Prelude: "In Dulce Jubilo" J.S. Bach
 
Ringing of the Bell
 
Opening Hymn: 96 "Angels we have heard on high"
 
Celebrant:
O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
 
Celebrant:
Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born [this day] 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 our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
 
Celebrant: 
"Beloved in Christ, at this Christmas-tide let it be our care and delight to hear again the message of the angels, and in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, and the Babe lying in a manger.
 
Therefore let us read and mark in Holy Scripture the tale of the loving purposes of God from the first days of our disobedience unto the glorious Redemption brought us by this Holy Child.
​
But first, let us pray for the needs of the whole world; for peace on earth and goodwill among all his people; for unity and brotherhood within the Church he came to build, and especially in this our diocese.
And because this would rejoice his heart, let us remember, in his name, the poor and helpless, the cold, the hungry, and the oppressed; the sick and them that mourn, the lonely and the unloved, the aged and the little children; all those who know not the Lord Jesus, or who love him not, or who by sin have grieved his heart of love.

Lastly, let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us, but upon another shore, and in a greater light, that multitude which no man can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom in the Lord Jesus we are one for evermore.

These prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the Throne of Heaven, in the words which Christ himself hath taught us:
Celebrant:  The Lord be with you
People:        And also with you
Celebrant:   Let us pray
                   (kneel or stand)
          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,
                   and the power, and the glory                                                                                         
           for ever and ever.  Amen.

The First Lesson: Genesis 3: 8-15 
          "God announces in the Garden of Eden that the seed of woman shall
           bruise the serpent's head"
They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”  He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.”  He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent tricked me, and I ate.” The Lord God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this,
    cursed are you among all animals
    and among all wild creatures;
upon your belly you shall go,
    and dust you shall eat
    all the days of your life.
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
    and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike your head,
    and you will strike his heel.”
 
Reader:  (following the lesson)  The Word of the Lord
People:  Thanks be to God.

Hymn 102 "Once in Royal David's City"
 
The Second Lesson Isaiah 9: 2 & 6-7 
          "Christ's birth and kingdom are foretold by Isaiah."                     
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.
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.

Reader:  (following the lesson)  The Word of the Lord
People:  Thanks be to God.  

Hymn 101 "Away in a Manager"

The Third Lesson:   Luke 2: 1-7  
          "St. Luke tells the birth of Jesus."
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.
 
Reader:  (following the lesson)  The Word of the Lord
People:  Thanks be to God.

Hymn 115       "What Child is this, who laid to rest"

The Fourth Lesson  Luke 2: 8-16   
          "The shepherds go to the manger"
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 Savior, 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 favors!"
 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.

Reader:  (following the lesson)  The Word of the Lord
People:  Thanks be to God

Hymn 111  "Silent Night"

The Fifth Lesson:  John 1: 1-14   
          "St. John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation"
Celebrant:  The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
People:        Glory to you, Lord Christ.
 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life,[a] and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.[b]
10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own,[c] and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son,[d] full of grace and truth.
 
Celebrant:  (following the Gospel):  The Gospel of the Lord.
People:  Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Closing Hymn 100 "Joy to the World! The Lord Is Come"

The Blessing:
The Lord bless you and keep you. Amen.
The Lord make his face to shine upon you
   and be gracious to you. Amen.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you
   and give you peace. Amen.
 
The Benediction:
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.  AMEN
                         Jude 24 - 25 (New King James Version)
 
Postlude  "Angels We Have Heard On High"