25th December 2021
Here you can find resources for our liturgy to pray at home or wherever you are.
The readings for today and some of the prayers of our liturgy are on the downloadable pew sheet.
Downloads (PDF)
Preparation
Hymn – O come, all ye faithful
1. O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem;
come and behold him, born the King of angels;
Refrain:
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
2. God of God, Light of Light,
lo, he abhors not the virgin’s womb;
very God, begotten not created:
3. See how the shepherds,
summoned to his cradle,
leaving their flocks, draw nigh with lowly fear;
we too will thither bend our joyful footsteps;
4. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;
glory to God, glory in the highest:
Words (attributed to): John Francis Wade;
Translator: Frederick Oakeley (1841; alt)
virtual recording by Stirling University Choir
Opening
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 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.
Confession and Absolution
God is love and we are God’s children, there is no room for fear in love.
We love because God loved us first.
Let us confess our sins in penitence and faith.
silence
God our Father,
we confess to you
and to our fellow members in the Body of Christ
that we have sinned in thought, word and deed,
and in what we have failed to do.
We are truly sorry.
Forgive us our sins,
and deliver us from the power of evil.
For the sake of your Son who died for us,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
God, who is both power and love,
forgive us and free us from our sins,
heal and strengthen us by the Holy Spirit
and raise us to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen.
Gloria reflection – Johann Gottfried Walther: Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr
Collect
O God our Father,
the light of whose Word has come among us in the Holy Child of Bethlehem:
grant that the radiance of that true light, which enlightens our minds by faith,
may shine brightly through our words and deeds;
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
First reading: Isaiah 9.2-7 (read by Cathy Johnston)
Second reading: Titus 2.11-14 (read by Cathy Johnston)
Gospel acclamation – Celtic Alleluia
Gospel: Luke 2.1-20 (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 human.
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 (The Revd Val Nellist)
The Peace
We meet in Christ’s name.
Let us share his peace.
The Liturgy of the Sacrament
In church we continue with the Liturgy of the Sacrament
Reflection – Helmut Walcha: Chorale Prelude on ‘Den die Hirten lobten sehre’
Offertory Prayer
Let us present our offerings to the Lord.
Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory,
the splendour and the majesty;
for everything in heaven and on earth is yours.
All things come from you, and of your own we give you.
Eucharistic Prayer
The Breaking of the Bread
The Lord’s Prayer
Please join in the prayer Jesus himself taught us:
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
The Blessing
Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon us
and scatter the darkness from before our path;
and may the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among us and remain with us always. Amen.
The Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.
Organ Postlude – Johannes Brahms: Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen
THIS WEEK
Sunday 26th December
CHRISTMAS 1
- 10.30 am Sung Eucharist
Sunday 2nd January
CHRISTMAS 2
- 10.30 am Sung Eucharist
Thursday 6th January
EPIPHANY
- 6.30 pm Sung Eucharist
Sunday 9th January
BAPTISM OF CHRIST
- 10.30 am Sung Eucharist
- 6.30 pm Epiphany Carol Service
online resources will be available on this website