Advent Becomes Christmas
A service of Prayer, Readings & Carols
Prelude: Prelude on This Endris Night by Healey Willan
Opening Hymn: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel – CP 89
Officiant. God Almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end, opening to the glory of the nativity of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Officiant. O God, make speed to save us;
Answer. O God, make haste to help us.
Officiant. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
Answer. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Officiant. Praise ye the Lord;
Answer. The Lord’s Name be praised.
First reading, Isaiah 59.15b-21
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church
Thanks be to God.
Officiant Into thy hands, O God, I commend my spirit;
Answer. Into thy hands, O God, I commend my spirit.
Officiant. For thou hast redeemed me, O God of truth;
Answer. I commend my spirit.
Officiant. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
Answer. Into thy hands, O God, I commend my spirit.
Hymn: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus – CP 88
Second reading, Philippians 2.5-11
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God
Officiant. Keep us as the apple of an eye;
Answer. Hide us under the shadow of your wings.
ANTHEM
Preserve us, O Lord, waking,
and guard us sleeping, that awake we may watch with Christ,
and asleep we may rest in peace.
NUNC DIMITTIS
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant de’part in ‘ peace,
*ac’cording ‘ to thy ‘word.
For mine eyes have ‘ seen thy sal’vation,
*which thou hast prepared be’fore the ‘ face of all people;
To be a light to ‘ lighten the ‘ Gentiles,
*and to be the ‘ glory of thy ‘ people ‘ Israel.
Glory be to the Father, and ‘ to the ‘ Son,
*and ‘ to the ‘ Holy ‘ Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ‘ ever ‘ shall be,
*world without ‘ end. ‘ A-’men.
Officiant. Let us pray as our Saviour Christ has taught us:
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 them that trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil. Amen.
Officiant. Blessed art thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven;
Answer. To be praised and glorified above all for ever.
Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O God; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Organ Fanfare
Officiant: I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day a Saviour, Christ the Lord!
Hymn: O Come All Ye Faithful, CP 118: verses 1 – 4
Hymn: O Come All Ye Faithful, CP-118: verse 5
The Homily Walter Stewart
Officiant: Let pray, we say together:
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 for ever.
Christmas Anthem
Officiant: Let us pray as we say together:
O God our Father, whose Word has come among us in the Holy Child of Bethlehem, may the light of faith illumine our hearts and shine in our words and deeds; through him who is Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever, Amen
The Grace of Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit Be With Us All Evermore, Amen.
Closing Hymn: Love Came Down at Christmas, CP-131
Postlude: Polish Lullaby Carol by Edwin Arthur Kraft