Christmas
Eve
**Please note this service is based on the format of the Anglican Church of Canada. Unless otherwise indicated, all prayers come from the Book of Alternative Services (BAS) and the hymns from the Book of Common Praise (BCP). Other hymns and prayers have been sourced to give appropriate credit.
**NRSV translation used for the readings, unless otherwise stated.
**This is for personal use at home as the church is unable to gather in our houses of worship but together we can worship in our own homes.
If you would like to view this service, click HERE.
The Gathering of the Community
Opening Hymn What Child is This?
Leader: Welcome,
everyone, on this holiest of nights.
All: As
Mary readied herself to give birth to Jesus, let us prepare ourselves to
welcome new birth into our lives.
Leader: As a
child prepares to open a special gift, let us prepare our hearts to receive the
wonders of God’s love.
All: As
heaven and earth sing of great joy, let us sing our joyful praises to God.
Come, let us worship God together!
The
Collect
Eternal God, this holy night is radiant with the
brilliance of your one true light. As we have known the revelation of that
light on earth, bring us to see the splendour of your heavenly glory; through
Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
Lighting of the Candles
Leader: Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, the
Son of God is born this night.
All: God’s word has been made flesh among us.
Leader: The people who have walked in
darkness have seen a great light.
All: Those who dwelt in the
land of great darkness, on them a light has shined.
Leader: You, O Lord, have multiplied the nation. You have increased its joy. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government is upon his shoulder.
All: His name shall be called wonderful, counsellor, mighty god, everlasting father, prince of peace.
Leader: He is also called Emmanuel, for in Him, God is with us.
Unison Prayer: Dear God, we pray that we are ready for your coming. May we know deep in our hearts your love for each of us. May we be open to share with others the love you have gifted us with, through Jesus. Amen.
The Proclamation of the Word
A reading from
the book of Isaiah 9:2-7
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.
You have
multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before
you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
For the yoke
of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For all the
boots of the tramping warriors
and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
For a child
has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority
rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His authority
shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne
of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice
and with righteousness
from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of
the Lord of hosts will do this.
The word of
the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 96
O sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless
his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his
glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples.
For great is the Lord,
and greatly to be praised;
he is to be revered above all gods.
For all the
gods of the peoples are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
Honor and majesty are
before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Ascribe to the
Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the
glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his
courts.
Worship the
Lord in holy splendor;
tremble before him, all the earth.
Say among the nations,
“The Lord is king!
The world is firmly established; it shall
never be moved.
He will judge the peoples with equity.”
Let the
heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it.
Then shall all the
trees of the forest sing for joy
before the Lord; for he is coming,
for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge
the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with his truth.
A reading from the book of Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us
to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives
that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed
hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus
Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all
iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good
deeds.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Gradual Hymn Silent Night
Leader: The Lord be with you.
All: And
also with you.
Leader: The Holy Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, according to Luke. 2.1-20
All: Glory
to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world
should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while
Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered.
Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of
David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of
David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was
expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her
child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of
cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the
inn.
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on
earth peace among those whom he favors!”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Leader: The Gospel of Christ
All: Praise
to you, Lord Jesus Christ
Sermon
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable and pleasing in your sight O Lord, for you are our rock and our redeemer. Amen.
What a strange Christmas this is…
A year ago, I would not have thought that I would be delivering this sermon through a computer.
A year ago, I would not have thought that we would be at home on Christmas Eve instead of celebrating the birth of Jesus together.
A year ago, I would not have thought that Christmas celebrations, a big one for my family, would be cancelled and instead of rushing around seeing everyone, my family and I are celebrating on our own.
Our church year, from Lent through to today, has looked a lot different, at least on the outside. But inside, in our spirits, in our hearts, the seasons remain intact and celebrated.
And in that way, tonight, Christmas is the same as it always has been.
Tonight, unto us a child is born.
Through the darkness, the struggles, the grief, and the pain that has been 2020, there is a reason to be joyous.
One of my favorite verse from the bible is John 3:16: “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
God has sent us his son, the Messiah, and this is good news for it means that God has joined us here on earth.
And we need God tonight.
There are so many reasons to not want to celebrate right now.
Almost 2 million people have died from complications due to COVID and we are now in lock-down, unable to visit friends and family during this festive season.
Racist acts, including assaults and murders, are at an all-time high (or are at least are made more public due to a higher access to information.)
Too many people don’t have access to proper healthcare.
Wages are too low for most people to sustain proper living conditions.
What is there to be joyful about?
The mood of Christmas this year parallels the proclamation of Jesus' birth in Luke's gospel. We are looking for joy in a time of personal, national, and global uncertainty.
Mary and Joseph are struggling to find the joy in their lives at the moment, too. They are citizens of an occupied country, they journey to Bethlehem to pay tribute to a foreign government and, to add insult to injury, the only shelter they can find for the birth of their child is a stable.
But in the most unlikely place, the angelic voices ring out with the “good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”
God gives glad tidings in the least expected places, and that is the best news of all. Eventually, most of us will find ourselves on the receiving end of this good news, of God with us, in the most unlikely and often painful places, through his Son, Jesus Christ.
Jesus, who comes into the world naked, homeless, and vulnerable, is the Christ who comes to each of us in our own places of God pain and suffering.
The journey to Bethlehem, the risky birth in a barn, and the flight to Egypt are reminders of the dangers that Mary and Joseph faced with pure faith.
It is also a reminder that into a world of violence, fear, and misery, God came.
And in 2020, God continues to come.
God is at work, still changing, loving, and blessing the world. At a time when it feels like so many of the grand gestures of Christmas have been taken away, we can find both comfort and courage that God is at work in the least expected places.
Let us pray,
While this year has been extremely difficult, a true test of our humanity and our love for one another, may we immerse ourselves in the joy that comes with birth of a child, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Emmanuel, God with us, give us the strength we need to push through the travesty that was experienced over the last year, the trust we require as we watch science and medicine attack the virus, and the faith necessary to be a united front against all the horrors that were revealed to us throughout 2020. Tonight, the weary world rejoices.
Amen.
Affirmation of Faith
Leader: Let
us confess the faith of our baptism, as we say the Nicene Creed:
All: We
believe in one God,
the Creator, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Redeemer, Jesus Christ,
the only Child of God,
eternally begotten of the Creator,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
one in being with the Creator:
Through the Redeemer all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
Jesus Christ the Redeemer
came down from heaven:
was born of the Virgin Mary, and became human.
For our sake Jesus was crucified
under Pontius Pilate,
suffered, died and was buried,
and, on the third day, rose again
in fulfillment of the Scriptures,
ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God.
Jesus Christ will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and the Reign of God will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Sanctifier, the Giver of Life,
who proceeds from God the Creator
and Jesus Christ the Redeemer,
who with the Creator and the Redeemer,
is worshipped and glorified
and 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 the People
Brothers and
sisters, on this most holy night of our Lord’s birth, that we may find peace,
joy, and contentment in this holy season, let us pray for ourselves and all
those in need of our prayers, saying: Lord, hear our prayer.
For the church of Christ, that it may faithfully proclaim the good news of salvation and may care for the needs of God’s people in all corners of the world,
We pray to
you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For peace in
our troubled world, that the darkness of way and injustice may be replaced by
the light of peace and love,
We pray to
you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For all those in need of our prayers: the homeless, the unemployed, the hungry, those who are hospitalized, those who are imprisoned in body or soul, and all those for whom this season is one not of joy but of trial and sadness,
We pray to
you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For the sick, especially those suffering from COVID, that their illnesses may be turned into health and their sorrow into rejoicing,
We pray to
you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For those who labor this night on behalf of others: doctors and nurses, police officers and firefighters, gas station attendants, bus and taxi drivers, and all those whose work prevents them from sharing this evening with those they love,
We pray to
you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For the families of those whose loved ones died from the effects of COVID, who are unexpectedly missing someone at their table during this season,
We pray to
you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
In thanksgiving we remember the lives of those who have gone before us in the faith. That we, like them, may remain faithful to the end and live forever in the light of your eternal glory,
We pray to
you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Mighty God, mercifully hear the prayers of the people you have chosen as your own. Give us zeal in our ministries and joy in our work, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Confession and Absolution
Dear friends
in Christ,
God is
steadfast in love and infinite in mercy; God welcomes sinners and invites them
to the table. Let us confess our sins, confident in God’s forgiveness.
(Silence)
All: Most
merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and
deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved
you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbour as ourselves. We are
truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your son Jesus Christ, have
mercy on us and forgive us, that we might delight in your will, and walk in
your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.
Almighty God, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Leader: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
All: And
also with you.
Offertory Hymn The First Noel
Prayer Over the Gifts
**Although not physically at our church buildings to
share our offering together I would encourage you to set your offering of money
aside so that it can be dropped off or placed in the church once services
resume, to mail your offering to the church, or to make donations online.
Please remember ministry is still taking place.
Let us pray.
Source of light
and gladness, accept all we offer on this joyful feast. May we grow up in him
who unites our lives to yours; for he is Lord now and for ever.
Amen.
Leader: And now, as our Saviour Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray,
All: Our
Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
And deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen.
Doxology
Glory to God,
All: Whose
power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory
to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for
ever and ever. Amen.
Blessing
The blessing
of almighty God, Son, and Holy Spirit, be upon you now and always. Amen.
Closing Hymn Joy to the World
Dismissal
Leader: Lord,
let your servants depart in peace, according to your word; for our eyes have
seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a
light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.
All: Thanks be to God. Amen.
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