Today Is: Christmas Day
Sat, 25 Dec 2021 -- The Lectionary Cycle is: C

Click for Responsorial Psalm

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Collect for: Christmas Day O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Old Testament Ezekiel 34:11-16 11 For thus says the Lord GOD: 'Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. 13 And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14 I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,' says the Lord GOD. 16 I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.' Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God. Psalm Psalm 98 1 Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. 2 The LORD has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. 3 He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 4 Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. 5 Sing to the LORD with the harp, With the harp and the sound of a psalm, 6 With trumpets and the sound of a horn; Shout joyfully before the LORD, the King. 7 Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell in it; 8 Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the hills be joyful together before the LORD, 9 For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, And the peoples with equity. *At the end of the Psalms this is sung or said Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. New Testament 1 John 1:1-4 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life -- 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us -- 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God. Gospel John 1:1-5 Introduction to the Gospel: Deacon:The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Or And with your spirit Deacon: May the Lord be on our minds, on our lips, and on our hearts as we hear His Holy Gospel. The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint John. People: Glory to You, Lord Christ. Deacon: We are reading from John's Gospel chapter 1, beginning at verse 1. 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. After the Gospel reading, the deacon elevates the book and says: Deacon: The Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to You, Lord Christ. Prayers of the People Prayers of the People for: Christmas Day Brothers and sisters, The Father has demonstrated His love for us by sending His Son into the world and making us children of God. Therefore, let us petition Him for our needs and the needs of the whole world. That the Church will make known the Salvation of the Lord to the ends of the earth. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That the nations will judge their people with righteousness. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That the birth of the Christ child in a manger will keep us mindful of the abandoned, the homeless, the hungry and the oppressed. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That those who are in despair and hopeless will have their joy renewed through a relationship with Christ and the fellowship of His people. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That our children will grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That God's protection will be upon those who defend us at home and abroad. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That we will faithfully obey God in all that we say and do. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. Loving Father, You have freed us from those things that bound us and from the one who had us enslaved. Hear our prayer and give us the grace to be both thankful and zealous to do Your Holy Will. We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN