First eucharist of christmas
24
December 2015
The Gathering of the Community
Prelude
Processional Hymn
‘O Come, All Ye Faithful’
Common Praise #118 vv. 1, 2,
3, 4
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
Collect
Let us pray.
Almighty God,
as we prepare with joy
to celebrate the gift of the Christ-child,
embrace the earth with your glory
and be for us a living hope
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen. [ii]
The Proclamation of the Word
First Reading
A Reading from the Prophet Isaiah (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.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
Thanks be to God.
The Psalm
Psalm 96 with the
refrain from Songs for the Holy One
Refrain (sung
twice): May
the heavens rejoice and the earth sing for joy.
1
Sing to the Lord a new song; *
sing
to the Lord, all the whole earth.
2
Sing to the Lord and bless the divine
name; *
proclaim the good news of our
salvation
from day to day.
3
Declare the glory of the Lord among the nations *
and
the wonders of God among all peoples.
4
For great is the Lord and greatly to be
praised, *
more to be feared than all gods.
Refrain: May the heavens rejoice and the
earth sing for joy.
5
As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols; *
but
it is you, O Lord, who made the heavens.
6
Oh, the majesty and magnificence of your
presence! *
Oh, the power and the splendour of
your sanctuary!
7
Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples; *
ascribe
to the Lord honour and power.
8
Ascribe to the Lord the honour due the
divine name; *
bring offerings and come into the
courts of the Lord.
Refrain: May the heavens rejoice and the
earth sing for joy.
9
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; *
let
the whole earth tremble before God.
10
Tell it out among the nations: “The Lord
reigns! *
The Lord who made the world so firm
that it cannot be moved will judge
the peoples with equity.”
11
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.
12
Then shall all the trees of the wood
shout for joy
before
the Lord who is coming, *
who is coming to judge the earth.
13
The Lord will judge the world with righteousness *
and the peoples with truth.
Refrain: May the heavens rejoice and the
earth sing for joy.
Second Reading
A Reading from the Letter to 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 deeds.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
Thanks be to God.
The Gradual Hymn
‘All Poor Folk and Humble’
Common Praise #151
The Gospel
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke (2.1-20).
Glory to you, Lord
Jesus Christ.
In those days
a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be
registered. This was the first
registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be
registered. Joseph also went from the
town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem,
because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom
he was engaged and who was expecting a child.
While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and
wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no
place for them in the inn.
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields,
keeping watch over their flock by night.
Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord
shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not
be afraid; for see — I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the
people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the
Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for
you: you will find a child wrapped in
bands of cloth and 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 heaven, and on earth
peace among those whom he favours!”
When the
angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
“Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the
Lord has made known to us.” So they went
with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had
been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the
shepherds told them. But Mary treasured
all these words and pondered them in her heart.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had
heard and seen, as it had been told them.
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord
Jesus Christ.
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,
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
‘It Came upon a Midnight Clear’
Common Praise #141
Prayer over the Gifts
Let us pray.
Good and loving God,
we rejoice
in the birth of Jesus,
who came
among the poor
to bring
the riches of your grace.
As you have
blessed us with your gifts,
let them be
a blessing for others.
With the
trees of the field,
with all
earth and heaven,
we shout
for joy at the coming of your Son,
Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen. [iv]
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.
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,
that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and
praise to you,
almighty and merciful God, through our Saviour Jesus
Christ.
In the wonder and mystery of the Word made flesh
you have opened the eyes of faith to a new and radiant vision
of your glory,
that beholding the God made visible,
we may be drawn to love the God whom we cannot see.
And so, with all the choirs of angels,
with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
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.
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.[vi]
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,
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
The Sending Forth of the Community
Procession to the Crèche
Candles are lit
during the Hymn and remain lit for the concluding prayers.
‘Silent Night, Holy Night’
Common Praise #119
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray.
Radiant God,
with our
eyes we have seen your salvation,
and in this
meal we have feasted on your grace.
May your
Word take flesh in us,
so that we
may be your holy people,
revealing
your glory made known to us
in Jesus
Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Amen.
[viii]
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 Lover of creation, the Beloved of God
and the Love that unites them,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Closing Hymn
‘In the Bleak Midwinter’
Common Praise #122
Dismissal
Go forth in love to proclaim the birth of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
[i] Lang Carol Mass.
[ii] Liturgy Task
Force, ‘Trial Use Collects and Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion for
Year C: Advent 1 through Epiphany 6,’ 4.
[iii] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), p.
104.
[iv] Liturgy Task
Force, ‘Trial Use Collects and Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion for
Year C: Advent 1 through Epiphany 6,’
13.
[v] Lang ‘Carol
Mass’.
[vi] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), p.
110.
[vii] Common Worship #744.
[viii] Liturgy Task
Force, ‘Trial Use Collects and Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion for
Year C: Advent 1 through Epiphany 6,’
13.
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