10.30am Sunday 13th December 2020

Welcome to St Catharine’s church for our service whether you are here in person or joining

online. Everything you need for the service is on this service sheet. There is a link to appropriate teaching materials for the children during our sermon. Wherever we maybe, in

the building or online, let’s remind ourselves we are worshipping Jesus together. Welcome Call to Worship Clap your hands, all you nations Shout to God with cries of joy For the LORD Most High is awesome The great king over all the earth Psalm 47:1,2 Song: O Come all ye faithful 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 abhor not the virgin’s womb Very God begotten not created O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord! Affirmation of faith Do you believe and trust in God the Father, source of all being and life, the one for whom we exist? All We believe and trust in him. Do you believe and trust in God the Son, who took our human nature, died for us and rose again? All We believe and trust in him. Song: O Come O Come O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Sing choirs of angels, sing in exultation Sing all ye citizens of heaven above Glory to God, all glory in the highest O come, let us adore him…. Yea, Lord we greet thee, born for our salvation Jesus to thee be all glory giv’n Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing O Come, let us adore him…. Written by John Wade, arranged by Phil Moore Do you believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit, who gives life to the people of God and makes Christ known in the world? All We believe and trust in him. This is the faith of the Church All This is our faith. We believe and trust in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. O come, Thou rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan's tyranny; from depths of hell Thy people save, and give them victory o'er the grave. Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

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. Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. Confession Most merciful God, We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word and deed, By what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart;

O come, Thou Key of David, come and open wide our heavenly home; make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery. Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. John Mason Neale, Thomas Helmore, 31982

We are truly sorry and we humbly repent For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ Have mercy on us and forgive us; That we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name Amen

Advent Wreath Lord Jesus, light of the world, John told the people to prepare, for you were very near. As Christmas grows closer day by day, help us to be ready to welcome you now. Amen.

Bible Reading: Isaiah 65:17-25

“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth.

The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create,

for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy.

19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people;

the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.

20 “Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days,

or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child;

the one who fails to reach[a] a hundred will be considered accursed.

21 They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

22 No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree,

so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy

the work of their hands. 23 They will not labor in vain,

nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the Lord,

they and their descendants with them. 24 Before they call I will answer;

while they are still speaking I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together,

and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food.

They will neither harm nor destroy

on all my holy mountain,” says the Lord.

Bible Reading: John 3:22-30

22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized.23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim,

because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to

him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him,

and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.30 He must become greater; I must become less.”

Children’s activities – click this link To access this week’s children’s work video bit.ly/KidsChurchHoughton You can also find a playlist on our Youtube page with all of our kids work on too. Sermon

Song: Christ our hope in life and death What is our hope in life and death? Christ alone, Christ alone. What is our only confidence? That our souls to Him belong. Who holds our days within His hand? What comes, apart from His command? And what will keep us to the end? The love of Christ, in which we stand.

O sing hallelujah! Our hope springs eternal; O sing hallelujah! Now and ever we confess Christ our hope in life and death. What truth can calm the troubled soul? God is good, God is good. Where is His grace and goodness known? In our great Redeemer’s blood.

Who holds our faith when fears arise? Who stands above the stormy trial? Who sends the waves that bring us nigh Unto the shore, the rock of Christ? O Sing hallelujah!... Unto the grave, what shall we sing? “Christ, He lives; Christ, He lives!” And what reward will heaven bring? Everlasting life with Him. There we will rise to meet the Lord, Then sin and death will be destroyed, And we will feast in endless joy, When Christ is ours forevermore. Offertory prayer

Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation; through your goodness we have this money to offer, the fruit of our labour and of the skills you have given us. Take us and our possessions to do your work in the world. Blessed be God for ever.

Prayers and 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

O sing hallelujah!... 2020 Getty Music Publishing (BMI) / Messenger Hymns (BMI) / Jordan Kauflin Music (BMI) / Matthew Merker Music CCLI 7147502 Forgive us our sins As we forgive those who sin against us Lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil Lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever Amen

Notices Hymn: Joy to the world Joy to the world, the Lord is 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 Savior 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. Blessing Go in peace to love and serve the Lord In the name of Christ. Amen

He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders, of His love. Isaac Watts

Please do join us for refreshments after the service using

Zoom. Use this link Zoom refreshments room:

https://leccofe.zoom.us/j/96711370864?pwd=eUZVZXBQQkNYc0xMUW5vWXhEeGZDdz09

Or enter (Meeting ID: 967 1137 0864)

(Passcode: 259840)