Christmas 2

Song

Psalm

I thank you, Lord, with all my heart,
you have heard the words of my mouth.
In the presence of the angels I will bless you.
I will adore before your holy temple.

I thank you for your faithfulness and love
which excel all we ever knew of you.
On the day I called, you answered;
you increased the strength of my soul.

All the rulers on earth shall thank you
when they hear the words of your mouth.
They shall sing of the Lord’s ways:
“How great is the glory of the Lord.”

The Lord is high yet looks on the lowly
and the haughty God knows from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of affliction
you give me life and frustrate my foes.

You stretch out your hand and save me,
your hand will do all things for me
Your love, O Lord, is eternal,
discard not the work of your hands.

Reading

We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us—we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

or

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

Song

Silence

Litany of praise

Jesus, Son of the living God, splendor of the Father, eternal light.
—Lord, we praise you!

Jesus, King of glory, Sun of justice, son of the Virgin Mary.
—Lord, we praise you!

Jesus, Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Lord, Prince of Peace.
—Lord, we praise you!

Jesus, gentle and humble of heart, our help and our refuge.
—Lord, we praise you!

Jesus, God of peace, friend of all, source of life and of holiness.
—Lord, we praise you!

Jesus, brother of the poor, goodness without measure, inexhaustible wisdom.
—Lord, we praise you!

Jesus, good shepherd, true light, our way and our life.
—Lord, we praise you!

Our Father

Prayer

Christ Jesus, from the beginning you were in God. When you came to live among human beings, you made the humble trusting of faith accessible. And the day is coming when we can say: I belong to Christ, I am Christ’s.

or

Bless us, Christ Jesus; enable us to welcome your love.

or

Christ Jesus, inner light, in this Christmas season you send your peace upon us; it is kindness; it leads to a change in our lives. And then an inner voice arises in us, and that voice is already our prayer. If our lips keep silent, our heart speaks to you and listens to you. In this way, the will of your love is accomplished within us.

Songs