2023 Christmas Church Service from the Cook Islands Christian Church, Porirua

Service leader – Assistant Minister Makatea Tairea
Bible reader – Apii Leota
Music leader – Tania Unuia
Singers – Members of the church congregation

ĪMENE TOMO MAI EI TE OROMETUA KI ROTO (HYMN)

E Te Atua E
sung by the congregation as Assistant Minister Makatea Tairea walks to the front of the church

E te atua e,
Aroa ua mai,
Kia pure matou kia koe
E akarongo mai

E te atua mou
Kua kite pu rai koe
I te pure mou a te ngakau
E ta te vaa ua nei

E te atua mou
Kia pure matou nei
Oronga mai i te vaerua noou
Ei akakite mai
Amene

CALL TO WORSHIP
OPENING VERSE, PRAYER AND WELCOME

Makatea Tairea:

Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness, from that time on, forever.
The seal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

PRAYER

Father God, each day we must choose what god we will worship.
May we, as Joshua did, choose Jehovah God.
We want to serve you with all our heart and soul.
Please renew the desire in us on a daily basis.
We love you, Lord.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

ĪMENE APII SABATI (HYMN)

Po Maru, Po Tapu
sung by the congregation

Po maru, po tapu
Kua anauia to tatou pu
Kua tae te mareka rava
Kua ora te tangata
No to iesu aroa
Rauka’i to tatou ora

Te au tiaki, anana mamoe
Kua kako ratou katoa
I te marama o te atu
I na te angela kua tu
Kua karanga atu
Eiaa e mataku

I nako nei i anau ei
I to davida oire,
Ko te atu te mesia
To te tangata ia ora
Imene tatou katoa
Imene alleluia

Nana kotou i te akairo
Kua vae te tamaiti ou
I to te puaka patene
Kia ora te etene
Ma te ngati iuda
Amene alleluia.

PRAYER

Makatea Tairea:

Let us pray.
In the name of Jesus Christ we come to you, Father God, praising your name in our hearts.
We know that we are not worthy of your love, but through Jesus Christ we are now confident to come before you, bringing our prayers.

PURE A TE ATU (THE LORD’S PRAYER)

To matou metua
sung by the congregation

To matou metua i te ao ra,
Kia tapu toou ingoa
Kia tae toou basileia
Kia akono ia toou anoano
I te enua nei mei tei te ao;
Omai te kai e tau ia matou i teianei ra
Akakore mai ta matou ara mei ia matou,
I akakore i ta tei ara ia matou nei
Auraka matou kia timata ia mai,
Akaora ra ia matou i te kino
Noou oki te basileia
E te mana, e te kaka,
E tu a tau ua atu
Amene.

READING

Read in Cook Islands Māori by Makatea Tairea, then in English by Apii Leota

Matthew 1:18-25
This is how Jesus Christ was born. A young woman named Mary was engaged to Joseph from King David's family. But before they were married, she learned that she was going to have a baby by God's Holy Spirit. Joseph was a good man and did not want to embarrass Mary in front of everyone. So he decided to quietly call off the wedding.

While Joseph was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord appeared to him in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, the baby that Mary will have is from the Holy Spirit. Go ahead and marry her. Then after her baby is born, name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

So the Lord's promise came true, just as the prophet had said, “A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel,” which means “God is with us.”

After Joseph woke up, he and Mary were soon married, just as the Lord's angel had told him to do. But they did not sleep together before her baby was born. Then Joseph named him Jesus.

ĪMENE KIRITIMITI (TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS HYMN)

E Kia Anau Ai Iesu I Betelehema E
sung by the congregation

V (women):  E kia anau a Iesu i Betelehema e
T (men):  Betelehema e
V:  I te au ra o te ariki o Heroda
T:  E au tangata pakari tei aere mai, o te ra
V:  Mei te itinga mai o te ra e tae uatu ki Ierusalema
T:  Te uiuianga tei ea te ariki anau ou
V:  Kite ake nei matou tona etu i te itinga, aere mai nei matou e ara ara atu iaia
T:  Ka follow up, ka follow up, quick march

Tumu rua:
V:  E ko koe e Betelema e
T:  Te enua o Juda
V:  Kare koe ite meangiti, i roto pu i te au ariki ra
T:  Ariki ka no, ariki turia e te anuanua
V:  No roto mai iakoe te tai tutara ei arataki no Isaraela
T:  Maranga te ii, maranga te aa, ka noo koe kite kapeatara o taku ara tena mai tena mai
V:  Oro mai e taku ariki e, naku koe i teia kiritimiti, kiriti akera ta ratou apinga aroa, te auro, te tapou kakara e te manongi

PRAYER

Makatea Tairea:

Let us pray.
Father God, we do want to trust in you during all the various times of our lives. Help us to realise in good health you are our Shepherd, so that in bad times we can trust you to take care of us. You are such a wonderful guardian of all our lives. Our lives are like gardens, and with your care they bloom and blossom with the flowers of your blessings everywhere.

Father God, we love you very much for loving us. We stand truly amazed at your love for us. When we consider the message that Jesus Christ, your loving son, was born into the world for the forgiveness of our sins, Father, we are breathless.

But help us, O Lord, that we will not be breathless that we cannot give witness to each life for us.

Help us, Lord that we will be responsive to your gifts of grace through our lives.

Amen.

ĪMENE ANAUANGA (TRADITIONAL HYMN)

Iesu O Ko Iesu Te Ingoa
sung by the congregation

T:         I-e-s-u
T/V:      Ko-ko iesu te ingoa e
T/V:      Imanuela rai te atua ki o tatou (x 2)
T/V:      Ko Iesu te ingoa e
T:         Akaora aia i tona au tangata
V:        I ta ratou tuatua tika ra
T:         Hi a hi a hi hi a
V:        I ta ratou ara ravarai e
T:         Hi a hi a hi hi a
V:        Akaora aia i tona au tangata i ta ratou  au ara ravarai
T:         Hi – ha – hi – ha – hi a hi a
            Ara ravarai…..he – he – he – he

V:        Anau iora i ana tamaiti i ta te angela kia Iosepha
T:         I taua tamaiti e, welcome the king hi a – kia Iosepha
T:         E ariki aia e no te tuatau
V:        Ariki aia no te tuatau mu tu ko re
            E – ariki aia no te tuatau mutukore e ariki aia no te au
T:         No te tuatau mutukore, e ariki no te au pa! Pu!
            E ariki no te au pa! Pu!
            He ha ha he he
            Hi a hi a hi a ahaha a no te au

SERMON

Makatea Tairea gives the Christmas Day sermon first in Cook Islands Māori, then in English.

ĪMENE APII SABATI (HYMN)

Teia Tikai Te Mesia
sung by the congregation

Teia tikai te Mesia,
Peroveta no te ao;
Tama aia na te atua,
Koia teia ko Iesu;

I tae mai aia
Kia ora iaia to te ao

Teia tikai te Mesia,
Ta Iehova i unga mai;
Tere tona i akonoia,

Tere mou i tae mai ei;
Kia ora iaia,
Kia ora iaia tatou nei

Koia teia te mesia,
Ta Daniela i tata mai;
Koia oki ta Isaia,
Nona aia i tata rai;
Iesu aia,
Te ora aia e ora’i

I eke mai rai te Mesia,
Kia ora iaia to te ao;
I anga iaia to te atua
Riri maata ia tatou;
Ei akaora,
Ei akaora no tatou

BENEDICTION

Makatea Tairea:

Thank you, Father God, for looking after us throughout the whole day.
Lord, as we come into your presence, we are always thankful to you, Lord, for being our God.

IMENE AKAOTI (CLOSING HYMN)

Aroa Mou
sung by the congregation

Aroa mou, aroa mou
Aroa mutukore
To te Atua, ia tatou nei
Aroa mutukore
Amene.

A special extra recording from the congregation of the Cook Islands Christian Church, Porirua, of a traditional hymn: