Readings:
For Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24: Luke 2:1-14 (15-20), Isaiah
9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, John 1:1-14 ~ For
Christmas Day, Friday, December
25 : 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]
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]
The time is now, because of and in spite of
these days of darkness, worry, fear, and anguish, to remember how to feel the
Excitement, the Joy, the Wonder, the Thrill of Christmas again. Jesus Christ
is born today! It’s time ~ re-awaken the Spirit within, remember the Reason it
begins, open to a new spiritual start, a fresh opportunity. It's time ~ NOW, to
push into the unknown, painfully, frighteningly, but with great anticipation to experience our own birth, again, into 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 everyday lives,
into all the Earth. The True Light in the Darkness has come!
It's time! Hallelujah!
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ O Holy Jesus, God’s True Light, You come at last, filled
with 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: Grant Peace on
Earth to All
~
O Holy Jesus, God’s True Light, grant us energy and
courage to give continuous 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!
Grant
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 and always. We now join our hearts together to pray for those in
need… add your own petitions
Glory to God in the Highest Heaven!
Grant
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!
Grant
Peace on Earth to All
~
O Holy Jesus, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt
thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials… add your own petitions
Glory to God in the Highest Heaven!
Grant
Peace on Earth to All
~
O Holy Jesus, God’s True Light, continue to excite
the hearts of all who lead us in Your Church, with imagination and inspiration.
Guide all our hearts to rebirth in a Spirit-filled life in Your service. We
pray especially for: add your own petitions
Glory to God in the Highest Heaven!
Grant
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 into Your divine will. We
ask through You, Prince of Peace; and through the Holy Spirit, our Compass; who
together with our Mighty Creator from the beginning, live and reign as one God,
now and forever. Amen.
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