Christmas 1, 2021 – Holy Communion

(Modified 2021-12-26: Added audio recording of this service.)

FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
Service of Lessons and Carols and Holy Communion

December 26, 2021

Opening Hymn # 153  Good Christians All, Rejoice

1 Good Christians all, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice!
Listen now to what we say:
Jesus Christ is born today;
ox and ass before him bow,
and he is in the manger now.
Christ is born today;
Christ is born today!

2 Good Christians all, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice!
Hear the news of endless bliss:
Jesus Christ was born for this;
he has opened heaven’s door
and we are blessed for evermore!
Christ was born for this;
Christ was born for this!

3 Good Christians all, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice!
Now you need not fear the grave;
Jesus Christ was born to save:
come at his most gracious call
to find salvation, one and all!
Christ was born to save;
Christ was born to save!

Collect for the Day: 

O God, who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of thy only Son Jesus Christ:  Grant that as we joyfully receive him as our Redeemer3, we may with sure confidence behold him when he shall come again to be our Judge; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen

First Lesson: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Hymn # 156 The People That in Darkness Sat

1 The people that in darkness sat
a glorious light have seen;
the Light has shined on them who long
in shades of death have been.

2 To hail thee, Sun of Righteousness,
the gathering nations come;
they joy as when the reapers bear
their harvest treasures home.

3 For thou their burden dost remove,
and break the tyrant’s rod,
as in the day when Midian fell
before the sword of God.

4 For unto us a child is born,
to us a Son is given,
and on his shoulder ever rests
all power in earth and heaven.

5 His name shall be the Prince of Peace,
the everlasting Lord,
the Wonderful, the Counsellor,
the God by all adored.

6 Lord Jesus, reign in us we pray,
and make us thine alone,
who with the Father ever art
and Holy Spirit one.

Collect: Holy Jesus, to deliver us from the power of darkness you humbled yourself to be born among us and were laid in a manger.  Let the light of your love always shine in our hearts, and bring us at last to the joyful vision of your beauty, for you are now alive and reign with the Father and thew Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Second Lesson:  Luke1:26-38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How shall this be, since I have no husband?” And the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy,
the Son of God. And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Hymn # 117  Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming

1 Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming 
from tender stem hath sprung!
of Jesse’s lineage coming 
as seers of old have sung.
It came, a blossom bright, 
amid the cold of winter,
when half spent was the night.

2 Isaiah ’twas foretold it, 
the Rose I have in mind,
with Mary we behold it, 
the virgin mother kind.
To show God’s love aright, 
she bore to us a Saviour,
when half spent was the night.

3 O Flower, whose fragrance tender
with sweetness fills the air,
dispel in glorious splendour
the darkness everywhere;
true man, yet very God,
from sin and death now save us,
and share our every load.

Collect:  Pour your grace into our hearts, O Lord, that we who have known the incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ announced by an angel to the Virgin Mary may by his cross and passion be brought to the glory of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Third Lesson:  Luke 2:1-20

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirin′i-us was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Hymn # 136  While Shepherd Watched Their Flocks

1 While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
all seated on the ground,
the angel of the Lord came down
and glory shone around.

2 “Fear not,” said he, for mighty dread
had seized their troubled mind;
“Glad tidings of great joy I bring
to you and humankind.

3 “To you, in David’s town, this day
is born of David’s line
a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord;
and this shall be the sign:

4 “the heavenly babe you there shall find
to human view displayed,
all meanly wrapped in swathing bands,
and in a manger laid.”

5 Thus spake the seraph; and forthwith
appeared a shining throng
of angels praising God, who thus 
addressed their joyful song:

6 “All glory be to God on high
and on earth be peace;
good will henceforth from heaven to me
begin and never cease.”

Collect:  Eternal God, this day is radiant with the brilliance of your one true light.  As we have known the revelation of that light on earth, bring us to see the splendour of your heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, now and forever. Amen.

Fourth Lesson:  Matthew 2:1-11

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.’”

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; ¹¹ and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 

Hymn # 143  Angels, from the Realms of Glory

1 Angels, from the realms of glory,
wing your flight o’er all the earth;
you who sang creation’s story,
now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
come and worship, come and worship
worship Christ, the new-born King.

2 Shepherds in the field abiding,
watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing;
yonder shines the infant Light:
come and worship, come and worship
worship Christ, the new-born King.

3 Sages, leave your contemplations;
brighter visions beam afar;
seek the great desire of nations;
you have seen his natal star:
come and worship, come and worship
worship Christ, the new-born King.

4 Saints before the altar bending,
watching long in hope and fear,
suddenly the Lord, descending,
in his temple shall appear:
come and worship, come and worship
worship Christ, the new-born King.

5 Though an infant now we view him,
he shall fill the eternal throne,
gather all the nations to him;
every knee shall then bow down:
come and worship, come and worship
worship Christ, the new-born King.

Collect:  Eternal God, who by a star led wise men to the worship of your Son, guide by your light the nations of the earth that thew whole world may know your glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: 

ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA
THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US,
AND WE HAVE SEEN HIS GLORY. 
ALLELUIA!

Fifth Lesson:  John 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. (John bore witness to him, and cried, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.’”) And from his fulness have we all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.

Hymn # 132  Of Eternal Love Begotten

1 Of eternal love begotten,
ere the worlds began to be,
he is Alpha and Omega,
he the source, the ending he,
of the things that are, that have been,
and that future years shall see,
evermore and evermore.

2 At his Word the worlds were framed.
He commanded, it was done:
heaven and earth and depths of ocean,
in their threefold order one;
all that grows beneath the shining,
of the moon and burning sun,
evermore and evermore.

3 O that birth for ever blessed,
when the virgin, full of grace,
by the Holy Ghost conceiving,
bare the Saviour of our race,
and the babe, the world’s redeemer,
first revealed his sacred face,
evermore and evermore.

4 This is he whom seers in old time
chanted of with one accord,
whom the voices of the prophets
promised in their faithful word;
now he shines, the long-expected;
let creation praise its Lord,
evermore and evermore.

5 O ye heights of heaven adore him;
angel hosts, his praises sing;
all dominions bow before him,
and extol our God and king;
let no tongue on earth be silent,
every voice in concert ring,
evermore and evermore.

6 Christ, to thee, with God the Father,
and, O Holy Ghost, to thee,
hymn and chant and high thanksgiving,
and unwearied praises be,
honour, glory, and dominion,
and eternal victory,
evermore and evermore.

Offertory  

Hymn # 140  It Came upon the Midnight Clear

1 It came upon the midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth,
to touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, to all good will
from heaven’s all-gracious king!”
The world in solemn stillness lay,
to hear the angels sing.

2 Still through the cloven skies they come
with peaceful wings unfurled,
and still their heavenly music floats
o’er all the weary world;
above its sad and lowly plains
they bend on hovering wing,
and ever o’er its Babel sounds
the blessed angels sing.

3 Yet with the woes of sin and strife
the world has suffered long;
beneath the angel-strain have rolled
two thousand years of wrong;
and we amid our wars hear not 
the words of peace they bring;
O listen now, and still your strife 
to hear the angels sing.

4 And you, beneath life’s crushing load,
whose forms are bending low,
who toil along the climbing way
with painful steps and slow;
look now, for glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing:
O rest beside the weary road
and hear the angels sing.

5 For lo, the days are hastening on,
by prophets seen of old,
when with the ever-circling years
shall come the time foretold:
when the new heaven and earth shall own
the Prince of Peace their King,
and the whole world send back the song
which now the angels sing.

Offertory Anthem

BLESSED be thou, LORD God of Israel, for ever and ever. All that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine. All things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. 1 Chronicles 29. 10, 11, 14.

THE BIDDINGS

THE INTERCESSION.

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, who by thy holy Apostle hast taught us to make prayers and supplications, and to give thanks, for all men: We humbly beseech thee most mercifully to accept our alms and oblations, and to receive these our prayers, which we offer unto thy Divine Majesty; beseeching thee to inspire continually the universal Church with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord: And grant that all they that do confess thy holy Name may agree in the truth of thy holy Word, and live in unity and godly love.
     We beseech thee also to lead all nations in the way of righteousness; and so to guide and direct their governors and rulers, that thy people may enjoy the blessings of freedom and peace: And grant unto thy servant ELIZABETH our Queen, and to all that are put in authority under her, that they may truly and impartially administer justice, to the maintenance of thy true religion and virtue.
     Give grace, O heavenly Father, to all Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, and specially to thy servant GREGORY our Metropolitan and MIKE our diocesans administrator and Helen our Bishop elect, that they may both by their life and doctrine set forth thy true and living Word, and rightly and duly administer thy holy Sacraments: Prosper, we pray thee, all those who proclaim the Gospel of thy kingdom among the nations: And to all thy people give thy heavenly grace, and specially to this congregation here present, that, with meek heart and due reverence, they may hear and receive thy holy Word; truly serving thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life.
     And we most humbly beseech thee of thy goodness, O Lord, to comfort and succour all them, who in this transitory life are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity, especially those for whom our prayers are desired.
     We remember before thee, O Lord, all thy servants departed this life in thy faith and fear: and we bless thy holy Name for all who in life and death have glorified thee; beseeching thee to give us grace that, rejoicing in the fellowship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and all the Saints, we may follow their good examples, and with them be partakers of thy heavenly kingdom.
     Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake, our only Mediator and Advocate, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

CONFESSION and ABSOLUTION 

YE that do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbours, and intend to lead the new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy ways: Draw near with faith, and take this holy Sacrament to your comfort; and make your humble confession to Almighty God, meekly kneeling upon your knees.

ALMIGHTY God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men: We acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we from time to time most grievously have committed, By thought, word, and deed, Against thy Divine Majesty. We do earnestly repent, And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings. Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; For thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, Forgive us all that is past; And grant that we may ever hereafter Serve and please thee In newness of life, To the honour and glory of thy Name; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all them that with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him: Have mercy upon you; pardon and deliver you from all your sins; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness; and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

COMFORTABLE WORDS

THANKSGIVING AND CONSECRATION

THE Lord be with you;
And with thy spirit.
Lift up your hearts;
We lift them up unto the Lord.
Let us give thanks unto our Lord God;
 It is meet and right so to do.

Then shall the Priest turn to the Lord’s Table, and say:

IT is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God, Creator and Preserver of all things. THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord.  Therefore with Angels, and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name; evermore praising thee and saying:

HOLY, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts,
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Glory be to thee, O Lord Most High.
BLESSED is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

BLESSING and glory and thanksgiving be unto thee Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of thy tender mercy didst give thine only Son Jesus Christ to take our nature upon him, and to suffer death upon the Cross for our redemption; who made there, by his one oblation of himself once offered, a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction, for the sins of the whole world; and did institute, and in his holy Gospel command us to continue, a perpetual memorial of that his precious death, until his coming again.
     Hear us, O merciful Father, we most humbly beseech thee; and grant that we receiving these thy creatures of bread and wine, according to thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ’s holy institution, in remembrance of his death and passion, may be partakers of his most blessed Body and Blood; who, in the same night that he was betrayed, took Bread; and, when he had given thanks, he brake it; and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat; this is my Body which is given for you: Do this in remembrance of me. Likewise after supper he took the Cup; and, when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all, of this; for this is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins: Do this, as oft as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me.
     Wherefore, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, we thy humble servants, with all thy holy Church, remembering the precious death of thy beloved Son, his mighty resurrection, and glorious ascension, and looking for his coming again in glory, do make before thee, in this sacrament of the holy Bread of eternal life and the Cup of everlasting salvation, the memorial which he hath commanded; And we entirely desire thy fatherly goodness mercifully to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, most humbly beseeching thee to grant, that by the merits and death of thy Son Jesus Christ, and through faith in his blood, we and all thy whole Church may obtain remission of our sins, and all other benefits of his passion; And we pray that by the power of thy Holy Spirit, all we who are partakers of this holy Communion may be fulfilled with thy grace and heavenly benediction; through Jesus Christ our Lord, by whom and with whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory be unto thee, O Father Almighty, world without end. Amen.

THE peace of the Lord be always with you;
And with thy spirit.

PRAYER OF HUMBLE ACCESS

WE do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, Trusting in our own righteousness, But in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy So much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table. But thou art the same Lord, Whose property is always to have mercy: Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, So to eat the Flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, And to drink his Blood, That our sinful bodies may be made clean by his Body, And our souls washed through his most precious Blood, And that we may evermore dwell in him, And he in us. Amen.

THE COMMUNION

O LAMB OF GOD, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us. 
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, grant us thy peace.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Let us pray.
OUR Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

     ALMIGHTY and everliving God, we most heartily thank thee that thou dost graciously feed us, in these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ; assuring us thereby of thy favour and goodness towards us; and that we are living members of his mystical body, which is the blessed company of all faithful people; and are also heirs through hope of thy everlasting kingdom.
     And here we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice unto thee. And although we are unworthy, yet we beseech thee to accept this our bounden duty and service, not weighing our merits, but pardoning our offences; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

GLORIA

GLORY be to God on high, and in earth peace, good will towards men. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.
     O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesu Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sin of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.
     For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

The Blessing:

            May the Father, who has loved the eternal Son from before the foundation of the world, shed that love upon you God’s children. AMEN

            May Christ, who by his incarnation gathered into one things earthly and heavenly, fill you with joy and peace. AMEN

            May the Holy Spirit, by whose overshadowing Mary became the God-bearer, give you grace to carry the good news of Christ. AMEN

And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always. AMEN

Announcements

Closing Hymn # 154  Joy to the World

1 Joy to the world! The Lord is come: 
let earth receive the King; 
let every heart prepare him room, 
and heaven and nature sing, 
and heaven and nature sing, 
and heaven, and heaven and nature sing. 

2 Joy to the world! The Saviour reigns:
let us glad songs employ, 
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
repeat the sounding joy, 
repeat the sounding joy, 
repeat, repeat the sounding joy. 

3 No more let wrongs and sorrows grow, 
nor thorns infest the ground; 
he comes to make his blessings flow 
far as our sin is found, 
far as our sin is found, 
far as, far as our sin is found. 

4 He rules the world with truth and grace, 
and makes the nations prove 
the glories of his righteousness 
and wonders of his love, 
and wonders of his love, 
and wonders, wonders of his love.

Dismissal

Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God! Alleluia!