Lectionary Readings
Isaiah 63:7–9
The people were saved not by an angel, but the Lord’s presence.
Psalm 148
Let everything in the whole creation praise the name of the Lord.
Hebrews 2:10–18
Jesus calls us brothers and sisters; he became human to save us.
Matthew 2:13–23
Joseph and Mary flee to Egypt to escape persecution from Herod.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
We gather to worship the Word made flesh,
who fled from the wrath of human powers into Egypt.
The God we worship was a refugee.
We remember the children,
from the time of Christ to today,
caught in the cross-fires of fear and greed.
The God we worship was a refugee.
We gather to dream and build a better world
where all children grow up, all exiles return home.
The God we worship was a refugee.
Prayer of the Day
Loving Parent God,
Jesus shared our flesh and blood,
and we share closeness with you.
We thank you for making us your children,
a divine chosen family.
Make visible to us the ties that bind
us to each other, to all creatures, and to you.
Move us to guard each other’s well-being
and to treat each other’s struggles as our own,
that we may live into the perfect kinship
already ours through Jesus our brother,
woven together by his Spirit. 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:
Even in a season of celebration and joy,
there is grief and pain.
Even as we celebrate God’s goodness,
we know that we have not always lived it.
Even in all of this, Christ comes.
Ever-present God,
you became our Savior in all our distress.
In all the ways we hurt,
and all the ways we hurt others,
in all the ways we feel neglected
and all the ways we neglect others,
in all the ways we cry out
and all the ways we cause others to cry,
you are with us, comforting us and holding us to account.
In your love, redeem us once again.
Lift us up and grant us your mercy,
as you have throughout the generations.
Lifting water from the font:
Christ came into this world for us:
imperfect humans, perpetual sinners,
trying, learning, striving.
He came to be tested,
so that he might help us as we are tested,
to forgive us all our sins.
Praise be to our merciful and faithful high priest!
— 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 . . .
Help us to follow our gentle Savior and Lord,
who leads his children through suffering
to the peace and glory of your holy realm.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With hope and joy, we pray for the earth . . .
Join our voices with the hymn of all creation,
so that we may sing with heaven and earth
the beauty and glory of your name.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With hope and joy, we pray for all nations . . .
Listen to those who weep for their children,
victims of poverty, famine, and war.
Do not let their cries go unanswered.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With hope and joy, we pray for this community . . .
Watch over those who are far from home,
and teach us to show hospitality and care
for refugees and strangers among us.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With hope and joy, we pray for loved ones . . .
Strengthen those who are weak or suffering;
support and sustain them in times of trial.
Help them to put their trust in you.
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:
You are great, and gracious, and worthy of praise.
We remember your mighty acts and steadfast love,
how you have lifted us up and carried us through the ages.
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:
When Herod sought to take his life, he fled to Egypt.
Then, like Moses, Christ came forth from Egypt,
ready to lead his people to your promised land.
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.
We are your children; lead us through suffering to glory,
so that we may speak your name and sing your praise
with our sisters and brothers in the company of the faithful.
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
“Refugees: Holy Family”
Kelly Latimore, 2018
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
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Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming (O) ES IST EIN’ ROS’ GTG 129
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Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light (O) ERMUNTRE DICH GTG 130
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Once in Royal David’s City (E) IRBY GTG 140
WORD
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That Boy-Child of Mary (E) BLANTYRE GTG 139
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In Bethlehem a Newborn Boy (G) IN BETHLEHEM GTG 153
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Jesus Entered Egypt (G) KING’S WESTON GTG 154
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Blest Are the Innocents (G) BETA LUYH 108
EUCHARIST
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Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (OE) PICARDY GTG 347
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O God, We Bear the Imprint (E) TODOS LOS COLORES GTG 759
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In a Far-Off Place, Jesus Comes (OE) TENTH NIGHT ACS 908
SENDING
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Good Christian Friends, Rejoice (E) IN DULCI JUBILO GTG 132
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Joy to the World (O) ANTIOCH GTG 134
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Gentle Joseph Heard a Warning (G) PLEADING SAVIOR ACS 1060
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 148
Metrical
- Let the Whole Creation Cry [SALZBURG]; GTG 679
- Let All Creation’s Wonders [THAXTED]; PAS 148A
Responsorial
- Psalm 148, A Responsorial Setting; PAS 148G
- Let All Things Their Creator Bless; UMH 861
Organ Music
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“In dulci jubilo, Op. 28, no. 41,” Seventy-Nine Chorales for the Organ, Op. 28, Marcel Dupré, various publishers; IMSLP.org (ME)
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“Love Has Come,” Eight Chorale Preludes for Manuals Only, Vol. 2, Aaron David Miller, AF (M)
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“Come, Your Hearts and Voices Raising,” QUEM PASTORES, Augsburg Organ Library: Christmas, Helmut Walcha, AF (ME)
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“Treasures Bring, Anthems Sing (We Three Kings / What Child Is This),” Honor and Majesty, Lyndell Leatherman, FJH (M)
Piano Music
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“Lament in Tremolo Form,” Piano Music of Africa and the African Diaspora Volume 2: Intermediate, Laurindo Almeida, OUP (ME)
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“Nocturne in E Minor, Op. 72, No. 1,” Nocturnes, Frédéric Chopin, HEN (MA)
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“Takk (Gratitude), Op. 62, No. 2,” Complete Lyric Pieces for Piano, Edvard Grieg, GSH (M)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
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“Good Christian Friends, Rejoice,” Trevor Manor, CGA, 2 pt, pno, opt hb (E)
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“Praise the Lord! O Heavens, Adore Him,” Hal Hopson, LOR, 2 pt, org (E)
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“Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light,” Johann Sebastian Bach, AF, SATB, org (ME)
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“Coventry Carol,” Malcom Archer, OUP, SATB, opt sop solo, org (ME)
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“Psalm 148,” Emma Lou Diemer, GIA, SATB, org, opt hb (M)
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“Love Came Down at Christmas,” Matthew Oldman, HIN, SATB div, acap (MA)
Art
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Birth of Christ, fresco, Cathedral of Fara, Sudan, 10th–11th century (VDL)
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Altar of Keur Moussa Abbey, Father George Saget, 1963 (VDL)
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Our Lady of Regla, Harmonia Rosales, 2019 (WA)
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Flight to Egypt, Solomon Raj, 2016 (EYE)
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Rest on Flight to Egypt, Wayne Forte, 2016 (EYE)
