Christmas Eve Sunday 24th December 2023 10.30am
Morning Communion Service. Led by the Revd Lucy Brierley. Preacher: David Fowler ‘O Come, O Come Immanuel’
This Service, broadcast live from the Church can be found via the Church’s website – www.wokingurc.org.uk our YouTube Channel or via our Facebook page. There is an archive of service recordings, including this one, on our website which can be viewed at home. If you would like some help to access any of them please email – office@wokingurc.org.uk or telephone us on 01483 763078. If you would like a recording of this Service, and any other, they are available in various formats by request. Please contact the Church Office.
ORDER OF SERVICE
Welcome and Notices
Call to Worship
Hymn – Once In Royal David’s City (R&S 167)
Hymn – Angels From The Realms Of Glory (R&S 163)
Lighting of the Advent Candles
Family Time
Hymn – Child In A Manger Born
Hymn – While Shepherds Watched (R&S 155)
Children & Young people continue in groups
Readings
Isaiah 9 v6-7 and Isaiah 11 v1-3 Stewart Alexander
Colossians 1 v15-20 Catalina Brook
Sermon – David Fowler
Hymn – O Come, O Come Immanuel (R&S 126)
Communion
Hymn – Hark The Herald Angels Sing (R&S 159)
Blessing & The Grace
NEWS AND FORTHCOMING EVENTS
You are invited to stay for refreshments after the Service. They will be served in the Forum and in the Sanctuary. Please do stay if you can to enjoy a time to meet and talk with each other.
Heathside Car Park. Free Sunday morning (up until 1 pm) parking for those attending this Church. Please key in your registration number on a device in the Forum in the Church each time you are here. This can be on arrival or as you leave. The barrier will rise to let you out of the car park because your number will be recognised. For the time being it is still advisable to display your Church permit on your windscreen, available from the Welcomers.
If you would like to donate to the work of the Church this can be done in a variety of ways as described on the “Giving to the Church” page of the website. For one-off gifts, there is a direct link to the Dona online page from the “Give Online” button on the Home page, and the contactless device in the Forum is also available. There is a plate at the back of the Church and an offering bag under the Dona device in the Forum for anyone wishing to make a cash donation.
Christian Aid Christmas Appeal – focusing this year on Bangladesh. You may donate through the Dona card device in the Forum or by using one of the gift envelopes for cash or cheques. There is also a facility though the Church website or directly to the Church bank account. Full details are in the current Church magazine. This appeal will be open until Sunday 7th January.
Care4Creation – Please take a look at the display boards in the Forum which are related to the recent worship series, the ongoing work of the Green Team and the Church’s environmental commitments.
You may contribute to this funding through the card machine in the Forum or via the Church’s website.
Collection point for the York Road Project and Your Sanctuary every Sunday. Items which would be appreciated by the York Road Project are: Sugar sachets, coffee sachets, jars of coffee, tea; pasta, rice; squash (orange or blackcurrant), bottled or cans of water; pot noodles; fresh fruit and vegetables; individually wrapped biscuits or other snacks, individual chocolate bars, tinned goods; boxer shorts (new) – men’s small and medium. Your Sanctuary would particularly be grateful for tea, coffee, pasta, rice, tins of beans, veg, soups etc. Also toiletries, and new or nearly new unwanted items which may be sold on Ebay.
Stamps. At this time of the year when Christmas cards and letters are received from all part of the world, a reminder that it is possible to bring franked stamps of any kind to the Church where there is a box in the Forum. They will be sent to Canine Partners, a charity which can sell them for its funds to train dogs to help people with disabilities.
Christmas to New Year absences and closures. Apart from Services, the Forum is now closed until 9 am on Wednesday 3rd January (maintenance work is taking place on 2nd). The Church Office will al- so be closed during this period. The Minister, Church & Community Worker, Children’s Worker, Youth Worker, Premises Manager and Administrator will all be taking some leave during this time and some email addresses will be monitored. However, if any matter is urgent please contact one of your pastoral Elders or the Church Secretary in the first instance.
| WEEKLY | CALENDAR |
| TODAY | 3.30 pm Crib Service – beginning outside with the arrival of Mary on a donkey. This service will now be live streamed. Seasonal refreshments following. Car Parking charges apply in Heathside but no restrictions in most side roads near the Church. |
| CHRISTMAS DAY 25th December | 10.00 am (NB time) All-age Celebration Service led by the Minister. Please bring a present you have received to show everyone! Free parking at Heathside all day, no need to register your car! There will not be any Church groups meeting during this week and the Forum will not be open. |
| TUESDAY | |
| WEDNESDAY | |
| THURSDAY | 7.00 pm Church group going to Peter Pan at the New Victoria Theatre. |
| FRIDAY | |
| SATURDAY | |
| NEXT SUNDAY 31st December | 10.00 am Prayers in the Vestry 10.30 am Morning Worship led by Vivien Gerhold – This Service will not be live streamed. Collection point for food and other items for the York Road Project and Your Sanctuary open every Sunday but please do not bring any perishable items or those with very short dates this week as delivery will not be until 3rd January. |