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ST COLUMBA’S, PONT STREET,
SUNDAY 21ST DECEMBER 2025 11.00 A.M.,
MORNING WORSHIP
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 53 Oh, greatly blest the people are (Psalm 89) (St Stephen (Newington))
1 Oh, greatly blest the people are
the joyful sound that know;
in brightness of thy face, O Lord,
they ever on shall go.
2 They in thy name shall all the day
rejoice exceedingly;
and in thy righteousness shall they
exalted be on high.
3 For God is our defence; and he
to us doth safety bring:
the Holy One of Israel
is our almighty King.
Call to Prayer
Prayers of Approach & Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power and the glory for ever, Amen.
Theme for the day
Hymn 312 Away in a manger (Cradle Song)
1 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.
2 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.
3 Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask you to stay
close by me for ever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in your tender care,
and fit us for heaven, to live with you there.
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 7: 10-16
10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, 11 “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” 13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel. 15 He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.
New Testament Reading: Romans 1: 1-7
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, 3 the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit[a] of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the gentiles for the sake of his name, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
7 To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints:
Anthem: There is no rose Gerald Near (b 1942)
There is no rose of such virtue
As is the rose that bare Jesu. Alleluia.
For in this rose containèd was
Heaven and earth in little space. Res miranda.
By that rose we may well see
That he is God in persons three, Pari forma.
The angels sungen the shepherds to:
Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gaudeamus.
Now leave we all this worldly mirth
And follow we this joyful birth; Transeamus.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 1: 18-25
18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 “Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means, “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had given birth to a son, and he named him Jesus.
Hymn 305 In the bleak midwinter (Cranham)
1 In the bleak midwinter
frosty wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron,
water like a stone:
snow had fallen,
snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter,
long ago.
2 Our God, heaven cannot hold him,
nor earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away
when he comes to reign:
in the bleak midwinter
a stable place sufficed
the Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.
3 Enough for him whom cherubim
worship night and day,
a breastful of milk
and a mangerful of hay:
enough for him
whom angels fall down before,
the ox and ass and camel
which adore.
4 Angels and archangels
may have gathered there,
cherubim and seraphim
thronged the air,
but only his mother,
in her maiden bliss,
worshiped the Beloved
with a kiss.
5 What can I give him,
poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd,
I would bring a lamb,
if I were a wise man
I would do my part,
yet what I can I give him,
give my heart.
Sermon
Anthem: Virga Jesse Bruckner (1824-96)
Virga. Jesse floruit;
Virga Deum et hominem genuit;
Pacem Deus reddidit;
In se reconcilians ima summis. Alleluia.
The rod of Jesse has blossomed;
A Virgin has brought forth God and man;
God has restored peace,
Reconciling in himself the lowest with the highest. Alleluia.
Dedication of our Offerings
{If able, please stand as the offering is brought forward and the congregation sings}
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. (CH4 807, Old 100th)
Prayer of Dedication:
Minister: Father, Son, and Spirit Holy,
we give you thanks and praise:
Congregation: We dedicate to you
our thoughts, our words,
our gifts, our deeds,
the working of our hands,
the thinking of our minds,
the loving of our hearts. Amen.
Prayers of Thanksgiving & Intercession
Intimations
Hymn 309 Still the night, holy the night! (Stille Nacht)
1 Still the night, holy the night!
Sleeps the world; hid from sight,
Mary and Joseph in stable bare
watch o’er the Child belovèd and fair,
sleeping in heavenly rest,
sleeping in heavenly rest.2 Still the night, holy the 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!’
3 Still the night, holy the 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!
Benediction & Choral Amen
Organ Postlude: War march of the priests (Mendelssohn)
Retiring Offering for the continuing life and ministry of St Columba’s. It is possible to donate via the website. We are most grateful for all that we receive.
This week
Sunday 21st December 2025
10.15 a.m. Poetry & Prayer for Advent
London Scottish Chapel
11.00 a.m. Morning Service
12.15 p.m. Tea/Coffee, Upper Hall {by donation}
12.15 p.m. Congregational Lunch, Lower Hall {£4}
11.00 a.m. Sounds of St Columba’s Recitals
5.00 p.m. Pont Street Carols supporting ScotsCare
