The University of Johannesburg Choir sings, ‘My Lord Has Come’ by Will Todd. As you listen, take a moment to place yourself in the Nativity scene... let your senses experience the moment in its fullness...

Shepherds, called by angels,

called by love and angels:

No place for them but a stable.

My Lord has come.

Sages, searching for stars,

searching for love in heaven;

No place for them but a stable.

My Lord has come.

His love will hold me,

his love will cherish me,

love will cradle me.

Lead me, lead me to see him,

sages and shepherds and angels;

No place for me but a stable.

My Lord has come.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.

John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

A very happy Christmas from the team at Pray As You Go! Today we celebrate a birth. The arrival of the eternal Word in time and space … flesh, bones, blood, pitched among us … intimate with life and the messiness of living … and death itself … born because he loves each one of us. Simply sit with this. Let those words settle deep within…

A word needs breath, shape, purpose. Picture this newborn baby, Jesus. Here is a person with breath, body and a purpose yet to unfold throughout his life. What might you want to say to him as you see him little, vulnerable …

As you listen once more to the reading, let this Word, who is life and light, be heard in you …

John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

Gaze on this newborn, this Word made flesh and let him know your heart’s longing for him at this time.

We end our time on this Christmas day with ‘Joy to the World’, by One Hope Project.

Joy to the world, the Lord is 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 nature sing

Joy to the world, the Saviour reigns

Let men their songs employ

While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains,

Repeat the sounding joy

Repeat the sounding joy

Repeat the sounding joy

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 of his love

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen