For Sunday, December 24, 2017, Christmas Eve, Year B, Readings: Luke 2:1-14 (15-20), Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, John 1:1-14
For Monday, December 25, 2017, Christmas Day, Year B, Readings: Isaiah 52:7-10, Psalm 98, Hebrews 1:1-12, John 1:1-14
For Monday, December 25, 2017, Christmas Day, Year B, Readings: Isaiah 52:7-10, Psalm 98, Hebrews 1:1-12, John 1:1-14
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. [Isaiah 9:2]
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!" [Luke 2:13-14]
He
is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and
he sustains all things by his powerful word. [Hebrews 1:3a]
The
grace of God appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce
impiety and worldly passions... [Titus
2:11-12a]
The
True light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world...And the Word
was made flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory as of a father's
only son, full of grace and truth. [John 1:9, 14]
For
us and for our salvation he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit, he became incarnate from the
Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
[from The Nicene Creed, US Book of Common Prayer,
p. 358]
It's time ~ join the
Excitement, the Joy, the Wonder, the Thrill, again. Jesus Christ is born today!
It's time ~ re-awaken the Spirit within, remember the Reason it begins, a new start, a fresh opportunity. It's time ~ NOW, to push into the
unknown, painfully, frighteningly, but with great excitement to have the
experience of our own birth as a New Creation in Christ.
We each carry the fertile
seed, the Divine Spark within us ~ Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jew, Atheist, Agnostic, Oblivious, Naughty, or
Nice. We each choose how the Spark drives us - we tend, nurture, anticipate or ignore, abuse, or perhaps deny that
innermost part of ourselves. But now, what was is gone. As with
infants, we move into new light, new sound, uncertainty, anxiety, and every day is a new beginning. Even if we have tried before, distraction, disinterest, life circumstances may have stopped our momentum. Yet we, too, are called as part of the Good Tidings of Great
Joy that is Christ the Lord! We are the Reason he was born to us. Let the Joy and Peace of now begin
with me and let me, with you, carry Christ forward into this Day, into our lives,
into all the Earth.
It's
time! Hallelujah!
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ O Holy Jesus, God’s True
Light, You come at last, full of grace and truth. Let our joy be unbounded for
the arrival of our Glorious Child, One in Being with God and the Holy Spirit,
who redeems and claims us for the work of Heaven on Earth.
Glory to
God in the Highest Heaven!
RESPONSE: Peace on Earth
to All
~ O Holy Jesus, God’s True Light, remain within us and give us
strength, as we give voice to Your truth in all places of political, elected,
and authoritarian power throughout this World, this Nation, and this Community.
We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Glory to God in the Highest Heaven
Peace
on Earth to All
~ O Holy Jesus, God’s True Light, we ask You, who were homeless as
you entered this world, to enfold all who are homeless, hungry, sick, and
downhearted, that they may feel Your loving embrace on this Day of Days. We now
join our voices to pray aloud for those in need…add your own petitions
Glory to God in the Highest Heaven
Peace
on Earth to All
~ O Holy Jesus, God’s True Light, lift up our hearts in the joy
and the hope of the Love that never ends, as we remember and celebrate all
who have left the woes of this earthly plain to live forever, deep in the heart
of God. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Glory to God in the Highest Heaven
Peace
on Earth to All
~ O Holy Jesus, God’s True Light, we pause in
this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions,
petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently…add your own petitions
Glory to God in the Highest Heaven
Peace
on Earth to All
~ O Holy Jesus, God’s True Light, excite the hearts of all who
lead us in Your church with the blaze of heaven that fires each of us with the
imagination and inspiration to embark anew on a Spirit-filled life. We pray
especially for: add your own petitions
Glory to God in the Highest Heaven
Peace
on Earth to All
The Celebrant adds:
Most High Lord Jesus, the Word, the Imprint, the Incarnate Grace of God sent to
live among us, we sing to You a new song of rejoicing. Let each breath we take
draw You into ourselves, that we may give out Your glory and praise in all that
we are, and all that we do. Guide us, guard us, goad us to live Your divine
will. We ask through You, Prince of Peace, and through the Holy Spirit, who
together with Almighty God, from the beginning, live and reign as One, now and
forever. Amen.
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