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Christmas EveThe First Service of Christmas CENTERING IN PREPARATION OPENING WORDS Beloved in Christ, with delight we prepare ourselves to hear again the message of the angels, and go in heart and mind to Bethlehem to see Mary and Joseph with Jesus in a manger. Let us listen to the story of God’s saving acts and celebrate the birth of this Holy Child. And let us make these hallowed walls reverberate with the glad tidings of great joy which is to all the people. CAROL—Angels From The Realms Of Glory: [Click Here For Music] PRAYER Loving God, Almighty and Immortal One, Holy is Your Name. You have brought us through another year unto this blessed night. KINDLING THE CHRIST CANDLE
 PRAYER Holy Word whom is with God since the beginning. Holy Word through which creation came to be. Holy Word who is God. Speak to us on this night of splendor that we with angels and shepherds may rejoice in the good news singing glory to You in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill to all. Speak, O God, your servant listens. A READING Isaiah 9
The people walking in darkness are seeing a brilliant light—upon those who dwell in a land of deep shadows light is shining! For a child is born to us, an heir is given us, upon whose shoulders dominion will rest. This One shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the Almighty of God, Eternal Guardian and Protector, Sovereign of Peace. This dominion, and this peace,will grow without end, with David’s throne and realmsustained with justice and fairness, now and forever.
The zeal of YHWH Omnipotent will accomplish it!” —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. CAROL—Of The Father's Love Begotten: [Click Here For Music]
PSALMODY Psalm 96
Sing to YHWH a new song! Sing to YHWH, all the earth! Sing to YHWH, bless God’s Name! Proclaim God’s salvation day after day; declare God’s glory among the nations, God’s marvels to every people. YHWH is great, most worthy of praise, YHWH is to be revered above all gods. The gods of the nations are nothing, they don’t exist—but YHWH created the universe. In God’s presence are splendor and majesty, in God’s sanctuary power and beauty. Pay tribute to YHWH, you tribes of the people; pay tribute to the God of glory and power. Pay tribute to the glorious Name of YHWH; bring out the offering, and carry it into God’s courts. Worship YHWH, majestic in holiness; tremble in God’s presence, all the earth! Say among the nations, YHWH reigns supreme!” The world stands firm and unshakable: YHWH will judge each nation with strict justice. Let the heavens be glad; let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar and all that it holds! Let the fields exult and all that is in them! Let all the trees of the forest sing for joy at the presence of YHWH, for God is coming. God is coming to rule the earth—to rule the world with justice and its peoples with truth!
—Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. CAROL—Christmas Canon: [Click Here For Music] A READING Hebrews 1. 1-12
In times past God spoke in fragmentary and varied ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these final days, God has spoken to us through the Only Begotten, who has been made heir of all things and through whom the universe was first created. Christ is the reflection of God’s glory, the exact representation of God’s being; all things are sustained by God’s powerful Word. Having cleansed us from our sins, Jesus Christ sat down at the right hand of the Glory of heaven—as far superior to the angels as the name Christ has inherited is superior to theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Own; today I have begotten you,” or, “I will be your parent, and you will be my child,” or, as when God said upon bringing the Firstborn into the world, “Let all the angels of God worship you”? Of the angels God says, “I make the angels winds,my servants flames of fire.” But to the Only Begotten, God says, “Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of your reign. You love justice as much as you hate wickedness; therefore, God, your God, has set you above your companions and anointed you
with the oil of gladness”; and, “In the beginning, O God, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a cloak, and like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years never end.”
—Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. PSALMODY Psalm 97
YHWH reigns! Let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad! Clouds and thick darkness surround you, YHWH; righteousness and justice are the foundation of your judgment seat. Fire goes before you and destroys your enemies on every side. Your lightning bolts light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax at your sight, at the sight of the God of all the earth. The heavens proclaim your justice, and all the peoples see your glory. All who worship images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; all gods bow down before you. Zion hears and is glad, and the women of Judah rejoice because of your judgments, YHWH. For you, YHWH, are Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. YHWH, you love those who hate evil; preserve the lives of your faithful ones and deliver them from the hands of the wicked. Light dawns for the just, and joy for the upright in heart. Rejoice in YHWH, you just, and give praise to God’s holy Name!
—Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. CAROL—The Holy And The Ivy: [Click Here For Music] A READING Luke 2. 1-14
In those days, Caesar Augustus published a decree ordering a census of the whole Roman world. This first census took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All the people were instructed to go back to the towns of their birth to register. And so Joseph went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to “the city of David”—Bethlehem, in Judea, because Joseph was of the house and lineage of David; he went to register with Mary, his espoused wife, who was pregnant.
While they were there, the time came for her delivery. She gave birth to her firstborn, a son; she put him in a simple cloth wrapped like a receiving blanket, and laid him in a feeding trough for cattle, because there was no room for them at the inn.
There were shepherds in the area living in the fields and keeping night watch by turns over their flock. The angel of God appeared to them, and the glory of God shone around them; they were very much afraid. The angel said to them, “You have nothing to fear! I come to proclaim good news to you—news of a great joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in David’s city, a savior—the Messiah—has been born to you. Let this be a sign to you: you’ll find an infant wrapped in a simple cloth, lying in a manger.” CAROL—Joy To the World: [Click Here For Music] Suddenly, there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in high heaven! And on earth, peace to those on whom God’s favor rests.”
When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see this event that God has made known to us.”
They hurried and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger;
once they saw this, they reported what they had been told concerning the child. All who heard about it were astonished at the report given by the shepherds.
Mary treasured all these things and reflected on them in her heart. The shepherds went away glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as they had been told.
—Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. PSALMODY Psalm 98
Sing a new song to YHWH, who has worked wonders, whose right hand and holy arm have brought deliverance! YHWH has made salvation known and shown divine justice to the nations, and has remembered in truth and love the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout to the Most High, all the earth, break into joyous songs of praise! Sing praise to YHWH with the harp, with the harp and melodious singing! With trumpets and the blast of the shofar, raise a shout to YHWH, Ruler of All. Let the sea and all within it thunder; the world and all its peoples. Let the rivers clap their hands and the hills ring out their joy before YHWH, who comes to judge the earth, who will rule the world with justice and its peoples with equity.
—Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. CAROL—Sussex Carol: [Click Here For Music] A READING John 1. 1-5, 9 In the beginning there was the Word; the Word was in God’s presence, and the Word was God. The Word was present to God from the beginning. Through the Word all things came into being, and apart from the Word nothing came into being that has come into being. In the Word was life, and that life was humanity’s light—a Light that shines in the darkness, a Light that the darkness has never overtaken. The Word was coming into the world—was in the world— and though the world was made through the Word, the world didn’t recognize it. Though the Word came to its own realm, the Word’s own people didn’t accept it. Yet any who did accept the Word, who believed in that Name, were empowered to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor urge of flesh nor human will—but born of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt with us; we saw the Word’s glory— the favor and position a parent gives an only child—filled with grace, filled with truth. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. CAROL—O Come, All Ye Faithful (arr.): [Click Here For Music] PRAYER OF INTERCESSION—Joe Milner (adapted) For the Church: that Christ may be born in our hearts so that we may bring God’s love and hope to all whom we encounter . . . SilenceFor the gift of light: that God will enlighten the lives of all who are searching and help them recognize the path of life and meaning in Christ . . . Silence For an outpouring of God's favor in our time: that God will rekindle of a childlike spirit of wonder, awe, and openness to all the gifts that God extends to us . . . Silence For a spirit of gratitude: that our minds and hearts may recognize and appreciate all that God has done for us . . . Silence For a greater awareness of our identity: that we may recognize our call to be children of God and manifest God’s love and compassion in our lives . . . Silence For all peoples on the earth: that God’s incarnate presence with us will bring forth peace and goodwill; reconciliation and forgiveness; and an end to violence and terrorism . . . Silence For healing for the human family: that God who became human may help us recognize the dignity of each person who was made in the image and likeness of God . . . Silence For all who are recovering from natural disasters, who have lost homes or employment, or who have fled violence: that the coming of Christ may renew their hope, strengthen their spirits, and help them rebuild their lives . . . Silence For all who are pregnant: that they have all the resources and support to make the best of choices for all who are involved, that all involved be accepting of responsibilty, that medical care be provided and the pregnancy be cared for safely . . . Silence For all who are parents: that they may recognize the gift of God that they hold and faithfully nurture their child whom God has entrusted to them . . . Silence For healing of all fear: that the angel's message, Fear Not, may free all the human family and each of us from the bonds of fear and propel us to live boldly . . . Silence For all who have no gifts this night, particularly children: that they may experience being loved this day and strengthen by the gift of friendship . . . Silence For all who are ill: that God will relieve their pain, restore them to their loved ones, and protect the human family from the Covid virus . . . Silence For all who are traveling or away from home this night (day), particularly missionaries and members of the military: that God will guide their movements, preserve them in love, and bring them home safely . . . Silence For peace in Bethlehem, the West Bank, and Israel: that God will open new communication and understanding between all who live in the Holy Land . . . Silence Almighty God, who brings gladness to our hearts and inspiration to our minds in this season of Christmas, hear our prayers and shed your love abroad that all would know the joyous news of Jesus' birth . . . SilenceTo your honor and glory, now and forevermore. Amen. CAROL—O Holy Night: [Click Here For Music] GOING FORTH; We go in peace to love God and love all people, and may the Spirit of Christmas live in each heart, now and forever. Amen. |
WORSHIP IN INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE AND PROGRESSIVE THOUGHT
THE NATIVITY OF THE CHRIST—CHRISTMAS EVE
WHY A BLOG?
As a clergyperson with a disability now retired, this is my humble attempt to provide a ministry that some will find helpful. I have always focused on be inclusive and have struggled with the church's tradition of referring to God and humankind with masculine names and pronouns. Since the 1970's, thanks to my dear sister-in-law, I have been aware of the discrimination of women and have worked in the parish and community for equal rights with an equity of access to the resources that add blessing to life. I hope this site is of meaning to those who read it and worship with me and others within it. Peace.