Christmas Eve/Day
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series III, Cycle A
CALL TO WORSHIP
I have Good News for you: there is great joy coming to the whole people. Today in the city of David a deliverer has been born to you - the Messiah, the Christ.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of the gospel, whose glory brightens the night sky on Christmas eve, and the birth of whose Son in Bethlehem brings the dawn of a new day, hear our prayers for forgiveness and mercy. Pardon its if we have made idols of what are only symbols of the coming of Jesus, if traditional practice rather than the reality of the coming of Jesus Christ, has defined the meaning of today. We can appeal to your kindness and generosity, not because of any good deeds of our own, but because of our salvation through the water of baptism and the renewing power of the Holy Spirit. By your grace, Jesus Christ is our Savior. Amen.
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! God in highest heaven grants peace on earth to all on whom rests the favor of the Most High. Friends, believe the Good News! In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
EXHORTATION
Raise a signal to all people. This is God's proclamation to earth's farthest bounds.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Exalted One, having received the good news of Jesus Christ with great joy we would be sent like the shepherds to astonish others with the story of Jesus and the meaning of our salvation through his grace. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
God in highest heaven, we give you thanks for the sending of Jesus Christ into our world to be a gift of peace, a person of peace, a prince of peace. Christ most lowly, we give thanks for your humble birth and gracious life, for salvation and the hope of eternal life. Spirit most holy, we thank you for the water of rebirth and the renewal of the Spirit thus signified, by which we are saved, being justified by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. All glory be ascribed to you, God, Giving, Coming, Renewing. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Holy Child of God and of Mary Virgin, heaven and earth are your homes, temple and stable are hallowed by your presence. We bring our gifts to you so that the good news ofpeace may continue to sound in earth and heaven, echoed by human voices, the voice of your church. Amen.
PSALM 97:1-12
The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad!
Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him,
and consumes his adversaries on every side.
His lightnings light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his righteousness;
and all the peoples behold his glory.
All worshipers of images are put to shame,
those who make their boast in worthless idols;
all gods bow down before him.
Zion hears and is glad, and the towns of Judah rejoice,
because of your judgments, O God.
For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.
The LORD loves those who hate evil;
he guards the lives of his faithful;
he rescues them from the hand of the wicked.
Light dawns for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name!
I have Good News for you: there is great joy coming to the whole people. Today in the city of David a deliverer has been born to you - the Messiah, the Christ.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of the gospel, whose glory brightens the night sky on Christmas eve, and the birth of whose Son in Bethlehem brings the dawn of a new day, hear our prayers for forgiveness and mercy. Pardon its if we have made idols of what are only symbols of the coming of Jesus, if traditional practice rather than the reality of the coming of Jesus Christ, has defined the meaning of today. We can appeal to your kindness and generosity, not because of any good deeds of our own, but because of our salvation through the water of baptism and the renewing power of the Holy Spirit. By your grace, Jesus Christ is our Savior. Amen.
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! God in highest heaven grants peace on earth to all on whom rests the favor of the Most High. Friends, believe the Good News! In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
EXHORTATION
Raise a signal to all people. This is God's proclamation to earth's farthest bounds.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Exalted One, having received the good news of Jesus Christ with great joy we would be sent like the shepherds to astonish others with the story of Jesus and the meaning of our salvation through his grace. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
God in highest heaven, we give you thanks for the sending of Jesus Christ into our world to be a gift of peace, a person of peace, a prince of peace. Christ most lowly, we give thanks for your humble birth and gracious life, for salvation and the hope of eternal life. Spirit most holy, we thank you for the water of rebirth and the renewal of the Spirit thus signified, by which we are saved, being justified by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. All glory be ascribed to you, God, Giving, Coming, Renewing. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Holy Child of God and of Mary Virgin, heaven and earth are your homes, temple and stable are hallowed by your presence. We bring our gifts to you so that the good news ofpeace may continue to sound in earth and heaven, echoed by human voices, the voice of your church. Amen.
PSALM 97:1-12
The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad!
Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him,
and consumes his adversaries on every side.
His lightnings light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his righteousness;
and all the peoples behold his glory.
All worshipers of images are put to shame,
those who make their boast in worthless idols;
all gods bow down before him.
Zion hears and is glad, and the towns of Judah rejoice,
because of your judgments, O God.
For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.
The LORD loves those who hate evil;
he guards the lives of his faithful;
he rescues them from the hand of the wicked.
Light dawns for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name!
