Spiritual Communion for Christmas Morning 2020

THE GATHERING

Welcome

'Do I not fill heaven and earth?' says the Lord.

Now the Word is made flesh and laid in a manger.

From eternity to eternity you are God,

and now we see you as a newborn child.

All candles on the Advent wreath are lit.

Prayer for lighting the Christ candle

Lord Jesus, Light of light,

you have come among us.

Help us who live by your light

to shine as lights in your world. Glory to God in the highest. Amen.

The lord be with you, and also with you.

The Greeting Prayer of Preparation

Christ the light of the world has come to dispel the darkness of our hearts.

In his light let us examine ourselves and confess our sins.

God our Father, you sent your Son full of grace and truth: forgive our failure to receive him.

Jesus our Saviour, you were born in poverty and laid in a manger: forgive our greed and rejection of your ways.

Spirit of love, Prayers of Penitence your servant Mary responded joyfully to your call: forgive the hardness of our hearts.

May the God of all healing and forgiveness draw you to himself, that you may behold the glory of his Son, the Word made flesh, and be cleansed from all your sins, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, your birth at Bethlehem draws us to kneel in wonder at heaven touching earth: accept our heartfelt praise as we worship you, our Saviour and our eternal God. Amen.

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD[,B]

The Gospel is announced and the reader says

Alleluia, alleluia.

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory.

Alleluia.

The Collect

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

Glory to you, O Lord.

At the end, This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

A sermon is preached.

Let us affirm our faith in the words of the Nicene Creed. We believe in one God, the Father, the almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man.

Sermon The Creed

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures;

he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,

the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The peace of the Lord be with you.

And also with you.

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation

but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours

now and for ever. Amen.

O loving God,

The Lord's Prayer

This response may be used

Holy God

hear our prayer.

And at the end

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

THE LITURGY OF SPIRITUAL RECEPTION

Unto us a child is born, unto us a child is give, and his name shall be called the Prince of Peace.

The Peace

Isaiah 9.6

in union with Christian people throughout the world and across the centuries, gathered to make Eucharist, hearing your holy Word and receiving the precious Body and Blood of your dear Son, we offer you praise and thanksgiving.

Even though we are exiled from tasting the Bread of Heaven and drinking the Cup of Life, we pray that you will unite us with all the baptised and with your Son, who gave his life for us.

Come Lord Jesus, dwell in us and send your Holy Spirit that we may be filled with your presence.

Prayers of Intercession

Act of Spiritual Reception

Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us, born of Mary on Christmas Day, to bring light in the darkness, and forgiveness and healing to all.

May we who seek your presence, be made whole through the power of the Holy Spirit. For though we cannot receive you in the sacrament we can, through this offering of our prayer, receive you in our heart.

Grant this for your Name's sake.

Amen.

Silence is kept.

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 the Lord. Amen.

THE DISMISSAL

Christ, who by his incarnation gathered into one things earthly and heavenly, fill you with peace and goodwill and make you partakers of the divine nature; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Liesbeth Oosterhof

Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishop's Council 2000

New Patterns for Worship, material from which is included in this service is copyright © The Archbishop's Council 2002

Common Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is included in this service is copyright © The Archbishop's Council 2006