Carol sheet 

Peachcroft Christian Centre
would like to welcome you to
Carols in the Park!  

We hope you enjoy this opportunity to sing together
as a local community.




Rev. David Masters will be welcoming you and leading our carols and short bible readings today. 


Joy to the world! the Lord has come

let earth receive her King.

Let every heart prepare Him room,

and heaven and nature sing,

and heaven and nature sing,

and heaven, and heaven and nature sing!

 

Joy to the earth! the Saviour reigns;

your sweetest songs employ.

While fields and streams and hills and plains

repeat the sounding joy,

repeat the sounding joy,

repeat, repeat the sounding joy!

 

He rules the world with truth and grace,

and makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness,

the wonders of His love,

the wonders of His love,

the wonders, the wonders of His love.


Isaac Watts



O little town of Bethlehem,

How still we see thee lie!

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep

The silent stars go by.

Yet in thy dark streets shineth

The everlasting Light;

The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in thee tonight.


O morning stars, together

Proclaim the holy birth,

And praises sing to God the King,

And peace to men on earth;

For Christ is born of Mary,

And gathered all above,

While mortals sleep, the angels keep

Their watch of wondering love.

 

How silently, how silently

The wondrous gift is given!

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of His heaven.

No ear may hear His coming;

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive Him, still

The dear Christ enters in.

 

O holy Child of Bethlehem,

Descend to us, we pray;

Cast out our sin, and enter in;

Be born in us today.

We hear the Christmas angels

The great glad tidings tell;

O come to us, abide with us,

Our Lord Immanuel!

 

Phillips Brooks


Reading: Luke 2: 1-7

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.


Silent night, holy night!

Sleeps the world; hid from sight,

Mary and Joseph in stable bare

Watch o'er the Child beloved and fair,

Sleeping in heavenly rest,

Sleeping in heavenly rest.


Silent night, holy night!

Shepherds first saw the light,

Heard resounding clear and long,

Far and near, the angel-song:

‘Christ the Redeemer is here,

Christ the Redeemer is here.'


Silent night, holy night!

Son of God, O how bright

Love is smiling from Thy face!

Strikes for us now the hour of grace,

Saviour, since Thou art born,

Saviour, since Thou art born.


Joseph Mohr Tr. S. A. Brooke


Reading: Luke 2: 8-18

And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.’

When the angels had left them and gone 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 about.’

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.



Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,

the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head;

the stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay;

the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

 

The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,

but little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes:

I love You, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky

and stay by my side until morning is nigh.

 

Be near me, Lord Jesus: I ask You to stay

close by me forever and love me, I pray;

bless all the dear children in Your tender care,

and fit us for heaven to live with You there.

 

 Verses 1 & 2 unknown.Verse 3 J. T. McFarland



Christmas thought - Rev David Masters



Hark!  the herald angels sing

“Glory to the new-born King!

Peace on earth and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled.”

Joyful, all you nations rise,

Join the triumph of the skies;

With the angelic host proclaim,

“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”


Hark the herald-angels sing

“Glory to the new-born King!”


Christ by highest heaven adored,

Christ the everlasting Lord,

Late in time behold him come,

Offspring of a virgin’s womb!

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see!

Hail, the incarnate deity!

Pleased as man with man to dwell,

Jesus, our Immanuel.


Hark the herald-angels sing

“Glory to the new-born King!”


Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Sun of righteousness!

Light and life to all he brings,

Risen with healing in his wings.

Mild he lays his glory by,

Born that man no more may die;

Born to raise the sons of earth,

Born to give them second birth.


Hark the herald-angels sing

“Glory to the new-born King!”

 

Charles Wesley


O come, all ye faithful,

Joyful and triumphant,

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;

Come and behold Him,

Born the King of angels;

 

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord!

 

God of God,

Light of light,

Lo, He abhors not the virgin's womb;

Very God,

Begotten, not created:

 

Sing, choirs of angels,

Sing in exultation,

Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;

Glory to God

In the highest:

 

Tr. Frederick Oakeley, altd



Blessing:
 May the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the perseverance of the wise men, the obedience of Joseph and Mary and the peace of the Christ-child be yours this Christmas.
 Amen


Hot drinks and seasonal snacks will be available after the carols
 at Peachcroft Christian Centre, opposite Budgens.


Christmas services at Peachcroft Christian Centre - do come along!



If you would like to explore more about faith, we will be running "321" in the New Year, a four session course that aims to help us to understand God, the world and ourselves.