[0:00] The Thank you.
[1:00] Thank you.
[1:30] Thank you.
[2:00] Good morning. Well done. Well done. Lovely to see you all here this morning. Fantastic. I wonder, we usually have a competition, see who got up the earliest this morning.
[2:11] So let's see. Let's start at seven. Who got up after seven? After seven. Who got up after seven? Who got up before seven? Before six? Oh, wow. Before five? Anybody before five? Yes. You were excited were you, Janet?
[2:35] Fantastic. Well done. Whatever time you manage to get up, whether it feels like midday or whether it feels like mid-morning, it's great.
[2:47] Together that we can celebrate and rejoice in the coming of Jesus Christ. Let me read the events of that first Christmas morning, the birth of Christ, and those people who heard the message.
[3:00] There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them.
[3:11] They were terrified. But the angel said to them, do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
[3:22] Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you. You'll find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
[3:34] Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth, peace to those on whom his favour rests.
[3:48] Let's sing together as well then as we rejoice in the coming of Christ into the world. 201, Christians awake, salute the happy morn.
[4:00] 201. Christens awake, salute the happy morn.
[4:24] Come is the singer of the world, but born. I should adore the mystery of God.
[4:38] Jesus of angels, shouting from above. With ever-joyful tidings, blessed to God.
[4:51] For God in power, and for the magic sun. Amen. That's amen.
[5:04] Let me thank you. We heard you. Be, dear experience.
[5:14] Thank you.
[5:44] Thank you.
[6:14] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[6:46] Thank you.
[7:18] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[7:30] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Amen. Amen.
[7:41] Now we know that Christmas has arrived. I've left me the clicker behind. Have I left it there? Yes, I have. Because there's signs. Everywhere we look, there are signs to show us Christmas has arrived.
[7:55] Signs of Christmas. And Christmas trees are all up. Of course, that started quite a little way back. Back in, well, some people, the end of November, putting up their trees and decorating their house.
[8:07] And then, of course, cards started to arrive around the middle of December or so, or perhaps earlier on too. And then, of course, we were told about all the wonderful repeats that were going to come on the telly for Christmas as well.
[8:23] So there are signs of Christmas. Signs that Christmas is here all around about us. But I've got some, well, some strange signs of Christmas here. I wonder if you can interpret what they are.
[8:34] Okay. I wonder if you can tell me, what does this sign? It's a Christmas sign. What does it say, do you think? Yep. Beware of deer. Beware of deer. Or particularly around Christmas, beware of low-flying reindeer.
[8:46] Okay. You've got to beware of low-flying reindeer. All these are warning. It's a triangle. It means it's a warning sign. What about this one? This is a sign for Christmas. What's this warning us against?
[8:57] Yep. Elderly people crossing. Well, yes, they're probably elderly people. Josh. Watch out for old people. Watch out for old people. Visiting relatives. Yeah, you've got to watch out for them, haven't you?
[9:10] You've got to keep an eye out for them. They're coming to get you. Coming to see you. Coming to give you big kisses. Hey, boys. And really lovely jumpers. Okay. What about this one?
[9:21] This is, think about Christmas. Okay, think outside the box a bit. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Josh. See? Shoveling snow. That's a good one, but it's not.
[9:33] Men putting up Christmas trees. That's a hazard, isn't it? Men putting up Christmas trees. See, there's this tree, putting it up. And they knock out the lights. Oh, they could cause all sorts of trouble. Pine cones everywhere.
[9:44] Pine needles everywhere. But it's like... One last one. I wonder if you can work this one out. Oh, Theo has, yeah. You're keen to answer anyway.
[9:56] So anyway. Yeah, I think some of you are thinking, Pulling the wishbone. Oh, yeah. Nowadays, health and safety, you need to make sure when you push the wishbone, wear dust drill gloves and goggles in case bone splinters go in your eyes.
[10:13] Okay, right. Signs for Christmas. But, God said he was going to give us a sign. And this is what we're going to think about in a few minutes. The sign of Christmas. Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign.
[10:26] God has given us a sign, a sign post, something for us to take notice of. The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call him Emmanuel. God said and promised the sign was coming 600 years before that first Christmas.
[10:41] And it was fulfilled. That sign pointed to Jesus. We're going to think about that a little later on. Well, let's sing together again another wonderful carol. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.
[10:53] 206. Glory to the newborn King. Amen. Amen.
[11:57] Amen. Amen.
[12:57] Amen. Amen.