Liturgy and Prayers - Saturday, 25 December 2021 – Christmas Day

Liturgy in one document: Litugy in One Document, Christmas Day

Opening sentence

Proper 2

See, your Saviour comes!
His reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.  (Isa 62:11b NIV)

OR

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.  (Luke 2:10-12 NRSV)

Proper 3

How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,
who brings good news, who announces salvation,
who says to Zion, your God reigns.  (Isa 52:7 NRSV)

OR

The Word became flesh and lived among us,
and we have seen his glory,
the glory as of a father’s only son,
full of grace and truth.  (John 1:14 NRSV)

Prayer of the day - (Collect):

Traditional

Proper 2:

Almighty God,
grant that we who are enlightened
by the new light of your incarnate Word
may show in our deeds
the light that by faith shines in our hearts;
through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

 

Modernised Traditional

Almighty God,
you enlighten us with the new light
of your incarnate Word.
May we show in our deeds
the light that by faith shines in our hearts.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

 

Alternative

(Let us pray that we shine as lights in the world. [silence])

Thank you, loving Father,
for filling the world with the new light
of your Word who became a human being.
Keep the flame of faith and love
burning in our hearts
and shining in our lives.
For he lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

 

 

New

For use at night (based on traditional)

(Let us pray for true Christmas joy. [silence])

Lord God,
we thank you for making this holy night shine
with the true light of your Son.
As we celebrate his birth as a human child,
fill us with the joy of heaven.
For he lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

 

Traditional

Proper 3:

Almighty God,
as you have given us your only Son
to take our nature upon himself,
and to be born of a pure virgin:
Grant that we who have been born again
and made your children by adoption and grace
may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit;
through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Modernised Traditional

Almighty God,
you have given us your only Son
to take our nature upon himself,
and to be born of a pure virgin.
As we have been born again
and adopted as your children by grace,
so renew us daily by your Holy Spirit.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Alternative

Almighty God,
you enlighten us with the new light
of your incarnate Word.
May we show in our deeds
the light that by faith shines in our hearts.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

New

(Let us pray that we shine as lights in the world. [silence])

Thank you, loving Father,
for filling the world with the new light
of your Word who became a human being.
Keep the flame of faith and love
burning in our hearts
and shining in our lives.
For he lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Alleluia Verse

Proper 2:

Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God’s people on earth. Alleluia.
Alleluia.

Proper 3:

Alleluia, alleluia.
In the past God spoke through the prophets,
but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son. Alleluia.
Alleluia.

Prayer after the Gospel

If using the Luke gospel:
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ, Light of the world.
Lord Jesus, thank you for being born a baby in Bethlehem.
Help us always to give glory and praise to God.
Amen.

If using the John gospel:
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ, Light of the world.
Lord Jesus, the Word of God,
thank you for becoming flesh and living among us.
Lead us to receive you in faith.
Amen.

Offering Prayer

If using the Luke gospel:
Lord, help us to take the angel’s message to heart,
and to realise that the birth of Jesus our Saviour
is good news for us and for all people.
Lead us to give glory to you
by a life of joyful service
to you and to other people.
Amen.

If using the John gospel:
Lord, help us to put our faith in your Son,
and to live as your children.
Lead us to show your light to others
in our words and in our actions,
so that they, with us,
may know your peace, comfort and salvation.
Amen.

Prayer of the Church

Prayer points

Additional Prayer Points

LCA International Mission

Services with Holy Communion:

Preface

It is indeed right and good,
Lord God, holy Father,
that we should at all times and in all places
give thanks to you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
You have revealed your glorious presence to us
in a new way
through the mystery of the Word made flesh,
so that as we see you in your Son,
we are drawn to love you
whom we cannot see.
And so, with angels and archangels,
and with all the company of heaven,
we adore and praise your glorious name:

 

Communion Invitation

Jesus says: ‘I am the living bread
that came down from heaven.
The bread that I will give you is my flesh,
which I give so that the world may live.’
(Thanks be to God.)
Come, everything is ready.

Prayer after Communion

Thank you, loving Father,
for filling the world with the new light
of your Word who became a human being.
As we have been fed with his body and blood,
keep the flame of faith and love
burning in our hearts
and shining in our lives.
For he lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Dismissal

Seasonal Blessing

This seasonal blessing is used together with (ie before) the usual blessing in the order of service.
Christ the Son of God give you joy and peace by his presence with you; . . .

Dismissal

Go in peace, and live in the joy of Christmas.
Thanks be to God.

OR  In the name of Christ. Amen.