Prologue:

During this year's retreat we have followed the mission of Jesus and tried to build bridges between his journey and our own. In our account of his journey, however, one piece was missing. We left out the very beginning. We return to it now. We do so because the scene in the stable seems to sum up much of what we have learned about the goal and the route of the spiritual journey.

We lead into our service with the Introit: For unto us a child is born (Handel)

Introduction:

The Lord be with you
And also with you.

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known,
And from whom no secrets are hidden:
Cleanse our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
That we may perfectly love you
And worthily magnify your holy name;
Through Christ our Lord. Amen

Collect:

Merciful and most loving God, by whose will and bountiful gift Jesus Christ our Lord humbled himself that he might exalt mankind; became flesh so that he might restore in us the divine image; and was born of a Virgin that he might lift up the lowly: grant to us the inheritance of the meek; perfect in us your likeness; and bring us at last to rejoice in beholding your glory; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Reading Luke 2, 1-14

In those days a decree was issued by the Emperor Augustus for a registration to be made throughout the Roman world. This was the first registration of its kind ; it took place when Quirinius was governor of Syria. For this purpose everyone made his way to his own town; and so Joseph went up to Judaea from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to register at the city of David, called Bethlehem, because he was of the house of David by descent; and with him went Mary who was betrothed to him. She was expecting a child, and while they were there the time came for her baby to be born, and she gave birth to a son, her first-born. She wrapped him in his swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them to lodge in the house. Now in this same district there were shepherds out in the fields, keeping watch through the night over their flocks, when suddenly there stood before them an angel of the Lord, and the splendour of the Lord shone round them. They were terror stricken, but the angel said, "Do not be afraid; I have good news for you: there is great joy coming to the whole people. Today in the city of David a deliverer has been born to you - the Messiah, the Lord. And this is your sign: you will find a baby lying wrapped in his swaddling clothes, in a manger." All at once there was with the angel a great company of the heavenly host, singing the praises of God: "Glory to God in highest heaven, and on earth peace for men on whom his favour rests."

We respond to the reading by joining together in the words of the Gloria, saying:

Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen

The Address

For the last time this season we turn our attention to the Christmas crib. We do so because it seems to sum up so much of what we have been talking about over the last 36 hours. It speaks of the goal of the spiritual journey. It also speaks of the elements that make up the way.

We look first of all at the scene as a whole. This view speaks of the goal of the journey. We see there a world in which nothing stands between. Nothing stands between men and God. Their wills are in perfect harmony with his. Nothing stands between man and man. They are united in adoration of the Christchild. Nothing stands between man and the rest of creation. The ox and the ass are drawn into the harmony of the whole. It is a vision of paradise restored. But then we begin to move into the scene and as we do so, it begins to speak out not so much of the goal as of the way. We come first to the shepherds and the wise men offering their gifts to the infant king. They remind us of where the way begins. It begins for us, as it did for Jesus, with us offering to God all that we have and all that we are to be used in his service for the benefit of mankind.

We move forward some more into the very heart of the scene. There we meet three figures who remind us of what will be necessary if we are to follow the journey to the end. Each of these figures has overcome the obstacle of self. Mary has laid aside her hopes to do God's will. Joseph has overcome his own inclinations to do God's will. Jesus has given up his heavenly birthright to do God's will.

Jesus came to inaugurate a step-change in human attitudes and human behaviour. The Christmas Crib reminds us of what it takes to make that step. It also reminds of where it leads.

The Prayers:

Let us pray:

Lord, you came to inaugurate a new world in which nothing would stand between us and you, between us and others, and between us and our own best selves. Help us to work with you in breaking down the barriers. Help us to break down the barriers in the Church, both the barriers raised by ancient disputes and those created by more recent controversies. Strengthen us and all your church in the service of Christ, that we and all who confess your name may be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world.

Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Help us to break down the barriers in the world; the barriers created by our differences of race, colour, and creed; the barriers that separate rich and poor; the barriers created by national selfishness and greed. Direct this and every nation in the ways of justice and of peace; that we may honour one another and seek the common good.

Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Help us to break down the barriers that exist in our own neighbourhood and family; the barrier of indifference about the well-being of others; the barriers erected by injuries, real or imagined, that still rankle; the barriers erected by our thoughtlessness towards those we love. Give grace to us, our families and friends, and to all our neighbours, that we may serve Christ in one another, and love as he loves us.

Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer. Help us to break through to those isolated by sickness, suffering, or grief, bringing them courage and hope in their troubles, and the comfort of knowing that you are there with them.

Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Lord, you called us to a life of service. Help us to fulfil that service by breaking down the barriers in the world.

Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Jesus called us to break down the barriers in the world, but we also recognise that in order to that effectively, we have to overcome the barrier within ourselves. We have to conquer the ego and all its devious wiles. We recognise that all too often self-interest, self-pity, or self-importance lead us to do what we know we should not or hamper us from doing what we should. We acknowledge this now as we join together in the words of the Confession, saying:

Father of all, giver of light and grace,
we have sinned against you and against our neighbour,
in what we have thought,
in what we have said and done,
through ignorance, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault.
We have wounded your love
and marred your image in us.
We are sorry and ashamed
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 lead us out from darkness
to walk as children of light. Amen.

Almighty God,
who forgives all who truly repent,
have mercy upon you,
pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,
and keep you in life eternal;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

As you encourage us, Lord to break down the barriers in the world, give us your help to overcome the obstacles in ourselves. We ask this for Jesus' sake. Amen.

The Communion:

The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

We come now to our communion, an act that repeats and confirms the message of the Christmas Crib. It reminds of the goal to which Jesus sought to lead us - the goal of a world at one. It reminds us of what it cost him to walk that way, and to open it up for others. As the preparations for communion are made, we hear the anthem

Ave Verum Corpus (Mozart)

We are gathered here, Lord, in this upper room as, long ago, in an upper room you gathered your disciples. Now, as then, you are in the midst of us. Quietly we turn to you to offer you our thanks.

We thank you that in a life of service you showed us the way to salvation.

We thank you that by all you did to overcome the obstacle that stood in your way, you inspired us to battle with the obstacles that stand in ours.

We thank you that in the days following your resurrection you gave us a glimpse of what salvation means.

For all these gifts, we thank you.
Amen. Lord, have mercy.

But we remember too, Lord, the price you paid to bring us those gifts. We remember it by recalling what you did in that upper room with your first disciples. Before supper, you took bread and gave thanks to your beloved Father. You broke it and gave it to your disciples, saying: "Take, eat. This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper, you took the cup. You gave thanks and gave it to them, saying: "Drink this all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me."

Amen. Lord, have mercy.

We give thanks for your gifts, Lord. We remember what it cost you to bring them to us. We pray that we may prove worthy of such gifts and of such a sacrifice. Renew us by your spirit and inspire us with your love that together we may work for the coming of that time when nothing stands between and all who stand before you in earth and heaven worship the Father Almighty in songs of everlasting praise:

Blessing and honour and glory and power
Be yours for ever and ever. Amen.

We join together, Lord, in the prayer you taught us, saying:

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.

We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.

Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.

Jesus, Lamb of God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins, have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world, grant us peace.

Draw near with faith. Receive the body of our Lord, Jesus Christ which he gave for you and his blood which he shed for you. Eat and drink in remembrance that he died for you, and feed on him in your heart with thanksgiving.

The Administration of Communion.

The Conclusion.

We lead in to our conclusion with the music of Faure's In Paradisum, during the singing of which the Bethlehem Light will be brought forward and placed on the altar at the front of the chapel.

A new ingredient entered our worship this Christmas - the Bethlehem Light. Now it stands before us again. Coming from a war zone, it speaks to us of the world we are trying to leave behind, a world still full of so much darkness. Coming from the supposed site of the Bethlehem stable, it speaks of the world we are trying to build, a world in which nothing any longer stands between us and God, us and all others, and us and Our best selves.

At the close of the service we dedicate ourselves again to following its light. A poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins:

Moonless darkness stands between.
Past, O past, no more be seen.
But the Bethlehem star may lead me
To the sight of him who freed me
From the self that I have been.
Make me pure, Lord: thou art holy:
Make me meek, Lord: thou art lowly.
Now beginning, and alway:
Now begin, from Christmas Day.

We say together:

Almighty God, we thank you for feeding us with the body and blood of your Son, Jesus Christ. Through him we offer you our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice. Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory. Amen.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and hope in believing and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.

The service will end with the duet and chorus 'By thee with bliss' from the closing section of Haydn's Creation. (To the sound of angelic voices praising God, Adam and Eve walk forward into Paradise.)

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