TWELVE READINGS OR LESSONS FOR USE IN CHRISTMAS MASSES, WORSHIP SERVICES, CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT, CHORAL SERVICES, PRAYER AND BIBLE STUDIES [PART TWO ]

 

HERE FIND READINGS NINE TO TWELVE, CONTINUING ON FROM THE PREVIOUS BLOG POST AT http://churchinterfaith.blogspot.ie/2015/12/twelve-readings-or-lessons-for-use-in.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

NINTH LESSON; Reading from the Gospel of St Luke, Chapter 2, verses 1 to 7

 

St Luke tells of the Birth of Jesus

 

 

 

 

¹ And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

² (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
³ And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
⁵ To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
⁶ And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

 

 

 

 

 

TENTH LESSON; Reading from the Gospel of St Luke, Chapter 2, verses 8 to 19

 

The shepherds go to the manger

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
¹⁵ And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
¹⁶ And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
¹⁷ And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
¹⁸ And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

 

ELEVENTH LESSON; Reading from the Gospel of St Matthew, Chapter 2, verses 1 to 12

 

The Wise Men are led by the star to Jesus

 

¹After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem ² 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 Bethlehem in 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.

 

The Congregation shall stand for the last lesson

 

 

TWELFTH LESSON; Reading from the Gospel of St John, Chapter 1, verses 1 to 14

 

St John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation

 

 

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. ⁸ He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

⁹ The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

 

 

 

 

At the end of the readings;

Priest; 'The Lord be with you'

Congregation answers; 'And also with you'

Priest; 'Let us pray'

 

ALL KNEEL.

 

THE PRAYER FOR CHRISTMAS EVE

 

O GOD, Who gladdens us with the yearly remembrance of the Birth of Your only Son, Jesus Christ; Grant that as we joyfully receive Him as our Redeemer, so we may confidently behold Him, when He shall come to be our Judge: Who lives and reigns with You forever, Amen.

 

Or

THE PRAYER FOR CHRISTMAS DAY

 

ALMIGHTY GOD, Who has given us Your only -begotten Son to take our nature upon Himself, and as at this time to be born of a Virgin: Grant that we being regenerate, and Your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by Your Holy Spirit. This we ask through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who lives and reigns with You and the same Spirit, ever one GOD, world without end, Amen.

 

THE BLESSING

MAY HE Who by His Incarnation gathered into one all that is earthly and heavenly, fill you with the sweetness of inward peace and goodwill; and the blessing of Almighty GOD, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.

 

So ends the Service.