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Puer natus est nobis, et filius datus est nobis:

cujus imperium super humerum ejus;

et vocabitur nomen ejus, magni consilii Angelus.

Service of Light

Greeting/Invocation

 We light the Christmas Candles and say or sing:

Light and Peace in Jesus Christ our Lord!

~Thanks be to God!

 

All the ends of Earth have seen, alleluia!

~The salvation of our God, alleluia!

 

EVENING HYMN for CHRISTMAS DAY

O Christ, Redeemer of our race, And brightness of  your Abba’s face,

Of whom and with whom ever One, Ere times and  seasons had begun.

 

You are the very Light from  light, Unfailing hope in darkest night,

Hear now the prayers your people pray The wide world o’er this Christmas day.

 

Remember, Lord of  life and grace, How once in love you saved our race,

And did our human flesh assume In Mary’s virgin-mother womb.

 

Your Abba’s love sent you to come, to call us wayward children home.

On Earth let joy and praises ring, as with the saints your birth we sing.

 

All glory then we sing to you the Promised One the Virgin bore;

To Abba and the Spirit Blest, the Three-in-One forever more.

 

 

 

SERVICE OF THE WORD

PSALMODY

 Antiphon 1

You have held princely rule from the day of your birth on high;

from the womb before the first dawn, I have begotten you.

Psalm 109/110

Adonai, to the One who will reign:

“Come and be My companion;

We will undo selfishness and sin.”

 

The Spirit will bring from Zion

The power and strength to save:

Love changing foes into friends.

 

Precious from the day of your birth

on the holy mountain;

from the womb before the dawn I begot you.

 

The Promise holds true forever:

Your ministry is Loving-Kindness–

A priest like Melchizedek of old.

 

Companions of the Most High are ready

To liberate all who suffer from evil.

 

The One who calls us to justice

Invites us to join in the struggle:

Enlightening all who are unaware of the truth.

 

Drink from streams of Living Water,

Lift up your head and celebrate the feast.

 

Glory to the ONE and to the WORD

And to the BREATH of Love!

As always before,  so now and evermore.  Amen

You have held princely rule * from the day of your birth on high;

from the womb before the first dawn, I have begotten you.

Antiphon 2

The Lord has sent deliverance to this people,

and confirmed the covenant forever.

Psalm 110/111

I will thank Adonai with all my heart

wherever the just meet or assemble.

Great are your works O my God;

a delight to explore and ponder.

 

Your creation is majestic and glorious

Your justice remains forever.

Who can forget your wonders!

filled with compassion and love!

 

You give food  to all the faithful,

ever-mindful of your sacred covenant.

You revealed your strength to this people

by giving them land among the nations.

 

You rule with justice and truth;

Your decrees are helpful and certain;

each law reveals you can be trusted

and can be lived with faith and assurance.

 

Adonai has delivered this people

and established a covenant for ever.

Your holy Name fills us with awe!

 

Reverence for the Holy One is the beginning of wisdom,

wise are those who know how to live it!

Praise Adonai forever!

 

Glory to the ONE and to the WORD

And to the BREATH of Love;

as always before,

so now and evermore. Amen.

The Lord has sent deliverance to this people,

and confirmed the covenant forever.

Antiphon 3

With our God there is compassion and fullness of redemption.

Psalm 129/130

Out of the depths I cry to You!

in your mercy, hear my voice!

Let your ears be attentive

to the voice of my pleading!

 

If you recorded our sins,

Adonai, who could survive?

But because you are ready to forgive

we stand here in wonder and awe.

 

My soul is waiting for Adonai

I trust in God’s word.

My soul is longing for Adonai

more than watchmen for daybreak.

Let the watchman count on daybreak

and all of us count on Adonai!

 

Because with God there is compassion

And fullness of redemption.

God indeed will redeem us

From all our iniquity.

 

Glory to the ONE and to the WORD

And to the BREATH of Love;

as always before,

so now and evermore. Amen.

With our God there is compassion and fullness of redemption.

 

READING —  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 our joy.
…For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, 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 onwards and for evermore.  The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Silent Reflection

 

Responsory  

R. The Word was made flesh. Alleluia, alleluia!  V. And lived among us.  Alleluia, alleluia!

 

Canticle of Mary          Luke 1:46-55

This day was born the Anointed One; this day a Savior has appeared;

This day the angels chant and the just rejoice singing: Glory to God  on high, alleluia!

It is customary to make the sign of the cross at the beginning of the Gospel Canticle.

My heart + is radiant with the Lord,

My whole being delights in God my Savior.

 

All people now will call me blessed

For God has loved this humble handmaid.

The Almighty has shown me great favor

Holy is the NAME,

 

Whose mercy embraces the faithful,

From one generation to the next.

The mighty arm of God,

Scatters the proud in their own conceit,

 

Pulls tyrants from their thrones

While lifting up the lowly:

Fills the famished with bounty,

And reveals the emptiness of riches.

 

Rescues lowly Israel,

Sharing such loving kindness,

As promised to our ancestors

To Abraham and Sarah, and their descendants forever.

 

Glory to the ONE and to  WORD

And to the BREATH of Love!

As always before,

so now and evermore.  Amen

This day was born the Anointed One; this day a Savior has appeared;

This day the angels chant and the just rejoice singing: Glory to God  on high, alleluia!

 

 

 

SERVICE OF PRAYER

Litany of Intercession

Let us pray to Christ our Savior: ~O Savior, save us.

Son of the Living God: ~O Savior, save us.

Son of Earth, Human One: ~O Savior, save us.

Son of  Abraham, Israel and David: ~O Savior, save us.

Son of Mary, Ruth, Rachel, Rebecca and Sarah: ~O Savior, save us.

Prayer of Jesus

Our Dear Abba in heaven…

 

Closing Prayer and Blessing.

God of endless love and compassion, we praise you for creating us in your own image and likeness and even more for restoring us in Christ Jesus, your living Word.  As we celebrate his birth, may we live his gospel, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God  forever and ever.  Amen.

 

All may make the sign of the Cross as we say:

May the birth of our God and Savior Jesus Christ + bring all humanity to salvation.  Amen.

 

Let us bless Adonai.

~Thanks be to God.

 

 

Those who wish may end evening prayer with the Marian Antiphon for Christmas.

Marian Antiphon

 

Loving Mother of our Savior, holding open heaven’s only hope, Star for steerage in this vastness, rise to help us, save the sinking.  Nature’s greatest  Wonder: you have borne your own true Maker, giving human life to him. Virgin ever, before and after, that Good News from Gabriel, Word of Life for living, tell it now: mercy to all people!

 

The angel of the Lord brought the message to Mary. ~ And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

 

Let us pray.  We ask, O Lord, that we who have been privileged to receive the Good News of the Incarnation of Christ, you Son, may live as he lived and be prepared through his passion and cross to approach also the glory of his resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.  Amen.