Christmas Day Liturgy

All God’s people – Boys and girls, women, men:

Come & Worship!

Shepherds, Magi, saints, and Angels:

Come & Worship! Come & Worship!

All who need the Savior, all who long for comfort:

Come & Worship, come & worship Christ, the newborn King!

Everlasting God, your Son is the light of the world.

Your Son is the way, the truth, and the life.

Lead us by your light and truth.

Looking for Jesus, let us find him.

Looked for by Jesus, we are found first.

Amen.

Be near us, Lord Jesus, we ask you to stay close by us forever and love us, we pray.

Immanuel, we invite you to draw near and dwell with us.

Surround us with your tender, caring presence,

That what we say and do in worship

Might prepare us to live forever with you in heaven.

In your powerful name we pray.

Amen.

Today, we celebrate that Jesus, our Lord,

Came to earth as a human, just like us but without sin.

He came so that we who sin may be freed from sin.

With the peace that comes from knowing Jesus came,

Let us confess our sins and be forgiven.

 

Time of silence

I bring to you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord – Luke 2:10-11, NIV

To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. – John 1:12, NIV

Incarnate God, with the angels we sing and glorify your name, thankful for all that you have given us:

For your presence in the world…

For our nation…

For our community and its leaders…

For the witness of your church celebrating around the world…

But today we are especially grateful for the gift of your Son, who gave up his heavenly home for a manger and a cross so that we might experience redemption, a gift that neither spoils nor fades.

With the angels we also desire peace on earth, a peace that is broader and deeper than the end of war. We pray for the restoration of this world, for the growth of your kingdom, for reconciliation, healing, and renewal. We bring before you our prayers for

The nations of the world, especially…

Our nation and those in authority…

Our community and those who govern it…

The church universal, its mission, and those who minister…

The local congregation and its ministry, especially…

Those with particular needs on this holy day…

Make your incarnate presence known in each situation, and may we as your servants be vessels of your peace.

We pray this in the name of the one who became flesh and dwelt among us, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehemin Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.”

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Go now into the world, carrying Christmas with you into everyday life. Open the inn within you and make room for that gift of gifts, even our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

The joy of angels,

The eagerness of the shepherds,The perseverance of the Magi, The obedience of Joseph and Mary, And the peace of the Christ child be yours this Christmas. And the blessing of God almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Be upon you and remain with you always.

Amen.