Sunday, 25th December 2022

The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Burton Latimer

Making the love of God known in our community

Welcome to our worship today

Saturday 24th December 2022-Christmas Eve

3pm – Crib Service and 7:30pm Holy Communion

Sunday, 25th December 2022-Christmas Day

10.00am – Holy Communion

Our Prayer List

Each week we pray for a different street: this week is Wold Road.

We remember those who are ill or need our prayers at this time, especially: Susan Downing, Liliarna, Margaret Jones, Marion Heygate, Hazel Smith, Barbara Chapman.

We pray for the souls of those who have died: Edward Rogers

We pray for those anniversaries at this time: Marlene King, Sam Armstrong, Graham Hill, Gill Bosworth, Dr Kenneth Padgett, Penelope Hill, Michael Finn Senior, Margaret Mellors, Ray Harris

Contact details:

Rector: The Reverend Patrick Kelleher, The Rectory, Preston Court, Burton Latimer, Kettering, NN15 5LR. Telephone 01536 722844, email: patrickkelleher185@outlook.com

Churchwardens:

Mike Jones, telephone 01536 724860

Carol Sharman, telephone 01536725759, (weddings, baptisms and funerals)

Safeguarding Officer: Lucy Lorentzen, telephone: 07944597181

Website: www.stmarysburtonlatimer.co.uk or visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/stmarysburtonlatimer.co.uk

24th December 2022-Christmas Eve.

Collect.

God our Father,

Tomorrow the Saviour is born

and those who live in darkness are seeing a great light.

Help us, who greet the birth of Christ with joy,

to live in the light of your Son

and to share the good news of your love.

We ask this through Jesus Christ,

the light who has come into the world.

Amen

First Reading

Acts 13.16-26

16So Paul stood up and with a gesture began to speak:

‘You Israelites, and others who fear God, listen. 17The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. 18For about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. 19After he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance 20for about four hundred and fifty years. After that he gave them judges until the time of the prophet Samuel. 21Then they asked for a king; and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years. 22When he had removed him, he made David their king. In his testimony about him he said, “I have found David, son of Jesse, to be a man after my heart, who will carry out all my wishes.” 23Of this man’s posterity God has brought to Israel a Saviour, Jesus, as he promised; 24before his coming John had already proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25And as John was finishing his work, he said, “What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but one is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of the sandals on his feet.”

26‘My brothers, you descendants of Abraham’s family, and others who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent.’

Gospel reading.

Luke 2.1-14

1In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3All went to their own towns to be registered. 4Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

8In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

Post Communion Prayer.

Eternal God, for whom we wait, you have fed us with the bread of eternal life: keep us ever watchful, that we may be ready to stand before the Son of man, Jesus Christ our Lord.

25th December 2022-Christmas Day.

Collect

God our Father,

today the Saviour is born

and those who live in darkness are seeing a great light.

Help us, who greet the birth of Christ with joy,

to live in the light of your Son

and to share the good news of your love.

We ask this through Jesus Christ,

the light who has come into the world.

Amen

First Reading

Psalm 96

Refrain: O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.

Sing to the Lord and bless his name; tell out his salvation from day

to day. Declare his glory among the nations and his wonders among all

peoples. For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; he is more to be

feared than all gods. For all the gods of the nations are but idols; it is the

Lord who made the heavens.

Honour and majesty are before him; power and splendour are in his

sanctuary. Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples; ascribe to the

Lord honour and strength.

Ascribe to the Lord the honour due to his name; bring offerings and

come into his courts.

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth

tremble before him. Tell it out among the nations that the Lord is king.

He has made the world so firm that it cannot be moved; he will judge the

peoples with equity.

Let the heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad; let the sea thunder

and all that is in it; Let the fields be joyful and all that is in them; let all the

trees of the wood shout for joy before the Lord. For he comes, he comes

to judge the earth; with righteousness he will judge the world and the

peoples with his truth.

Gospel reading.

Luke 2.15-20

15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ 16So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Post Communion Prayer

God our Father, in this night you have made known to us again the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: confirm our faith and fix our eyes on him until the day dawns and Christ the Morning Star rises in our hearts. To him be glory both now and for ever.

We should like to thank everyone who contributes to our stewardship scheme, whether by standing order to our bank, through the Parish Giving Scheme or by regular giving through the plate. We are grateful for your gifts. If you would like to support us, please contact Charmaine Augustus for further information.

Chip and Pin: We are able to accept donations for our church by chip and pin and there is card reader available at the back of church for this purpose. The plate collection will also be available.

Prayer list: The names of those who are ill or in need of prayer will remain on the prayer list for three weeks. However, we realise that some people may need to be on for longer and, if this is the case, please speak with Carol Sharman who will be happy to arrange this.

Please pray for the Cassie Deeming who is preparing to go to Korea as a missionary early next year. Cassie, who is Sharon‘s daughter, ask for our prayer support as she gets ready to work in our link diocese of Seoul.

Wellbeing Café: Come along. Speak to Sharon to find out more or email shazzasunflower@yahoo.co.uk

No Wellbeing Café Wednesday 28th December

This Week

Christmas Eve Saturday 24th December 2022- Crib Service 3pm

Holy Communion 7.30pm

Christmas Day Sunday 25th – Holy Communion 10am

Sunday 1st January 2023-The Second Sunday of Christmas.

10am Holy Communion. (No 8:30am Service)

CCL Licence No. 480320