West Cork Methodists

Christmas Day messa

Luke 2:1-20
make room for Jesus

the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

Our reading is John 3:16-20 and Micah 7:7
And we explore the Christmas Carol O little Town of Bethlehem
Song lyrics are below:
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
1 Hark! the herald angels sing,"Glory to the newborn King:peace on earth, and mercy mild,God and sinners reconciled!"Joyful, all ye nations, rise,join the triumph of the skies;with th'angelic hosts proclaim,"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Refrain:Hark! the herald angels sing,"Glory to the newborn King"
2 Christ, by highest heaven adored,Christ, the everlasting Lord,late in time behold him come,offspring of the Virgin's womb:veiled in flesh the Godhead see;hail th'incarnate Deity,pleased with us in flesh to dwell,Jesus, our Immanuel. [Refrain]
3 Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!Hail the Sun of Righteousness!Light and life to all he brings,risen with healing in his wings.Mild he lays his glory by,born that we no more may die,born to raise us from the earth,born to give us second birth. [Refrain]
O Little Town of Bethlehem
1 O little town of Bethlehem,how still we see thee lie!Above thy deep and dreamless sleepthe silent stars go by.Yet in thy dark streets shineththe everlasting light;the hopes and fears of all the yearsare met in thee tonight.
2 For Christ is born of Mary;and, gathered all above,while mortals sleep, the angels keeptheir watch of wond'ring love.O morning stars, togetherproclaim the holy birth,and praises sing to God the King,and peace to men on earth.
3 How silently, how silently,the wondrous gift is giv'n!So God imparts to human heartsthe blessings of His heav'n.No ear may hear His coming,but in this world of sin,where meek souls will receive Him still,the dear Christ enters in.
4 O holy Child of Bethlehem,descend to us, we pray;cast out our sin and enter in;be born in us today.We hear the Christmas angels,the great glad tidings tell;O come to us, abide with us,our Lord Emmanuel!
Silent Night
1 Silent night, holy night,All is calm, all is brightRound yon virgin mother and child!Holy Infant so tender and mild,Sleep in heavenly peace,Sleep in heavenly peace.
2 Silent night, holy night,Darkness flies, all is light;Shepherds hear the angels sing,"Alleluia! hail the King!Christ the Savior is born,Christ the Savior is born."
3 Silent night, holy night,Son of God, love's pure lightRadiant beams from Thy holy face,With the dawn of redeeming grace,Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.
4 Silent night, holy night,Wondrous star, lend the light;With the angels let us singAlleluia to our King;Christ the Savior is born,Christ the Savior is born.
 

The Advent Journey

The Magnificat is explored as the threads of Advent from the patriarchs and prophets come together as prophet and Messiah meet before they are born. 
Luke 1:46-55
Micah 5:2-5

The road is blooming

Isaiah 35 is explored and we sing two choruses: Blessed be the name of the lord and Therefore the redeemed... 

God will make a way

Utilising the text of Luke 3:1-6 we explore making a change in the Advent season. 
The lyrics of the songs:
God will make a wayWhere there seems to be no wayHe works in ways we cannot seeHe will make a way for me
He will be my guideHold me closely to His sideWith love and strength for each new dayHe will make a way, He will make a way
By a roadway in the wilderness, He'll lead meRivers in the desert will I seeHeaven and earth will fade but His Word will still remainAnd He will do something new today
Oh, God will make a wayWhere there seems to be no wayHe works in ways we cannot seeHe will make a way for me
He will be my guideHold me closely to His sideWith love and strength for each new dayHe will make a way, He will make a way
 
The kingdom of God is justice and joy;For Jesus restores what sin would destroy.God's power and glory in Jesus we know;And here and hereafter the kingdom shall grow.
The kingdom of God is mercy and grace;The captives are freed, the sinners find place,The outcast are welcomed God's banquet to share;And hope is awakened in place of despair.
 The kingdom of God is challenge and choice:Believe the good news, repent and rejoice!God's love for us sinners brought Christ to his cross:Our crisis of judgement for gain or for loss.
 God's kingdom is come, the gift and the goal;In Jesus begun, in heaven made whole.The heirs of the kingdom shall answer his call;And all things cry "Glory!" to God all in all.

Watching and Waiting for Christ's return

Jeremiah 33:14-16 and Luke 21:25-36 help us explore:
Aligning Our Lives with God’s Kingdom:
1. Waiting
2.  Advent
3. Where is God?
4. God is there 
Lyrics
Long ago, prophets knew
Christ would come, born a Jew,
come to make all things new,
bear his people's burden,
freely love and pardon.
Refrain:
Ring, bells, ring, ring, ring!
Sing, choirs, sing, sing, sing!
When he comes, when he comes,
who will make him welcome?
God in time, God in man,
this is God's timeless plan:
he will come, as a man,
born himself of woman,
God divinely human.
Refrain
Mary, heard! Though afraid,
she believed, she obeyed.
In her womb, God is laid
till the time expected,
nurtured and protected.
Refrain
Journey ends! Where afar
Bethlehem shines, like a star,
stable door stands ajar:
unborn Son of Mary,
Savior, do not tarry!
Come Lord Jesus Come
Our hearts ache when nations rage
Our tears fall when families break
When kingdoms rise against Your name
When darkness seems to win the day
 
(We sing) come Lord Jesus come and save us
Come Lord Jesus come
Come Lord Jesus keep us faithful
Come Lord Jesus come
 
When death comes staring face to face
Our enemies plot in vain
Our life and times are in Your hand
You hold them all until the end
 
My present help my future hope
One thing I know You'll always be with me
Your grace alone anchors my soul
One thing I know You'll always be with me
 
Come Lord Jesus come
 

What is your direction?

Exploring sanctification using Psalm 51 and John 17.

We love because first He loved us

Psalm 17, Matthew 22: 36-40 and 1 John 4:7-21 provide the scripture from which we explore loving God and loving people.

What's the story with forgiveness?

Genesis 50 again sets the scene for what does forgiving brothers look like. 

God's Mercy

Genesis 50:15-21 is our text as we explore over the next two weeks God's mercy and forgiveness intertwined with His grace and love.