Angels and singing,
shock and running,
silence and awe and wonder.

Mary took the shepherd’s
story like treasure
to enfold
in her heart.

Back to the flocked
fields the shepherds
floated home:

such excitement
they’d known in that
region, on that startling,
hope-filled night.

Come, now, long-expected Jesus

a hymn for Advent and Christmas 

Come, now, long-expected Jesus,
born to set creation free;
from our deepest fears release us,
into love and liberty.

You our rest and consolation,
hope and light for all, you bring;
peace between us and our nations,
joy for every heart to sing.

Born so unexpected, Jesus,
not a king we’d recognise:
yours a realm of peace and justice,
welcome for the smallest lives.

With Creator, and with Spirit,
unify our diverse hearts;
grace and love we do inherit,
one within your Holy Heart.

Words: Sarah Agnew
Tune: Stuttgart
(a reimagining of Charles Wesley's 'Come, thou long-expected Jesus') 

Born of love

Galatians 4:4–7



You are a child of God,
you who have the Spirit
beating the rhythm of life
from your heart through
your veins to the earth
from your feet to your
neighbour in your embrace,
you are a child of God, born
of love as all that lives
is born of love and grace.

New light

John 1

in the beginning

in the darkness Wisdom danced

light, and so began

human beginning

Wisdom wept at the ending

knowledge gave away

Divine beginning

Wisdom reborn human: hope’s

song reignited

Evening light

Luke 2:1–20





In David’s town, royal blood
spilled on borrowed floor in love,
least royal, least kingly child or
parents: no fanfare blast
from ramparts, ‘cept heaven’s
above the fields, for some other
misunderstood outsiders more
important than circumstance
suggests. No resting place
beneath a roof or with a door, no city gate
to close against the wolves, who
are no metaphor for keepers
of the sheep – this king’s first
attendants, tenders of flocks,
the literal to his metaphor
when grown this prince will be,
when peace this holy Son
will seek for all, in city,
in field, in barn, in street.

Royal blood, wrapped and wiped
away with simple cloth, no satin,
silk or silver in this story
of a birth to dwarf all stories
of royal births throughout the ages,
with its miracle and wonder,
amazement, praise and pondering
in hearts forever changed as hope
takes them in flight: tonight
is born a miracle – do not fear,
love is nearer than it has ever
been before and it is here for you,
get up and go, and make your way
into the light.