Morning Prayer Online Service | Sunday, 3 January 2021

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Greeting

¶ The Minister welcomes the people to the online service.

Hymn: Hail to the Lord’s Anointed

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed;

Great David’s greater Son!

Hail, in the time appointed,

His reign on earth begun!

He comes to break oppression,

To set the captive free,

To take away transgression,

And rule in equity.

Anointed One, and Saviour!

He comes to those in need;

And mercy, peace and favour

Descend their souls to feed;

He gives them songs for sighing,

Their darkness turns to light,

Whose souls, condemned and dying,

Were precious in His sight.

Kings shall fall down before Him,

And gold and incense bring;

All nations shall adore Him,

His praise all people sing:

For He shall have dominion

O’er river, sea, and shore,

Far as the eagle’s pinion,

Or dove’s light wing can soar.

For Him shall prayer unceasing

And daily vows ascend;

His kingdom still increasing,

A kingdom without end;

The mountain dews shall nourish

A seed in weakness sown,

Whose fruit shall spread and flourish,

Till time itself has run.

O’er every foe victorious,

He on His throne shall rest;

From age to age more glorious,

All blessing and all blest,

The tide of time shall never

His covenant remove;

His name shall stand for ever,

That name to us is − Love!

Words: James Montgomery Tune: CRÜGER Public Domain

Audio of congregational singing of Metropolitan Tabernacle, London

Courtesy of Martijn de Groot Used by Permission

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Prayer of Confession

Minister If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins

and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-10)

Brothers and sisters: the Scriptures urge us to acknowledge our many sins,

and not to conceal them in the presence of God our heavenly Father,

but to confess them with a penitent and obedient heart,

so that we may be forgiven through his boundless goodness and mercy.

Let us therefore draw near to the throne of our gracious God,

through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us, and confess our sins together:

All Almighty God, our Heavenly Father

We have sinned against you and against our neighbours

in thought and word and deed,

through negligence, through weakness,

through our own deliberate fault.

We are truly sorry

and repent of all our sins.

For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,

who died for us,

forgive us all that is past,

and grant that we may serve you in newness of life

to the glory of your name. Amen

Minister Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who desires not the death of a sinner,

but rather that he may turn from his wickedness, and live;

He pardons and absolves all them that truly repent and believe his holy Gospel.

For this reason, let us ask him to grant us true repentance, and his Holy Spirit,

that our lives may be pure and holy;

so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All Amen

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The Apostles’ Creed

All I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.

Amen.

Old Testament: Isaiah 60:1-6 1 Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,

and thick darkness the peoples;

but the LORD will arise upon you,

and his glory will be seen upon you. 3 And nations shall come to your light,

and kings to the brightness of your rising. 4 Lift up your eyes all around, and see;

they all gather together, they come to you;

your sons shall come from afar,

and your daughters shall be carried on the hip. 5 Then you shall see and be radiant;

your heart shall thrill and exult

because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,

the wealth of the nations shall come to you.

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6 A multitude of camels shall cover you,

the young camels of Midian and Ephah;

all those from Sheba shall come.

They shall bring gold and frankincense,

and shall bring good news, the praises of the LORD.

Reader This is the Word of the Lord.

All Thanks be to God.

Psalm 72:1-15

Of Solomon.

1 Give the king your justice, O God,

and your righteousness to the royal son! 2 May he judge your people with righteousness,

and your poor with justice! 3 Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people,

and the hills, in righteousness! 4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,

give deliverance to the children of the needy,

and crush the oppressor! 5 May they fear you while the sun endures,

and as long as the moon, throughout all generations! 6 May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,

like showers that water the earth! 7 In his days may the righteous flourish,

and peace abound, till the moon be no more! 8 May he have dominion from sea to sea,

and from the River to the ends of the earth! 9 May desert tribes bow down before him,

and his enemies lick the dust! 10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands

render him tribute;

may the kings of Sheba and Seba

bring gifts! 11 May all kings fall down before him,

all nations serve him!

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12 For he delivers the needy when he calls,

the poor and him who has no helper. 13 He has pity on the weak and the needy,

and saves the lives of the needy. 14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life,

and precious is their blood in his sight. 15 Long may he live;

may gold of Sheba be given to him!

May prayer be made for him continually,

and blessings invoked for him all the day!

Reader Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

All As it was in the beginning, is now and shall be forever. Amen.

New Testament: Matthew 2:1-12 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise

men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the

Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king

heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests

and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him,

“In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for from you shall come a ruler

who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star

had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child,

and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After

listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it

rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they

saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house they saw the

child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their

treasures they offered him gifts gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a

dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Reader This is the Word of the Lord.

All Thanks be to God.

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Song: Maker, Made a Child

There was once a child a son born long ago

In Bethlehem’s dark cold night

A promise for the world His birth was long

foretold

A baby born to swallow death

Oh Bethlehem a prophet told

From your streets will rise the ruler of all time

Oh Bethlehem our king you hold

For the Maker of the world is made a child

Oh the Maker of the world is made a child

Descended from the kings of ever failing hearts

Begotten from before all time

Behold the Prince of Peace behold the Son of

God

Who’s swaddled now in mortal flesh

The One who breathed out stars

Now draws a shaking breath

The light of life among us dwells

Oh hear the darkness quake as angels all

proclaim

The glory of Immanuel

© 2020 Abi Marthinet-Glover, Jake Marthinet-Glover, Alanna Glover

Used by Permission. CCLI License No. 332301

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Sermon: Coming to Jesus … from far away

Matthew 2:1-12

1. Introduction

2. The Magi and Herod (v.1-8)

3. The Magi and Jesus (v.9-12)

4. Implications for us

a. Herod

b. Magi

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Song: What Child is This

What Child is this who laid to rest

On Mary's lap is sleeping

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet

While shepherds watch are keeping

This this is Christ the King

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing

Haste haste to bring Him laud

The Babe the Son of Mary

Why lies He in such mean estate

Where ox and ass are feeding

Good Christian fear for sinners here

The silent Word is pleading

Nails spear shall pierce Him through

The cross be borne for me for you

Hail hail the Word made flesh

The Babe the Son of Mary

So bring Him incense gold and myrrh

Come peasant king to own Him

The King of kings salvation brings

Let loving hearts enthrone Him

Raise raise the song on high

The Virgin sings her lullaby

Joy joy for Christ is born

The Babe the Son of Mary

Nails spear shall pierce Him through

The cross be borne for me for you

Hail hail the Word made flesh

The Babe the Son of Mary

Words: William Chatterton Dix Tune: GREENSLEEVES

Public Domain

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Prayers of Intercession

Collects

¶ Collect for the Second Sunday after Christmas.

All Almighty God,

in the birth of your Son

you have poured on us the new light of your incarnate Word,

and shown us the fullness of your love:

help us to walk in his light and dwell in his love

that we may know the fullness of his joy;

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

¶ Collect for Epiphany.

All 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. Amen.

¶ The Lord’s Prayer.

All 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.

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours

now and for ever. Amen.

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Announcements

Hymn: As with Gladness Men of Old

As with gladness men of old

Did the guiding star behold,

As with joy they hailed its light,

Leading onward, beaming bright:

So, most gracious Lord, may we

Evermore be led to Thee.

As with joyful steps they sped,

Saviour, to Thy lowly bed,

There to bend the knee before

Thee Whom Heaven and earth adore:

So may we with willing feet

Ever seek Thy mercy-seat.

Saviour Jesus, every day

Keep us on the heavenly way;

And, when earthly things are past,

Bring our ransomed souls at last

Where they need no star to guide,

Where no clouds Thy glory hide.

In the heavenly country bright

Need they no created light;

Thou its light, its joy, its crown,

Thou its sun, which goes not down;

There for ever may we sing

Hallelujahs to our King.

Words: William Chatterton Dix Tune: DIX

Public Domain Audio of congregational singing

of Metropolitan Tabernacle, London Courtesy of Martijn de Groot

Used by Permission

Closing and Grace

¶ Parting words from the officiating minister, with the grace.

All The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

and the love of God,

and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,

be with us all evermore. Amen.

Minister Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

All In the name of Christ. Amen.

Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard

Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News

Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Virtual Tea Terrace

Our virtual tea terrace will be open after today’s online service. This virtual tea terrace provides

a place that people can come to chat with each other after church. Please do join us on this link

that will take you straight into the Zoom meeting: stmarys.my/vtt

Life Explored

Life Explored is a course designed to help people explore the meaning of life and introduce

them to the God who is revealed in Jesus Christ. This course will run online for 7 sessions, with

the first session running this afternoon at 2pm. Getting to know God, through the Bible, would

be a wonderful way to start the new year and indeed a new chapter in life! You can sign up for

the course here: findoutmore.stmarys.my

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