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Christmas Eve B
Dec. 24
Scripture (from the Revised Common Lectionary, with links provided by TextWeek.com – a source for thoughtful worship and preaching throughout the year):
Note: There are numerous traditions to take into account for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. While many Disciples do not have a Christmas Day service, when it falls on Sunday the opportunity arises to offer more scripture to the congregation than in other years. To complicate things a bit, the chosen texts given on www.disciples.org for Christmas Day are the texts for Christmas Eve (reading down the first column of readings below. Further, if the congregation is accustomed to some blend of Christmas Eve texts (mixing the lectionary with the Service of Lessons and Carols, which in its design was a prayer service, not intended to be offered at a Eucharist), the challenge is further complicated. Because at some point on Christmas Eve most Disciples receive Communion, it can be an intricate dance between texts and traditions, and one that enriches the life of the whole church. We’d love to know your congregation’s experience on this holy weekend. Email dchafin@wvdisciples.org
Click on Scripture Lessons below for study links and resources for each individual pericope:
Isaiah 9:2-7 / Isaiah 62:6-12 / Isaiah 52:7-10
Roman Catholic reading for Midnight Mass: Isaiah 9:1-6 (see also study page for Isaiah 9:1-4)
Roman Catholic reading for Mass at Dawn: Isaiah 62: 11-12
Roman Catholic reading for Mass during the day: Isaiah 52:7-10
United Methodist reading for Christmas Eve: Isaiah 9:2-7
United Methodist reading for Christmas Day: Isaiah 52:7-10
Psalm 96 / Psalm 97 / Psalm 98
Roman Catholic reading for Midnight Mass: Psalm 96:1-13
Roman Catholic reading for Mass at Dawn: Psalm 97:1-12
Roman Catholic reading for Mass during the day: Psalm 98:1-6
United Methodist reading for Christmas Eve: Psalm 96
United Methodist reading for Christmas Day: Psalm 98
Titus 2:11-14 / Titus 3:4-7 / Hebrews 1:1-4, (5-12)
Roman Catholic reading for Midnight Mass: Titus 2:11-14
Roman Catholic reading for Mass at Dawn: Titus 3:4-7
Roman Catholic reading for Mass during the day: Hebrews 1:1-6
United Methodist reading for Christmas Eve: Titus 2:11-14
United Methodist reading for Christmas Day: Hebrews 1:1-4, (5-12)
Luke 2:1-14, (15-20) / Luke 2:(1-7), 8-20 / John 1:1-14
Roman Catholic reading for Midnight Mass: Luke 2:1-14
Roman Catholic reading for Mass at Dawn: Luke 2: 15-20
Roman Catholic reading for Mass during the day: John 1:1-18 or John 1:1-5, 9-14
United Methodist reading for Christmas Eve: Luke 2:1-14, (15-20)
United Methodist reading for Christmas Day: John 1:1-14
ANGLICAN TRADITION for Christmas Eve (ONLY)
Morning Eucharist
2 Samuel 7.1-5,8-11,16
Psalm 89.2,19-27
Acts 13.16-26
Luke 1.67-79
Morning Prayer
Psalm 45, 113
Obadiah
Matthew 23.29-end
Evening Prayer
Psalm 85
Zechariah 2
Revelation 1.1-8
ANGLICAN TRADITION for Christmas Night (eve) or Morning
Principal Service
I
Isaiah 9.2-7
Psalm 96
Titus 2.11-14
Luke 2.1-14[15-20]
II
Isaiah 62.6-12
Psalm 97
Titus 3.4-7
Luke 2.[1-7]8-20
III
Isaiah 52.7-10
Psalm 98
Hebrews 1.1-4[5-12]
John 1.1-14
Second Service
Isaiah 65.17-25
Philippians 2.5-11 or
Luke 2.1-20 if it has not been used at the principal service of the day
Evening Psalm
Psalm 8
Third Service
Isaiah 62.1-5
Matthew 1.18-25
Morning Psalms
Psalms 110, 117
Suggested Hymns from Chalice Hymnal
It would be difficult to reduce the hymnal for this occasion, as much music is often expected and enjoyed in the Christmas Eve/Day celebration. The editor will step away from giving his personal standards here. In future years, perhaps, a publication of “what’s worked for me” might be worth posting…or not.
Dealing with the Psalm of the Day:
Since Chalice Hymnal does not provide a complete Psalter, there will be occasions when suggestions may be made for alternate Psalm use (or hymn equivalent). The hymnal offers all three Psalms for these days as quoted in the lectionary (96, 97, 98). They begin on page 748. Thanks be to God.
RESOURCES from COMMON WORSHIP
Collect
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,
so we may with sure confidence behold him
when he shall come to be our judge;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
OR
Eternal God,
who made this most holy night
to shine with the brightness of your one true light:
bring us, who have known the revelation of that light on earth,
to see the radiance of your heavenly glory;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Post Communion
Eternal God, for whom we wait,
you have fed us with the bread of eternal life:
keep us ever watchful,
that we may be ready to stand before the Son of man,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
OR
God our Father,
in this night you have made known to us again
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
confirm our faith and fix our eyes on him
until the day dawns
and Christ the Morning Star rises in our hearts.
To him be glory both now and for ever.
Alternative Collect
Almighty God,
as we prepare with joy
to celebrate the gift of the Christ-child,
embrace the earth with your glory
and be for us a living hope
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
OR
Eternal God,
in the stillness of this night
you sent your almighty Word
to pierce the world’s darkness with the light of salvation:
give to the earth the peace that we long for
and fill our hearts with the joy of heaven
through our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Common Worship Almanac and Lectionary for the year beginning Advent Sunday 2011. Compiled by Simon Kershaw October 2011 from the Common Worship Calendar and Lectionaries
using Almanac Maker; compilation © Simon Kershaw 2011; Almanac Maker © Simon Kershaw 2010. The Revised Common Lectionary is copyright © the Consultation on Common Texts 1992. The Daily Eucharistic Lectionary is adapted from the Ordo Lectionum Missae of the Roman Catholic Church reproduced by permission of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy. Adaptations and additions to the RCL and the DEL, together with Second and Third Service lectionaries and the Weekday Lectionary for Morning and Evening Prayer are copyright © the Archbishops’ Council 1997-2010. Version 2012-1.2 30 October 2011. http://almanac.oremus.org/lectionary
We also urge you to visit Worship Connection at MinistryMatters.com, which offers numerous helps, including electronic versions of print resources for worship and preaching planning.
