Christmas 1

GOD WELCOMES US

Alleluia! Christ has appeared to us.

Come, let us worship him. Alleluia!In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,

Amen

We sing a hymn/song

We pray Psalm 148

Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host!

The glory of the Lord is above earth and heaven

Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created. He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.

The glory of the Lord is above earth and heaven

Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!

Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and women alike, old and young together!

The glory of the Lord is above earth and heaven

Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven. He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the LORD!

The glory of the Lord is above earth and heaven

We pray

The Lord be with you

And also with you.Let us pray that through Jesus we share in God's nature.

Almighty and merciful God, we thank you for sending your Son to become human like us, so that we might become your children. Make us who trust in Jesus to be more and more like him. For he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

GOD SPEAKS TO US Old Testament Reading – Isaiah 63:7-9

(after the reading)This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God

Epistle Reading - Hebrews 2:10-18

(after the reading)This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to GodAlleluia! God's word through the prophet has been fulfilled,

'Out of Egypt I have called my son.' Alleluia!

Gospel Reading – Matthew 2:13-23

(after the gospel)This is the gospel of the Lord

Praise be to you, O Christ Lord Jesus, thank you for becoming a human being and living among danger and hardship for us. Be with us in all our troubles.

Amen.

We sing a hymn/song

We listen to the address

We confess our faith

I believe in God, the Father almighty,maker of heaven and earth.And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried.

He descended into hell.The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father almighty, from thence he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* church,the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

* ‘catholic’ here meaning 'universal'

GOD RECEIVES OUR OFFERING We sing a hymn/song as our offering is received

Let us pray.

Heavenly Father,you are the giver of all good gifts.In this season of giving,we offer you these gifts as we thank you for the greatest gift of all, your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.Amen.

We pray for ourselves and the world

Prayer response:

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yoursnow and forever. Amen.

Let us praise the Lord.Thanks be to God. May God the Father show us the light of his glory in the face of his Son, so that we shine as a light in the world. And the blessing of almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with us always.

Amen.

We sing a hymn/song