The 5th Christ Candle lit
Driving out the darkness
candlelight
Zachariah with child
John lights the Christ candle
Greeting each other on Christmas Day
John's further reading
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| | | Christmas Eve at St. Mungo's - 24 December 2019 |
 Click on the links to hear the stories, readings, singing and videos
St.
Mungo’s welcomed visitors for the second Christmas Eve service on
Tuesday 24 December. Offering hot drinks from 11.00pm provided an
opportunity for the gathering to chat with fellow worshipers.
At 11.30pm our Rev John Urquhart opened the service, greeting all the visitors from all the Penicuik churches, and members of any and no church.
Calling us to worship with words from Luke’s gospel led into our first Christmas carol, ‘Hark, the herald angel sing’.
 After John’s opening prayer
we watched ‘The Light’, a video that welcomed us to the
celebration, the light that was born over 2000 years ago. The light
that brought Hope, Love, Joy and Peace, given to us by God, his love
for us.
The first reading from Isaiah60 1-6, was read by Neil Cape, after which we rejoined in praise with 'Child in a manger'. Joan Cape read from Luke2 8-20, followed by singing ‘Jesus is born’.
John’s talk
highlighted that today we in the west are not afraid of the dark, as we
can switch on a light, or torch to chase the darkness away. Back in the
seventies we had to use candles during the power cuts. Back in biblical
times darkness was feared, so many dangers were abroad. From snakes to
thieves and vagabonds waiting to strike  the
unwary night traveller. We hear of Zachariah looking over his son, who
would become John the Baptist. God's light and love illuminate and
chase away the fear of darkness. God came to us as a small baby
at Christmas.
We had passed through the midnight hour
into Christmas day and John lit the fifth or ‘Christ’
candle, and wished us a happy Christmas. The congregation then greeted
each other with best wishes.
We sang the carol ‘Still the night’, after which John reminded us of the retiring offering for Christian Aid work with mothers. Full video
Our closing prayer led us into our final praise ‘O come all ye faithful’.
The blessing concluded our celebration. The birth of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Eileen Marchant played music on the organ as we departed
A Happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year to all in our church, community and beyond.
Published 28 December 2019
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