Christmas / Christmastide

THE INTROIT: Psalm 2

The Lord said unto me : thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. Ps. Ibid. Why do the heathen so furiously rage together : and why do the people imagine a vain thing? GLORY BE…

THE COLLECT: 

O God, who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of thine only Son Jesus Christ; Grant that as we joyfully receive him for our Redeemer, so we may with sure confidence behold him when he shall come to be our Judge. Who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

THE EPISTLE: Titus 2:11 

Dearly beloved: The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

THE GRADUAL: Psalm 110 

In the day of thy power shall the people offer thee free-will offerings with an holy worship : the dew of thy Birth is of the womb of the morning. The Lord said into my Lord : Sit thou on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool.Alleluia, alleluia. 

Psalm 2. 

The Lord said unto me : Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. Alleluia.

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Saint Luke 2:1 

AND it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manager; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, good will toward men.

THE OFFERTORY: Psalm 96

Let the heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad before the Lord : for he is come.

THE COMMUNION: Psalm 110

With an holy worship : the dew of thy Birth is of the womb of the morning.

THE POST-COMMUNION: 

Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord our God, that we who rejoice to celebrate by these mysteries the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ ; may by godly conversation be found worthy to attain to fellowship with him. Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

THE INTROIT: Isaiah 9

Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given : and the government shall be upon his shoulder : and his Name shall be called, Angel of mighty counsel. 

Psalm 98.

O sing unto the Lord a new song : for he hath done marvellous things. GLORY BE…

THE COLLECT: 

Almighty God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin; Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit. Through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

THE EPISTLE: Hebrews 1:1 

GOD, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

THE GRADUAL: Psalm 98. 

All the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God : O be joyful in God, all ye lands. The Lord hath declared his salvation : in the sight of the heathen his righteousness hath he openly shewed.Alleluia, alleluia. A hallowed day hath dawned upon us : come, all ye nations and worship the Lord : for on this day a great light hath descended upon the earth. Alleluia.

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Saint John 1:1 

IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

THE OFFERTORY: Psalm 89 

The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine : thou hast laid the foundation of the round world, and all that therein is : righteousness and equity are the habitation of thy seat.

THE COMMUNION: Psalm 98 

All the end of the world have seen the salvation of our God.

THE POST-COMMUNION: 

Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God : that as the Saviour of the world, born on this day, is the author of hour heavenly birth, so he may likewise be to us the giver of everlasting life. Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

THE LAST GOSPEL: Saint Matthew 2:1