THE SEVEN LESSONS 
The Congregation, standing shall be bidden to Prayer in these words: 

BELOVED in Christ, at this Christmas tide let it be our care and delight to hear again the message of the angels, and in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, and the Babe lying in a manger. Therefore let us read and mark in Holy Scripture the tale of the 
loving purposes of God from the first days of our disobedience unto the glorious Redemption brought us by this Holy Child. 

But first, let us pray for the needs of the whole world; for peace on earth and goodwill among all his people; for unity and brotherhood within the Church he came to build, and especially in this our diocese. And because this would rejoice his heart, let us remember, in his name., the poor and helpless the cold, the hungry, and the oppressed; the sick and them that• mourn, the lonely, and the unloved, the aged and the little children; all those who know not the Lord Jesus, or who love him not, or who by sin have grieved his heart of love. 

Lastly, let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us, but upon another shore, and in a greater light, that multitude which no man can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom in the Lord Jesus we are one for evermore . 

These prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the Throne of Heaven, in the words which Christ himself hath taught us: Our Father, which art in Heaven, Hallowed by thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done; In earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and eve.  Amen 

Then shall the Congregation sit. 

Our service this morning is based on the Festival of Lessons and Carols
which is sung on Christmas Eve by the choir of King's College Chapel, Cambridge, England. This beautiful .service, based on a medieval vigil, was instituted some years ago by Bishop Edward Benson at Truro Cathedral. It was modified at a later date by the Dean of King's College, and since then has been sung annually and broadcast and televised around the world. 
The service consists of a procession, bidding prayer with the, Lord's Prayer, lessons, with appropriate carols and hymns, Offertory, prayers, blessing and a recessional 

The language of the lessons is from King James Bible.

Sides People  Shirley & Don Marston

Church News 
ACW Thank you: On behalf of the ACW we would like to thank all the women and those who helped to be able to present to our church the sum of $3000. To assist with our deficit.

Rector's Christmas vacation - Sandra and her family will be on vacation from the afternoon of Dec. 26th until Jan. 5th. If there is an emergency during this time, please call our Honourary Assistant, the Rev. Dr. Bruce Matthews, at 542-1910. Special thanks to Bruce for his pastoral oversight during this time and his ongoing presence in our worship life at St. John’s.

2010 envelopes are at the back of the church for pick-up. 

Parish hall review As part of our ongoing review of parish property and operations, it has become apparent that considerable funds ($25,000-$35,000) will be required in 2010 for a new roof and new furnace for our parish hall. In light of this, parish council believes that we need to discuss the role of the hall in relation to our ministry and outreach. We will hold special congregational meetings prior to and after the Annual Meeting, so that we can hear from everyone about the future of the parish hall. No decisions have been made and none will be until further discussion and consultation have taken place with the congregation. 

Mark these dates on your calendar 
Jan. 17th Parish Council meeting in the sunroom at 7:30 pm.

Jan 18th. ACW meet in the sun room. All are invited to attend.

Feb. 21st, St. John's Anglican Church, Parish of Horton, Annual General Meeting. All are encouraged to attend. See sign up sheet at the back of the church if you would like to have your annual report sent to you via email instead of in a printed format.

ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID’S CITY
Cecil Frances Alexander wrote the words of this hymn "or inclusion in her 'Hymns for Little Children' which was published in 1848. She had overheard her godchildren complaining of the dreariness of the Catechism, and she dedicated her hymns thus, "To my little godsons I inscribe these simple lines, hoping that the language of verse, which children love, may help to impress on their minds what they are, what I have promised for them at their baptism, and what they must seek to be." She also wrote the words of 'All things bright and beautyful' and 'There is a green hill far away.' 
The tune 'Irby' written by Henry John Gauntlett, was first published in 1849. For the processional at its annual Christmas Eve telecast of a 'Festival of Lessons and Carols' the choir of King's College, Cambridge, sings all six verses of Mrs. Alexander's hymn. Our hymnbook prints only three. 

PREPARE THE WAY, O  ZION
This Advent Hymn, in regular use for almost two hundred years in the Church of Sweden, provides for English-speaking congregations. a text with deep biblical roots set to a tune of remarkable rhythmic vitality. The text, by Frans Mikael Franzen, was first published in 1812 and is built on Isaiah 40: verses 3 to 5, 'Prepare ye the way of the Lord.' The tune, first published in 1697, was originally used with a text for meals, but since 1812 has been linked with Franzen's hymn. 

AWAY IN A MANGER 
It is thought that the original words of this carol derived from one of the many children's dramatic presentations mounted by American Lutherans in 1883 to mark the 400th anniversary of the birth of their founder, and that it was originally a recited poem, not a song. The first two verses appeared anonymously in 'The Little Children's Book for Schools and Families' (Philadelphia, 1885) and two years later James R. Murray published these stanzas with a tune of his own in 'Dainty Songs for Little Lads and Lasses' (Cincinnati 1887). Murray printed the song under the heading 'Luther's Cradle Hymn' with a parenthetical notation that it was 'composed by Martin Luther for his children, and still sung by German mothers to their little ones.' This last was a pious invention: German mothers remain resolutely unacquainted with the hymn. This erroneous attribution to Luther persisted for many years

THREE KINGS OF ORIENT
John Henry Hopkins was rector of Christ's Church, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, when he wrote the words and music of this carol, and published it in his collection of Carols, Hymns and Songs in 1865. It has been called 'the first modern American Christmas carol.' 
To quote the editors of The New Oxford Book of Carols, "Hopkins's collection is a model of clarity and simplicity, and his preface is agreeably splenetic: 'Compilers of other Collections are at liberty to transfer any of the pieces in this little volume provided they leave what they take unaltered. If any change be made in either words or music without my permission, I shall prosecute the offender to the extent of the law.' He clearly feared the worst, and with reason: as we write we have before us seven modern carol-books that include his carol- not one reproduces his original; not one preserves the very qualities for which the carol has been so admired. The dramatized performances that are occasionally to be seen in churches seem to us misconceived, especially those in which the gifts are presented to the Christ-child. The kings are traveling, looking forward to the King, his Passion, death and, finally, to his Resurrection; the gifts are symbols of this, and nothing in the text suggests that the kings actually present them.  We shall include Hopkins's interlude after each refrain. 

IT CAME UPON THE MIDNIGHT CLEAR
The text of this popular carol was written in 1849 by Edmund Sears, then minister to the Unitarian congregation in Wayland, Mass. As with other American Unitarian hymns of its time it stresses the social implications of the Gospel, and as a Christmas text it is unusual in that it contains no reference to the birth of Jesus. Two tunes are printed in our hymnbook, and as in the case of No. 120 and 121 0 little town of Bethlehem we have chosen that melody which is more popular on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. 

O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL
The origin of this universally loved Christmas hymn is shrouded in obscurity. The tune and four Latin verses are found in the manuscripts of John Francis Wade, well-known in English Catholic circles and resident at the English College in Douai, France, and later connected with prominent Catholic musicians of the foreign embassy chapels in mid-18th century London. The current text and tune appeared together in Hymns, Ancient and Modern, (1861) and soon entered the permanent Christmas carol repertoire. The tune is well known with its Latin text in France, Spain and Latin America. 

Priest-in-Charge:  The Rev. Sandra Fyfe e-mail:yfesandra@hotmail.com 542-2464
Deacon/Postulant for Holy Orders:   The Rev. K. Ann Watson
Wardens:    Ms. Kathy Philips, Mr. John Whidden
Organist /Choir Director:  Don Corbett
Flower Convener: Cathy Stewart, 542-5565
Administrative Assistant:  Debbie MacDonald e-mail: idmac@eastlink.ca
Sexton and Parish Hall Manager:   Louis Lightfoot  681- 0339
Website: www.stjohnsanglicanchurchwolfville.com