Thank you for joining us as we celebrate Christmas Midnight Mass
Here you can find resources for our Sunday liturgy to pray at home or wherever you are
Preparation
Hymn – O little town of Bethlehem
1. O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light,
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.
2. O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earth
For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
3. How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.
4. O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel.
Words: Phillips Brooks
Opening
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Collect for Purity
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Gloria
- Glory in the highest to the God of heaven;
Peace to all your people through the earth be given.
Mighty God and Father, thanks and praise we bring,
Singing Alleluia to our heavenly king.
- Jesus Christ is risen, God the Father’s Son;
With the Holy Spirit, you are Lord alone.
Lamb once killed for sinners, all our guilt to bear,
Show us now your mercy, now receive our prayer.
- Christ the world’s true Saviour, high and holy one,
Seated now and reigning from your Father’s throne:
Lord and God, we praise you! Highest heaven adores:
In the Father’s glory, all the praise be yours!
Words: Christopher Idle
© Christopher Idle / Jubilate Hymns
CCLI Licence # 237731
The Collect
O God,
you have made this most holy night
grow radiant with the brilliance of the true Light:
grant that, as we have known the mystery of that Light on earth,
so we may delight in him in heaven;
through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, world without end.
Amen.
The Liturgy of the Word
You can find the texts of the readings on the pew sheet
First reading: Isaiah 52.7-10 (Nick Morris)
Psalm 98
(please say the psalm, pausing shortly at the asterisk *)
Refrain:
All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Refrain: All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Second reading: Hebrews 1.1-4 (Nick Morris) 000
Gospel acclamation – Celtic Alleluia
Gospel reading: John 1.1-14 (The Rector)
Sermon (The Rector)
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father, the almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God, begotten, not made,
of one substance with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven;
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord,
the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father.
With the Father and the Son, he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism
for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
Intercessions – set prayers for Christmas Eve
The Liturgy of the Sacrament
In church, the service continues with the Eucharistic Prayer, the Breaking of Bread and Communion
The Lord's Prayer
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.
Do not bring us to the time of trial
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
Thanksgiving and Sending Out
A Blessing is pronounced
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.
Thank you for joining us for worship from Holy Trinity Church, Stirling
as we celebrate Christmas Midnight Mass
THIS WEEK
Friday 25th December
CHRISTMAS DAY
10.30 a.m. Holy Communion
Sunday 27th December
CHRISTMAS 1
10.30 a.m. Holy Communion
In order to get an idea of numbers and to make sure that no one will need to be turned away at the church door, it will be necessary to sign up for the services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in advance.
Please let the Rector know if you are planning to attend services at Christmas:
- email rector@holytrinitystirling.org
- phone 01786 359821
- text 07522 837624
Many thanks!
We will need to clean the church in preparation for each of these services in order to comply with our guidelines and to make sure that people are safe worshipping at HT.
Extra cleaners will be needed for this: please email Rachel Campbell if you should be able to help.
