大象传媒

This script cannot exactly reflect the transmission, as it was prepared before the service was broadcast. It may include editorial notes prepared by the producer, and minor spelling and other errors that were corrected before the radio broadcast.
It may contain gaps to be filled in at the time so that prayers may reflect the needs of the world, and changes may also be made at the last minute for timing reasons, or to reflect current events.

大象传媒 Radio 4. It鈥檚 ten past eight and time for Sunday Worship. Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir are joined by narrators Mel Giedroyc and hip hop artist Wei** for a gospel celebration of the Christmas season which comes from St Martin-in-the-Fields in London. The service is introduced by the Reverend Dr Sam Wells and begins as the choir sings 鈥楬ark! The herald angels sing鈥�.

MUSIC聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Hark the Herald Angels Sing' (Broadway Inspirational Voices)

INTRODUCTION: Rev Dr Sam Wells
Loving God, we鈥檙e gathered together to recall the night that heaven came to earth, and raised earth to heaven.
We read of the journey of the wise men, sages of all the ages, across the desert of unknowing;
We learn of the journey of the shepherds, the underclass of their time, to be the first to greet the new born king;
We remember the journey of Mary and Joseph, surprised by joy to travel to the city of David to celebrate the birth of salvation.
Most of all we recall the journey of God in Christ, from heaven to earth, from the glory of the angelic company to the humility of the stable.
So let us pray that our hearts and homes may have more room for his Holy Spirit than they had when he came in person.

MUSIC聽聽聽聽 Hark the Herald Angels Sing' (Israel Houghton) 鈥� part 1

READING (KJV): Mel
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

MUSIC聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Hark the Herald Angels Sing' (Israel Houghton) 鈥� part 2

READING (from 鈥淭he Liberator鈥� by Rob Lacey): Wei

MUSIC聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 'Oh Come Emmanuel' (trad arr Clark Sisters)

READING (KJV): Isaiah 30:3-6 (Mel)
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry?

MUSIC聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 'Gabriel's Message' (trad arr Miko Giedroyc)

READING (KJV): Proverbs 8:22鈥�31 (Mel)
The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

MUSIC聽聽聽聽 'Magnificat' (CJM arr Edwin Fawcett)

READING (original piece by SSGC Soprano Chenoa Bradshaw): Wei

Confusion
Someone duped me into thinking
Peace and quiet is the same thing.
Presently, there is a lot of noise:
鈥楧id you hear about Joseph?鈥�
鈥楪uess what I heard about Jo?鈥�
鈥榊o, bruv did you hear about that bruddah Jo鈥�
But, you know;
I still want... peace
God can give that to me... right?

Don鈥檛 get me wrong,
I want to shut down
There鈥檚 a part of me that wants silence and time
To be honest I鈥檓 finding it hard to process
But, it is a process
God鈥檚 involvement makes it no less
Difficult to believe

I thought Mary was sweet, innocent
I thought she was naive
I knew something was off
When she became softer, quieter
More reserved
When she told me
I knew that this wasn鈥檛 what I deserved

Had I followed my mind
I would have followed the law
I know many believe I should鈥檝e dropped her
Right back to her parent鈥檚 door

I knew I couldn鈥檛 sweep it under the carpet
But with communal, sweeping statements
I don鈥檛 feel like giving an account
To most God amounts to little more than fiction
But between her, the world, the baby and all this friction
Is me

And this ain鈥檛 easy
Emotions stuck in my chest
But I鈥檓 doing my best
To be the protector
And to protect her
And this innocent life

My soon to be wife
That I have never known
Is having a baby
By some unknown
She says 鈥榟ighest force鈥�

I say divorce.

God?
Confusion.
God?
Quiet.
God,
I want peace
I need direction.....
I want sleep... 2:00

READING: Matthew 1: 20-23 (Mel)
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

MUSIC聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 'Emmanuel' (Norman Hutchins)

READING: Luke 2:1-14 (Mel)
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 1:18

MUSIC聽聽聽 Silent Night (trad arr Tracey Campbell)

READING (鈥淭he Word on the Street鈥� by Rob Lacey, Zondervan 2003, pp 403-4): Wei

MUSIC聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 'And He Shall Purify' (Handel arr Michael O Jackson and Mervyn Warren)

PRAYERS AND BLESSING (Revd Dr Sam Wells)

God of Mary the teenager, by your Holy Spirit visit any who long for a child, ache to begin again, or know the shadow of public shame.

God of Joseph the dreamer, bless all who, after disappointment, betrayal, or disillusionment are learning to dream again.

God angels from the realms of glory, lift the hearts of those who have nowhere to call home, no friend to trust, no future to look forward to.

God of shepherds abiding in the fields, dwell with any on low wages, whose work disrupts their family life, who long to fulfil their potential.

God of kings and wise men, guide the hand of the powerful, raise up prophets who speak the truth, and move in the hearts of any who are close to faith.

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who 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 ever. Amen.

May God who by Christ鈥檚 incarnation gathered into one things earthly and heavenly, unite rich and poor, male and female, bitter and unforgiven, prodigal and parent, Jew and Gentile; and may the blessing of God almighty, doting Father, infant Son, rejuvenating Spirit, be upon you and remain with you, now and always. Amen.

MUSIC: Joyful, joyful