Christmas

EVENING PRAYER I


GREETING

In the silence of night, God leapt from the heavens.

Emmanuel, God with us!

A child was born of the virgin Mary. To us is born a Savior.

 
DOXOLOGY


PSALM  24

Who is the King of glory? He is Emmanuel, the promised of ages!

God owns this planet and all its riches.

The earth and every creature belong to God.

God set the land on top of the seas and anchored it in the deep.

Who is fit to climb God’s mountain and stand in his holy place?

Whoever has integrity: not chasing shadows, not living lies.

God will bless them,
their savior will bring justice.
These people long to see the Lord, they seek the face of Jacob’s God.

Stretch toward heaven, you gates, open high and wide.
Let the glorious sovereign enter.

Who is this splendid ruler?
The Lord of power and might, the conqueror of chaos.


Stretch toward heaven, you gates, open high and wide.
Let the glorious sovereign enter.

Who is this splendid ruler? The Lord of heaven’s might, this splendid ruler is God.

 

READING
1 Timothy 3 : 16

Astounding mystery at the heart of our faith: Emmanuel, God with us!
Astounding mystery at the heart of our faith: One who appeared in human flesh, alleluia! was attested by the Spirit, alleluia! seen by angels, alleluia! proclaimed to Gentiles, alleluia!  believed in by the world, alleluia! taken up in glory, alleluia!
 

READING

Galatians 4:3 – 7

While we were minors, we were enslaved to the elemental spirits of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
 

CANTICLE OF MARY

The Word became flesh and dwells among us.

I acclaim the greatness of the Lord,
I delight in God my savior,
who regarded my humble state.
Truly from this day on all ages
will call me blest.
For God, wonderful in power,
has used that strength for me.
Holy the name of the Lord!
Whose mercy embraces the faithful,
one generation to the next.
The mighty arm of God
scatters the proud in their conceit,
Pulls tyrants from their thrones,
and raises up the humble.
The Lord fills the starving
and lets the rich go hungry.
God rescues lowly Israel,
recalling the promise of mercy,
the promise made to our ancestors,
to Abraham’s heirs forever.


INTERCESSIONS

When peaceful silence lay over all, and night was in the midst of her course, God’s eternal Word leaped into our midst. In wonder and gratitude, we pray.

Astounding grace, all creation rejoices in your coming:

~ Help us to reverence your gift of earth and all with whom we share it.

Boundless love, you chose to be one with us:

~ As we walk with you, may we know one another as sisters and brothers.

Unseen presence, your mother’s voice stirred joy in an unborn child:

~ May we raise our voices for the hidden ones — the unborn, the imprisoned, the disappeared.

Healing song, music heralded your birth:

~ Move your church to a new song of reconciliation and forgiveness; of justice and faithfulness.

Vulnerable child, you brought the grace of gentleness to our violent world:

~ Encourage us in our efforts to renew our ravaged lands, our war torn countries, our weary hearts.

 

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Saving God, on this night we begin our celebration of the birth of Jesus. Fill our hearts with gratitude for the generosity of his coming. Inspired by his willingness to become human as we are, may we reverence one another as embodiments of your loving presence among us. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our living Savior. Amen.

 

BLESSING

May the peace of the new born Savior be with us. Amen.

May the joy of the angels find voice in us. Amen.
May the gift of God to us be given to all whom we serve. Amen.

 

MORNING PRAYER

GREETING

In the silence of night, God leapt from the heavens.

Emmanuel, God with us!

A child was born of the virgin Mary. To us is born a Savior.


DOXOLOGY

PSALM  19 : 2 – 7

Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord!

The sky tells the glory of God, tells the genius of God’s work.
Day carries the news to day, night brings the message to night,


without a word, without a sound, without a voice being heard,

yet their message fills the world, their news reaches its rim.


There God has pitched a tent for the sun to rest and rise renewed like a bridegroom rising from bed, an athlete eager to run the race.


It springs from the edge of the earth, runs a course across the sky

to win the race at heaven’s end. Nothing on earth escapes its heat.

 

Isaiah 9:1–6

A light has shone among us. Jesus Christ is born!

The people who walk in darkness see a great light;

on a land shadowed by death light now shines.


What joy you bring them! What gladness!
They celebrate before you like workers after harvest, 
like soldiers claiming the spoils.


As on the day at Midian


you break their captor’s prod, 

the bar on their backs,
the heavy yoke.



Every soldier’s boot, every blood-soaked uniform will be burned as fuel for fire.

For a son is born, a gift to us, robed with power, honored with titles: Wise Counselor, Divine Hero, Father Forever, Prince of Peace.

As he rules from David’s throne, his power expands
till there is lasting peace
with fairness and justice in every age.

This shall come about,
for the mighty Lord wills it.


 

READING

Hebrews 1:1 – 4

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways through the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, Christ sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
 

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

Glory to God in the highest! Peace to God’s people on earth!

Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
who shepherds the people
and sets them free.
God raises from David’s house
a child with power to save. --
--Through the holy prophets
God promised in ages past
to save us from enemy hands,
from the grip of all who hate us.
The Lord favored our ancestors
recalling the sacred covenant,
the pledge to our ancestor Abraham,
to free us from our enemies,
so we might worship without fear
and be holy and just all our days.
And you child, will be called
Prophet of the Most High,
for you will come to prepare
a pathway for the Lord
by teaching the people salvation
through forgiveness of their sin.
Out of God’s deepest mercy
a dawn will come from on high,
light for those shadowed by death,
a guide for our feet on the way to peace.
 

INTERCESSIONS

Today we rejoice in the birth of our Savior, Jesus the Christ. With gratitude for this wondrous manifestation of God’s love, we sing:

~ O come, let us adore him! O come, let us adore him!

   O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

Jesus, the living bread, was born that we may have life, life to the full:

Jesus, Son of God, was born to teach us that we are children of God and heirs of the kingdom:

Jesus, prince of peace, was born to inaugurate the reign of God’s justice and mercy:

Jesus, the reflection of God’s glory, was born to share in our humanity:

Jesus, Emmanuel, was born to enflesh God’s presence among us:

 

THE LORD’S PRAYER

 

PRAYER

We come to adore you, Christ our Savior, because, though God, you have chosen to be one of us. We sing our gratitude for the example of your life which gives new meaning to our human experience. We are comforted by your companionship and your promise to be with us always. As we celebrate this day of your birth may wonder take hold of us again, opening our eyes to the marvels of your creation, renewing our desire to imitate the gentleness and peace with which you moved among us. We ask this in your name, Jesus, in whose life we rejoice today. Amen.


BLESSING

May the peace of the newborn Savior be with us. Amen

May the joy of the angels find voice in us. Amen. 
May the gift of God to us be given as gift to all whom we serve. Amen.

 

EVENING PRAYER II

GREETING

In the silence of night, God leapt from the heavens.

Emmanuel, God with us!

A child was born of the virgin Mary.
To us is born a Savior.

 

DOXOLOGY

 

PSALM  40:1–12, 14–18

Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord!


I waited and waited for God. At long last God bent down to hear my complaint,

and pulled me from the grave out of the swamp,

and gave me a steady stride on rock-solid ground.


God taught me a new song, a hymn of praise.

Seeing all this, many will be moved to trust in the Lord.


Happy are they who trust in God, not seduced by idols nor won over by lies.


You do so many wonders, you show you care for us, Lord my God;

you are beyond compare. Were I to name them all, no one could keep track.


You did not seek offerings or ask for sacrifices; but you drilled ears for me to hear.


“Yes,” I said, “I will come to live by your written word.”
I want to do what pleases you; your teaching is in my heart.


I celebrate your justice before all the assembly;

I do not hold back the story. Lord, you know this is true.


I did not hide in my heart your acts of rescue;

I boldly declared to all your truth and care, your faithful love.


Your maternal love surrounds me, Lord.

Your sure and tender care protects me always.


Please, Lord, rescue me; hurry, Lord, help me.

Stop my killers, shame them, wipe out my bitter enemies.

 

Let those who jeer at me, “Too bad for you!” be rewarded with shame.


But let all who seek you and count on your strength sing and dance and cheer “Glory to God!”

Though I am weak and poor, God cares for me.

My help, my savior, my God, act now!

 

Philippians 2:6–11

Though in the form of God,
Jesus did not claim
equality with God but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, human like one of us.

Flesh and blood, he humbled himself, obeying to the death, death on a cross.

For this very reason God lifted him high and gave him the name above all names.

So at the name of Jesus every knee will bend in heaven, on earth, and in the world below, and every tongue exclaim
to the glory of God the Father,
“Jesus Christ is Lord.”

 

READING

1 John 1:1–3a

We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life — this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that what was with God and was revealed to us — we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may be in company with us.
 

CANTICLE OF MARY

Glory to God in the highest! Peace to God’s people on earth!

I acclaim the greatness of the Lord,
I delight in God my savior,
who regarded my humble state.
Truly from this day on all ages
will call me blest.
For God, wonderful in power,
has used that strength for me.
Holy the name of the Lord!
Whose mercy embraces the faithful,
one generation to the next.
The mighty arm of God
scatters the proud in their conceit,
Pulls tyrants from their thrones,
and raises up the humble.
The Lord fills the starving
and lets the rich go hungry.
God rescues lowly Israel,
recalling the promise of mercy,
the promise made to our ancestors,
to Abraham’s heirs forever.

EVENING PRAYER I

GREETING

In the silence of night, God leapt from the heavens.

Emmanuel, God with us!

A child was born of the virgin Mary. To us is born a Savior.

 

DOXOLOGY


PSALM  24

Who is the King of glory? He is Emmanuel, the promised of ages!

God owns this planet and all its riches.

The earth and every creature belong to God.


God set the land on top of the seas and anchored it in the deep.


Who is fit to climb God’s mountain and stand in his holy place?


Whoever has integrity: not chasing shadows, not living lies.


God will bless them,
their savior will bring justice.
These people long to see the Lord, they seek the face of Jacob’s God.


Stretch toward heaven, you gates, open high and wide.

Let the glorious sovereign enter.


Who is this splendid ruler?

The Lord of power and might, the conqueror of chaos.


Stretch toward heaven, you gates, open high and wide.

Let the glorious sovereign enter.


Who is this splendid ruler? The Lord of heaven’s might, this splendid ruler is God.

 

READING
1 Timothy 3 : 16

Astounding mystery at the heart of our faith: Emmanuel, God with us!
Astounding mystery at the heart of our faith: One who appeared in human flesh, alleluia! was attested by the Spirit, alleluia! seen by angels, alleluia! proclaimed to Gentiles, alleluia!  believed in by the world, alleluia! taken up in glory, alleluia!
 

READING

Galatians 4:3 – 7

While we were minors, we were enslaved to the elemental spirits of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
 

CANTICLE OF MARY

The Word became flesh and dwells among us.

I acclaim the greatness of the Lord,
I delight in God my savior,
who regarded my humble state.
Truly from this day on all ages
will call me blest.
For God, wonderful in power,
has used that strength for me.
Holy the name of the Lord!
Whose mercy embraces the faithful,
one generation to the next.
The mighty arm of God
scatters the proud in their conceit,
Pulls tyrants from their thrones,
and raises up the humble.
The Lord fills the starving
and lets the rich go hungry.
God rescues lowly Israel,
recalling the promise of mercy,
the promise made to our ancestors,
to Abraham’s heirs forever.


INTERCESSIONS

When peaceful silence lay over all, and night was in the midst of her course, God’s eternal Word leaped into our midst. In wonder and gratitude, we pray.

Astounding grace, all creation rejoices in your coming:

~ Help us to reverence your gift of earth and all with whom we share it.

Boundless love, you chose to be one with us:

~ As we walk with you, may we know one another as sisters and brothers.

Unseen presence, your mother’s voice stirred joy in an unborn child:

~ May we raise our voices for the hidden ones — the unborn, the imprisoned, the disappeared.

Healing song, music heralded your birth:

~ Move your church to a new song of reconciliation and forgiveness; of justice and faithfulness.

Vulnerable child, you brought the grace of gentleness to our violent world:

~ Encourage us in our efforts to renew our ravaged lands, our war torn countries, our weary hearts.

 

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Saving God, on this night we begin our celebration of the birth of Jesus. Fill our hearts with gratitude for the generosity of his coming. Inspired by his willingness to become human as we are, may we reverence one another as embodiments of your loving presence among us. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our living Savior. Amen.

 

BLESSING

May the peace of the new born Savior be with us. Amen.

May the joy of the angels find voice in us. Amen.
May the gift of God to us be given to all whom we serve. Amen.

 

MORNING PRAYER

GREETING

In the silence of night, God leapt from the heavens.

Emmanuel, God with us!

A child was born of the virgin Mary. To us is born a Savior.


DOXOLOGY

PSALM  19 : 2 – 7

Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord!

The sky tells the glory of God, tells the genius of God’s work.
Day carries the news to day, night brings the message to night,


without a word, without a sound, without a voice being heard,

yet their message fills the world, their news reaches its rim.


There God has pitched a tent for the sun to rest and rise renewed like a bridegroom rising from bed, an athlete eager to run the race.


It springs from the edge of the earth, runs a course across the sky

to win the race at heaven’s end. Nothing on earth escapes its heat.

 

Isaiah 9:1–6

A light has shone among us. Jesus Christ is born!

The people who walk in darkness see a great light;

on a land shadowed by death light now shines.


What joy you bring them! What gladness!
They celebrate before you like workers after harvest, 
like soldiers claiming the spoils.


As on the day at Midian


you break their captor’s prod, 

the bar on their backs,
the heavy yoke.



Every soldier’s boot, every blood-soaked uniform will be burned as fuel for fire.

For a son is born, a gift to us, robed with power, honored with titles: Wise Counselor, Divine Hero, Father Forever, Prince of Peace.

As he rules from David’s throne, his power expands
till there is lasting peace
with fairness and justice in every age.

This shall come about,
for the mighty Lord wills it.


 

READING

Hebrews 1:1 – 4

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways through the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, Christ sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
 

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

Glory to God in the highest! Peace to God’s people on earth!

Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
who shepherds the people
and sets them free.
God raises from David’s house
a child with power to save. --
--Through the holy prophets
God promised in ages past
to save us from enemy hands,
from the grip of all who hate us.
The Lord favored our ancestors
recalling the sacred covenant,
the pledge to our ancestor Abraham,
to free us from our enemies,
so we might worship without fear
and be holy and just all our days.
And you child, will be called
Prophet of the Most High,
for you will come to prepare
a pathway for the Lord
by teaching the people salvation
through forgiveness of their sin.
Out of God’s deepest mercy
a dawn will come from on high,
light for those shadowed by death,
a guide for our feet on the way to peace.
 

INTERCESSIONS

Today we rejoice in the birth of our Savior, Jesus the Christ. With gratitude for this wondrous manifestation of God’s love, we sing:

~ O come, let us adore him! O come, let us adore him!

   O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

Jesus, the living bread, was born that we may have life, life to the full:

Jesus, Son of God, was born to teach us that we are children of God and heirs of the kingdom:

Jesus, prince of peace, was born to inaugurate the reign of God’s justice and mercy:

Jesus, the reflection of God’s glory, was born to share in our humanity:

Jesus, Emmanuel, was born to enflesh God’s presence among us:

 

THE LORD’S PRAYER

 

PRAYER

We come to adore you, Christ our Savior, because, though God, you have chosen to be one of us. We sing our gratitude for the example of your life which gives new meaning to our human experience. We are comforted by your companionship and your promise to be with us always. As we celebrate this day of your birth may wonder take hold of us again, opening our eyes to the marvels of your creation, renewing our desire to imitate the gentleness and peace with which you moved among us. We ask this in your name, Jesus, in whose life we rejoice today. Amen.


BLESSING

May the peace of the newborn Savior be with us. Amen

May the joy of the angels find voice in us. Amen. 
May the gift of God to us be given as gift to all whom we serve. Amen.

 

EVENING PRAYER II

GREETING

In the silence of night, God leapt from the heavens.

Emmanuel, God with us!

A child was born of the virgin Mary.
To us is born a Savior.

 

DOXOLOGY

 

PSALM  40:1–12, 14–18

Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord!


I waited and waited for God. At long last God bent down to hear my complaint,

and pulled me from the grave out of the swamp,

and gave me a steady stride on rock-solid ground.


God taught me a new song, a hymn of praise.

Seeing all this, many will be moved to trust in the Lord.


Happy are they who trust in God, not seduced by idols nor won over by lies.


You do so many wonders, you show you care for us, Lord my God;

you are beyond compare. Were I to name them all, no one could keep track.


You did not seek offerings or ask for sacrifices; but you drilled ears for me to hear.


“Yes,” I said, “I will come to live by your written word.”
I want to do what pleases you; your teaching is in my heart.


I celebrate your justice before all the assembly;

I do not hold back the story. Lord, you know this is true.


I did not hide in my heart your acts of rescue;

I boldly declared to all your truth and care, your faithful love.


Your maternal love surrounds me, Lord.

Your sure and tender care protects me always.


Please, Lord, rescue me; hurry, Lord, help me.

Stop my killers, shame them, wipe out my bitter enemies.

 

Let those who jeer at me, “Too bad for you!” be rewarded with shame.


But let all who seek you and count on your strength sing and dance and cheer “Glory to God!”

Though I am weak and poor, God cares for me.

My help, my savior, my God, act now!

 

Philippians 2:6–11

Though in the form of God,
Jesus did not claim
equality with God but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, human like one of us.

Flesh and blood, he humbled himself, obeying to the death, death on a cross.

For this very reason God lifted him high and gave him the name above all names.

So at the name of Jesus every knee will bend in heaven, on earth, and in the world below, and every tongue exclaim
to the glory of God the Father,
“Jesus Christ is Lord.”

 

READING

1 John 1:1–3a

We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life — this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that what was with God and was revealed to us — we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may be in company with us.
 

CANTICLE OF MARY

Glory to God in the highest! Peace to God’s people on earth!

I acclaim the greatness of the Lord,
I delight in God my savior,
who regarded my humble state.
Truly from this day on all ages
will call me blest.
For God, wonderful in power,
has used that strength for me.
Holy the name of the Lord!
Whose mercy embraces the faithful,
one generation to the next.
The mighty arm of God
scatters the proud in their conceit,
Pulls tyrants from their thrones,
and raises up the humble.
The Lord fills the starving
and lets the rich go hungry.
God rescues lowly Israel,
recalling the promise of mercy,
the promise made to our ancestors,
to Abraham’s heirs forever.


INTERCESSIONS

The angel heralded a sign of hope to the world: “in a manger, you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes.” In wonder, we sing:

~ Christ the Savior is born! Christ the Savior is born!

At your coming, a woman and child showed forth your enduring love:

~ Clothe women and children with your faithful promise to the powerless.

At your coming, those who walked in darkness saw a great light:

~ Clothe them with heartfelt mercy.

At your coming, the heavens burst into song and the desolate lands rejoiced:

~ Clothe them with teeming forests and fields, with clear waters and skies.

At your coming, the poor became bearers of hope:

~ Clothe them with dignity.

At your coming, the leaders of nations knelt to see truth in your eyes:

~ Clothe them with a mantle of justice.

 

THE LORD’S PRAYER

 

PRAYER

We come to adore you, Christ our Savior, because, though God, you have chosen to be one of us. We sing our gratitude for the example of your life which gives new meaning to our human experience. We are comforted by your companionship and your promise to be with us always. As we celebrate this day of your birth may wonder take hold of us again, opening our eyes to the marvels of your creation, renewing our desire to imitate the gentleness and peace with which you moved among us. We ask this in your name, Jesus, in whose life we rejoice today. Amen.

 

BLESSING

May the peace of the newborn Savior be with us. Amen.

May the joy of the angels find voice in us. Amen. May the gift of God to us be given as gift to all whom we serve. Amen.

 

From December 26 through December 31, use the psalms and canticles of Christmas.