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Christmas Midnight Mass
24th December 2022

altar and christmas trees from outside chancel

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

Organ Prelude
"O come, all ye faithful" from virtual recording by Stirling University Choir
Blessing of the Crib

In church, we sing O come, all ye faithful, in procession to the crib

Dear friends, as we meet to celebrate the birth of Christ,
let us pray that God will bless this crib,
that all who worship his Son, born of the Virgin Mary,
may come to share his life in glory.

God our Father,
on this night your Son Jesus Christ
was born of the Virgin Mary for us and for our salvation:
+ bless this crib, which we have prepared to celebrate that holy birth;
may all who see it be strengthened in faith
and receive the fullness of life he came to bring,
who lives and reigns forever. Amen.

Greeting

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,
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

Page from Gospel Book
First Reading: Isaiah 52.7-10
read by Cate Watson
Psalm 98

In church, we sing On Christmas night, all Christians sing

Second Reading: Hebrews 1.1-4
read by Cate Watson
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 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 – set prayers for Christmas Eve
The Peace

We meet in Christ's name.
Let us share his peace.

The Liturgy of the Sacrament

HT chalice and host at Elevation

In church, we continue with the Liturgy of the Sacrament, singing O little town of Bethlehem

Organ Reflection
Gordon Phillips: O little town of Bethlehem
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.

During Communion, we sing Silent Night (Ulrike sings the first verse in its original German)

Thanksgiving and Sending Out

Post Communion Prayer

Father of all,
we give you thanks and praise
that when we were still far off
you met us in your Son and brought us home.

Dying and living, he declared your love,
gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory.

May we who share Christ's body live his risen life;
we who drink his cup bring life to others;
we whom the Spirit lights, give light to the world.

Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us,
so we and all your children shall be free,
and the whole earth live to praise your name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Blessing
The Dismissal

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

Organ Postlude
Johann Gottfried Walther: Herr Christ, der einig Gottes Sohn
altar and christmas trees from outside chancel

Notices

This week

Sunday 25th December
Christmas Day

  • 10.30 am Sung Eucharist with Carols
    Readings: Isaiah 9.2-7; Titus 2.11-14; Luke 2.1-20
    online resources will be available on this website

Thursday 29th December

  • 11 am Holy Communion

Sunday 1st January
Christmas 1

  • 10.30 am Sung Eucharist

Thursday 5th January

  • 11 am Holy Communion

Sunday 8th January
Epiphany

  • 10.30 am Sung Eucharist
  • 6.30 pm Epiphany Carol Service

HT Green Action Group:  Sunday 8th January:
Opportunity to donate pre-loved toys, children’s clothes and unwanted Christmas gifts

Christmas is a time for giving and receiving.  This year, more than any other, many in our community will go without.

With minimal effort, we are keen to redistribute pre-loved toys, children’s clothes and unwanted Christmas gifts to support charities and those in need in our community. 

We are holding a collection for good quality (complete and in excellent working order) items following the service on Sunday 8th January. 

Helping Ukraine

You might be interested in how best to help people in crisis in Ukraine.
The College of Bishops have highlighted these two organisations:

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal: 
https://donation.dec.org.uk/ukraine-humanitarian-appeal 
Among the DEC partners are Christian Aid, the British Red Cross, and Tearfund. The UK Government has pledged to match donations from the public to the DEC fund, pound-for-pound, up to £20 million.

The UK for UNHCR: 
https://www.unrefugees.org.uk/where-help-is-needed/ukraine-situation/

More resources for this week

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