Merry Christmas & Welcome to Emmanuel!
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Opening Sentence
The Officiant begins
Restore us again, O God: show us the light of your face and we shall be saved. Psalm 80:3
Officiant Light and peace in Jesus Christ our Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
The Officiant continues
It is not ourselves we proclaim; we proclaim Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants, for Jesus' sake. For the same God who said, "Out of darkness let light shine, has caused the light to come within us, to give the light of revelation - the revelation of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:5-6
Let us pray.
Grant us Lord, the lamp of charity that never fails, that it may burn in us and shed its light on those around us, and that by its brightness we may have a vision of that Holy City where dwells the true and never-failing light, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Collect for Christmas
O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and reigns with the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Officiant and people together
O Gracious Light,
Pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light, we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices.
O Son of God, O Giver of Life,
and to be glorified throughout all the world.
The Lessons
The Reader begins
A Reading from the Prophet Isaiah 9:2-7
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness--on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Reader Hear what God is saying to his people.
People Amen.
The Reader begins
Psalm 96 Cantate Domino
Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the whole earth.
Sing to the Lord and bless his Name;
proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations
and his wonders among all peoples.
For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;
he is more to be feared than all gods.
As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols;
but it is the Lord who made the heavens.
Oh, the majesty and magnificence of his presence!
Oh, the power and the splendor of his sanctuary!
Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples;
ascribe to the Lord honor and power.
Ascribe to the Lord the honor due his Name;
bring offerings and come into his courts.
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness;
let the whole earth tremble before him.
Tell it out among the nations: "The Lord is King!
he has made the world so firm that it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity."
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
let the sea thunder and all that is in it;
let the field be joyful and all that is therein.
Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy
before the Lord when he comes,
when he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness
and the peoples with his truth.
Officiant The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
People Glory to you Lord Christ.
Luke 2: 1-20 (King James Version)
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David.) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Officiant The Gospel of the Lord.
People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Prayers
The Reader begins
Let us bring to the Lord our hopes and cares this Christmas Eve. Amen.
For God's people throughout the world, that we might do our part to give glory to God and to bring peace to the earth. God of wonder, hear our prayers.
For all gathered here, that we might take the Good News of the living God into the world, not only with our lips, but in our lives. God of joy, hear our prayers.
For all who are in darkness, and for all those in any need or trouble, that the light of the newborn Christ might fill their hearts and bring them hope. God of hope, hear our prayers.
For the sick and the dying and all who care for them, that God might bless this night with the gift of peace. God of peace, hear our prayers.
Confident in God's love, we place our needs before the newborn Christ, whose manger is the human heart and his glory is any person alive to his Presence. God of love, hear our prayers.
May the Lord open his ears to all the worlds who cry out to him this Christmas Eve. Amen.
The Peace
Officiant Christ, the Good Shepherd, bind us with a bond of love that cannot be broken. My sisters and brothers, the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
People And also with you.
Concluding Collect
Loving Father, your final word to us is your Word incarnate: Grant that we may welcome him with all our hearts, respond in love to your unending love, and gain eternal life, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
An Irish Christmas Blessing
The light of the Christmas star to you
The warmth of a home and hearth to you
The cheer and good will of friends to you
The hope of a childlike heart to you
The joy of a thousand angels to you
The love of the Son and God’s peace to you
Amen.
The Dismissal
Officiant Let us go forth, in the goodness of our merciful Father, in the gentleness of our Brother Jesus, in the radiance of his Holy Spirit, in the faith of the apostles, in the joyful praise of the angels, in the holiness of the saints.
People Thanks be to God.
Postlude
Our worship is ended; our service continues in the world.
Wishing you and yours a very blessed and peaceful Christmas.
