Christmas Day

Gather

Carol – O Come, All Ye Faithful

Prayers Of the People

God of the hopeful as well as the hopeless, we pray this day for those in our community who are struggling during this time. God of the faithful as well as the doubting, we pray this day for those in our community who feel tossed aside and forgotten during this time. God who is with us, in our joy as well as our sorrow, we pray this day for those in our community who hurt underneath the superficial appearance of merriment during this time. God of peace in times of turmoil and uncertainty, we pray this day for those in our community who are in need of the rest only You can provide. Help us serve those who bear these burdens, that we all may experience the hope You give, for this life and the one to come.

Lord, in Your mercy…

…Hear our prayer.

Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy; through Your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

Lighting of the Advent Candle/Carol – Good Christian Men, Rejoice

Reading – Luke 2:8-20

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Devotion

Carol – Angels We Have Heard on High

Carol – Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Peace/Benediction

We will conclude with the singing of Joy to the World. Go in hope, faith, joy and peace to love and serve the Lord.

Amen.

Carol – Joy to the World

Next: Twelve Days of Christmas Readings

Wintertide daily liturgy index

The burning of the Yule Log is started on the first day of Christmas, using the charcoal from last year’s Yule Log.