Carols

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The full order of service for the Harwood Park Carols

Thank you to the young artists at Aston Fields Middle School who created the bauble artwork hanging from the trees. 

Introduction

Welcome and opening prayer by Craig.

First Reading

A reading by Councillor Sam Evans from a part of the Bible written 800 years before Christ.

Isaiah chapter 9 verses 2,6 and 7
The people who walk in darkness
will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
a light will shine.
For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His government and its peace
will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
for all eternity. 

O come, all ye faithful,

O come, all ye faithful, 
Joyful and triumphant, 
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem. 
Come and behold Him, 
Born the King of Angels; 
O come, let us adore Him, 
O come, let us adore Him, 
O come, let us adore Him, 
Christ the Lord. 

Sing, choirs of angels, 
Sing in exultation, 
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! 
Glory to God, Glory in the highest; 
O come, let us adore Him, 
O come, let us adore Him, 
O come, let us adore Him, 
Christ the Lord.

Hark! the herald angels sing

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 angelic hosts proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! the herald angels sing:
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the Heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! the herald angels sing:
"Glory to the newborn King!"

In the bleak mid-winter 

In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man
I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give Him,
Give my heart.

Second Reading

A reading by Nathaniel taken from a biography of Jesus contained in the Bible and written around 40 years after Christ's death.

Luke chapter 1 verses 26-33
God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favoured woman! The Lord is with you!
Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 
“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favour with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

Once in Royal David’s city 

Once in Royal David’s city
Stood a lowly cattle shed.
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for His bed.
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ that little child.

He came down to earth from Heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all.
And his shelter was a stable,
And his cradle was a stall.
With the poor and mean and lowly,
Lived on earth our Saviour Holy. 

Away in a manger 

Away in a manger
No crib for a bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down his sweet head
The stars in the bright sky
Looked down where he lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay

Be near me, Lord Jesus
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me for ever
And love me, I pray
Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And fit us for Heaven
To live with Thee there 

We three kings

We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar.
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.

O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.

Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Sounds through the earth and skies.

Message

A short Christmas message by Reverend Bernice Lingard of Bromsgrove Baptist Church.

O little town of Bethlehem 

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

How silently, how silently
The wondrous Gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven
No ear may hear His coming
But in this world of sin
Where meek souls will receive Him still
The dear Christ enters in 

Silent night

Silent night,
Holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin, mother and child
Holy infant, tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, Holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth
Jesus, Lord at thy birth. 

Joy to the world

Joy to the world,
the Lord has come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love, and wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders of His love 

Closing prayer

Closing thanks and prayer by Craig. 

Christingle - 24th December 3pm-4pm

Join us for Christingle making and carols! In aid of the Children's society. Especially good for children and families - but everyone is welcome. 

Midnight Service - 24th December 11:30pm-12:15am

A short reflective service as we welcome in Christmas Day, the day of our Saviour's birth.

Women's Afternoon Tea - 10th January 2:30pm-4:30pm

You are warmly invited to a Women's Afternoon Tea at Bromsgrove Baptist Church. Everyone is welcome—no church connection needed. We'll also enjoy a short talk from our guest speaker, Rose.

Babes in arms welcome.

Finding out about Christianity 

Join us to unpack the basics of the Christian faith together. No pressure. No judgement. Just open conversation. That's it. Come along, see what you think.
 
We have two courses starting in January:
Tuesday 27th January 10am-12pm 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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