Service for the Fourth Sunday in Advent (19th December 2021)

What makes the shepherds in the Nativity story so happy? In this carol service our minister, Simon speaks on how it is the encounter with the infant Jesus that makes them joyful. In him they find a new hope and in this encounter they see that God favours the poor and the lowly - in the new kingdom that is coming through the birth of Jesus, they see that they are welcomed before the wealthy and the privileged. The privileged are excluded - it is the poor who are told. It is ordinary working folk like themselves who are invited to be present. This service includes: Welcome and Opening Words Hymn Ding, dong! Merrily on high Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer Hymn Infant holy, infant lowly Reading Micah 5.2-5a Hymn While shepherds watched their flocks by night Reading Luke 2.8-20 Talk A Joyful Encounter Hymn Silent night Prayer for Others Offering Hymn Hark! The herald angels sing Blessing Our closing music is played by Mary Ellis, one of our organists. To learn more about our church, please visit www.ssbcexeter.co.uk. We meet in Exeter city centre for our services every Sunday at 11 am. Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month. Details of other activities, including services at Brampford Speke chapel will be found on our website. If you want to be in touch with us, you can leave a message here or at our Facebook page @SouthStBaptist. Contact details are also given our website. If you want to know more about the Christian faith, we suggest you visit https://christianity.org.uk/ or get in touch with us.