Christmas Eve 2021
St. Paul’s Church, Charlottetown, PEI – ONLINE
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Reveal among us the light of your presence
that we may behold your power and glory.
Blessed be God for ever.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with you all.
And also with you.
May all the earth be filled with his glory.
Light has sprung up for the righteous,
And joyful gladness for those who are true-hearted.
Glory to God in the highest,
And peace to his people on earth.
The Advent Wreath:
Let us pray in the peace of this Christmas celebration that our joy in the birth of Christ will last for ever.
Eternal God, who made this most holy night to shine with the brightness of your one true light: bring us, who have known the revelation of that light on earth, to see the radiance of your heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Let us pray,
Almighty God, you wonderfully created and yet more wonderfully restored our human nature. May we share the divine life of your Son Jesus Christ, who humbled himself to share our humanity, and now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
A Reading From The Book Of Isaiah
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns." Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices, together they sing for joy; for in plain sight they see the return of the Lord to Zion. Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. (52:7-10)
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvellous things. With his right hand and his holy arm has he won for himself the victory.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
The Lord has made known his victory; his righteousness has he openly shown in the sight of the nations. He remembers his mercy and faithfulness to the house of Israel, and all the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Shout with joy to the Lord, all you lands; lift up your voice, rejoice, and sing. Sing to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the voice of song.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn shout with joy before the King, the Lord. Let the sea make a noise and all that is in it, the lands and those who dwell therein.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Let the rivers clap their hands, and let the hills ring out with joy before the Lord, when he comes to judge the earth. In righteousness shall he judge the world and the peoples with equity.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you"? Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." Of the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire." But of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous sceptre is the sceptre of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions." And, "In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like clothing; like a cloak you will roll them up, and like clothing they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will never end." (1:1-12)
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Hymn 121: O Little Town of Bethlehem
We join together at this holy time to praise God, the creator and maker of all saying, “Hear our prayer.”
Hear our prayer.
Hear our prayer.
We give thanks that Magi, wise people from the east, came to worship the One born in time, the timeless Son of God, God with us, God with everyone. We are grateful, O God, that your people everywhere are blessed with the spirit of love; that we may worship fully and without fear. God of love.
Hear our prayer.
We give thanks for the Holy Family, for Joseph and Mary, who lived as refugees in a time of great cruelty and hardship, and we ask you to look with mercy on all who are poor, powerless and who suffer. We are grateful, O God, that this extraordinary story of a birth, so long ago, fills us with hope and courage to do your will in this world. God of love.
Hear our prayer.
O God, grant an abundance of peace to your world; we pray for all your creatures, of land and sea and air; we pray for streams, rivers and oceans; we give thanks for all of creation; we pray for people of every nation, race and language. God of love.
Hear our prayer.
O God, we pray for those who are without a home; without food or water; we pray for refugees and those who are persecuted for their beliefs. We seek your protection, for families and this community; we pray for those who are suffering from Covid-19; for health care providers; for those we miss because of travel restrictions; for those who work and who are on duty this evening (for emergency workers, doctors and nurses, ambulance attendants, fire fighters, and forces personnel). God of love.
Hear our prayer.
We pray for those in particular need; for the sick and the suffering, especially those who are dear to us. Rejoicing in the fellowship we share – we pray for the faithful departed, (especially for:
Hear our prayer.
O God, your love was so great for us that you gave us your Son to be born in the world and to shine in our darkness. Help us to make your light and love known in all the world, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
to dispel the darkness of our hearts.
Let us turn to the light and confess our sins.
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 neighbours 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 may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.
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.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you.
Rejoicing in the presence of God here among us,
as our Saviour taught us, so we pray
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. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.
Hymn 119: Silent Night
May the Lord, when he comes,
find us watching and waiting. Amen.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.
have seen a great light.
For to us a child is born
to us a Son is given.
His name will be called
Wonderful counsellor, mighty God,
the everlasting Father,
the Prince of Peace.
Glory to God in the highest
and peace to God’s people on earth.
The Blessing
May the God of infinite goodness
scatter the darkness of sin
and brighten your hearts with holiness;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Hymn 154: Joy to the World
The Scattering (Mark 4:20)
Proclaim the birth of the Saviour.
Glory, thanks and praise to God. Alleluia!
