The Holy Family
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A Festival of Lessons and Carols

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THE ORDER OF SERVICE

PROCESSIONAL HYMN
O Come All Ye Faithful
ADESTE FIDELES

BIDDING PRAYER (opening)

Beloved Christ, be it this Christmas Eve our care and delight to prepare ourselves to hear again the message of the angels; in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, and the Babe lying in a manger. Let us read and mark in Holy Scripture the tale of the loving purposes of God from the first days of our disobedience unto the glorious Redemption brought to us by the Holy Child; and let us make all the homes in which this is played glad with our carols of praise. Amen

HYMN
Once in Royal David’s City
IRBY

THE LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE — The Shifflette Family

FIRST LESSON
Genesis 3:8-15, 17-19
Adam and Eve disobey God’s command and disrupt the order and goodness of creation.

CAROL
O Little Town of Bethlehem
ST. LOUIS

SECOND LESSON
Genesis 22:15-18
God promises that, through Abraham, all the peoples of the world will be blessed.

CAROL
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
VENI EMMANUEL

THIRD LESSON
Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
The people who walk in darkness receive the promise of the Messiah.

CAROL
The First Nowell 
English Carol

FOURTH LESSON
Isaiah 11:1-4a, 6-9
The Messiah will come from the root of Jesse to restore the peace of creation.

CAROL
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
Polish Carol

FIFTH LESSON
Luke 1:26-35, 38
An angel appears to Mary and announces that she will bear a holy child.

CAROL
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
MENDLESSOHN

SIXTH LESSON
Luke 2:1-7
Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem, where Mary gives birth to her child.

CAROL
Away in a Manger
MUELLER

SEVENTH LESSON
Luke 2:8-16
Angels appear to shepherds in the fields and announce the birth of the Messiah.

CAROL
Angels We Have Heard on High
French Carol

EIGHTH LESSON
Matthew 2:1-11
Magi from the East come seeking the Messiah and offer gifts to the baby Jesus.

CAROL
What Child Is This
GREENSLEEVES

NINTH LESSON
John 1:1-14
The Word of God becomes flesh and lives among us, full of grace and truth.

CAROL
Silent Night
STILLE NACHT

BIDDING PRAYER (closing)

We now pray for the needs of God’s whole world; for peace and health over all the earth and for unity and goodwill within the Church. Let us also at this time remember in his name the poor and the helpless, the cold and the hungry, the abused, the exploited, the oppressed; the sick in body and in mind and them that mourn; the isolated, the lonely and the unloved; the aged and the little children; all who know not the Lord Jesus, or love him not, or who by sin have grieved his heart of love.

Lastly, let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us, but upon another shore and in a greater light, that multitude which no human can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom, in this Lord Jesus, we for evermore are one.

These prayers and praises, let us humbly offer up to the throne of heaven, in the words that Christ himself taught us to pray:

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 debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.
Amen

CLOSING HYMN
Joy to the World
ANTIOCH

CHRISTMAS BLESSING

May the Christ who by his incarnation, gathered into one the things of heaven and of earth, fill you with the sweetness of inward peace and goodwill, and the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rest upon you this Christmas and always.

 

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