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
How beautiful on the mountaintops
are the feet of those who declare peace!
How beautiful the one who brings good news,
who proclaims God’s liberation.
Listen!
Those who have watched and waited so long
are shouting for joy as God enters the land.
The Word has become flesh!
God lives among us, now and forevermore.
Prayer of the Day
Fantastically scandalous God,
in being born a human
you burst through the rigid binary between
worshiper and deity, Creator and creation.
Inspire us to proclaim your astonishing news
wherever we go, not only with words,
but with actions of justice and love.
Push us to prophesy
against hoarding and exploitation.
Empower us to rise up
with oppressed peoples everywhere.
Illuminate our path
as we tend to your poisoned planet,
so that all creation may feel your embrace
through us—
your hands, your feet, your body here on earth. 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 has come to us,
but too often we do not accept God.
We do not allow ourselves to be changed by God’s presence,
continuing in our old ways.
O Christ, reflection of God’s glory,
let this be a day that changes us.
Let this be a day that challenges us
to live as those you have blessed.
Let this be a day that we find not only forgiveness,
but a new way forward.
Renew your call to us.
Save us, forgive us, and inspire us
to allow our lives to be imbued with your presence.
Lifting water from the font:
We celebrate God’s steadfast love this day.
No matter what we do,
no matter what we neglect to do,
that love never changes, and we are forgiven!
Thank God for peace!
Thank God for good news!
Thank God for redemption!
— 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 . . .
Make us messengers of your peace,
announcing the beauty of your reign
and the good news of salvation to all.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With hope and joy, we pray for the earth . . .
Let all the earth make a joyful noise to you.
Let the waves of the sea clap their hands
and the mountains and hills sing with delight.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With hope and joy, we pray for all nations . . .
Send your word of justice and peace
to all the peoples and nations of the earth,
so that all may know your saving power.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With hope and joy, we pray for this community . . .
As you have come to live among us
through Christ, your Word made flesh,
let us be bearers of your grace and truth to all.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With hope and joy, we pray for loved ones . . .
Shine with your healing, liberating light
on all who struggle to overcome the darkness
and live in the shadow of death.
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:
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
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
“Birth of Christ”
Bernardo Daddi, 1325–1350
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
-
O Come, All Ye Faithful (G) ADESTE FIDELES GTG 133
-
Joy to the World (O) ANTIOCH GTG 134
-
There’s a Star in the East (O) FOLLOW GTG 135
WORD
-
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (OEG) MENDELSSOHN GTG 119
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Jesus, Jesus, O What a Wonderful Child (E) WONDERFUL CHILD GTG 126
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In the Beginning (G) LASST UNS ERFREUEN Sing No Empty Alleuias, Chris Shelton, GIA, 72
-
In the Heavens Shone a Star (E) KALINGA GTG 131
EUCHARIST
-
Where Shepherds Lately Knelt (O) MANGER SONG GTG 120
-
Good Christian Friends, Rejoice (G) IN DULCI JUBILO GTG 132
SENDING
-
Of the Father’s Love Begotten (G) DIVINUM MYSTERIUM GTG 108
-
Go Tell It on the Mountain (OG) GO TELL IT GTG 136
-
O Splendor of God’s Glory Bright (EG) PUER NOBIS NASCITUR GTG 666
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 98
Metrical
- Sing a New Song unto the Lord [SING A NEW SONG]; GTG 276
- New Songs of Celebration Render [RENDEZ À DIEU]; GTG 371
Responsorial
- Sing a New Song to the Lord; PRCL 15, 71 (PT #14), 88 (PT #16), 181 (PT #14), LP 781
- Sing Psalms to the Lord with the Harp; PRCL 173 (PT #14)
Organ Music
-
“Adeste, fideles: Fantasia,” Oxford Hymn Settings for Organists: Advent and Christmas, Vol. 1, David Blackwell, OUP (MA)
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“Angels from the Realms of Glory,” All the Best for Christmas Organ: A Treasury of Yuletide Favorites, Ethel Tench Rogers, Lillenas Publishing (M)
-
“Away in a Manger,” Augsburg Organ Library: Advent II, David Lasky, AF (E)
-
“Chorale Prelude, BWV 729,” IN DULCI JUBILO, J. S. Bach, various publishers; IMSLP.org (MA)
Piano Music
-
“Prelude in C Major,” Well-Tempered Clavier Book I, Johann Sebastian Bach, HEN (ME)
-
“Regard du Père,” Vingt Regards sur L’enfant-Jésus, Olivier Messiaen, DSE (A)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
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“Christ Was Born on Christmas Day,” Pat Messick, CGA, 2 pt, pno (E)
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“Glory Hallelujah to the Newborn King,” Becki Slagle Mayo, LOR, SATB, pno (E)
-
“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” Craig Curry, CGA, SATB, pno, opt hb (ME)
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“Rejoice, Rejoice, This Happy Morn,” John Ferguson, MSM, SATB div, viola (M)
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“African Noel,” Andre Thomas, ALF, SATB div, perc (MA)
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“Christmas Day,” Gustav Holst, NOV, SATB, SATB soli, org or orch (MA)
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“For Unto Us a Child Is Born,” Messiah, George Frederic Handel, NOV, SATB, orch (MA)
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“Hodie Christus Natus Est,” Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, OUP, SSATB, acap (A)
Art
-
Nativity, Adriana Varejão, 1987 (WA)
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Lumina, Silviu Oravitzan, 1998 (WA)
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Birth of Christ, Greco, 1600 (VDL)
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Nativity, John August Swanson, 2022 (EYE)
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Mother and Child, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, 2016 (WA)
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Birth of Christ, Bernardo Daddi, 1325 (VDL)
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John 1:14, Timothy Botts (EYE)
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African Nativity, Nuremberg, Germany (VDL)
