christmas evening prayer
From Christmas to
Epiphany
Introductory
Responses
Jesus Christ is the
light of the world.
A
light no darkness can extinguish.
Evening Prayer continues with the Thanksgiving for the Light or
the Psalm.
Thanksgiving
for the Light
Let us give thanks to
the Lord our God.
It
is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, Lord
our God, the Source of our life and David’s sovereign. You have made our gladness greater and
increased our joy by sending to dwell among us the Wonderful Counsellor, the
Prince of Peace. Born of Mary,
proclaimed to the shepherds, and acknowledged to the ends of the earth, your
unconquered Sun of righteousness destroys our darkness and establishes us in freedom. All glory in the highest be to you, through
Christ, the Son of your favour, in the anointing love of his Spirit, this night
and for ever and ever. Amen.
Evening Prayer continues with the Psalm.
The
Psalm
The Psalm of the Day or one of the following may be used.
Sundays in Christmas Psalm 18.1-3, 6, 9-11,
16-19
1 I love you, O Lord my strength, *
O Lord my stronghold, my crag and my
haven.
2 My God, my rock in whom I put my
trust, *
my shield, the horn of my salvation
and my refuge;
you are worthy of praise.
3 I will call upon the Lord, *
and so shall I be saved from my
enemies.
9 Lord, you parted the heavens and came
down *
with a storm cloud under your feet.
10 You mounted on cherubim and flew; *
you swooped on the wings of the
wind.
11 You wrapped darkness about you; *
you made dark waters and thick
clouds your pavilion.
16 You reached down from on high and
grasped me; *
you drew me out of great waters.
17 You delivered me from my strong
enemies
and from those
who hated me; *
for they were too mighty for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my
disaster; *
but you, O Lord, were my support.
19 You brought me out into an open place;
*
you rescued me because you delighted
in me.
Praise to you,
God of our salvation; you come to our help and set us free. May your strength be our shield and your word
be our lamp, that we may serve you with pure hearts and find victory. Amen.
Mondays in Christmas Psalm 21.1-7
1 The king rejoices in your strength, O
Lord; *
how greatly he exults in your
victory!
2 You have given him his heart’s desire;
*
you have not denied him the request
of his lips.
3 For you meet him with blessings of
prosperity, *
and set a crown of fine gold upon
his head.
4 He asked you for life, and you gave it
to him; *
length of days, for ever and ever.
5 His honour is great, because of your
victory; *
splendour and majesty have you
bestowed upon him.
6 For you will give him everlasting
felicity *
and will make him glad with the joy
of your presence.
7 For the king puts his trust in the
Lord; *
because of the loving-kindness of
the Most High, he will not fall.
Giver of life
and source of all blessings, may the leaders of the nations serve your people
with justice and protect them from violence, hardship and exploitation. Amen.
Tuesdays in Christmas Psalm 22.23-31
23 Praise the Lord, you that fear God; *
stand in awe of God, O offspring of
Israel;
all you of Jacob’s line, give glory.
24 For God does not despise nor abhor the
poor in their poverty;
neither does
God turn away from them; *
when they cry to God, they are
heard.
25 My praise is of God in the great
assembly; *
I will perform my vows in the
presence of those who worship God.
26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied,
and those who
seek the Lord shall give praise: *
“May your heart live for ever!”
27 All the ends of the earth shall
remember and turn to the Lord, *
and all the families of the nations
shall bow before God.
28 For sovereignty belongs to the Lord, *
who rules over the nations.
29 To God alone all who sleep in the
earth bow down in worship; *
all who go down to the dust fall
before God.
30 My soul shall live for God;
my descendants
shall serve God; *
they shall be known as the Lord’s
for ever.
31 They shall come and make known to a
people yet unborn *
the saving deeds that God has done.
O God our God,
do not hide your face from those who cry out to you. Feed the hungry, strengthen the weak, and
break the chains of the oppressed, so that your people may rejoice in your
saving deeds. Amen.
Wednesdays in Christmas Psalm
45.1-2, 6-8, 17
1 My heart is stirring with a noble song;
let me
recite what I have fashioned for my sovereign; *
my tongue shall be the pen of a
skilled writer.
2 You are the fairest of mortals; *
grace flows from your lips,
because God has blessed you for
ever.
6 Your throne, O God, endures for ever and ever, *
a sceptre of righteousness is the
sceptre of your dominion;
7 you love righteousness and hate iniquity. *
Therefore God, your God, has
anointed you
with the oil of gladness above your
companions.
8 All your garments are fragrant with myrrh, aloes, and cassia, *
and the music of strings from ivory
palaces makes you glad.
17 I will make your name to be remembered
from one
generation to another; *
therefore nations will praise you
for ever and ever.”
Gracious
God, your love unites heaven and earth in a new festival of gladness. Lift our spirits to learn the way of joy that
leads us to your banquet hall, where all is golden with praise. Amen.
Thursdays in Christmas Psalm
132.1-5, 8, 11, 13-18
1 Lord, remember David, *
and all the hardships he endured.
2 How he swore an oath to the Lord *
and vowed a vow to the Mighty One of
Jacob.
3 “I will not come under the roof of my
house, *
nor climb up into my bed;
4 I will not allow my eyes to sleep, *
nor let my eyelids slumber;
5 until I find a place for the Lord, *
a dwelling for the Mighty One of
Jacob.”
8 Arise, O Lord, into your
resting-place, *
you and the ark of your strength.
11 You, O Lord, have sworn an oath to
David;
in truth, you
will not break it: *
“A son, the fruit of your body
will I set upon your throne.
13 For you, O Lord, have chosen Zion, *
and have desired it for your
habitation:
14 “This shall be my resting-place for
ever; *
here will I dwell, for I delight in
it.
15 I will surely bless its provisions, *
and satisfy its poor with bread.
16 I will clothe its priests with
salvation, *
and its faithful people will rejoice
and sing.
17 There will I make the horn of David
flourish; *
I have prepared a lamp for my
anointed.
18 As for his enemies, I will clothe them
with shame; *
but as for him, his crown will
shine.”
Gracious God,
feed us with the bread of life that we may grow to recognize in every human
heart a sign of your presence and an opportunity to serve you. Amen.
Fridays in Christmas Psalm
102.1-3, 12-13, 16, 25-27
1 Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry
come before you; *
hide not your face from me in the
day of my trouble.
2 Incline your ear to me; *
when I call, make haste to answer
me,
3 for my days drift away like smoke, *
and my bones are hot as burning
coals.
12 But you, O Lord, endure for ever, *
and your name from age to age.
13 You will have compassion on Zion,
for it is time
to have mercy upon it; *
indeed, the appointed time has come.
16 For you, O Lord, will build up Zion, *
and your glory will appear.
25 In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the
foundations of the earth, *
and the heavens are the work of your
hands.
26 They shall perish, but you will
endure;
they all shall
wear out like a garment; *
as clothing you will change them,
and they shall be changed;
27 but you are always the same, *
and your years will never end.
God of
unchanging mercy, look with compassion upon all who suffer: the sick and the friendless, the homeless and
the captive, the weary and the depressed.
Be present to them in the power of your healing love and give them
health, comfort and hope. Amen.
Saturdays in Christmas Psalm 84
1 How dear to me is your dwelling, O
Lord of hosts! *
My soul has a desire and longing for
the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh rejoice in the
living God.
2 The sparrow has found her a house
and the
swallow a nest where she may lay your young; *
by the side of your altars, O Lord
of hosts,
my Sovereign and my God.
3 Happy are they who dwell in your
house! *
They will always be praising you.
4 Happy are the people whose strength is
in you, *
whose hearts are set on the
pilgrims’ way!
5 Those who go through the desolate
valley will find it a place of springs, *
for the early rains have covered it
with pools of water.
6 They will climb from height to height,
*
and you, the God of gods, will
reveal yourself in Zion.
7 Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; *
hearken, O God of Jacob.
8 Behold our defender, O God; *
and look upon the face of your
anointed.
9 For one day in your courts is better
than a thousand in my own room, *
and to stand at the threshold of the
house of my God
than to dwell in the tents of the
wicked.
10 For you, Lord God, are both sun and
shield; *
you will give grace and glory;
11 no good thing with the Lord withhold *
from those who walk with integrity.
12 O Lord of hosts, *
happy are they who put their trust
in you!
God of
pilgrims, teach us to recognize your dwelling-place in the love, generosity and
support of those with whom we share our journey. Help us to worship you in our response to
those who need our care; for all the world is your temple and every human heart
a sign of your presence. Amen.
Evening Prayer continues with the Reading.
The
Reading
A Reading from a daily lectionary or one of the following may be
used.
Sundays in Christmas 1 John 2.7-10
Beloved, I
am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you have had
from the beginning; the old commandment is the word that you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new commandment that
is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true
light is already shining. Whoever says,
“I am in the light, while hating a brother or sister, is still in the
darkness. Whoever loves a brother or
sister lives in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for
stumbling.
Mondays in Christmas Titus 2.11-14
For the
grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce
impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are
self-controlled, upright and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the
manifestation of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he
might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who
are zealous for good works.
Tuesdays in Christmas Matthew 2.13-15
Now after
the magi had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,
“Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there
until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy
him.” Then Joseph got up, took the child
and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death
of Herod. This was to fulfill what had
been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, :Out of Egypt I have called my
son.”
Wednesdays in Christmas 2 Corinthians 8.9
For you know
the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for
your sakes he become poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
Thursdays in Christmas James 3.13, 17-18
Who is wise
and understanding among you? Show by
your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. The wisdom from above is first pure, then
peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a
trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a
harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
Fridays in Christmas Luke 6.27-31
Jesus said,
“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate
you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the
other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your
shirt. Give to everyone who begs from
you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to
you.”
Saturdays in Christmas John 8.12
Jesus spoke
to the people, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in
darkness but will have the light of life.”
After a period of silent reflection one of the following is said.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks
be to God.
or
Here what the Spirit is
saying to the church.
Thanks
be to God.
or
Holy Word, Holy Wisdom.
Thanks
be to God.
Evening Prayer continues with the Responsory or the Canticle.
The
Responsory
Your salvation, O God,
is near to those who fear you: *
your glory shall dwell
in our land.
Your
salvation, O God, is near to those who fear you: *
your
glory shall dwell in our land.
I will listen to what
you, Lord God, are saying,
for you are speaking
peace to your faithful people
and to those who turn
their heart to you. *
Your
glory shall dwell in our land.
Mercy and truth have
met together;
righteousness and peace
have kissed each other. *
Your
glory shall dwell in our land.
Truth shall spring up
from the earth,
and righteousness shall
look down from heaven. *
Your
glory shall dwell in our land.
Glory to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. *
Your
salvation, O God, is near to those who fear you: *
your
glory shall dwell in our land.
or
Glory to God, Source of
all being, eternal Word and Holy Spirit. *
Your
salvation, O God, is near to those who fear you: *
your
glory shall dwell in our land.
Evening Prayer continues with the Canticle.
The
Canticle
God’s Plan of Salvation (Ephesians 1.3-7)
Blessed are you, the
God and Father *
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in
Christ *
with all the spiritual blessings of heaven.
You chose us in Christ
*
before the world was made
to be holy and blameless,
*
and to live by his love in your presence.
You planned through
Jesus Christ *
to bring us to yourself as your children,
that we might praise
the glory of your grace, *
your free gift to us in the Beloved.
In Christ we gain
redemption; *
through his blood our sins are forgiven.
How rich is
the grace of God!
Glory to God, Source of
all being, eternal Word and Holy Spirit:
as it was in the
beginning, is now and will be for ever.
Amen.
or
Glory to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the
beginning, is now and will be for ever.
Amen.
Evening Prayer continues with the Affirmation of Faith or the
Litany.
Affirmation
of Faith
Either of the following may be said.
The Apostles’ Creed
I
believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator
of heaven and earth.
I
believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who
was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born
of the virgin Mary,
suffered
under Pontius Pilate,
was
crucified, died, and was buried;
he
descended to the dead.
On
the third day he rose again;
he
ascended into heaven,
he
is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and
he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I
believe in the Holy Spirit,
the
holy catholic church,
the
communion of saints,
the
forgiveness of sins,
the
resurrection of the body,
and
the life everlasting. Amen.
Hear, O Israel
Hear,
O Israel,
the
Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Love
the Lord your God
with
all your heart,
with
all your soul,
with
all your mind,
and
with all your strength.
This
is the first and the great commandment.
The
second is like it:
Love
your neighbour as yourself.
There
is no commandment greater than these.
Morning Prayer continues with the Litany.
The
Litany
Let us pray to our
Creator, saying, “Holy One, in your mercy, hear our prayer.”
Begetter of creation,
you entrusted Mary and Joseph with the life of your child, Jesus. Strengthen all families and all those who
care for child in the bonds of love, peace and faith. Holy One, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Sustainer of the
covenants, make your church a fruitful vine to all who are reborn in the living
waters of baptism. May we find ourselves
continually nourished and refreshed at the table of Christ. Holy One, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Consoler of the
afflicted, sustain the homeless and the abandoned. Protect the widowed and the orphaned. Comfort those who mourn the dead. Holy One, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Source of love, like a
mother you nourish us with your grace.
Quicken in us the seed of Christ’s word so that we might reveal him to
the whole human family. Holy One, in
your mercy, hear our prayer.
Free prayer may be offered and silence is kept. After the silence the Collect of the Day or
one of the following collects may be said.
Christmas I
God of all ages, in the
birth of Christ your boundless love for your people shattered the power of
darkness. Be born in us with that same
love and light, that our song may blend with all the choirs of heaven and earth
to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
Christmas II
Christ, our God, whom
humble shepherds worshipped at a manger, you are holy and most high, merciful
and might. Startle us to wakefulness,
that we may rejoice in your new and glorious dawn, and, in your holy name, act
to mend this suffering world. Amen.
Christmas III
God, you spoke and your
Word became flesh, breathing a new song of joy and praise into the world. Grant that we may bear the good news of your
salvation, proclaiming your promise of peace to the ends of the earth. Amen.
Evening Prayer continues with the Lord’s Prayer.
The
Lord’s Prayer
Gathering our prayers
and praises into one,
let us pray as our
Saviour taught us,
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.
Evening Prayer continues with the Dismissal.
The
Dismissal
Let us bless the
incarnate Lord.
Thanks
be to God.
Then may be said.
May Christ, who by his
Incarnation gathered into one things earthly and heavenly, fill us with his joy
and peace. Amen.
Liturgical Resources Used
All scriptural passages are taken
from the New Revised Standard Version (c) 1989 by The National Council of
Churches.
The Psalms are taken from The Book of Alternative Services (c)
1985 by The Anglican Church of Canada.
They have been emended by the Rev’d Dr Richard Geoffrey Leggett for
inclusive language and, when necessary, renumbered to conform to the
versification of the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.
The Psalm Prayers are taken from The Book of Alternative Services (c)
1985 by The Anglican Church of Canada and have been emended by the Rev’d Dr
Richard Geoffrey Leggett.
The Apostles’ Creed which originally
appeared in Praying Together (c) 1988
by the English Language Liturgical Consultation, is taken from Evangelical Lutheran Worship (c) by The
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, p. 105.
The Litany is adapted from Intercessions for the Christian People
(c) 1988, 1990 by the Liturgical Press, p. 79.
The Collects after the Litany are
those for the three propers for Christmas as published in Revised Common Lectionary Prayers (c) 2002 by The Consultation on
Common Texts, pp. 39, 40, 41.
The concluding Doxology is adapted
from The Book of Occasional Services 2003
(c) 2004 by The Church Pension Fund, p. 23.
All other liturgical texts are taken
from The Book of Alternative Services
(c) 1985 by The Anglican Church of Canada with emendations by the Rev’d Dr
Richard Geoffrey Leggett.
