The Lord be with you
And also with you
We Say the Unity Prayer together where-ever we might be worshiping today.
Introduction and lighting of Christmas candle
I bring you good news of great joy:
A Saviour has been born to you. Alleluia!
Lighting of the Christmas candle
Jesus Christ is the light of the world
a light no darkness can quench.
The shepherds kept watch by night,
and your glory shone round about them.
The darkness is not dark to you,
the night is as bright as the day.
Let your light scatter the darkness
and fill your Church with your glory.
Confession
God our Father,
you sent your Son full of grace and truth:
forgive our failure to receive him.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus our Saviour,
you were born in poverty and laid in a manger:
forgive our greed and rejection of your ways.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Spirit of Love,
your servant Mary responded joyfully to your call:
forgive the hardness of our hearts.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
The Absolution
The true light that gives light to everyone
Has come into the world.
To all who receive him
He gives power to become children of God.
This is Christ’s gracious word:
“Your sins are forgiven.”
Amen. Thanks be to God.
Praise and glory
Glory to Christ, Son of Mary;
born a child,
you are one with us.
Glory to God in the highest.
Glory to Christ, Son of David;
born to rule,
you reign in our hearts.
Glory to God in the highest.
Glory to Christ, Son of man;
born to save,
you are the light of the world.
Glory to God in the highest.
The Collect can be found here.
The first reading can be found here.
At the end the reader says:
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The Gospel Reading can be found here.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,
according to N.
Glory to you, O Lord.
At the end:
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Talk
Affirmation of faith
I believe in God whose light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never smother it.
I believe that on that night in Bethlehem,
there was born a Saviour,
who is Christ the Lord.
I believe in the Word who has become incarnate,
our very flesh and blood, yet full of grace and truth.
I believe in the blessed appearing
of the salvation of our God,
that is for the blessing of all people.
I believe in his name as Wonderful Counsellor, mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of peace;
of the increase of his rule and of his unique peace,
there will be no end.
The zeal of the God of hosts will do this.
This I surely believe!
Prayers will include responses as led, and are on-line here
The following response may be used:
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
The Peace
Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given,
and his name shall be called the Prince of Peace.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you.
The altar is prepared and bread and wine are placed upon it.
The Eucharistic Prayer
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 thanks and praise.
It is right to praise you,
Father, Lord of all creation
in your love you made us for yourself.
When we turned away
you did not reject us,
but came to meet us in your Son.
You embraced us as your children
and welcomed us to sit and eat with you
At Christmas time we especially give you thanks
because for love of our fallen race
he most wonderfully and humbly chose
to be made man,
and to take our nature.
Born as the baby Jesus, growing up,
showing us how to live life.
Living a life of love.
In Christ you shared our life
that we might live in him and he in us.
He opened his arms of love upon the cross
and made for all the perfect sacrifice for sin.
On the night he was betrayed,
at supper with his friends
he took bread, and gave you thanks;
he broke it and gave it to them saying:
Take, eat; this is my body
which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.
Father, we do this in remembrance of him:
his body is the bread of life.
At the end of supper, taking a cup of wine,
he gave thanks, and said:
Drink this, all of you;
this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you
for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this in remembrance of me.
Father, we do this in remembrance of him;
his blood is shed for us all.
As we proclaim his death
and celebrate his rising in glory,
send your Holy Spirit that this bread and this wine
may be to us the body and blood of your dear Son.
As we eat and drink these holy gifts
make us one in Christ, our risen Lord.
With your whole Church throughout the world
we offer you this our sacrifice of praise
and lift our voice to join the eternal song of heaven:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
As our Saviour taught us, so we 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.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen
Breaking of 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.
Invitation to communion
Words from St John:
“The Word was made flesh, and lived among us: and we have seen his glory.”
The true bread of heaven gives life to the world
Come all who are hungry, come and eat.
Come all who are thirsty, come and drink.
Post communion prayer
God our Father,
whose Word has come among us
in the Holy Child of Bethlehem:
may the light of faith illumine our hearts and shine
in our words and deeds;
through him who is Christ the Lord.
Almighty God,
we thank you for feeding us
with the body and blood
of your Son Jesus Christ.
Through him we offer you our souls and bodies
to be a living sacrifice.
Send us out
in the power of your Spirit
to live and work
to your praise and glory. Amen.
Blessing
May the joy of the angels,
the eagerness of the shepherds,
the perseverance of the wise men,
the obedience of Mary and Joseph,
and the peace of the Christ child
be yours this Christmas.
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.
Praise
God sent his angels from glory to bring to shepherds
the good news of Jesus’ birth.
Alleluia, thanks be to God!
You have heard his story,
the story of God’s own Son.
Alleluia, thanks be to God!
May he fill you with joy
to bring this good news to others today.
Alleluia, thanks be to God!
HAPPY CHRISTMAS!