Christmas Eve/Day
And the Word became flesh and lived among us,
... full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (NRSV)
... full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (NRSV)
MEDITATIVE READING (The Odes of Solomon 41)
The child of the Most High appeared In the fullness of the Father. And light shone from the word That was in him before he existed. The Anointed One is one with Truth, And he was known before the foundations of the generation, So that he might give life to people forever in the Truth of his name. A new hymn to the Lord from those who love him. Halleluiah.
The child of the Most High appeared In the fullness of the Father. And light shone from the word That was in him before he existed. The Anointed One is one with Truth, And he was known before the foundations of the generation, So that he might give life to people forever in the Truth of his name. A new hymn to the Lord from those who love him. Halleluiah.
CALL TO WORSHIP (The Odes of Solomon 41)
Leader: Let all to whom the Lord has given birth proclaim him,
People: And let us receive the Truth of his faith.
Leader: And let his children be known to him,
People: So that we may sing with his love.
Leader: Let us worship God!
People: And let us receive the Truth of his faith.
Leader: And let his children be known to him,
People: So that we may sing with his love.
Leader: Let us worship God!
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (from Common Worship: Times and Seasons; (c) The Archbishop's Council)
Leader: God our Loving Parent, you sent your
Son full of grace and truth:
forgive our failure to receive him. Lord,
have mercy.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Leader: Jesus our Savior, you were born in
poverty & laid in a manger: forgive our greed and rejection of your ways. Christ,
have mercy.
People: Christ, have mercy.
Leader: Spirit of Love, your servant Mary
responded joyfully to your call: forgive the hardness of our hearts. Lord, have mercy.
People: Lord, have mercy.
(silent prayer)
Leader: May God, whose glory shone in the face of Jesus, shine in our hearts with the promise of forgiveness.
ALL: This is the good news of the Gospel: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen.
ALL: This is the good news of the Gospel: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION (from The Odes of Solomon 8)
God, may we hear the word of truth, and receive the knowledge of the Most High. Our flesh may not understand that which we are about to hear; nor our garment that which we are about to be shown. May we keep the mystery, we who are kept by it; keep the faith, we who are kept by it. And may we understand the knowledge, we who know God in truth; love God with affection, we who love. Amen.
