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We welcome Father Ben from St Michael’s today.  Father Bob is away. 

Processional Hymn     83           As with gladness

Collect of the Day
O God,
who by the leading of a star
manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth:
mercifully grant that we,
who know you now by faith,
may at last behold your glory face to face;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

First Reading                 Isaiah 60.1-6                                         (p.38)
            “Arise, shine, for your light has come,
                        and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
            See, darkness covers the earth
                        and thick darkness is over the peoples,
            but the LORD rises upon you
                        and his glory appears over you.
            Nations will come to your light,
                        and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
            Lift up your eyes and look about you:
                        All assemble and come to you;
            your sons come from afar,
                        and your daughters are carried on the arm.
            Then you will look and be radiant,
                        your heart will throb and swell with joy;
            the wealth on the seas will be brought to you,
                        to you the riches of the nations will come.
            Herds of camels will cover your land,
                        young camels of Midian and Ephah.
            And all from Sheba will come,
                        bearing gold and incense
                        and proclaiming the praise of the LORD.”

Gradual Hymn               89           O worship the Lord

GOSPEL                         Matthew 2.1-12                                    (p.41)
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:  “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’”
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Amazing love, oh what sacrifice
The Son of God, given for me
My debt He paid, and my death He died
That I might live, that I might live

INTERCESSIONS
Please pray for
- The sick and suffering: especially Felix Okike, Lucilda Bernard, Joan Andrew, Elizabeth Dorsett, Ivy Smith, Susie Leach, Norbert Edwards, Brother Paul Anthony, Sylvia Steed, Caroline Nevill, Tracey Davies, Esmay Young, Roger Cox.

Offertory Hymn             86          From the eastern mountains

Communion Hymn      87            Hail to the Lord's Annointed

Post Communion Prayer
Lord God,
the bright splendour whom the nations seek:
may we who with the wise men have been drawn by your light
discern the glory of your presence in your Son,
the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ our Lord.

NOTICES

THIS WEEK:

(Bush City Youth Academy resumes Tues 15th January)

NEXT SUNDAY:        13 January 2008        Baptism of Christ

10 am SUNG EUCHARIST
Celebrant and Preacher – The Reverend Dr Bob Mayo
Acts 10.34-43 (p 44), Matthew 3.13-17 (p 45)

Sunday School resumes - meets in St Stephen’s school
Sunday Youth resumes -  meets in the Glebe Maisonette

Sunday School meets in St Stephen's School
Sunday Youth meets in the Glebe Maisonette
Small Children are welcome to play in St Thomas's Chapel, near the porch
Baptised Communicants of other Churches are encouraged to receive communion
Children and other non-communicants are invited to come to the altar for a blessing
The Ministry of Healing is offered in the Chapel, after Communion is given

Home Communion – Available to any unable to come on a Sunday.  Talk to Father Bob (8743 3166) if you or anyone else might be interested.

Any enquiries about pastoral concerns, baptisms, weddings or funerals please get in touch with Father Bob. The only time that Bob will be unavailable is between Friday pm and Sunday am.