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
Isaiah 9:2-7
Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God.
Psalm
Psalm
96
*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
Titus 2:11-14
Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God.
Gospel
Luke 2:1-5, 10-14
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 Luke.
People: Glory to You, Lord Christ.
Deacon: We are reading from Luke's Gospel chapter 2, beginning at verse 1.
1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 10 Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.' 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!'
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 desires to give us the Kingdom. Therefore, let us petition Him for our needs and those of the whole world.
That the Church will proclaim the Good News of Salvation from day to day and declare God's glory among the nations.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That the persecuted Church will be supernaturally sustained by God's grace and delivered from their oppressors.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That nations will resolve their conflicts by following the Prince of Peace.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That those who are without hope and bound up by their sin will know that today we celebrate the birth of their Savior and Redeemer, Who is Christ the Lord.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That the Christ child, born in a lowly manger, will stir up in our compassion for the least, the lost, and the lonely.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That those who are alone this holiday season will find solace in knowing that God will never leave them nor forsake them.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That those who have lost loved ones this past year will be comforted in knowing that with the coming of Christ comes the promise of eternal life.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, Your Son took on our humanity that we might share in His Divinity. Hear our prayer and give us the grace to walk in His ways. We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN