Lectionary Readings
Isaiah 52:7–10
How beautiful is the messenger who brings good news and peace.
Psalm 98
Make a joyful noise to the Lord; give thanks for God’s victory.
Hebrews 1:1–4 (5–12)
Now God has spoken to us by a Son, the reflection of God’s glory.
John 1:1–14
The Word of God became flesh and lived among us.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
God speaks to us
through the words of the prophets.
How beautiful is the messenger who brings good news!
God’s Word became flesh and lived among us.
In the Christ-child we find the image of God.
Make a joyful noise of thanksgiving!
God speaks to us by a Son, the reflection of God’s glory.
Let us worship God!
Prayer of the Day
Incarnate God,
grant us humility and courage to bear witness
to the coming of Jesus Christ.
We give thanks that the Word,
through whom all was made,
has come to live among us,
bringing life for the lifeless
and hope for those living in the shadows of the deep.
Through the Spirit, inspire us to spread the word that Jesus,
light of the world and joy to the world,
is born to give life abundant.
In the name of the Savior who has come,
we pray. 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:
Like a great light in a land of deep darkness,
the mercy of the Lord shines upon us.
Isaiah 9:2
Trusting in God’s grace, let us confess our sin.
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
Forgive us, O God, when we think that your word
exists only on pages of black and white.
Show us your living Word,
and move us to feel and know your good news.
In him was life, and the life was the light of all people.
Forgive us, O God, when we try to limit your light
to the people who look, think, or act like us.
Show us what it means to live in your Life,
and teach us to recognize your face in all people.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory.
Forgive us, O God, of all that keeps us
from recognizing your glory,
and, by your forgiveness,
show us how to forgive one another.
Lifting water from the font:
Hear the promise of the Lord:
See, your salvation has come!
You are a holy people, redeemed by God,
sought out, not forsaken.
Isaiah 62:11–12
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Thanks be to God.
— 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
Season of Advent (and Christmas)
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 the People
Rejoicing in the gift of Jesus Christ our Savior,
we pray for this world that God so loves,
saying: Emmanuel, God-with-us, hear our prayer.
With gratitude for your love, we pray for the church . . .
God of abounding hope, teach us to sing and shout,
rejoicing with the mountains, roaring with the sea,
clapping our hands with the rivers to praise your name!
Emmanuel, God-with-us, hear our prayer.
With gratitude for your love, we pray for the world . . .
God of overwhelming peace, send us forth
to share the joy of your justice
and the riches of your righteousness.
Emmanuel, God-with-us, hear our prayer.
With gratitude for your love, we pray for this community . . .
God of amazing joy, help us to proclaim
in this and every generation, the good news
that you have come to live in our neighborhood.
Emmanuel, God-with-us, hear our prayer.
With gratitude for your love, we pray for loved ones . . .
God of astounding love, give us glad voices
to sing of the wonderful things you have done,
encouraging others with the promise of your living Word.
Emmanuel, God-with-us, hear our prayer.
Holy One, as you have come to dwell among us,
show us how to live as your faithful people,
sharing the good news of your grace with all;
through Christ, your Word made flesh. Amen.
— 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:
God Most High, receive the gifts of our lives
as an offering of gratitude for your grace.
Overshadow us with your Holy Spirit
and let it be with us according to your word,
for nothing is impossible with you. Amen.
Luke 1:35–38; 1 Corinthians 1:4
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:
All the ends of the earth have seen your saving power, O Lord.
From the ruined cities to the highest mountains, we sing your praise:
How beautiful is the messenger of your peace, who brings salvation!
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:
Jesus was with you in the beginning; through him all things came to be.
Now he has come to live among us—your Word made flesh—
and we have seen his glory, full of grace and truth.
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.
As you have spoken to us through the prophets and apostles,
continue to speak to us through your Son, Jesus Christ.
Sustain us by your powerful Word, until we worship you in glory.
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
At the communion table:
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
Holy Family
by JESUS MAFA, 1973
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- Angels, from the Realms of Glory (E) REGENT SQUARE GTG 143
- Angels We Have Heard on High (G) GLORIA GTG 113
- Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (EG) MENDELSSOHN GTG 119
- O Come, All Ye Faithful (G) ADESTE FIDELES GTG 133
WORD
- Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light (EG) ERMUNTRE DICH GTG 130
- It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (E) CAROL GTG 123
- Jesus, Jesus, O What a Wonderful Child (E) WONDERFUL CHILD GTG 126
- Like a Child (EG) LIKE A CHILD STF 2092
EUCHARIST
- Born in the Night, Mary’s Child (EG) MARY’S CHILD GTG 158
- Come Now, O Prince of Peace (O) O-SO-SO GTG 103
- Glory, Glory, Glory (G) CUEQUITA GTG 584
- Of the Father’s Love Begotten (EG) DIVINUM MYSTERIUM GTG 108
SENDING
- Go, Tell It on the Mountain (OG) GO TELL IT GTG 136
- Good Christian Friends, Rejoice (EG) IN DULCI JUBILO GTG 132
- Joy to the World (OG) ANTIOCH GTG 134
- On This Day Earth Shall Ring (OG) PERSONENT HODIE GTG 141
Psalms and Canticles
Metrical
- Joy to the World [ANTIOCH]; GTG 134, PH 40, LUYH 92, PAS 98D, SSS 95 (with Spanish translation)
- Sing a New Song to Our Savior [8.7.8.7 D]; SGP 145
- To God Compose a Song of Joy [RICHMOND, KEDDY]; NCH 36, PH 219
- Sing a New Song to the Lord [CANTATE DOMINO (ONSLOW SQUARE)]; OLOF 685
Responsorial
- Sing to the Lord a New Song; PAS 98A
- Sing a New Song unto the Lord [SING A NEW SONG]; GTG 276
- All the Ends of the Earth [ANTIOCH]; HTP1 100
- All the Ends of the Earth Have Seen; LP 14
Organ Music
- “Joy to the World,” Easy Organ Library, vol. 68, Douglas E. Wagner, LOR (ME)
- “Fanfare in G,” Easy Organ Library, vol. 68, John S. Dixon, LOR (ME)
- “Carols of Joy and Gladness,” Christmas Joy! Lani Smith, LOR (ME)
- “O Morning Star,” And There Was a Star, Franklin Ritter, LOR (E)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “A Star in the East,” Three Carol Settings, arr. Gwyneth Walker, ECS, SATB, org, br (M)
- “Christmas Day,” Gustav Holst, NOV, SATB, solo, org or orch (M)
- “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice,” David Lantz, Lanz Choral Publications, SATB, kybd, fl (E)
- “And the Word Became Flesh,” Paul Bouman, MSM, SATB, acap (E)
- “Of the Father’s Love Begotten,” Terre Johnson, MSM, SATB div, org or orch (A)
- “Christ Is Born Today,” Mark Shepperd, LOR, SATB, kybd, hb (E)
- “And the Word Became Flesh,” Walter L. Pelz, AF, SATB, org, (M)
- “The Word of God Became Flesh,” Normand Gouin, GIA, SATB, org (M)
Handbell Music
- “On This Day Earth Shall Ring,” Joel Raney, 3‑6 oct, opt hc, HOPE, 2942, Level 2
- “Go, Tell It on the Mountain,” Sandra Eithun, 3‑6 oct, opt hc, HOPE, 2975, Level 2+
- “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice,” Karen Buckwalter, 3‑5 oct, opt hc, pno, voice, BP, HB457A, Level 2-
Art
- Adoration of the Child, Filippo Lippi (VDL)
- Holy Family, JESUS MAFA (VDL)
- Where the Question Is Born, Jan Richardson (JR)
- John 1:14B, Timothy Botts (EYE)
- Madonna and Child 1, Laura James (EYE)
