Structure
The Greeting
Prayers of Penitence, and Absolution
Bible Readings, and Sermon
Prayers of Intercession
The Peace
Preparation of the Altar
The Eucharistic Prayer
Breaking of the Bread
The Giving of Communion, and Prayer after Communion
Blessing, and Dismissal
Before the service begins we hear any notices/Banns of Marriage, and then hold a short time of silence.
The Gathering
A Hymn is sung.
The Greeting
In the name of the Father
And of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit
Amen.
The Lord be with you.
and also with you.
The president introduces the service.
Prayer of Preparation
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Prayers of Penitence
We are invited to confess our sins in these or other suitable words.
The sun of righteousness has dawned
with healing in his wings.
Let us come to the light of Christ,
confessing our sins in penitence and faith.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
we have sinned against you
and against our neighbour
in thought and word and deed,
through negligence, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault.
We are truly sorry
and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
who died for us,
forgive us all that is past
and grant that we may serve you in newness of life
to the glory of your name.
Amen.
Absolution
May God who loved the world so much
that he sent his Son to be our Saviour
forgive us our sins
and make us holy to serve him in the world,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Gloria in Excelsis
Glory to God in the highest,
And peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
Almighty God and Father,
We worship you, we give you thanks,
We praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
You take away the sin of the world:
Have mercy on us;
You are seated at the right hand of the Father:
Receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy one,
You alone are the Lord,
You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
With the Holy Spirit,
In the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
The Collect
The president introduces a time of prayer.
Let us pray in the peace of this Christmas celebration
that our joy in the birth of Christ will last for ever.
Silence is kept.
Almighty God,
who wonderfully created us in your own image
and yet more wonderfully restored us
through your Son Jesus Christ:
grant that, as he came to share in our humanity,
so we may share the life of his divinity;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
The Liturgy of the Word
We sit to hear readings from the Bible.
Old Testament Reading
Isaiah 63.7–9
other bible versions: ▶[NIV]; ▶[NRSVUE] 7 I will recount the gracious deeds of the Lord, the praiseworthy acts of the Lord, because of all that the Lord has done for us, and the great favour to the house of Israel that he has shown them according to his mercy, according to the abundance of his steadfast love. 8 For he said, ‘Surely they are my people, children who will not deal falsely’; and he became their saviour 9 in all their distress. It was no messenger or angel but his presence that saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
New Testament Reading
Hebrews 2.10–18
other bible versions: ▶[NIV]; ▶[NRSVUE] 10 It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,12saying, ‘I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.’ 13And again, ‘I will put my trust in him.’ And again, ‘Here am I and the children whom God has given me.’ 14 Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. 16For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. 17Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people.18Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Gospel Reading
We stand and face the Gospel book to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ.
This acclamation may be used.
Alleluia, alleluia.
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
and we have seen his glory.
Alleluia.
When the Gospel is announced the reader says:
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
According to Matthew.
Glory to you, O Lord.
Matthew 2.13–23
13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’ 14Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I have called my son.’ 16 When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men.17Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: 18 ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.’ 19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 20‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.’ 21Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee.23There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, ‘He will be called a Nazorean.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon
A sermon is preached. A short time of silence may follow.
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God, begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son
is worshipped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism
for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
The president introduces the prayers in these or some other suitable words.
In the power of the Spirit,
and in union with Christ,
let us pray to the Father.
Please sit or kneel to pray.
The prayers may end with:
Merciful Father
Accept these prayers
For the sake of your Son
Our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The Liturgy of the Sacrament
Peace
Stand. The president introduces the Peace.
This holy night the angels sang,
‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to all in whom he delights.’
The peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you.
We share a sign of God’s Peace with one another. The gifts are gathered and the altar is prepared. To give a financial offering, click here. A hymn is sung.
Preparation of the Table
When the altar is prepared, the following prayer is said.
Word made flesh, life of the world,
in your incarnation you embraced our poverty:
by your Spirit may we share in your riches.
Amen
Eucharistic Prayer
Prayer B
The Lord is here
His spirit is with us
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
All glory and honour be yours always and everywhere,
mighty creator, ever-living God.
We give you thanks and praise for your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ,
who for love of our fallen race humbled himself,
and was born of the Virgin Mary
by the power of your Spirit,
and lived as one of us.
In this mystery of the Word made flesh
you have caused his light to shine in our hearts,
to give knowledge of your glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
In him we see our God made visible
and so are caught up in the love of the God we cannot see.
Therefore with all the angels of heaven
we lift our voices to proclaim the glory of your name
and sing our joyful hymn of praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Lord, you are holy indeed, the source of all holiness;
grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit,
and according to your holy will,
these gifts of bread and wine
may be to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ;
who, in the same night that he was betrayed,
took bread and gave you thanks;
he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.
In the same way, after supper
he took the cup and gave you thanks;
he gave it to them, saying:
Drink this, all of you;
this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it,
in remembrance of me.
Great is the mystery of faith:
Christ has died:
Christ is risen:
Christ will come again.
And so, Father, calling to mind his death on the cross,
his perfect sacrifice made once for the sins of the whole world;
rejoicing in his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension,
and looking for his coming in glory,
we celebrate this memorial of our redemption.
As we offer you this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving,
we bring before you this bread and this cup
and we thank you for counting us worthy
to stand in your presence and serve you.
Send the Holy Spirit on your people
and gather into one in your kingdom
all who share this one bread and one cup,
so that we, in the company of Mary, the mother of our Lord, and all the saints,
may praise and glorify you for ever,
through Jesus Christ our Lord;
by whom, and with whom, and in whom,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory be yours, almighty Father,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Rejoicing in the presence of God here among us,
as our Saviour taught us, so we pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
And the glory are yours
Now and forever.
Amen.
Breaking of the Bread
The president breaks the consecrated bread and says:
We break this bread
To share in the body of Christ.
Though we are many, we are one body,
Because we all share in one bread.
The Agnus Dei may be said or sung as the bread is broken:
Lamb of God,
You take away the sin of the world,
Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God,
You take away the sin of the world,
Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God,
You take away the sin of the world,
Grant us peace.
Giving of Communion
We are all invited to receive the sacrament.
Jesus is the Lamb of God
Who takes away the sin of the world.
Blessed are those who are called to his supper.
Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,
But only say the word, and I shall be healed.
All are welcome to come to receive Holy Communion or a Blessing. During the distribution of Communion Anthems and Hymns may be sung. Otherwise, silence is kept.
Prayer after Communion
This prayer is said.
All praise to you,
almighty God and heavenly king,
who sent your Son into the world
to take our nature upon him
and to be born of a pure virgin:
grant that, as we are born again in him,
so he may continually dwell in us
and reign on earth as he reigns in heaven,
now and for ever.
Amen.
Almighty God,
We thank you for feeding us
With the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Through him we offer you our souls and bodies
to be a living sacrifice.
Send us out in the power of your Spirit
To live and work to your praise and glory.
Amen.
A Hymn is sung.
Blessing and Dismissal
Christ, who by his incarnation gathered into one
things earthly and heavenly,
fill you with peace and goodwill
and make you partakers of the divine nature;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
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