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    Christmas Season
     
   
Preparation
 
     
    O Lord, open our lips
All
  and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
     
    You laid the foundation of the earth
All
  and the heavens are the work of your hands.
     
    Blessed are you, Sovereign God
    creator of heaven and earth,
    to you be praise and glory for ever.
    Today your living Word, eternal in the heavens,
    assumes the frailty of our mortal flesh
    to raise our human nature to your right hand on high.
    As we rejoice in the gift of your presence among us,
    let the light of your love be born in us today
    and your praises ever be on our lips.
    Blessed be God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
All
  Blessed be God for ever.
     
      A Song of the Bride, or a suitable hymn, may be said or sung
 
   
1
  I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,  •
      my soul shall exult in my God;
 
   
2
  Who has clothed me with the garments of salvation,  •
      and has covered me with the cloak of integrity,
                   
   
3
  As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,  •  
      and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
 
   
4
  For as the earth puts forth her blossom,  •
      and as seeds in the garden spring up,
                   
   
5
  So shall God make righteousness and praise  •
      blossom before all the nations.
                 
   
6
  For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,  • 
      and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest,
                   
   
7
  Until her deliverance shines out like the dawn,  •   
      and her salvation as a burning torch
       
   
8
  The nations shall see your deliverance,  •
      and all rulers shall see your glory;
       
   
9
  Then you shall be called by a new name  •  
      which the mouth of God will give.
       
   
10
  You shall be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord,  •
      a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
     
Isaiah 61.10,11; 62.1-3
 
     
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.
 
     
Old Testament Canticle
 
 
      If there are two Scripture readings, the first may be read here,
      or both may be read after the Old Testament canticle.
 
      A Song of the Messiah, or another suitable canticle, for example, number 20 (page 513) or number 25 (page 517), may be said or sung
 
      Refrain:
   
All
  To us a child is born,
      to us a son is given.
       
   
1
  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;  •
      those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
            upon them the light has dawned.
       
   
2
  You have increased their joy and given them great gladness;  •   
      they rejoiced before you as with joy at the harvest.
       
   
3
  For you have shattered the yoke that burdened them;  • 
      the collar that lay heavy on their shoulders.
       
   
4
  For to us a child is born and to us a son is given,  •  
      and the government will be upon his shoulder.
       
   
5
  And his name will be called: Wonderful Counsellor,  
            the Mighty God;  •
      the Everlasting Father; the Prince of Peace.
       
   
6
  Of the increase of his government and of peace  • 
      there will be no end,
       
   
7
  Upon the throne of David and over his kingdom,  •    
      to establish and uphold it with justice and righteousness.
       
   
8
  From this time forth and for evermore;  •
      the zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
     
Isaiah 9.2,3b,4a,6,7
      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
  To us a child is born,
      to us a son is given.
 
     
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 of Life which was from the beginning
   
All
  we proclaim to you.
      The darkness is passing away
      and the true light is already shining:
   
All
  the Word of Life which was from the beginning.
      That which we have heard, which we saw with our eyes
      and touched with our hands,
   
All
  we proclaim to you.
      For our fellowship is with the Father
      and with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord
   
All
  The Word of Life which was from the beginning
      we proclaim to you.
 
     
Gospel Canticle
 
     
    The Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah) is said or sung
 
  Refrain:
All
  To us is born a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord,
    and all the heavenly hosts now sing,
    Glory to God in the highest.
 
1
  Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel,  •     
    who has come to his people and set them free.  
 
2
  He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour,  • 
    born of the house of his servant David.
     
3
  Through his holy prophets God promised of old  •   
    to save us from our enemies,
          from the hands of all that hate us,
 
4
  To show mercy to our ancestors,  •  
    and to remember his holy covenant.
 
5
  This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:  • 
    to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
 
6
  Free to worship him without fear,  •   
    holy and righteous in his sight
          all the days of our life.
 
7
  And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,  •  
    for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
 
8
  To give his people knowledge of salvation  • 
    by the forgiveness of all their sins. 
     
9
  In the tender compassion of our God  •  
    the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
     
10
  To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,  •
    and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
     
Luke 1.68-79
    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
  To us is born a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord,
    and all the heavenly hosts now sing,
    Glory to God in the highest.
 
   
Prayers
 
 
    Intercessions are offered
    for the day and its tasks
    for the world and its needs
    for the Church and her life
 
      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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