Opening Hymn | O Come, All Ye Faithful

C. Frederick Oakeley | John Francis Wade | William Henry Monk
© Words & Music: Public Domain

CCLI Song # 4758525 | License # 3056976

The Invitatory

OPENING SENTENCE OF SCRIPTURE

Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.
He will dwell with them,
and they will be his people,
and God himself will be with them as their God.

REVELATION 21:3

CONFESSION OF SIN

Let us humbly confess our sins to Almighty God.

Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and apart from your grace, there is no health in us.

O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare all those who confess their faults. Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord; And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.

Grant your faithful people, merciful Lord, pardon and peace; that we may be cleansed from all our sins, and serve you with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE PASSING OF THE PEACE

The peace of the Lord be always with you;
And with your spirit.

Praise the Lord.
The Lord’s name be praised.

Psalm 96 (New Coverdale Psalter)

O sing unto the Lord a new song;
sing unto the Lord, all the whole earth.
Sing unto the Lord and praise his Name; 
tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his honour to the nations,
and his wonders to all peoples.

For the Lord is great, and highly to be praised; 
he is more to be feared than all gods.
As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols;  
but it is the Lord who made the heavens.
Glory and majesty are before him;
power and honor are in his sanctuary.

Ascribe unto the Lord, O you families of the peoples, 
ascribe unto the Lord worship and power.
Ascribe unto the Lord the honour due unto his Name; 
bring offerings and come into his courts.

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; 
let the whole earth stand in awe of him.
Tell it out among the nations, “The Lord is King; 
it is he who has made the world so firm that it cannot be moved; 
he shall judge the peoples righteously.”

Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; 
let the sea make a noise, and all that is therein.
Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it; 
then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord.
For he comes, for he comes to judge the earth, 
and with righteousness to judge the world,
and the peoples with his truth.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The First Lesson

The gloom will be dispelled for those who were anxious.

In earlier times he humiliated
the land of Zebulun,
and the land of Naphtali;
but now he brings honour
to the way of the sea,
the region beyond the Jordan,
and Galilee of the nations.

The people walking in darkness
see a bright light;
light shines on those who live in a land of deep darkness.
You have enlarged the nation;
you give them great joy.
They rejoice in your presence
as harvesters rejoice;
as warriors celebrate when they divide up the plunder.
For their oppressive yoke
and the club that strikes their shoulders,
the cudgel the oppressor uses on them,
you have shattered, as in the day of Midian’s defeat.
Indeed every boot that marches and shakes the earth
and every garment dragged through blood
is used as fuel for the fire.

For a child has been born to us,
a son has been given to us.
He shoulders responsibility and is called
Extraordinary Strategist,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.

His dominion will be vast,
and he will bring immeasurable prosperity.
He will rule on David’s throne
and over David’s kingdom,
establishing it and strengthening it
by promoting justice and fairness,
from this time forward and forevermore.

The Lord’s intense devotion to his people will accomplish this.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

The Magnificat | Mary’s Song (Silent Night)

O my soul
Magnifies the Lord, my God
For He has done great things for me
My spirit sings his praise

(REPEAT)

O holy night
The stars are brightly shining down
Upon this humble stable bed
The promised Saviour lives

Silent night, Holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin, mother and child
Holy infant, so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Seth Primm | Kyra Pantall | © 2017 Fellowship Worship (ASCAP)

CCLI License # 3056976

The Second Lesson

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

This I Believe (The Creed)

Our Father everlasting,
The all creating One God Almighty
Through Your Holy Spirit,
Conceiving Christ the Son
Jesus our Savior

I believe in God our Father
I believe in Christ the Son
I believe in the Holy Spirit
Our God is three in one
I believe in the resurrection
That we will rise again
For I believe in the name of Jesus

Our Judge and our Defender,
Suffered and crucified
Forgiveness is in You
Descended into darkness,
You rose in glorious life
Forever seated high

Ben Fielding & Matt Crocker | Videography: Michael Charlson | Mixed by: Jared Fox Mastered by: Drew Lavyne
© 2014 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI Song # 7018338 | License # 3056976

Prayers & Collects

The Lord be with you; 
And with your spirit.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your Name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And 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 forever. Amen.

O Lord, show Your mercy upon us;
And grant us Your salvation.
O Lord, guide those who govern us;
And lead us in the way of justice and truth.
Clothe your ministers with righteousness;
And make Your chosen people joyful.
O Lord, save Your people;
And bless Your inheritance.
Give peace in our time, O Lord;
And defend us by your mighty power.
Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
And take not your Holy Spirit from us.

The Collect for Christmas

Almighty God, you who have given us your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born of a pure Virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.

THE SECOND COLLECT, FOR PEACE

O God, the source of all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works: Give to your servants that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey your commandments, and that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may pass our time in rest and quietness, through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. 

THE THIRD COLLECT, FOR AID AGAINST ALL PERILS

Lighten our darkness, we beseech you, O Lord; and by your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Gospel Lesson | Luke 2:1-20 (NKJV)

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke, Chapter 2, beginning at the first verse.
Glory to you, O Lord.

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

This is the Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, O Christ.

The Sermon

Offertory Hymn | Mary, Did You Know?

OFFERINGS

You can send in your Offerings either by mail or Interac e-Transfer.
Please refer to our weekly e-mail Parish Bulletin for detailed instructions.

THE DOXOLOGY

Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise him all creatures here below,
Praise him above ye heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost!

Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Concluding Prayers

A PRAYER OF GENERAL THANKSGIVING

Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. 

And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives by giving up ourselves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honour and glory throughout all ages. Amen.

A PRAYER OF SAINT CHRYSOSTOM

Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.

THE GRACE

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, 
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.

2 CORINTHIANS 13:14

Closing Hymn | O Holy Night

Benediction

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

ROMANS 15:13