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
Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God.
Psalm
Psalm
98
*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
Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God.
Gospel
John 1:1-5
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
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