A Liturgical Ordo for Christmas Eve

First eucharist of christmas

24 december 2011

The Gathering of the Community

Processional Hymn

‘Once in Royal David’s City’  Common Praise #123

Introductory Responses

Blessed are you, O Christ, Son of God,

you were before time began

and came into the world to save us.

Blessed are you, Sun of righteousness;

you shine with the Father’s love

and illumine the whole universe.

Blessed are you, Son of Mary;

born a child, you shared our humanity.

Let heaven and earth shout their praise.

With all the voices of heaven

we celebrate the coming of our Saviour.

Let heaven and earth shout their praise.

With all the creatures on earth

we sing and dance at his birth.

Praise and honour and glory to you, O Lord most high.

Hymn of Praise

Gloria in excelsis by Rupert Laing

Collect

Let us pray.

Eternal God,

this holy night is radiant

with the brilliance of your one true light.

As we have known

the revelation of that light on earth,

bring us to see the splendour of your heavenly glory;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

The Proclamation of the Word

First Reading

Isaiah 62.6-12

The Psalm

Psalm 97 in Songs for the Holy One

Second Reading

Titus 3.4-7

The Gradual Hymn

‘In the Bleak Midwinter’  Common Praise #122

The Gospel

Luke 2.1-20

The Sermon

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father;

through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation

he came down from heaven,

was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary

and became truly human.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again

in accordance with the scriptures;

he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father,

who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,

who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come.  Amen.

The Prayers of the Community

Intercessions, Petitions and Thanksgivings

The Exchange of the Peace

May the peace of Christ be always with you.

And also with you.

The Holy Communion

The Offertory Hymn

‘The First Nowell’  Common Praise #139 vv. 1-4

Prayer over the Gifts

Source of light and gladness,

accept all we offer on this joyful feast.

May we grow up in him who unites our lives to yours;

for he is Lord now and for ever.  Amen.

Thanksgiving at the Table

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Blessed are you, gracious God,

creator of heaven and earth;

we give you thanks and praise

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who in the mystery of his incarnation

was made truly human

of the flesh of the Virgin Mary his mother;

in him we have seen a new and radiant vision of your glory.

Therefore with all the angels of heaven,

we lift our voices and sing our joyful hymn of praise

to proclaim the glory of your name.

Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

Holy One, the beginning and the end, the giver of life:

Blessed are you for the birth of creation.

Blessed are you in the darkness and in the light.

Blessed are you for your promise to your people.

Blessed are you for the prophets’ hopes and dreams.

Blessed are you for Mary’s openness to your will.

Blessed are you for your Son, Jesus, the Word made flesh.

In the night in which he was betrayed,

our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;

broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:

Take and eat; this is my body given for you.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,

and gave it for all to drink, saying:

This cup is the new covenant in my blood,

shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ will come again.

With this bread and cup we remember

your Word dwelling among us, full of grace and truth.

We remember our new birth in his death and resurrection.

We look with hope for his coming.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Holy God, we long for your Spirit.

Come among us.  Bless this meal.

May your Word take flesh in us.

Awaken your people.  Fill us with your light.

Bring the gift of peace on earth.

Come, Holy Spirit.

All praise and glory are yours, Holy One of Israel,

Word of God incarnate, Power of the Most High,

one God, now and for ever.  Amen.  [6]

The Lord’s Prayer

As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial,

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours,

now and for ever.  Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

We break the bread of life,

and that life is the light of the world

God here among us,

light in the midst of us,

bring us to light and life.

The gifts of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

The Communion

Communion Hymn

‘What Child Is This’  Common Praise #137

The Sending Forth of the Community

Procession to the Crèche

‘Silent Night, Holy Night’  Common Praise #119  (Candles are lit during the Hymn and remain lit for the concluding prayers.)

Prayer after Communion

Lover of all creation,

tonight you have united earth and heaven

in sending your Beloved to take our human nature.

May we who have tasted heavenly things

share in the life of his eternal reign of peace.

We ask this in the name of the incarnate Word.  Amen.

Glory to God,

whose power, working in us,

can do infinitely more

than we can ask or imagine.

Glory to God from generation to generation,

in the Church and in Christ Jesus,

for ever and ever.  Amen.

Blessing

May the God of infinite goodness

scatter the darkness of sin

and brighten your hearts with holiness;

and the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always.  Amen.

Closing Hymn

‘Joy to the World’  Common Praise #154

Dismissal

Go forth in love to proclaim the birth of Christ.

Thanks be to God.

Notes

The Introductory Responses are taken from The Book of Alternative Services (1985), pp. 96-97.

The Collect, Prayer over the Gifts and Prayer after Communion (emended) are taken from The Book of Alternative Services (1985), p. 273-274.

The Readings are the second set for ‘Christmas --- at Midnight’ from The Book of Alternative Services (1985), p. 273.

The Nicene Creed is taken from Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), p. 104 with the omission of the Filioque in keeping with Canadian Anglican usage.

The Thanksgiving at the Table is taken from Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), p. 110 with the Preface (emended) for Christmas from The Book of Alternative Services (1985), p. 219.

Any liturgical elements not noted here are taken from ‘The Holy Eucharist’ in The Book of Alternative Services, p. 185 ff. or other sections of this liturgical book.