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   Evening Prayer
    Christmas Season
     
     
   
Preparation
 
     
    O God, make speed to save us.
All
  O Lord, make haste to help us.
     
    You laid the foundation of the earth
All
  and the heavens are the work of your hands.
     
    Blessed are you, Sovereign God,
    our light and our salvation,
    to you be glory and praise for ever.
    When all in peaceful silence lay
    then from your throne on high
    leapt your almighty Word.
    In this mystery of the Word made flesh
    you sent forth your Son, the firstborn of all creation,
    to dispel the darkness of our night.
    He is our Christ, the light of the world,
    and him we acclaim as all creation sings to you.
    Blessed be God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
All
  Blessed be God for ever.
     
     
      The following, or another suitable hymn, or A Song of God's Descending (canticle number 2, page 498), may be said or sung 
 
      Of the Father's love begotten                             
        ere the worlds began to be,
        he is Alpha and Omega,
        he the source, the ending he,
        of the things that are, that have been,
        and that future years shall see,
        evermore and evermore.
     
        O that birth for ever blessed,
        when the Virgin, full of grace,
        by the Holy Ghost conceiving,
        bare the Saviour of our race,
        and the babe, the world's Redeemer,
        first revealed his sacred face,
        evermore and evermore.
         
        O ye heights of heaven, adore him;
        angel hosts, his praises sing;
        powers, dominions, bow before him,
        and extol our God and King;
        let no tongue on earth be silent,
        every voice in concert ring,
        evermore and evermore.
         
       
Prudentius, tr: J M Neale.
       
(Tune: 87 87 87 7)
 
 
     
The Word of God
 
 
     
Psalmody
 
 
    The appointed psalmody is said or sung.
 
 
      Each psalm or group of psalms may end with
 
      Glory to the Father and to the Son
      and to the Holy Spirit;
      as it was in the beginning is now
      and shall be for ever.  Amen.
 
     
New Testament Canticle
 
 
      If there are two Scripture readings, the first may be read here,
      or both may be read after the New Testament canticle.
 
      Song of Redemption, or another suitable canticle (for example, number 65 (page 560) or number 70 (page 564), may be said or sung
 
        Refrain:
   
All
  Christ is the image of the invisible God,
        the firstborn of all creation.
         
   
1
  The Father has delivered us from the dominion
              of darkness,  •
        and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son;
         
   
2
  In whom we have redemption,  •
        the forgiveness of our sins.
         
   
3
  He is the image of the invisible God,  •
        the firstborn of all creation.
         
   
4
  For in him all things were created,  •
        in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.
         
   
5
  All things were created through him and for him,  •
        he is before all things and in him all things hold together.
         
   
6
  He is the head of the body, the Church,  •
        he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead.
         
   
7
  In him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell;  •
        and through him God was pleased to reconcile all things.
       
Colossians 1.13-18a,19,20a
        Glory to the Father and to the Son
        and to the Holy Spirit;
        as it was in the beginning is now
        and shall be for ever. Amen.
         
   
All
  Christ is the image of the invisible God,
        the firstborn of all creation.
 
     
Scripture Reading
 
 
    One or more readings appointed for the day are read.
      The reading(s) may be followed by a time of silence. 
 
      A suitable song or chant, or a responsory in this or another form, may follow
 
      The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
      full of grace and truth.
   
All
  The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
      full of grace and truth.
      And we have seen his glory,
      the glory as of a father's only son,
   
All
  full of grace and truth.
      Glory to the Father and to the Son
      and to the Holy Spirit.
   
All
  The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
      full of grace and truth.  
 
     
Gospel Canticle
 
     
    The Magnificat (The Song of Mary) is said or sung
 
  Refrain:
All
  When peaceful silence lay over all,
    and night was in the midst of her swift course:
    from your royal throne, O God, down from the heavens,
    leapt your almighty Word.
 
1
  My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,    
          my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;  •  
    he has looked with favour on his lowly servant.
 
2
  From this day all generations will call me blessed;  •  
    the Almighty has done great things for me
          and holy is his name.
     
3
  He has mercy on those who fear him,  •  
    from generation to generation.
 
4
  He has shown strength with his arm  •  
    and has scattered the proud in their conceit,
 
5
  Casting down the mighty from their thrones  •  
    and lifting up the lowly.
 
6
  He has filled the hungry with good things  •  
    and sent the rich away empty.
 
7
  He has come to the aid of his servant Israel,  •  
    to remember his promise of mercy,
 
8
  The promise made to our ancestors,  •  
    to Abraham and his children for ever. 
     
Luke 1.46-55
    Glory to the Father and to the Son
    and to the Holy Spirit;
    as it was in the beginning is now
    and shall be for ever. Amen.
   
All
  When peaceful silence lay over all,
    and night was in the midst of her swift course:
    from your royal throne, O God, down from the heavens,
    leapt your almighty Word.
 
   
Prayers
 
 
      Thanksgiving may be made for the day.
     
    Intercessions are offered
    for peace
    for individuals and their needs
 
      These responses may be used
 
      Lord, in your mercy        (or)    Lord, hear us.
      hear our prayer.                     Lord, graciously hear us.
 
      The cycle on page 329 and the prayers on pages 335-336 may be used.
 
      Silence may be kept.
 
    The Collect of the day or the following Collect is said
 
    Almighty God,
who wonderfully created us in your own image
and yet more wonderfully restored us
through your Son Jesus Christ:
grant that, as he came to share our humanity,
so we may share the life of his divinity;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
All
  Amen.
 
    The Lord's Prayer is said
 
    Rejoicing in the presence of God here among us,   
    as our Saviour has taught us, so we pray
     
All
  Our Father in heaven …
       
    (or)
 
    Rejoicing in the presence of God here among us,   
    let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
     
All
  Our Father, who art in heaven …
     
     
   
The Conclusion
 
     
  May God, who has called us out of darkness
    into his marvellous light,
    bless us and fill us with peace.
All
  Amen.
 
      Let us bless the Lord.
   
All
  Thanks be to God.
 
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