Service for Christmas Morning.

INTRODUCTION

I bring you good news of great joy: a Saviour has been born to you! Unto us a child is born, a son is given. Alleluia!

HYMN: Hark the Heralds Angels sing

LIGHTING THE ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS CANDLES.

After counting the weeks of Advent we have come to Christmas Day.

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.

Light the candles.

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

And 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.

Hear the words of St. Luke: When the angels had gone from them, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they hastened, and found Mary and Joseph,\and the babe lying in a manger.

He is Christ the Lord. Alleluia!

We worship and adore him. Alleluia!

PENITENCE.

As we bow our heads with the shepherds before the new born Christ child, we open our hearts in penitence and faith:

You, Lord, were born for our salvation. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

You came as Saviour to bring wholeness and peace. Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.

You came to bring light into the darkness of our lives. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

May almighty God, who sent his Son into the world to save sinners, bring us his pardon and peace, now and for ever. Amen.

COLLECT for Christmas Day.

Almighty God, you have given us your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin: grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

THE CREED.

We affirm our faith in the words of the Apostle’s Creed.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth: and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried. He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the father almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

GOSPEL: John 1, 1-14.

The Gospel According to John

The Word Became Flesh

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And 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. (John testified to him and cried out, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” ’) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

HYMN: O Little Town of Bethlehem

SERMON.

HYMN: While shepherds Watched their Flocks by night

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Let us pray:

Beloved in Christ Jesus, rejoicing in the love of God that has taken flesh among us in Jesus of Nazareth, let us with confidence bring to the Lord the petitions of our heart this Christmas Day.

We bring before God our needs and the needs of his world. Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. Wonderful Counsellor, give your wisdom to the rulers of the nations. Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.

Mighty God, make the whole world know that the government is on your shoulders. Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.

Everlasting Father, establish your reign of justice and righteousness for ever. Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.

Prince of Peace, bring in the endless kingdom of your peace in the world, in our island, in our home at Ellen Vannin and elsewhere.

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.

Saviour of the World, in a world of homeless people and where children are born in pain and poverty, may there be room at the inn for all of God’s people.

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer

Father, when your Son came on earth he filled the world with your glory. Help us to live as children of the light, so that when our earthly journey is over, we may come to the kingdom of everlasting day.

Almighty Lord, Hear our prayer, and fulfil your purposes in us, as you accomplished your will in our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

So, united as members of the Lord’s family, we pray with one another and voice:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

HYMN: O Come all ye Faithful

THE BLESSING.

May the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the perseverance of the wise men, the obedience of Joseph and Mary, and the peace of the Christ child be yours this Christmas.

And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be upon us and remain with us always. Amen