Christmas Service

To celebrate the end of Advent (within school and the autumn term!) pupils and staff from Christ Church walked down to our local church to share a Christmas service with Mother Monica, Rev. Simon and our Chair of Governors Mrs Taylor. Pupils sang a selection of traditional and modern Christmas songs, and shared readings from the Gospels. 

Leading Light Pupils lead the service, with Year 6 pupils reading the nativity story, based on the narrative in the Story Book Bible.

Pupils also shared prayers of intercession for our school, our local community, our government and leaders and for the wider Christian church. We also offered prayers for those on the fringes of our local community; the lonely, the homeless and those less fortunate.

The main talk reminded pupils that Jesus came to be the Light in our World, and that as part of a wider Church family, we can all carry that light, and share it with others.

 

Matthew 1:18-21 Good News Translation (GNT)

The Birth of Jesus Christ

18 This was how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. His mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they were married, she found out that she was going to have a baby by the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph was a man who always did what was right, but he did not want to disgrace Mary publicly; so he made plans to break the engagement privately. 20 While he was thinking about this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary to be your wife. For it is by the Holy Spirit that she has conceived. 21 She will have a son, and you will name him Jesus—because he will save his people from their sins.”

 

Luke 1:46-55 Good News Translation (GNT)

Mary's Song of Praise

46 Mary said,

“My heart praises the Lord;
47     my soul is glad because of God my Savior,
48     for he has remembered me, his lowly servant!
From now on all people will call me happy,
49     because of the great things the Mighty God has done for me.
His name is holy;
50     from one generation to another
    he shows mercy to those who honor him.
51 He has stretched out his mighty arm
    and scattered the proud with all their plans.
52 He has brought down mighty kings from their thrones,
    and lifted up the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things,
    and sent the rich away with empty hands.
54 He has kept the promise he made to our ancestors,
    and has come to the help of his servant Israel.
55 He has remembered to show mercy to Abraham
    and to all his descendants forever!”

Luke 2:8-15 Good News Translation (GNT)

The Shepherds and the Angels

8 There were some shepherds in that part of the country who were spending the night in the fields, taking care of their flocks. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone over them. They were terribly afraid, 10 but the angel said to them, “Don't be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. 11 This very day in David's town your Savior was born—Christ the Lord! 12 And this is what will prove it to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great army of heaven's angels appeared with the angel, singing praises to God:

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased!”

15 When the angels went away from them back into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us.”

Matthew 2:1-6 Good News Translation (GNT)

Visitors from the East

2 Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the time when Herod was king. Soon afterward, some men who studied the stars came from the East to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the baby born to be the king of the Jews? We saw his star when it came up in the east, and we have come to worship him.”

3 When King Herod heard about this, he was very upset, and so was everyone else in Jerusalem. 4 He called together all the chief priests and the teachers of the Law and asked them, “Where will the Messiah be born?”

5 “In the town of Bethlehem in Judea,” they answered. “For this is what the prophet wrote:

6 ‘Bethlehem in the land of Judah,
    you are by no means the least of the leading cities of Judah;
for from you will come a leader
    who will guide my people Israel.’”