Buckingham Parish Church
 
A Service of Carols by Torchlight 
 
Sunday 13th December 2020 
4.30 & 6 o’clock 

Please Note: 
  • Please scan the NHS Track & Trace QR code below using the NHS app. If you do not have this app please complete your details at the end of this service sheet and place in the boxes which can be found at either entrance on departure. 
  • Please ensure you’re socially distanced at all times (2m with no mask) and remain tightly in your households to create more space. 
  • If you’d like to donate to the work of BPC use the QR code. 
 
  
 
Welcome & Notices 
 
John 1:1-5 is read.   
 
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 her 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. 
 
And our eyes at last shall see him 
Through his own redeeming love, 
For that child so dear and gentle 
Is our Lord in heaven above: 
And he leads his children on 
To the place where he is gone. 
 
Not in that poor lowly stable 
With the oxen standing by, 
We shall see him; but in heaven 
Set at God’s right hand on high; 
When like stars his children crowned 
All in white shall wait around. 
Mrs C.F.Alexander 
 
 
BIDDING PRAYER & LORD’S PRAYER 
 
All Our Father in heaven,  
Hallowed be your Name,  
Your kingdom come,  
Your will be done,  
on earth as it is in heaven.  
Give us today our daily bread;  
And forgive us our sins,  
As we forgive those who sin against us;  
Lead us not into temptation,  
But deliver us from evil.  
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours.  
For ever and ever. Amen. 
 
FIRST LESSON Isaiah 9:2,6 
Christ’s birth and kingdom are foretold by Isaiah. 
 
It came upon the midnight clear, 
That glorious song of old, 
From angels bending near the earth 
To touch their harps of gold: 
“Peace on the earth, goodwill to men 
From heav’n’s all-gracious King!” 
The world in solemn stillness lay 
To hear the angels sing. 
 
Still through the cloven skies they come, 
With peaceful wings unfurled; 
And still their heav’nly music floats 
O’er all the weary world; 
Above its sad and lowly plains 
They bend on hov’ring wing; 
And ever o’er its Babel sounds 
The blessed angels sing. 
 
For lo!  the days are hastening on, 
By prophet-bards foretold, 
When, with the ever-circling years, 
Comes round the age of gold; 
When peace shall over all the earth 
Its ancient splendours fling, 
And the whole world give back the song 
Which now the angels sing. 
E.H.Sears 
 
SECOND LESSON Micah 5:2,4&5a 
Christ’s birthplace and ministry is foretold. 
  
 
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 giv’n! 
So God imparts to human hearts 
The blessings of his heav’n. 
No ear may hear his coming; 
But in this world of sin, 
Where meek souls will receive him, still 
The dear Christ enters in. 
 
O holy Child of Bethlehem, 
Descend to us, we pray; 
Cast out our sin, and enter in, 
Be born in us today. 
We hear the Christmas angels 
The great glad tidings tell: 
O come to us, abide with us, 
Our Lord Emmanuel.  
             Bishop Phillips Brooks 
 
THIRD LESSON Luke 1:30-35 
The angel Gabriel appears to Mary. 
  
All
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! 
 
God of God, 
Light of Light, 
Lo! He abhors not the virgin’s womb; 
Very God, 
Begotten not created: 
O Come, ……. 
 
Sing, choirs of angels, 
Sing in exultation, 
Sing all ye citizens of heav’n above; 
Glory to God 
In the highest: 
O Come, ……. 
Tr C.F.Oakeley, John Wade 
 
 
FOURTH LESSON Luke 2:1-7 
Mary gives birth to Jesus. 
  
THE FIRST NOWELL the angel did say 
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; 
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep, 
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep. 
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell, 
Born is the King of Israel! 
 
They lookèd up and saw a star 
Shining in the east, beyond them far, 
And to the earth it gave great light, 
And so it continued both day and night. 
Nowell, …… 
 
Then entered in those wise men three 
Full reverently upon their knee, 
And offered there in His presence 
Their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense. 
Nowell, …… 
 
Then let us all with one accord 
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord, 
That hath made heaven and earth of nought, 
And with His blood mankind hath bought. 
Nowell, …… 
 
FIFTH LESSON Luke 2:8-15 
The Shepherds go to the manger 
 
TALK – Revd Will Pearson-Gee 
 
All
Hark the herald angels sing 

Glory to the new-born King; 
Peace on earth and mercy mild, 
God and sinners reconciled: 
Joyful all ye nations rise, 
Join the triumph of the skies, 
With th’angelic host proclaim, 
Christ is born in Bethlehem: 
Hark! the herald angels sing 
Glory to the new-born King. 
 
Christ, by highest heav’n adored, 
Christ, the everlasting Lord, 
Late in time behold him come 
Offspring of a Virgin’s womb! 
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, 
Hail th’incarnate Deity! 
Pleased as man with man to dwell, 
Jesus our Emmanuel: 
Hark! the herald angels….. 
 
Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace! 
Hail the Sun of Righteousness! 
Light and life to all he brings, 
Risen 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…... 
Charles Wesley 
 
BLESSING & DISMISSAL 
 
Mulled wine will be brought out into the congregation. 
 
Trumpet:  Lawrence Brody 
Organ:  Robert Tucker 
 
 
There are lavatories situated in the outside block by the gates. 
 
 
Our Christmas services are as below but please note all are ticketed events and these can be booked (free of course!) here. 
 
Christmas Eve 
10pmMidnight Communion (50 mins)
 
11pmMidnight Communion (50 mins) 
 
Christmas Day
8amHoly Communion (BCP) (30 mins)
 
9amFamily Christmas Service (40 mins) 
10amFamily Christmas Service (40 mins) 
1045amHoly Communion (stand-alone 20 mins) 
 
 
If you are interested in exploring the Christian faith  
come and join one of our New Year Alpha Courses starting in January. 
For details click here
Parish Office, 02/07/2020
Hello
Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click to see more

Planning your Visit

A Warm Hello 

The following information is specifically for those planning a visit, so that you know, beforehand, what to expect on a Sunday morning.

Where and When

We meet at BP Church for our Sunday Services starting at 9am, 11am or 6pm. When you arrive, you should be greeted by someone on our Welcome Team who will be wearing a Welcome lanyard.

We serve tea, coffee and biscuits before the services begin. It is a great way to meet people, or simply take time to find your bearings. All refreshments are free.

images: Services

What about my kids?

Click here for our kids programme.

The kids group activities vary depending on the age but usually there is a friendly welcome, bible stories, testimonies, praying, music, craft, drama, fun games and free play. Please pick your children up as soon as the service finishes.

Children

Getting Connected


Connect Groups

While Sundays are a great way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Being part of one of our small groups allows you to make new friends, share together and support each other. We have a variety of groups that meet throughout the week, some afternoons and some evenings. Check out Connect Groups and see if there’s one that you could join, or we can put you in touch with a small group leader who will be more than happy to invite you along to their group.

Serving and Volunteering

If you want to get involved in the life of the church and help us make Sundays run smoothly, you can sign up to serve on a team. 

Other Ministries

We also run the following ministries:

  • Men's Ministries
  • Women's Ministries
  • Foodbank
  • Choir
     
Get in touch with us to plan your visit
If you would like to come and visit the church beforehand you are more than welcome! Get in touch and we can arrange a time that suits you.
 
Name:
Telephone:
Email Address:
Comments / Questions or anything you would like to say?

Next, we will contact you by email to say hello and help arrange anything necessary for your visit.
 

Leadership 

WPG Mug shot   MicrosoftTeams-image
Will Pearson-Gee   Jo Wigley
Rector       Associate Minister for Pastoral Care
 
We hope that whoever you are, you will feel at home at our church.

Best Wishes