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MUSIC STARTS AND RUNS UNDER FOLLOWING SPEECH ITEMS
ITEM 1: MUSIC 1a
O Come O Come Emmanuel聽
Matt Featherstone and the Highfields Jazz Band

ITEM 2: Reading 1 (Kirsty) (Isaiah 9:2)
The book of Isaiah says:聽鈥淭he people walking in darkness have seen a great light.鈥�

ITEM 3: Welcome (Dave)
Good morning and welcome to Jazz Carols from Highfields Church in Cardiff. Bore Da. I鈥檓 Dave Gobbett, the Lead Pastor here. And today, as we sing traditional carols with a jazz twist, let鈥檚 celebrate together the birth of Jesus.聽

ITEM 4: MUSIC 1b
O Come O Come Emmanuel聽 VERSE 1

MUSIC UNDER
ITEM 5: Link (Dave)
This morning is a Highfields favourite: our Jazz Carol service, with music led by Matt Featherstone and our Highfields Jazz Band, and we鈥檒l be celebrating together the coming of Immanuel, God with us, and what it means to receive him today.

ITEM 6: MUSIC 1c
O Come O Come Emmanuel聽 FINAL VERSE

ITEM 7: Intro and opening prayer (Dave)
We praise you Heavenly Father, God of God, Light of Light, for promising to shine your light into our darkness. We praise you that you kept that promise by sending us your Son, Jesus, Christ the Lord. And so, we pray that we would see more of him today. For your glory, Amen.

This year marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Highfields Church in Cardiff. We鈥檙e a city-centre congregation, of young and old, locals & internationals, students, families, singles and empty-nesters, all convinced that the Bible鈥檚 message of Jesus Christ is good news for life today. Through english-language classes, and after-school clubs, ministry training courses and small group Bible studies, as well as our Sunday worship, we long to spread a passion for Jesus far and wide.

In Bible times, many people had waited hundreds of years to hear some good news. It seemed that the sadness and disappointment would have the last word. Yet into that gloomy silence, a heavenly voice was about to be heard.

O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

ITEM 8: MUSIC 2
O Come All Ye Faithful
Matt Featherstone and the Highfields Jazz Band

ITEM 9: Reading 2 (Matthew 1:18) (Kirsty)
A reading from the first chapter of Matthew鈥檚 gospel.
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 鈥淛oseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.鈥�

All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 鈥淭he virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel鈥� (which means 鈥淕od with us鈥�).

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

ITEM 10: MUSIC 3
Once In Royal David鈥檚 City /聽Matt Featherstone and the Highfields Jazz Band

ITEM 11: Link (Kirsty)
Last year, lots of Christmas plans had to be cancelled due to the Pandemic. With just under two weeks until the big day this year, and many things seemingly still up in the air, we asked some of our Highfields youngsters what they were looking forward to most this Christmas.

ITEM 12: Vox pops Local children: what they鈥檙e looking forward to.

ITEM 13: Message 1: MISSING OUT (Dave)
So much to look forward to. So much anticipation. And no one wants to miss out!For me, it felt like Christmas came early, as last month I finally got round to seeing the box-office office sensation Hamilton. Making the original Broadway recording available for the small screen at the start of the Pandemic was a genius idea, and it鈥檚 become a firm family favourite in our home. But to see it in person, on the West End, to be literally in 鈥淭he Room Where It Happens鈥� was another thing altogether.聽

The musical recounts the rise and fall of American Founding Father, Alexander Hamilton, and my favourite song is called 鈥� guess what 鈥� 鈥淭he Room Where It Happens鈥�. The song describes a private meeting between Hamilton, and two Virginian senators, Thomas Jefferson and James Maddison. A great political compromise is made: Hamilton gets control of the U.S. banking system and in exchange, the nation鈥檚 capital moves South to Washington DC.

鈥淭he Room Where It Happens鈥� is sung by Hamilton鈥檚 arch nemesis Aaron Burr, who struggles with the fact that he wasn鈥檛 there. He wasn鈥檛 in The Room Where It Happens, and experiences profound FOMO. Fear of Missing Out. Something really important has taken place, life-altering decisions have been made, but he鈥檚 not been party to them. Burr has lived his life on the outside of the circle of influence, out of loop of where the action is taking place and it鈥檚 chewing him up.

I wonder if there鈥檚 a hint of the Aaron Burr in many of us. We struggle whenever we realise that we don鈥檛 hold the levers of power. Life-altering decisions are being made behind closed doors. Certainly, the last twenty months have taught us, we鈥檙e not as in control of life as we thought we were, and it can chew us up too. And as for God, if ever we think of him, well he just seems far away, far removed from the stresses and strains we all have to go through.聽

But at Christmas we remember that the God who made our world came into it. He didn鈥檛 merely stay behind closed doors in the comfort of heaven, pulling all the levers of power in a divine 鈥榬oom where it happens鈥�. Instead, heaven opened the door, and God drew near. He got his hands dirty, and he entered our mess. As the angel said to Joseph, 鈥榯hey will call him Immanuel, which means God with us鈥�. The people walking in darkness have indeed seen a great light.

Which means whatever we鈥檙e going through this Christmas, God is a God who draws near.Whatever pressures we鈥檙e under, whatever losses we鈥檝e known, whatever seats remain empty, whatever fears of missing out we have, whatever variants and restrictions breathe down on us, God is a God who draws near.

The birth of Immanuel assures us that God knows, God understands, God is a God who draws near. Will we call out to him this Christmas? For heaven鈥檚 door is still open.

Little wonder that Edward Caswell was moved to pen the words for our next song:Sacred Infant, all divine,what a tender love was Thine;thus to come from highest blissdown to such a world as this!聽

ITEM 14: MUSIC 4
See Amid The Winter's Snow /聽Matt Featherstone and the Highfields Jazz Band

ITEM 15: Reading 3: Luke 2:1-7 (Liz)
A reading from the gospel of Luke.In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, 鈥淒o not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.鈥�

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,聽14 鈥淕lory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.鈥�15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 鈥淟et鈥檚 go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.鈥�16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

ITEM 16: Message 2: FITTING IN (Dave)
If awards were given out for 鈥淢ost Efficient Packing of A Family Car at Christmas鈥�, then my wife would be odds-on favourite. How she fits everything in, beats me every time. It鈥檚 a like playing a real-life version of TETRIS as suitcases, Christmas presents, five-year olds, you name it, all get masterfully tessellated into our people carrier before heading to our family in Newcastle.

Inevitably, decisions need to be made: do we really need that extra board game? That extra bag of three-day old fruit? Are we really going to be body boarding on Boxing Day? And so on.聽

Because the number one rule of packing is: you can鈥檛 take it all. Saying 鈥榶es鈥� to fitting something in, means saying 鈥榥o鈥� to something that gets missed out. Which is closely followed by the number two rule of packing: whatever you decide to fit in, make sure it鈥檚 what鈥檚 most important.

In our second reading, Mary and Joseph have travelled to Bethlehem. People carrier gives way to donkey. But like a city centre on a busy match day, the national census has taken every guest room. A miracle baby is about to be born, but there鈥檚 no space for him. And so, to the manger he goes, nestled in the animals feeding box.聽

Meet Immanuel: the God who draws near. The God who came to help us. The God who was placed in the straw. The God who they didn鈥檛 have space for.

Years later he鈥檇 grow up. His best friend John would describe the experience: 鈥榟e came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.鈥櫬�

Meet Immanuel: The God so many were waiting for. For hundreds of years they were longing for help and for hope. But when he came, he got the cold shoulder. Eventually they pinned him to a wooden cross. Meet the God who they wouldn鈥檛 make space for.

Two thousand years have passed. And still we long for help in our struggles, still we long for hope in our darkness. But saying 鈥榶es鈥� to fitting something in, means saying 鈥榥o鈥� to something that gets missed out.聽

At Christmas, we try to squeeze everything in. We say 鈥榶es鈥� to presents and parties, traditions and distractions, Michael Buble and mulled wine. Here at Highfields we even say 鈥榶es鈥� to Jazz Carols in our Christmas jumpers! And, of course, these all happily have their place at Christmas. But often saying 鈥榶es鈥� to everything else, can mean saying 鈥榥o鈥� to what鈥檚 most important.

What a great tragedy it would be if in all the busyness of trying to squeeze everything in鈥攁t Christmas time, no less!鈥攚e leave no space for the One it鈥檚 all about. The Christ of Christmas. The Baby of Bethlehem.聽

The One who can give us help in our struggles, hope in our darkness, and ultimately peace with God.

For he was the One called Jesus鈥攂orn to die, born to 鈥榮ave his people from their sins鈥� (as the Angel said to Joseph)鈥攂ut so often he鈥檚 the One just left out in the manger.Meet Immanuel. Meet the God who WE鈥橵E got to make space for. He鈥檒l make the world of difference if we do.

For 鈥榯o all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to be called children of God鈥�.

ITEM 17: MUSIC 5
The First Nowell /聽Matt Featherstone and the Highfields Jazz Band

ITEM 18: Prayers (Elspeth & Rowland)
Glory to God in the highest聽
Peace to his people on earth
Sovereign Lord.聽Thank you that in the birth of the Lord Jesus our eyes have seen your salvation, and that through him we can know you, the living God, and find forgiveness and hope.聽 Help us, like Mary, to ponder these things and treasure them in our hearts, and, like the shepherds, to rejoice and spread the word about Jesus to those around us.聽
Glory to God in the highest聽
Peace to his people on earth聽
Glorious God. As we ponder the hidden glory of the baby in the manger, help us to rejoice in his humility and find comfort in his kingship.聽 Thank you that even from birth he knew limitation and loss.聽 And so we pray for our world.聽 Especially for the many who are refugees and migrants.聽 We are so conscious of those who have been putting to sea in flimsy boats in hope of safety and security in the UK, but we also remember those who are fleeing war or persecution or hardship around the world.聽 Please grant wisdom and compassion to world leaders, and others who seek to serve desperate people.聽 May many find hope this Christmas time in the displaced baby who became the man of sorrows for our sake.聽 聽

Glory to God in the highest聽
Peace to his people on earth聽
Loving Father. Thank you that in his birth the Lord Jesus brought hope to those whose hope had almost gone.聽 We pray for those who are finding life particularly hard.聽 In these still difficult days of Covid, we pray for those who are struggling with ill health, loneliness, anxiety or depression.聽 We remember too those who are overwhelmed with trials in relationships or family, or who are missing loved ones.聽 May they know the peace of the Prince of Peace, the wisdom of the wonderful counsellor, the strength of the Mighty God, the presence of Immanuel, the God who draws near.聽 聽

Glory to God in the highest聽
Peace to his people on earth聽

We will conclude by saying together the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples, the Lord鈥檚 prayer.聽 聽

Our Father in heaven,聽hallowed be your name,聽your kingdom come,聽your will be done,聽on earth as in heaven.聽Give us today our daily bread.聽Forgive us our sins聽as we forgive those who sin against us.聽Lead us not into temptation聽but deliver us from evil.聽For the kingdom, the power,聽and the glory are yours聽now and for ever.聽Amen.聽

ITEM 19: Link (Dave)
As our Jazz Carols draws to a close, let鈥檚 lift our hearts and our voices one last time, to Jesus, our Emmanuel: Hark the Herald Angels sing, glory to the new-born king!

ITEM 20: MUSIC 6
Hark The Herald /聽Matt Featherstone and the Highfields Jazz Band

ITEM 21: Blessing (Dave)
May the joy of the angels,The eagerness of the shepherds,The perseverance of the wise men,The obedience of Joseph and Mary,And the peace of the Christ childBe yours this Christmas鈥擜nd the blessing of God almighty,The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,Be among you and remain with you always. Amen

ITEM 22: MUSIC 7 Instrumental playout:聽
Hark The Herald /聽Matt Featherstone and the Highfields Jazz Band