Thursday 25 December 2025
- General:
- Lectionary
Christmas Day
Any of the following sets of readings may be used on the evening of Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day. Set III should be used at some service during the celebration.
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
Also see readings selected for Christmas Eve
Hymns marked with an asterisk (*) are suggested for more than one reading
Lighting of Advent candles
Useful hymns (using verses as appropriate).
*Advent candles tell their story (StF 165)
‘Christmas is coming!’ The Church is glad to sing (StF 166)
God whose almighty word (StF 106)
*Light a candle in a darkened place (StF 174)
Light of the world, you stepped down in darkness (StF 175)
Like a candle flame, flickering small in our darkness (StF 176)
Longing for light, we wait in darkness (“Christ, be our light!”) (StF 706)
Isaiah 52: 7-10
Hail to the Lord’s Anointed (StF 228)
Rejoice, the Lord is king! (StF 335)
There’s a light upon the mountains, and the day is at the spring (StF 188)
Psalm 98
Hymn echoing psalmist’s theme
Joy to the world, the Lord is come! (StF 330)
Sing we the King who is coming to reign (StF 185)
Hebrews 1: 1-4 (5-12)
Before the world began, one Word was there (StF 101)
Glory be to God on high, and peace on earth descend (StF 199)
Let earth and heaven combine (StF 208)
Long ago, prophets knew Christ would come (StF 178)
John 1: 1-14
Beneath the paper wrappings (StF 192)
Christians, awake, salute the happy morn (StF 195)
Come and join the celebration (StF 196) esp. v.1
God is born among us: earth receives the Christ child (StF 200)
Good news, good news to you we bring (StF 201)
Hark! The herald-angels sing (StF 202)
O come, all ye faithful (StF 212)
Once in royal David’s city (StF 214)
See, amid the winter’s snow (StF 215)
A prayer of thanks for God's harmony in our lives
Creator God, we acknowledge your part in composing the stories and the songs of our lives, bringing us into being, and setting before us opportunities to explore and grow into the people you made us to be.
Saviour God, we rejoice at the way in which you bring life and harmony into the stories and songs of our lives, enabling us to discover our true selves through a relationship with you, and giving us the confidence to live life to the full.
Inspiring God, we are thankful for the ability you give us to tell our stories and rehearse the songs of our lives, enabling others to grasp the wonder of how their stories and songs intertwine with yours.
May we always be looking for the new stories and the fresh songs that you have for us to inhabit and sing, as we seek to live our lives in the depths of your amazing grace. In the name of Christ. Amen.
Gill Newton, former District Chair, Sheffield District
A prayer for life everlasting in God's light - Alternative Prayer
O Christ, the Bright and Morning Star, when the night of this world is past bring us with your saints to your promised light and to that life which opens into everlasting day. Amen.
The Venerable Bede (c. 673-735)
Thursday 25 December 2025
While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (vs 6-7)