Christmas prayer: O Holy One, heavenly angels spoke to earthly shepherds and eternity entered time in the child of Bethlehem. Through the telling of the Christmas story, let our temporal lives be caught up in the eternal in that same child, that we might join shepherds and all the heavenly host in praising the coming of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen. (Lectionary prayers)
Hymn #234 O Come, All Ye Faithful
- O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;
Refrain: O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
- True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal, lo, He shuns not the Virgin's womb;
Son of the Father, begotten not created; (Refrain)
- Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation; O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest; (Refrain)
- See how the shepherds, summoned to His cradle, leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze;
we too will thither bend our joyful footsteps; (Refrain)
- Child, for us sinners poor and in the manger, we would embrace Thee with love and awe.
Who would not love Thee, loving us so dearly? (Refrain)
- Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning, Jesus, to Thee be all glory given.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing: (Refrain)
Scripture- Isaiah 9:2-7
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, You have increased its joy; they rejoice before You as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, You have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. For a Child has been born for us, a Son given to us; authority rests upon His shoulders; and He is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and His kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Hymn #240 Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
- Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new born King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies;
with th' angelic host proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new born King!" - Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord;
late in time behold Him come, offspring of a virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail th' incarnate Deity,
pleased with us in flesh to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new born King!" - Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings, risen with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by, born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new born King!"
Scripture- Luke 1:26-33
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name Him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
Hymn #230 O Little Town of Bethlehem
- O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie;
above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. - For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above,
while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars together, proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the king, and peace to all on earth! - How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given;
so God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in. - O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
o come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!
Scripture- Luke 1:46-55
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked with favor on the lowliness of His servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name. His mercy is for those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, according to the promise He made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to His descendants forever.”
Hymn #242 Love Came Down at Christmas
- Love came down at Christmas, love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas; star and angels gave the sign. - Worship we the Godhead, Love incarnate, Love divine;
worship we our Jesus, but wherewith for sacred sign? - Love shall be our token; love be yours and love be mine;
love to God and all men, love for plea and gift and sign.
Scripture- Luke 2:1-7
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in bands of cloth, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Hymn #217 Away in a Manger
- Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay, the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
- The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, but little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes;
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky and stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.
- Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay close by me forever, and love me, I pray;
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, and fit us for heaven to live with Thee there.
Scripture- Luke 2:8-16
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a Child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom He favors!” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Child lying in the manger.
Hymn #220 Angels from the Realms of Glory
- Angels from the realms of glory, wing your flight o'er all the earth;
ye who sang creation's story now proclaim Messiah's birth:
Refrain: Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn king.
- Shepherds, in the field abiding, watching o'er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing; yonder shines the infant light: (Refrain) - Sages, leave your contemplations, brighter visions beam afar;
seek the great Desire of nations; ye have seen His natal star: (Refrain) - Saints, before the altar bending, watching long in hope and fear;
suddenly the Lord, descending, in His temple shall appear: (Refrain)
Scripture- Luke 2:17-20
When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this Child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Hymn #251 Go, Tell It on the Mountain
Refrain: Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere,
Go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.
- While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night,
Behold throughout the heavens there shone a holy light. (Refrain)
- The shepherds feared and trembled, when lo! above the earth,
Rang out the angel chorus that hailed the Savior’s birth. (Refrain)
- Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born,
And God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn. (Refrain)
Scripture- John 1:1-6, 9-14
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through Him, and without Him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4in Him was life, and the life was the light of all people.
5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him; yet the world did not know Him. 11He came to what was His own, and His own people did not accept Him. 12But to all who received Him, who believed in His name, He gave power to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen His glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
Hymn #239 Silent Night verses 1-4 and repeat 1
- Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright round yon virgin mother and Child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace. - Silent night, holy night, shepherds quake at the sight; glories stream from heaven afar,
heavenly hosts sing Alleluia! Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born! - Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love's pure light; radiant beams from Thy holy face
with the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth. - Silent night, holy night, wondrous star, lend thy light; with the angels let us sing,
Alleluia to our King; Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born! - Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright round yon virgin mother and Child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
Closing hymn #246 Joy to the World
- Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King;
let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing. - Joy to the world, the Savior reigns! Let all their songs employ;
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy. - No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found,
far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found. - He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove
the glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love,
and wonders of His love, and wonders of His love.
Blessing While remembering that Christ came to earth as a baby, remember also that He lived and died and is available through prayer. May the Lord bless you through God the Father, Jesus Christ the risen Savior, and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
