05B - Christmas Eve —06B - Christmas 1B
See also my post from 2023
WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD (Psalm 97:1-7)
Let the earth shout with joy at the sovereignty of the LORD:
sun-drenched beaches, reefs and distant islands, rejoice!.
Clouds of deep mystery surround the LORD,
whose throne stands firm on justice
and God’s actions which put things right.
The spirit of the LORD rises up,
transforming and dispelling the surrounding powers and principalities.
Lightning shone in the dark of the world,
and the earth writhed as though in childbirth.
Ageless mountains melted like wax before the LORD,
from the presence of the LORD of all the earth
The heavens proclaimed God’s actions which put things right,
and all the people saw the glory of the LORD.
CONFESSION (Psalm 97:8-12)
Those who went after other gods were put to shame –
even the gods bowed down.
Rejoicing and acclamation rise up
because of your judgements, O LORD.
For you, O LORD, are the Most High, over all the earth;
you are greatly exalted over the gods.
For the times we follow other gods, to our own shame
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
You who love the LORD, despise evil,
for the LORD protects the lives of the faithful,
and will rescue them from the hand of the wicked.
For the times turn from the protection of your hand
Christ have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Light shines out for those who live justly;
it rejoices for the honest heart.
Rejoice, in the LORD, you whose lives express God’s justice,
and give thanks to the holy name of your God.
For the times when our living does not express your justice
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
Comfort us, heal us, and re-create us, O God,
so that in wholeness
we may live to your glory,
and the greatness of your holy name.
Amen.
A CREATIVE MOMENT
Click here for some ideas for Christmas worship gleaned from the pages of “On the Move” (now out of print) which was published by the Joint Board of Christian Education, Melbourne, Australia.
Looking for contemporary music and song resources?
Try David MacGregor’s Together to Celebrate
| HYMN SUGGESTIONS FOR CHRISTMAS DAY | |
| Brightest & best of the stars of the morning | TIS 310 |
| Child in the manger | TIS 319 |
| Christians awake, salute the happy morn | TIS 306 |
| Good Christians all, rejoice | TIS 313 |
| Hark the glad sound ! the Saviour comes | TIS 269 |
| Hark the herald angels sing | TIS 303 |
| Infant holy, infant lowly | TIS 292 |
| Joy to the world! The Lord is come | TIS 268 |
| Let earth & heaven combine | TIS 305 |
| Love came down at Christmas | TIS 317 |
| O come all ye faithful | TIS 304 |
| O little town of Bethlehem | TIS 316 |
| O sing a new song to the Lord | TIS 56 |
| Once in royal David’s city | TIS 312 |
| The first nowell the angel did say | TIS 301 |
| The north wind is tossing the leaves | TIS 322 |
| The people that in darkness walked | TIS 274 |
| The Virgin Mary had a baby boy | TIS 307 |
| To us a child of royal birth | TIS 308 |
| Unto us a boy is born | TIS 293 |
| While shepherds watched their flocks | TIS 299 |
| ISAIAH 62 | |
| Father, whose everlasting love | TIS 213 |
| The advent of our God | TIS 271 |
| There’s a light upon the mountains | TIS 276 |
| Wake, awake! for night is flying | TIS 266 |
| ISAIAH 52 | |
| Never in all human story | TIS 320 |
| Wake, awake! for night is flying | TIS 266 |
| PSALM 97 | |
| The Lord is king, let earth rejoice | TIS 55 |
| PSALM 98 | |
| All the ends of the earth have seen | TIS 57 |
| Joy to the world, the Lord is come | TIS 268 |
| Let all the world in every corner sing | TIS 105 |
| O sing a new song to the Lord | TIS 56 |
| Sing a new song to the Lord | TIS 57 |
| Sing a new song, sing a new song | TIS 166 |
| Sing of the Lord’s goodness | TIS 183 |
| TITUS 3 | |
| Pour out thy Spirit from on high | TIS 451 |
| HEBREWS 1 | |
| God has spoken by his prophets | TIS 158 |
| Now to the Lord a noble song! | TIS 113 |
| O Lord of every shining constellation | TIS 157 |
| Praise and thanksgiving Father we offer | TIS 627 |
| Praise our God, the great creator | TIS 165 |
| Praise to the living God | TIS 102 |
| Rejoice, the Lord is King | TIS 216 |
| Spirit, divine, attend our prayers | TIS 406 |
| Thanks to God whose word was spoken | TIS 431 |
| To us a child of royal birth | TIS 308 |
| LUKE 2 | |
| Angels from the realms of glory | TIS 309 |
| Christ is the world’s light | TIS 246 |
| Christians, awake, salute the happy morn | TIS 306 |
| Coldly the night winds winging | TIS 321 |
| Funny kind of night, funny kind of day | TIS 329 |
| Glory to God, glory to God, praise and alleluia! | TIS 171 |
| Glory to our boundless God | TIS 189 |
| Glory, glory, glory, — glory be to God on high | TIS 775 |
| God is love, let heaven adore him | TIS 153 |
| Good Christians all, rejoice | TIS 313 |
| Hark the herald angels sing | TIS 303 |
| Hark! the herald angels sing | TIS 303 |
| Infant holy, infant lowly | TIS 92 |
| Jesus has come and brings joy as our Saviour | TIS 208 |
| Let all together praise our God | TIS 298 |
| Never in all human story | TIS 320 |
| O come, all ye faithful | TIS 304 |
| O Laughing Light, O first-born of creation | TIS 256 |
| On Christmas night all Christians sing | TIS 300 |
| Saviour of nations, come | TIS 295 |
| Silent night, holy night | TIS 311 |
| The first nowell the angel did say | TIS 301 |
| The Virgin Mary had a baby boy | TIS 307 |
| To us a child of royal birth | TIS 308 |
| While shepherds watched their flocks | TIS 299 |
| JOHN 1 | |
| Angels from the realms of glory | TIS 309 |
| Christ is the world’s light | TIS 246 |
| Come let us with our Lord arise | TIS 375 |
| Come you people, come adore him | TIS 101 |
| Father of heaven, whose love profound | TIS 131 |
| God has spoken by his prophets | TIS 158 |
| Good Christians all, rejoice | TIS 313 |
| Hark the herald angels sing | TIS 303 |
| I greet you, my Redeemer sure | TIS 198 |
| Lord Jesus, our bright Morning Star | TIS 199 |
| Lord, your almighty word | TIS 447 |
| My heart & voice I raise | TIS 225 |
| Now to the Lord a noble song! | TIS 113 |
| O what a gift, what a wonderful gift | TIS 278 |
| Of the Father’s love begotten | TIS 290 |
| Praise our God, the great creator | TIS 165 |
| Sing a new song, sing a new song | TIS 166 |
| Thanks to God whose word was spoken | TIS 431 |
| Your words to me are life and health | TIS 430 |