Origin: Cityside Quiet Service 17 December, 2000. Based on a seed idea of ripples in a pond from a service by Stuart McGregor and Peter Olds.
Theme:
Reflecting on Christmas. An opportunity to read the Christmas story in a large continuous chunk.
Mood:
Reflective, light, bright.
Setup:
4 metre (13 foot) diameter shallow pool of water as centre piece (40mm (3 inches) of water).
10 large candles around inside edge of pool. 5 TVs running loops of ripples in pond. No other lighting. Pebbles, floating candles.
Gear:
See setup. (Pool is made by draping black polythene over a surround of timber or large diameter flexible drainage pipe. It usually leaks!)
Running order:
- Prelude:TRACK: Marvin Gaye, “Christmas in the City’, instrumental # 7 ex Merry Christmas from Motown (Repeated)
Pick up 3 pebbles from pile at entrance as you come into the service.
2. Welcome:Tonight read Christmas story ex Luke and Matthews account; think about the
ripples that have spread out from that event, through history, to us and beyond.
- ‘A Prayer for Christmas’: Read. ex Martin Wroe, St Lukes, 1997 (Found in When You Haven’t Got A Prayer, Lion: Oxford, 1999).
- Scripture Reading 1: Luke 1/26-56 ex Message. (second reader reads Angel quotes etc)
Link: God acts in history – Joseph, Mary, Elizabeth, Zechariah, their families, their friends…
And the ripples spread out and continue to affect us today
(Each take first pebble and toss it into pool. Watch ripples and own reflection in the water)
Silence
Track: Veni Emmanuel Anne Dudley ex Ancient and Modern #4 (loud)
5. Scripture Reading 2: Luke 2/1-20 ex Message
Link: as above
- Scripture Reading 3: Matthew 2/1-12 ex Message
Link as above
7. Scripture Reading 4: Matthew 2/13-23 ex Message
Link as above
TRACK: ‘I Believe in You’, Sinead O’Connor ex A Very Special Christmas 2 #19
- Candle Prayers: Light candles and float them out on the water as symbols of the places the ripples from the Christmas Story will touch your life this Christmas; and for people and situations you know need to be touched by the ripples started by that Christmas Event.
TRACK: Oiche Chiun (Silent Night), Enya ex Cool Christmas #17
(repeat)
- Benediction: Go into the world as the ripples of Christmas, touching those you meet with the Spirit of Christ.
Go in peace.
- Postlude: TRACK: