Christmas Day
Worship
More Services for the Advent Wreath
Cycle C
Object:
Christmas Day
For John 1:1-14
(Distribute this sheet to the readers.)
Date:
Reader A:
Reader B:
Introit
(As the introit is being sung, Readers A and B come forward and stand by the Advent wreath until the music is finished.)
Litany
Reader A:
Please turn to the litany in your bulletins.
(Pause as they do so.)
The one who comes from above is above all;
the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth.
The one who comes from heaven is above all.
Scripture
Reader B:
Listen to these words from John's Gospel proclaiming Christ as existing since the beginning of time and who is the light of the world:
Reader A:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God -- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Lighting Of The Christ Candle
Reader B:
Today, we do not light the Advent candles. Rather, we light the center candle: the Christ candle. Jesus Christ is the light of the world.
(While Reader B is reading, Reader A uses the small candle at the back of the wreath to take the light from the altar candle and transfer it to the center candle only. DO NOT light the other candles. Extinguish the small candle and return it to the back of the wreath.)
Prayer
Reader B:
Let us pray:
Almighty God, this is the great and wonderful day in which we celebrate the birth of your Son, Jesus. For it is for our salvation that he came. We give you thanks and praise for your act of divine love by sending him to us. Amen.
Intoit
(As the introit is being sung again, the readers may be seated.)
For John 1:1-14
(Distribute this sheet to the readers.)
Date:
Reader A:
Reader B:
Introit
(As the introit is being sung, Readers A and B come forward and stand by the Advent wreath until the music is finished.)
Litany
Reader A:
Please turn to the litany in your bulletins.
(Pause as they do so.)
The one who comes from above is above all;
the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth.
The one who comes from heaven is above all.
Scripture
Reader B:
Listen to these words from John's Gospel proclaiming Christ as existing since the beginning of time and who is the light of the world:
Reader A:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God -- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Lighting Of The Christ Candle
Reader B:
Today, we do not light the Advent candles. Rather, we light the center candle: the Christ candle. Jesus Christ is the light of the world.
(While Reader B is reading, Reader A uses the small candle at the back of the wreath to take the light from the altar candle and transfer it to the center candle only. DO NOT light the other candles. Extinguish the small candle and return it to the back of the wreath.)
Prayer
Reader B:
Let us pray:
Almighty God, this is the great and wonderful day in which we celebrate the birth of your Son, Jesus. For it is for our salvation that he came. We give you thanks and praise for your act of divine love by sending him to us. Amen.
Intoit
(As the introit is being sung again, the readers may be seated.)
