The YouBelong team have recorded our Blue Christmas Service to ensure that those of you who couldn't attend the live session could still access this reflective service. It goes live on the afternoon of 18th December 2024 at this link on YouTube.
In this service you will find prayers, two hymns, a short reflection and have the opportunity to light a candle. You can find the order of service including the words of the hymns and prayers below.
We are aware that Christmas can be a challenging time so please do post in our Facebook group if you would like to connect with other members of the community, you are not alone.
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YouBelong Blue Christmas Service
Introduction- During the session we will be lighting a candle together, I will be lighting one for you all to see but if you would like to join in with lighting your own candle then please do grab a candle, if you do not have a candle to hand or cannot join us in lighting a candle for any reason at all, don’t worry because I will be lighting it on behalf of us all.
Christmas can often come with an expectation that we will have a good time. Sometimes that is not how it feels, this year may have been particularly difficult, and Christmas seems overwhelming, or it might be a difficult time of year for whatever reason or maybe you just don’t feel in the festive mood. Whatever the reason, we have created this space to allow time and space to reflect, pray and come to God just as we are.
Opening Prayer
We meet in the presence of God
Who knows our needs
Hears our cries
Feels our pain
And heals our wounds
God of mercy and love,
We gather here today as hurting people
Bringing our pain, our sorrow and our confusion
To this safe space this morning
Would you meet us in our darkness
And give us freedom to struggle together
As we seek your presence
We ask for strength for today
Courage for tomorrow and peace for the past
Amen
Song- O come O come Emmanuel
Verse 1
O come O come Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear
Chorus 1
Rejoice rejoice Emmanuel Shall come to thee O Israel
Verse 2
O come Thou Dayspring come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here Disperse the gloomy clouds of night And death's dark shadows put to flight
Chorus 1
Rejoice rejoice Emmanuel Shall come to thee O Israel
Verse 3
O come Thou Wisdom from on high And order all things far and nigh To us the path of knowledge show And cause us in her ways to go
Chorus 1
Rejoice rejoice Emmanuel Shall come to thee O Israel
Verse 4
O come Desire of nations bind All peoples in one heart and mind Bid envy strife and quarrels cease Fill the whole world with heaven's peace
Chorus 1
Rejoice rejoice Emmanuel Shall come to thee O Israel
Reading
Isaiah 9:2-7
The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
3 You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
Reading 2
John 1:1-5
The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.
Reflection – Emma
Intercessions followed by lighting of the candle
We light this candle together and ask that God’s presence may be with us.
Lord thank you that you have gathered us today and that you are with us.
Thank you Lord that we have a place to be still before you, a place where we ask for your love and comfort.
Lord, we bring whatever we have on our heart to you today recognising that some areas may be tough, heavy and burdensome.
Pause
We ask that you Lord would work in your power to bring peace in our lives, we ask that as there is Christmas celebration and festivities going on around us that we would continually seek to know you better and you would show us that there is hope in you.
Lord, we lift up to you those that are in our hearts and minds
Pause
Lord may you be with those people, surround them in your love.
We remember those people that have died and pause to bring them to mind in this space. We hold them before God and give thanks for their lives in ours.
Together we pray for the grieving and grief in our own lives, we pray that you Lord would be close and that you would bring your love and comfort.
Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
Song – The blessing
The Lord bless you and keep you
Make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you
The Lord turn His face toward you
And give you peace
The Lord bless you and keep you
Make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you
The Lord turn His face toward you
And give you peace
Amen, amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen
The Lord bless you and keep you
Make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you
The Lord turn His face toward you
And give you peace
Amen, amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen
May His favor be upon you
And a thousand generations
And your family and your children
And their children, and their children
May His favor be upon you
And a thousand generations
And your family and your children
And their children, and their children
May His favor be upon you
And a thousand generations
And your family and your children
And their children, and their children
May His favor be upon you
And a thousand generations
And your family and your children
And their children, and their children
May His presence go before you
And behind you, and beside you
All around you, and within you
He is with you, he is with you
In the morning, in the evening
In your coming, and your going
In your weeping, and rejoicing
He is for you, he is for you
He is, He is
Amen, amen, amen
Ending Prayer
We recognise this season is a season that brings joy in the lives of many but also sadness too. We lift up each person here this morning knowing that each person is a precious child of God. We pray that we each of us may remember the Christ Child who himself was born in a lowly stable, amidst difficult times and circumstances. We pray to remember Jesus as Lord.
Lord we pray, that you would bring glimmers of hope to our lives, that you would bring light, comfort, peace and joy and that you would be close to us during this Christmas holiday season. We pray Lord that you would give us the strength to endure, when times are difficult, heavy and feel impossible. Lord, we ask for hope. Amen
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