THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST: CHRISTMAS EVE

Sunday, December 24, at 9:00 pm | The Holy Eucharist, Rite I

Livestreamed on Facebook (click and open the ‘live’ video)

The order of this service can also be found in The Book of Common Prayer, page 323. Spoken responses are in bold typeface.

To give to St. Paul’s, select an option below:

Online: E-Giving (Realm) | PayPal
Text: message 73256 with the phrase saintpauls $X (insert an amount in place of X)
Check: mail your offering to St. Paul’s Church, 84 E Oakland Ave, Doylestown, PA 18901

Prelude

At 8:30 pm, a prelude of choral anthems and carols precede the Christmas Eve mass.

Hymn: “Once in royal David’s city”

Solo

1 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.

Congregation

2 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, the scorned, the lowly,
lived on earth our Savior holy.

6 Not in that poor lowly stable,
with the oxen standing by,
We shall see him; but in heaven,
set at God’s right hand on high;
when like stars his children crowned,
all in white shall wait around.

Anthem: “Jesus Christ the Apple Tree” Elizabeth Poston

The tree of life my soul hath seen,
Laden with fruit, and always green:
The trees of nature fruitless be,
Compared with Christ the Apple Tree.

His beauty doth all things excel:
By faith I know, but ne’er can tell,
The glory which I now can see,
In Jesus Christ the Apple Tree.

For happiness I long have sought,
And pleasure dearly I have bought:
I missed of all; but now I see
‘Tis found in Christ the Apple Tree.

I’m weary with my former toil,
Here I will sit and rest awhile:
Under the shadow I will be,
Of Jesus Christ the Apple Tree.

This fruit doth make my soul to thrive,
It keeps my dying faith alive;
Which makes my soul in haste to be
With Jesus Christ the Apple Tree.

Hymn: “Angels we have heard on high”

1 Angels we have heard on high,
singing sweetly through the night,
and the mountains in reply
echoing their brave delight.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo.

2 Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why these songs of happy cheer?
What great brightness did you see?
What glad tidings did you hear? Refrain

3 Come to Bethlehem and see
him whose birth the angels sing;
come, adore on bended knee
Christ, the Lord, the newborn King. Refrain

4 See him in a manger laid
whom the angels praise above;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
while we raise our hearts in love. Refrain

Anthem: “Here are we in Bethlehem” Austin C. Lovelace

Here are we in Bethlehem,
There the stable door!
Let us go and enter in, Mary’s Babe adore.
See the Kings who come from far,
Bearing myrrh and gold,
Frankincense to offer him,
Treasure manifold.
Take we gifts as well as these,
At his feet to lay:
Clothes to shield him from the cold,
Toys that he may play.
For a baby still is he,
Mary still is poor.
Here are we in Bethlehem,
There the stable door.
Let us go and enter in, Mary’s Babe adore.

Hymn: “O little town of Bethlehem”

1 O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by;
yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting Light;
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.

2 For Christ is born of Mary;
and gathered all above,
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together
proclaim the holy birth!
and praises sing to God the King,
and peace to men on earth.

3 How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him,
still the dear Christ enters in.

5 O holy Child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin and enter in,
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
our Lord Emmanuel!

Anthem: “Glory to God” G.F. Handel

Glory to God,
glory to God in the highest,
and peace on earth,
goodwill towards men

Organ Solo: “Noel Grand Jeu et Duo” Louis-Claude D’aquin

The Holy Eucharist: Rite I

Hymn: “O come, all ye faithful” (verses 1, 3, & 6)

1. O come, all ye faithful,
joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
come, and behold him,
born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.

2. God from God,
Light from Light eternal,
lo! he abhors
not the Virgin’s womb;
only-begotten Son of the Father;
Refrain

3. Sing, choirs of angels,
sing in exultation,
sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;
glory to God,
glory in the highest;
Refrain

6. Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given;
Word of the Father,
now in flesh appearing;
Refrain

Opening Acclamation and the Collect for Purity

Celebrant ✠ Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
People And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Gloria: “Glory to God in the highest”

Salutation & The Collect of the Day

Celebrant     The Lord be with you.
People     And with thy spirit.
Celebrant     Let us pray.

O God, who hast caused this holy night to shine with the illumination of the true Light: Grant us, we beseech thee, that as we have known the mystery of that Light upon earth, so may we also perfectly enjoy him in heaven; where with thee and the Holy Spirit he liveth and reigneth, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

The Liturgy of the Word

First Reading: Isaiah 9:2-7, KJV

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.

Psalm 96

The Psalm is sung by the choir

1 Sing to the Lord a new song; *
sing to the Lord, all the whole earth.

2 Sing to the Lord and bless his Name; *
proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day.

3 Declare his glory among the nations *
and his wonders among all peoples.

4 For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; *
he is more to be feared than all gods.

5 As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols; *
but it is the Lord who made the heavens.

6 Oh, the majesty and magnificence of his presence! *
Oh, the power and the splendor of his sanctuary!

7 Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples; *
ascribe to the Lord honor and power.

8 Ascribe to the Lord the honor due his Name; *
bring offerings and come into his courts.

9 Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; *
let the whole earth tremble before him.

10 Tell it out among the nations: "The Lord is King! *
he has made the world so firm that it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity."

11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
let the sea thunder and all that is in it; *
let the field be joyful and all that is therein.

12 Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy
before the Lord when he comes, *
when he comes to judge the earth.

13 He will judge the world with righteousness *
and the peoples with his truth.

Second Reading: Titus 2:11-14, KJV

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.

Hymn: “Hark! the herald angels sing”

1 Hark! the herald angels sing
glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with the angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem!
Hark! the herald angels sing
glory to the newborn King!

2 Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
late in time behold him come,
offspring of the Virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail the incarnate Deity.
Pleased as man with man to dwell;
Jesus, our Emmanuel! Refrain

3 Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that man no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth. Refrain

Alleluia

The choir sings the Alleluias, then all repeat them.

The Gospel: Luke 2:1-20, KJV

Celebrant                The Lord be with you.
People                     And with thy spirit.
Celebrant                The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Luke.
People                     Glory be to thee, O Lord.

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Celebrant The Gospel of the Lord.
People Praise be to thee, O Christ.

The Sermon

The Nicene Creed Said in unison

I believe in one God,
the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
and of all things visible and invisible;

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of his Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light,
very God of very God,
begotten, not made,
being of one substance with the Father;
by whom all things were made;
who for us men and for our salvation
came down from heaven,
and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary,
and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered and was buried;
and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures,
and ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of the Father;
and he shall come again, with glory,
to judge both the quick and the dead;
whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord, and Giver of Life,
who proceedeth from the Father and the Son;
who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped
and glorified;
who spake by the Prophets.
And I believe one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church;
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins;
and I look for the resurrection of the dead,
✠ and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Prayers of the People

The Leader and people pray responsively

In peace, we pray to thee, Lord God. Silence

For all people in their daily life and work;
For our families, friends, and neighbors, and for those who are alone.

For this community, the nation, and the world;
For all who work for justice, freedom, and peace.

For the just and proper use of thy creation;
For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression.

For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble;
For those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and the needy.

For the peace and unity of the Church of God;
For all who proclaim the Gospel, and all who seek the Truth.

For all bishops and other ministers;
For all who serve God in his Church.

For the special needs and concerns of this congregation.

Silence

Hear us, O Lord;
For thy mercy is great.

We thank thee, O Lord, for all the blessings of this life.

Silence

We will exalt thee, O God our King;
And praise thy Name for ever and ever.

We pray for ✠ all who have died, that they may have a place in thine eternal kingdom.

Silence. The People may add their own petitions

Lord, let thy loving-kindness be upon them;
Who put their trust in thee.

Celebrant

For thine is the majesty, O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, now and for ever. Amen.

The Peace

Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And with thy spirit.

A Welcome from the Rector

The Holy Communion

The Celebrant introduces the Offertory with a sentence of Scripture. An anthem is sung, and the Altar is prepared with the elements of Holy Communion.

To give an offering, select an option below:

Online: E-Giving (Realm) | PayPal
Text: message 73256 with the phrase saintpauls $X (insert an amount in place of X)
Check: mail your offering to St. Paul’s Church, 84 E Oakland Ave, Doylestown, PA 18901

Offertory Anthem: “In dulci jubilo” Steven Van Wye

In dulci jubilo [In sweet joy],
Let us our homage show;
Our heart’s joy reclineth
In praesepio [in the manger]
And like a bright star shineth,
Matris in gremio [in his mother’s lap]
Alpha es et O. [you are Alpha and Omega]

O Jesu parvule! [O tiny Jesus]
My heart is sore for thee!
Hear me, I beseech thee,
O puer optima [O excellent Child]
My prayer let it reach thee,
O Princeps gloriae! [King of glory]
Trahe me post te! [draw me to you]

O Patris caritas [O love of the Father],
O Nati lenitas! [O gentleness of the Baby]
Deeply were we stained;
Per nostra crimina [through our faults];
But thou for us hast gained
Coelorum gaudia [heavenly joy],
O that we were there!

Ubi sunt gaudia [where are joys],
If that they be not there?
There Hymn: “Once in royal David’s city”

Solo