Saturday Prayers: Christmas, 2018

4th Sunday of Advent

I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to his word. Luke 1 38

Heavenly Father who chose the Virgin Mary, full of grace to be the mother of our Lord and Saviour, now fill us with your grace, that we in all things may embrace your will and with her rejoice in our salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Hark, a herald voice is sounding, “Christ in nigh” it seems to say, “cast away the dreams of darkness, O ye children of the day”. Wakened by the solemn warning, let the earth bound soul arise: Christ, our sun all sloth dispelling shines upon the morning skies. (From a 10th Century Latin Text)

O Emmanuel, hope of the nations and their Saviour: come and save us, Lord our God.

 

Tuesday, December 25th Christmas Day – The Birth of the Lord

“Behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day a Saviour, Christ the Lord”. Luke 2. 10 – 11.

O God our Father, whose Word has come among us in the Holy Child of Bethlehem, may the light of faith illumine our hearts and shine in our words and deeds; through him who is Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever. Amen.

Almighty God, you wonderfully created and yet more wonderfully restored our human nature. May we share the divine life of your Son Jesus Christ, who humbled himself to share our humanity, and now reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever. Amen.

Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed, where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed. Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child. He came down to earth from heaven, who is God and Lord of all, and his shelter was a stable, and his cradle was a stall. With the poor and mean and lowly lived on earth our Saviour holy. (Cecil Frances Alexander)

 

Source of life, light, love, truth, joy and peace accept our praise and thanksgiving on this joyful feast. May we who have received the gift of divine life always follow the way of our Saviour Jesus Christ and grow up in him who unites our life to yours; for he is Lord now and for ever. Amen.

A Blessed Christmas to all, as we celebrate the love of God. Share that love with all people. Alleluia, Amen, Alleluia, Amen and Amen.

 

Blessings,

nnDnn Archdeacon Ron Matthewman, Vicar General Emeritus

OSMTH-I