CHRISTMAS DAY COMMUNION (Contemporary)

GATHERING IN GOD'S NAME

Carol: O Come, All You Faithful (simplified) Joy to the World I Cannot Tell Why He Whom Angels Worship Angels, From the Realms of Glory Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus Hail to the Lord's Anointed Hark! The Herald Angels Sing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel O Holy Night O Little Town of Bethlehem Of the Father's Love Begotten Once in Royal David's City Silent Night Tell out, My Soul, the Greatness of the Lord! The Holly and the Ivy Unto Us a Boy is Born While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night A Child This Day is Born O Come, All Ye Faithful Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendour Away in a Manger The First Nowell God Rest Ye Merry People All It Came Upon The Midnight Clear n/a Good Christians All, Rejoice As With Gladness Men of Old While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night (Simplified) Once in Royal David's City (Simplified) Angels, From the Realms of Glory (Simplified) The First Nowell (Simplified) O Little Town of Bethlehem (Simplified) Silent Night (Simplified) It Came Upon The Midnight Clear (simplified) Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Come To Us The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy

Introduction

God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. And they gave him the name Jesus, because he came to save his people from their sins.  So let us seek the forgiveness of God through Jesus our Saviour, approaching him with sincere repentance and true faith.

Confession

Confessions : Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways Most merciful God, we humbly admit that we need your help Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, maker of all things, judge of all people Merciful God, our maker and our judge Merciful Father, we praise you for adopting us as your children Almighty God, our heavenly Father, you are merciful and kind, Heavenly Father, you have loved us with an everlasting love Lord our God, in our sin we have avoided your call. Lord God, we have sinned against you; we have done evil in your sight. Gracious God, we have come to see that our lives fall far short of your glory

May almighty God, who sent his Son into the world to save sinners, pardon and restore you, so that you may live to praise and serve him all the days of your life. Amen.

Prayer for Christmas Day

Collect : Collect for Advent Sunday Collect for Advent 2 Collect for Advent 3 Collect for Advent 4 Collect for Christmas Day Midnight Collect for Christmas Day Collect for Christmas Day [2nd Service] Collect for Christmas 1 Collect for Christmas 2 Collect for Ephipany Collect for Ash Wednesday Collect for Lent 1 Collect for Lent 2 Collect for Lent 3 Collect for Lent 4 Collect for Lent 5 Collect for Palm Sunday Collect for Maundy Thursday Collect for Good Friday Collect for Easter Eve Collect for Easter Day Midnight Collect for Easter Day Collect for Easter 1 Collect for Easter 2 Collect for Easter 3 Collect for Easter 4 Collect for Easter 5 Collect for Ascension Day Collect for Ascension Sunday Collect for Pentecost Collect for Trinity Sunday Collect for Ordinary Sunday 1 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 2 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 3 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 4 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 5 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 6 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 7 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 8 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 9 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 10 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 11 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 12 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 13 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 14 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 15 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 16 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 17 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 18 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 19 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 20 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 21 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 22 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 23 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 24 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 25 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 26 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 27 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 28 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 29 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 30 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 31 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 32 Collect for Ordinary Sunday 33 Collect for Sunday Next Before Advent Collect for All Saints Day

Bible readings

Carol: O Come, All You Faithful (simplified) Joy to the World I Cannot Tell Why He Whom Angels Worship Angels, From the Realms of Glory Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus Hail to the Lord's Anointed Hark! The Herald Angels Sing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel O Holy Night O Little Town of Bethlehem Of the Father's Love Begotten Once in Royal David's City Silent Night Tell out, My Soul, the Greatness of the Lord! The Holly and the Ivy Unto Us a Boy is Born While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night A Child This Day is Born O Come, All Ye Faithful Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendour Away in a Manger The First Nowell God Rest Ye Merry People All It Came Upon The Midnight Clear n/a Good Christians All, Rejoice As With Gladness Men of Old While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night (Simplified) Once in Royal David's City (Simplified) Angels, From the Realms of Glory (Simplified) The First Nowell (Simplified) O Little Town of Bethlehem (Simplified) Silent Night (Simplified) It Came Upon The Midnight Clear (simplified) Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Come To Us The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy

Creed

Creed : n/a Apostles' Creed Apostles Creed (Responsive) Nicene Creed Nicene Creed (Responsive) Affirmation (Composite Verses) Affirmation (Colossians 1:15-20) Affirmation (With all Christians everywhere...) Affirmation (We believe...) Affirmation (Do you believe ...) Apostles Creed (AAPB) Nicene Creed (AAPB) Apostles Creed (BCP) Nicene Creed (BCP) Athanasian Creed An alternative form of The Apostles' Creed

Sermon

Carol: O Come, All You Faithful (simplified) Joy to the World I Cannot Tell Why He Whom Angels Worship Angels, From the Realms of Glory Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus Hail to the Lord's Anointed Hark! The Herald Angels Sing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel O Holy Night O Little Town of Bethlehem Of the Father's Love Begotten Once in Royal David's City Silent Night Tell out, My Soul, the Greatness of the Lord! The Holly and the Ivy Unto Us a Boy is Born While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night A Child This Day is Born O Come, All Ye Faithful Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendour Away in a Manger The First Nowell God Rest Ye Merry People All It Came Upon The Midnight Clear n/a Good Christians All, Rejoice As With Gladness Men of Old While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night (Simplified) Once in Royal David's City (Simplified) Angels, From the Realms of Glory (Simplified) The First Nowell (Simplified) O Little Town of Bethlehem (Simplified) Silent Night (Simplified) It Came Upon The Midnight Clear (simplified) Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Come To Us The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy

Prayers

Individual prayers and thanksgivings end with this response.

Father, hear our prayer,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

At the conclusion of the prayers the minister says

Accept our prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord, who taught us to pray,
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.

Carol: O Come, All You Faithful (simplified) Joy to the World I Cannot Tell Why He Whom Angels Worship Angels, From the Realms of Glory Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus Hail to the Lord's Anointed Hark! The Herald Angels Sing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel O Holy Night O Little Town of Bethlehem Of the Father's Love Begotten Once in Royal David's City Silent Night Tell out, My Soul, the Greatness of the Lord! The Holly and the Ivy Unto Us a Boy is Born While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night A Child This Day is Born O Come, All Ye Faithful Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendour Away in a Manger The First Nowell God Rest Ye Merry People All It Came Upon The Midnight Clear n/a Good Christians All, Rejoice As With Gladness Men of Old While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night (Simplified) Once in Royal David's City (Simplified) Angels, From the Realms of Glory (Simplified) The First Nowell (Simplified) O Little Town of Bethlehem (Simplified) Silent Night (Simplified) It Came Upon The Midnight Clear (simplified) Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Come To Us The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy

PREPARATION FOR COMMUNION

Standing at the table, the minister reads from the following or other suitable Bible passages.

As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord. Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup. (1 Corinthians 11:26-28)

Jesus said, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:35)

Jesus said, "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

Merciful Lord,
we come here to your table,
trusting not in our goodness but in your measureless grace.

Even though we are not worthy 
to eat the crumbs from under your table,
you are always rich in mercy.

Gracious Lord, 
enable us by faith in Jesus Christ

so to eat his flesh and drink his blood,

that we may be cleansed and forever dwell in him, 
and he in us. Amen.

THANKSGIVING AND COMMUNION

Lift up your hearts,
We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
Yes! he is worthy of our praise.

You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honour and power,
for you created all things
and by your will they existed and were created.
Therefore we lift our voices to praise you, saying
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come.

We praise you especially because you gave your only Son Jesus Christ to be born for us. By the work of the Holy Spirit he was made true man of the flesh of the Virgin Mary his mother. He was without sin, and gave his life as a ransom to make us free from all sin.

Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

to receive praise and honour 

and glory and power for ever and ever!

We thank you Father, 
that on the night before he died, Jesus took bread;
and when he had given you thanks, he broke it, 
and gave it to his disciples, saying,

‘Take, and eat. This is my body given for you. 
Do this in remembrance of me.'
After the meal, he took the cup, 
and again giving you thanks he gave it to his disciples, saying,
 ‘Drink from this, all of you.
 This is my blood of the new covenant 
which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. 
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.'

Therefore Father, 
we thank you for these gifts of bread and wine, 
and pray that we who eat and drink them, 
believing our Saviour's word,
may share his body and blood. Amen.

We eat the bread and drink the cup of the Lord
to proclaim our fellowship in his death.
We do this until he returns
Come Lord Jesus, come!

Let us take this holy sacrament of the body and blood of Christ in remembrance that he died for us and feed on him in our hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

The minister gives the bread to each person, saying

The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for you, 
keep your body and soul for everlasting life. Amen.
and/or
Take and eat this, remembering that Christ died for you, 
and feed on him in your heart by faith with thanksgiving. Amen.

The minister gives the cup to each person saying

The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was poured out for you, 
keep your body and soul for everlasting life. Amen.
and/or
Drink this remembering that Christ's blood was shed for you, and be thankful. Amen.

GOING OUT TO SERVE

Father, thank you for feeding us, 

who have received these your gifts of bread and wine, 

with the spiritual food of the body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Thank you for assuring us of your goodness and love,

and that we are members of his body.
Renew us by your Holy Spirit,

unite us in the body of your Son,
and bring us with all your people

into the joy of your eternal kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

carol: O Come, All You Faithful (simplified) Joy to the World I Cannot Tell Why He Whom Angels Worship Angels, From the Realms of Glory Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus Hail to the Lord's Anointed Hark! The Herald Angels Sing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel O Holy Night O Little Town of Bethlehem Of the Father's Love Begotten Once in Royal David's City Silent Night Tell out, My Soul, the Greatness of the Lord! The Holly and the Ivy Unto Us a Boy is Born While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night A Child This Day is Born O Come, All Ye Faithful Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendour Away in a Manger The First Nowell God Rest Ye Merry People All It Came Upon The Midnight Clear n/a Good Christians All, Rejoice As With Gladness Men of Old While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night (Simplified) Once in Royal David's City (Simplified) Angels, From the Realms of Glory (Simplified) The First Nowell (Simplified) O Little Town of Bethlehem (Simplified) Silent Night (Simplified) It Came Upon The Midnight Clear (simplified) Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Come To Us The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy

May Christ the Son of God
gladden your hearts by his coming to dwell among us,
and bring you his peace;
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
In the name of Christ. Amen.

 

This service may contain material which is © 2001-2009 The Archbishop of Sydney's Liturgical Panel, © 1978, 1995 The Anglican Church of Australia Trust Corporation and © 2000 Common Worship, and used by permission. See www.bettergatherings.com/copyright for details.