Christmas Eve
24th December 1384
Daily Prayer (Morning)
Preparation
A Sentence of Scripture
The righteous will be remembered for ever; the memory of the righteous is a blessing. Psalm 112: 6, Proverbs 10: 7
Versicles and Responses
O Lord, open our lips
All and our mouth will proclaim your praise.
O God, make speed to save us.
All O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
All as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
Praise the Lord.
All The Lord’s name be praised.
The Word of God
A Psalm
Psalm 45
1My heart is astir with | gracious | words; ■
as I make my song for the king, my tongue is the | pen•of a | ready | writer.
2You are the | fairest of | men; ■
full of grace are your lips, for | God has | blest you for | ever.
3Gird your sword upon your | thigh, O | mighty one; ■
gird on your | majes | ty and | glory.
4Ride on and prosper in the | cause of | truth ■
and for the sake of hu | mili|ty and | righteousness.
5Your right hand will teach you | terrible | things; ■
your arrows will be sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies, so that | peoples | fall be | neath you.
6Your throne is | God’s throne, for | ever; ■
the sceptre of your | kingdom•is the | sceptre of | righteousness.
7You love righteousness and | hate in | iquity; ■
therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of | gladness a | bove your | fellows.
8All your garments are fragrant with myrrh, | aloes and | cassia; ■
from ivory palaces the music of | strings | makes you | glad.
9Kings’ daughters are among your | honourable | women; ■
at your right hand stands the | queen in | gold of | Ophir.
10Hear, O daughter; consider and in | cline your | ear; ■
forget your own people | and your | father’s | house.
11So shall the king have | pleasure•in your | beauty; ■
he is your | lord, so | do him | honour.
12The people of Tyre shall | bring you | gifts; ■
the richest of the | people shall | seek your | favour.
13The king’s daughter is all | glorious with | in; ■
her clothing is em | broidered | cloth of | gold.
14She shall be brought to the king in | raiment of | needlework; ■
after her the | virgins•that are | her com | panions.
15With joy and gladness shall | they be | brought ■
and enter into the | palace | of the | king.
16‘Instead of your fathers | you shall have | sons, ■
whom you shall make princes | over | all the | land.
17‘I will make your name to be remembered through | all•gene | rations; ■
therefore shall the peoples | praise you for | ever and | ever.’
Psalm 46
1God is our | refuge and | strength, ■
a very | present | help in | trouble;
2Therefore we will not fear, though the | earth be | moved, ■
and though the mountains | tremble•in the | heart of the | sea;
3Though the waters | rage and | swell, ■
and though the mountains | quake•at the | towering | seas.
4There is a river whose streams make glad the | city of | God, ■
the holy place of the | dwelling•of the | Most | High.
5God is in the midst of her; therefore shall she | not be re | moved; ■
God shall | help her•at the | break of | day.
6The nations are in uproar and the | kingdoms are | shaken, ■
but God utters his voice and the | earth shall | melt a | way.
7The Lord of | hosts is | with us; ■
the God of | Jacob | is our | stronghold.
8Come and behold the | works•of the | Lord, ■
what destruction he has | wrought up | on the | earth.
9He makes wars to cease in | all the | world; ■
he shatters the bow and snaps the spear and burns the | chariots | in the | fire.
10‘Be still, and know that | I am | God; ■
I will be exalted among the nations; I will be ex | alted | in the | earth.’
11The Lord of | hosts is | with us; ■
the God of | Jacob | is our | stronghold.
A Canticle
Which may be said here or between the readings
Saviour of the World
1 Jesus, Saviour of the world,
come to us in your mercy:
we look to you to save and help us.
2 By your cross and your life laid down
you set your people free:
we look to you to save and help us.
3 When they were ready to perish you saved your disciples:
we look to you to come to our help.
4 In the greatness of your mercy, loose us from our chains,
forgive the sins of all your people.
5? Make yourself known as our Saviour and mighty Deliverer;
save and help us that we may praise you.
6 Come now and dwell with us Lord Christ Jesus:
hear our prayer and be with us always.
7 And when you come in your glory:
make us to be one with you
and to share the life of your kingdom. Amen.
One or two readings
The Gospel Canticle
Benedictus
1 Blessèd be the Lord the God of Israel,
who has come to his people and set them free.
2 The Lord has raised up for us a mighty saviour,
born of the house of his servant David.
3 Through the holy prophets God promised of old
to save us from our enemies,
from the hands of those who hate us,
4 to show mercy to our forebears,
and to remember his holy covenant.
5 This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hand of our enemies.
6 Free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous before him all the days of our life.
7 And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
8 To give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of all their sins.
9 In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us.
10 To shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning is now and shall be forever. Amen
The Apostles’ Creed
May be said
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Prayer
Kneel
Let us pray
Lord, have mercy
All Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy
Weekday Intercessions and Thanksgivings
The Priestly Ministry of Christ: All that meets Human Need
Gracious God and Father,
you have given your Son for us all,
that his death might be our life
and his affliction our peace.
Intercession
We pray for [The Suffering]
the hungry ...
the refugees ...
the prisoners ...
the persecuted ...
all who bring sin and suffering to others ...
all who seek to bring care and relief ...
Thanksgiving
Gracious God and Father, we give you thanks
for the cross of Christ at the heart of creation,
the presence of Christ in our weakness and strength,
the grace of Christ to transform our suffering ...
for all ministries of healing,
all agencies of relief,
all that sets us free from pain, fear and distress ...
for the assurance that your mercy knows no limit,
and for the privilege of sharing Christ’s ministry in prayer.
Concluding Prayer
In darkness and in light,
in trouble and in joy,
help us to trust your love,
to serve your purpose
and to praise your name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Collect of the Day
Almighty God,
you make us glad with the yearly remembrance
of the birth of your Son Jesus Christ:
Grant that, as we joyfully receive him as our redeemer,
we may with sure confidence behold him
when he shall come to be our judge;
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Alternative collects
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord,
to know you is eternal life, and to serve you is perfect freedom:
Defend us in all assaults of our enemies,
that we, surely trusting in your protection,
may not fear the power of any adversaries;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everliving God,
we give you thanks for bringing us safely to this day:
Keep us from falling into sin or running into danger,
and in all things guide us to know and do your will;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Go before us, Lord, in all our doings, with your most gracious favour,
and further us with your continual help;
that in all our works begun, continued and ended in you,
we may glorify your holy name,
and finally by your mercy attain everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Heavenly Father,
in whom we live and move and have our being:
We humbly pray that your Holy Spirit may so guide and govern us
that in all the cares and occupations of our daily life,
we may never forget your presence
but may remember that we are always walking in your sight,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
Going out as God’s people
The Lord be with you
All and also with you.
Let us bless the Lord.
All Thanks be to God.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore.
All Amen
To the King of Ages, immortal, invisible, the only God
be honour and glory for ever and ever.
All Amen
May the God of hope
fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the Holy Spirit
you may abound in hope.
All Amen