25 December 2023
Bible readings for today
Liturgical Colour: WHITE |
CollectFor Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day
Almighty God, you gave your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and be born of the Virgin Mary; grant that we, who are born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever. Amen. E te Atua kaha rawa, i tukua mai e koe tāu Tama kotahi kia whakatangatatia ai, kia whānau mai ai i te Puhi i a Meri; tukua mātou, kua whānau hōu anō, kua taurimatia ki tōu aroha noa hei tamariki māu, kia whakahōutia ai ki tōu Wairua Tapu i ia rā, i ia rā; ko Īhu Karaiti tō mātou Kaiwhakaora, e ora ana, e kīngi tahi ana me koe, i te kotahitanga o te Wairua Tapu, kotahi anō Atua, ināianei, ā, mō āke tonu atu. |
Christmas Day
Today we celebrate the birth of the Saviour of the world!
Printable NativityThe printable nativity in Christmas on the Move is great to print out and give to families as at your christmas services. Encourage them to make their own at home, or give them a pack with pens to start making it in the service.
Head to the Christmas on the Move page on the Strandz website On this day in 1814...The First Christian Service on New Zealand soil at Ohio, Bay of Islands, was held on Christmas Day 1814
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Christmas welcome packsThinking about how to welcome children at your Christmas services this year? We put this Christmas activity booklet together to go in kids welcome packs for the Christmas weekend, along with some 'Christmas on the Move' nativity characters, a glowstick, candy cane and some other bits and pieces. You can print it out on 2 A4 pages, staple and fold to make a little booklet.
Connecting with familiesChristmas is a wonderful opportunity to connect with families (and extended families) that you might not see throughout the year. Many non-church going community families will want to celebrate Christmas at church. You might even see families of some of your regular children's church children. Go the extra mile to welcome and include both parents and children that you don't usually see. Whatever celebration happens, commit to involving everyone. Christmas is one of only a few times a year where we have such a fantastic opportunity to reach out to others within the church.
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