Lectionary Readings
Isaiah 9:2–7
Light shines on people in darkness; a child has been born for us.
Psalm 96
Sing a new song to the Lord, all the earth; declare God’s glory.
Titus 2:11–14
The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all.
Luke 2:1–14 (15–20)
Jesus is born in Bethlehem; angels tell shepherds the good news.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
Sing a new song to God, all the earth!
The oceans roar, the forests sing for joy.
For God has shattered the yoke
and tossed the boots of the oppressor into the fire.
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace
among all people of goodwill!
Do not be afraid, for good news thrills creation:
Today our liberator has been born!
Prayer of the Day
Incarnate God, born this day
into the bustling heart of a peasant home
to poor parents in occupied Palestine,
make your home among
the poor, the prisoner, the despised
of every time and place.
Let your good news resound
from the lips of outcasts
until all people have opened their homes and hearts
to them in you and you in them. Amen.
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Thanksgiving For Baptism
At the baptismal font:
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
O Lord our God, we give you thanks
for the wonder and love you offer us
through the gift of our baptism—
your Word made flesh among us,
a child and Savior born to us,
good news of great joy for all.
By the power of your Holy Spirit,
poured out upon us in baptism,
let us be born anew from above
so that we may give glory to you
and live as your beloved children;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession and Pardon
At the baptismal font:
God came into a broken world,
and we know all too well
the ways it is still broken and hurting.
Let us confess the ways we have done harm,
that we may be part of the healing.
Emmanuel,
you have given us a gift that we can never deserve.
You do not ask us to be worthy.
You do not ask us to earn your love.
Yet the ways we have fallen short
threaten to overtake us.
But we know we can come to you,
even on this holiest of nights,
to seek the forgiveness you offer so freely,
grateful for your mercy.
Lifting water from the font:
The grace of God has appeared,
bringing salvation to us all!
With Christ’s birth comes forgiveness and redemption.
Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom God favors!
— Word —
Prayer for Illumination
At the lectern or pulpit:
Gracious God, by the gift of your Holy Spirit
show us the Word made flesh—
good news of great joy for all—
so that we may sing with the angels:
glory in the highest and peace on earth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture
Before the readings:
Treasure these words
and ponder them in your heart.
Luke 2:19
After the readings:
And the Word became flesh and lived among us.
Thanks be to God.
John 1:14
Sermon
Ascription of Praise
After the sermon:
Glory to God in the highest
and peace to God’s people on earth! Amen.
Luke 2:14
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Affirmation of Faith
The one sufficient revelation of God
is Jesus Christ,
the Word of God incarnate,
to whom the Holy Spirit
bears unique and authoritative witness
through the Holy Scriptures,
which are received and obeyed
as the word of God written.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.27
Prayers of Intercession
Remember God’s message: Do not be afraid!
Therefore we pray with hope and joy.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With hope and joy, we pray for the church . . .
Lead us in the song of your angels,
giving glory to you in the highest heaven,
and proclaiming peace to your people on earth.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With hope and joy, we pray for the earth . . .
Heal the damage we have done to your world,
so that the heavens may be glad, the earth rejoice,
and the trees of the forest sing for joy.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With hope and joy, we pray for all nations . . .
Bring an end to the tramping of boots
and silence the trumpets of war;
let all nations rejoice in the harvest of peace.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With hope and joy, we pray for this community . . .
Give welcome to those who are strangers,
and shelter to those who have no place to sleep.
Let all your children be counted among the blessed.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With hope and joy, we pray for loved ones . . .
Let your light shine on those who wait in darkness.
Heal the sick and help all who suffer,
so that they may rejoice in your saving love.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We ask these things with joy, O God,
confident in the knowledge of your goodness;
and we ask these things with hope,
knowing that our redeemer is here—
for to us is born a Savior, the Messiah, the Lord,
Jesus Christ, in whose holy name we pray. Amen.
Luke 2:10–11
— Eucharist —
Invitation to Offering
At the communion table:
From the fullness of God
we have all received grace upon grace.
Let us offer our lives to the Lord.
John 1:16
Prayer of Dedication
At the communion table:
For gifts abundant and for grace abounding,
we give you thanks, generous God.
Bless the gifts we bring today.
Use these gifts and our lives
to be your gift of grace to others. Amen.
Great Thanksgiving
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 our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God:
When we were living in deep darkness, you sent us your light—
a child called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
All authority in heaven and on earth rests upon his shoulders.
Therefore we praise you, joining the song
of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
A Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy”) is sung.
Blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior:
Born in a stable, he is our Good Shepherd, and your holy Lamb.
Lying in a manger, he is the bread of life, food for our souls.
Praised by the heavenly host, he is the hope and joy of all the earth.
The words of institution are included here.
Remembering your goodness and grace,
we offer ourselves to you with gratitude
as we share this joyful feast.
A Memorial Acclamation (e.g., “Christ has died”) is sung.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this bread and cup;
make us one in the body and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Teach us to renounce worldly passions and frivolous pursuits.
In this present age, let our lives be godly, upright, and self-controlled,
while we await the coming in glory of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Through the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the unity of the Spirit,
we bless you, God of glory,
now and forever.
An Amen is sung.
Lord’s Prayer
Breaking the Bread
Communion of the People
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Prayer after Communion
God of shepherds and sheep,
we give you thanks
that you have gathered us here,
revealed to us your glory,
and fed us with your mercy.
Now send us out
with good news for all—
for us a child is born:
Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
— Sending —
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Blessing and Charge
At the doors of the church:
The loving kindness of the Lord our God,
the grace of Jesus Christ our Savior,
and the renewing power of the Holy Spirit
be with you all. Alleluia!
Titus 3:4–7
Go and tell this good news of great joy:
to us a Savior is born. Amen.
Luke 2:10–11
“On the Eve of the Birth of Christ”
Michael Reiser, 1869
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
-
Love Has Come (OG) BRING A TORCH GTG 110
-
Angels We Have Heard on High (G) GLORIA GTG 113
-
Angels, from the Realms of Glory (G) REGENT SQUARE GTG 143
WORD
-
Blest Be the God of Israel (O) MERLE’S TUNE GTG 109
-
O Little Town of Bethlehem (EG) ST. LOUIS GTG 121
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Who Would Think That What Was Needed (E) WHITE ROSETTES GTG 138
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While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks (G) WINCHESTER OLD GTG 117
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Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (G) MENDELSSOHN GTG 119
EUCHARIST
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Where Shepherds Lately Knelt (OG) MANGER SONG GTG 120
-
Away in a Manger (G) CRADLE SONG/MUELLER GTG 114, 115
-
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (G) CAROL GTG 123
-
Before the Marvel of This Night (G) MARVEL GTG 125
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What Child Is This (G) GREENSLEEVES GTG 145
SENDING
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On Christmas Night All Christians Sing (EG) SUSSEX CAROL GTG 112
-
The Snow Lay on the Ground (G) VENITE ADOREMUS GTG 116
-
Silent Night, Holy Night! (G) STILLE NACHT GTG 122
-
There’s a Star in the East (G) FOLLOW GTG 135
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 96
Metrical
- O Sing a New Song to the Lord [GONFALON ROYAL]; GTG 304
- Sing to the Lord, Sing His Praise [WESLEY]; LUYH 515
- Come and Sing a New Song [Punjabi melody]; PAS 96A
Responsorial
- Bring an Offering and Enter God’s Courts; PSA 91
- O Sing a New Song to the Lord; PSA 92
- O Sing a New Song to the Lord; PRCL 13, 101, 159 (PT #29), LP 779, GTG 639
- Sing to the Lord; PP 176
Organ Music
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“Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen, Op. 122, No. 8,” Elf Choralvorspiele, Johannes Brahms, various publishers; IMSLP.org (ME)
-
“Cradle Song: Lullaby,” Oxford Hymn Settings for Organists: Advent and Christmas, Vol. 1, Malcolm Archer, OUP (ME)
-
“Joy to the World,” All the Best for Christmas Organ: A Treasury of Yuletide Favorites, Kenneth D. Varner, Lillenas Publishing (M)
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“Mueller: Reflection,” Oxford Hymn Settings for Organists: Advent and Christmas, Vol. 1, David Schelat, OUP (M)
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“Still, Still, Still,” Augsburg Organ Library: Advent II, Paul Manz, AF (ME)
Piano Music
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“Prelude,” Suite Bergamasque, L. 75, Claude Debussy, HEN (A)
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“Arabesque No. 1,” Two Arabesques, Claude Debussy, HEN (M)
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“Intermezzo in E-flat Major, Op. 117, No. 1,” Johannes Brahms Complete Shorter Works for Solo Piano, Johannes Brahms, DP (MA)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
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“Night of Silence,” John Ferguson, GIA, SATB, pno and org, opt fl and ob (E)
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“Before the Marvel of This Night,” Carl Schalk, AF, SATB, org, opt orch (ME)
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“Sussex Carol,” Elaine Hagenberg, BP, SATB, pno, opt orch (ME)
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“Angels We Have Heard on High,” Craig Courtney, BP, SATB div, acap (M)
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“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” Dan Forrest (2023), BP, SATB, 4-hand pno or orch (M)
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“Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day,” John Gardner, OUP, SATB, pno, perc (MA)
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“O Magnum Mysterium,” Morten Lauridsen, Southern Music Publishing, SATB div, acap (A)
Art
-
Virgin and Child, JESUS MAFA, 1973 (VDL)
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Holy Family, Margaret Hofheinz-Döring, 1973 (VDL)
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Kenyan Nativity, anonymous, 21st century (VDL)
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Manger, Liz Valente, 2021 (VDL)
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Virgin and Child with Archangels Michael and Gabriel, Ethiopian Gospel Book, 1504 (VDL)
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Shepherds, John August Swanson, 2023 (VDL)
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Madonna and Child 1, Laura James, 2016 (EYE)
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The Lord Is My Light, Mike Moyers, 2014 (VDL)
