Friday 25 December, 2020

Christmas Day                                                                          

Any of the following sets of readings and suggested hymns may be used on the evening of Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day. Set 3 should be used for one service during this celebration.

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Hymns marked with an asterisk (*) are suggested for more than one hymn

Lighting of Advent candles (using verses as appropriate)

Advent candles tell their story (StF 165)
Candles we light upon the Advent Ring (website only)
'Christmas is coming!' The Church is glad to sing (StF 166)
Light a candle for Jesus the King (website only) (sung to “The Little Drummer Boy”)
Light a candle in a darkened place (StF 174)
Like a candle flame, flickering small in our darkness (StF 176)

Set 1

Isaiah 9: 2-7

Community of Christ, who make the Cross your own (StF 681)
Darkness like a shroud covers the earth (StF 170)
Hark the glad sound! The Saviour comes (StF 171)

Psalm 96

Hymns echoing the psalmist’s theme

Hark! The herald-angels sing (StF 202)
Joy to the world (StF 330)
When a young unmarried couple (StF 220)

Titus 2: 11-14

Let my Saviour sleep (website only)
Love came down at Christmas (StF 210)

Luke 2: 1-14 (15-20)

Angels from the realms of glory (vv.1&2) (StF 190)
Born in the night, Mary's child (StF 193)
Carol of Peace (website only)
Glory be to God on high (StF 199)
Heaven's come so close tonight (website only)
How hard was that journey (website only)
In the bleak midwinter (StF 204)
Let all mortal flesh keep silence (StF 591)
Like a candle flame, flickering small in our darkness (StF 176)
Love came down at Christmas (StF 210)
Love laid bare (website only)
See him lying in a bed of straw (StF 216)
Silent night, holy night (StF 217)
We do not look for angel choirs (website only)

Set 2

Isaiah 62: 6-12

All hail the power of Jesu's name (StF 342)
Born in song! (StF 21)
Emmanuel, Emmanuel (StF 198) especially for prayers of intercession
He is Lord, he is Lord (StF 348)
I rejoiced when I heard them say (StF 26)
O sing to the Lord, O sing God a new song (StF 42)

Psalm 97

Hymns echoing the psalmist’s theme

Angels from the realms of glory (StF 190)
Born in the night, Mary's child (StF 193)
Glory be to God on high (StF 199)
Hark! The herald-angels sing (StF 202)
Rejoice, the Lord is King! (StF 335)

Titus 3: 4-7

And can it be that I should gain? (StF 345)
Down the mountain the river flows (StF 377)
O Holy Spirit, Lord of grace (StF 392)

Luke 2: (1-7) 8-20

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed (StF 191)
Carol of Peace (website only)
Christians, awake, salute the happy morn (StF 195)
Come and join the celebration (v.1) (StF 196)
Cradled in a manger meanly (StF 197)
Glory be to God on high, and peace on earth descend (StF 199)
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)
Heaven's come so close tonight (website only)
I had a dream that I was standing on a hillside (StF 203)
It came upon a midnight clear (StF 205)
It was on a starry night (StF 206)
O come, all ye faithful (StF 212)
See, amid the winter's snow (StF 215)
We do not look for angel choirs (website only)
While shepherds watched their flocks by night (StF 221)
Who would think that what was needed (StF 222)

Set 3

Isaiah 52: 7-10

Hail to the Lord's Anointed (StF 228)
Hark the glad sound! The Saviour comes (StF 171)
I cannot tell why he, whom angels worship (StF 350)
Lo, he comes with clouds descending (StF 177)
Praise to the God who clears the way (StF 183)
There's a light upon the mountains (StF 188)

Psalm 98

Hymn echoing the psalmist’s theme

Joy to the world (StF 330)
O sing to the Lord, O sing God a new song (StF 42)

Hebrews 1: 1-4 (5-12)

Angels from the realms of glory (StF 190)
Before the world began, one Word was there (StF 101)
Glory be to God on high, and peace on earth descend (StF 199)
Hark! The herald-angels sing (StF 202)
It came upon a midnight clear (StF 205)
Joy to the world (StF 330)
Let earth and heaven combine (StF 208)
Long ago, prophets knew Christ would come (StF 178)
Love came down at Christmas (StF 210)
Who would think that what was needed (StF 222)

John 1: 1-14

Christians, awake, salute the happy morn (StF 195)
Glory be to God on high, and peace on earth descend (StF 199)
Hark! The herald-angels sing (StF 202)
Let all mortal flesh keep silence (StF 591)
Let earth and heaven combine (StF 208)
Love came down at Christmas (StF 210)
O come, all ye faithful (StF 212)
Once in royal David's city (StF 214)
See, amid the winter's snow (StF 215)