Preparation
| O God, make speed to save us. | |
| All | O Lord, make haste to help us. |
| The light shines in the darkness; | |
| All | and the darkness has not overcome it. |
| All | Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen. |
A Song of Praise
The great God of heaven is come down to earth,
His mother a Virgin, and sinless his birth;
The Father eternal his Father alone:
He sleeps in the manger; he reigns on the throne:
Then let us adore him and praise his great love:
To save us poor sinners he came from above.
Lo! here is Emmanuel, here is the Child,
The Son that was promised to Mary so mild;
Whose power and dominion shall ever increase,
The Prince that shall rule o’er a kingdom of peace.
O wonder of wonders, which none can unfold:
The Ancient of days is an hour or two old;
The Maker of all things is made of the earth,
Man is worshipped by angels, and God comes to birth.
The Word of God
PSALM 113
Alleluia. Give praise, you servants of the Lord,
O praise the name of the Lord.
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
from this time forth and for evermore.
From the rising of the sun to its setting
let the name of the Lord be praised.
The Lord is high above all nations
and his glory above the heavens.
Who is like the Lord our God, that has his throne so high,
yet humbles himself to behold
the things of heaven and earth?
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ashes,
To set them with princes,
with the princes of his people.
He gives the barren woman a place in the house
and makes her a joyful mother of children. Alleluia.
After a short space for silence:
From the rising of the sun to its setting
we praise your name, O Lord;
may your promise to raise the poor from the dust
and turn the fortunes of the needy upside down
be fulfilled in our time also,
as it was in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Short Reading
Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word.
(Hebrews 1.1-3a)
SHORT RESPONSE TO THE READING
| I will hear what the Lord God will say. | |
| All | He shall speak peace to his people. |
Prayers
We pray for those on our hearts and minds, bringing to God our concerns as well as our gratitude.
We pray also for
- The Church, especially in places of conflict
- The Holy Land, for peace with justice, and reconciliation
- Refugees and asylum seekers
- Homeless people
- Families with young children
Then we gather-up our prayers:
O Lord Jesus Christ,
Word of the Father and brightness of his glory,
whom angels desire to behold:
teach us to do your will that, guided by your Spirit,
we may come to that blessed city of everlasting day,
where all are one in heart and mind,
where there is safety and eternal peace,
happiness and delight,
where you live with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
world without end. Amen
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory
for ever and ever. Amen.