South Stormont Pastoral Charge

For many centuries, most Western churches have celebrated Christmas on December 25. This practice took root in Rome in the fourth century. In many other early churches around the Mediterranean, the birth of Jesus was remembered on January 6. In some Orthodox churches today, this tradition is still observed on that day. We do not know the exact day Jesus was born. The date of Christmas is not based on historical fact. It is an act of faith. Through engagement and relationships with many cultures, Christmas Day took shape as a way of expressing what Christian faith is and how it is lived. Christmas comes in the darkest season of the year. The nights are long, and the daylight is brief. This season can feel uncertain, fearful, and vulnerable. However, even in the midst of the darkest and coldest times, God comes into the world. God does not wait for life to become stable. God does not wait for the world to be calm or safe. God comes when life feels fragile and full of struggle. The Christ...

*Gathering Hymn O Come, All Ye Faithful (#60 VU | vs. 1-3) Welcome & Land Acknowledgement Lighting the Christ Candle Call to Worship One: This is the season of Christmas. With the birth of Jesus, this is the time of hopes fulfilled and love made real.    All: We rejoice in the gift of Christ, God’s love among us. One: This Sunday marks the end of one year. This is a time of recollecting past accomplishments and failures, a time of remembering former events, good and difficult.   All: We give thanks for God’s faithfulness through all that has been. One: This week anticipates the beginning of a new year. This is a time of seeking new perspective and being open to new opportunities. All: We step forward in hope, trusting God who makes all things new. *Adopted from Bill Steadman. Gathering ACE 2025-2026 . Page 36. Opening Prayer *Opening Hymn Go, Tell It on the Mountain (#43 VU) Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison) Holy One, we come before you with open heart...

My name is Phatne. I am a manger, more than a hundred years old. I have lived my whole life in a stable behind an inn in Bethlehem. My job was simple. I held hay for the horses and cows. For a long time, I thought that was my whole purpose. But time was not gentle. My wood grew rough and cracked. Old nail holes darkened, and splinters began to show everywhere. Then one day, everything changed. My owner replaced me with a new manger. It was big and sturdy, and it held water and hay perfectly. I was moved to a corner of the stable. At first, I told myself, “It’s okay. I’m old. It’s time to rest.” But as time went by, I began to feel lonely. No one came to me anymore. They all went to the new manger. I was forgotten. I sat empty and cold. Sometimes I even thought it would be better if the owner took me apart and used me as firewood. Still, I had one old friend. She was an old horse named Mal. She was very wise. She listened to the other horses and the people, learned what was new, and the...

* Indicates please stand, in body or in sprit *Gathering Hymn The First Noel (#91 VU | vs. 1-4) Welcome & Announcements Christ Candle Lighting We light the Christ candle this evening in celebration of the coming of the Light of the World. This is a new beginning for us, as it has been each time we celebrate Christ’s birth. May the light shine in all our hearts tonight and from this day forward. *Sharon Winegarden. Gathering ACE 2022-2023 , page 33. Call to Worship One: We seek a Christmas full of love,    All: love close to home, a love shared with family or among friends. One: We seek a Christmas full of love,   All: love that is faithful, love that embraces us in faith community. One: We seek a Christmas full of love,   All: love that reaches out, love that welcomes everyone. One: We seek a Christmas full of love,   All: love that is compassionate, love that brings healing and hope. One: We seek a Christmas full of love, All: love that is pr...

The Gospel reading today takes us to the moment just before Jesus was born. This is not a historical report in the modern sense. It is one of Matthew’s important theological reflections, answering deeper questions: Who is Jesus? How did God come to be with us? And what kind of faith makes room for that promise to enter the world? The story begins with a man named Joseph. He was engaged to Mary. In their world, engagement was legally binding, even though the couple did not live together yet. Joseph did not know Mary deeply, but he knew her character well enough to see her as faithful and trustworthy. He imagined a future with her and dreamed of a happy life together. Then Joseph heard devastating news. Mary was pregnant. Joseph was shocked. He was confused. He felt betrayed. His plans collapsed in a moment. However, even in his pain, Joseph did not rush to assume or conclude. He knew there could be circumstances he did not understand. Their society was unstable and unequal under imperia...

*Gathering Hymn Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (#2 VU | vs. 1,3,4) Welcome & Land Acknowledgement Advent Candle-Lighting One: Today we light the fourth candle, the candle of Love. Love is the deep heartbeat of Advent: the love that became flesh, the love that comes close with tenderness and truth. This flame carries the promise that no darkness is too deep for God’s compassion. May this light shape our lives, so that we become bearers of Christ’s love to everyone we meet along the way. All Sing - Then Let Us Sing #55 “We light this candle” We light this candle for love. Await the new life within. May our hearts now live each day, so love can find a way, so love can find a way. Call to Worship One: In this fourth week of Advent, we honour God’s gift of love. All: We mark the time leading to Christmas with light. One: We honour Jesus’ birth, a light in our shadows.   All: Where the world groans in loneliness, sadness, or hate, our God responds with love, with joy. One: We w...