Christmas Eve (Midnight/Luke)

As We Gather

Hark! The angelic hosts proclaim “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!” Heaven and earth rejoice on this night because the glory of the blessed Trinity is manifested in the human birth of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. The Father’s grace, mercy and peace rest upon the world in the form of this little child. The silence of death is broken by the “good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” All we who have gone astray like lost and wandering sheep, who have “walked in the darkness” of doubt and fear and sinful unbelief, behold “a great light” in the nativity of Immanuel, “God with us.”

In Christ, “the grace of God has appeared.” For this Child of Mary who is born for us, this dear Son of God who is given to us, will bear the burden of our sin and death in His own body on the cross. He thereby establishes a government of peace, “with justice and with righteousness,” which shall have no end; not by any work of any human but by “the zeal of the Lord of hosts.”

—www.LCMS.org

Introit (Psalm 2:1–2, 4–6; antiphon: Liturgical Text)

P:
When all was still, and it was | midnight,* your almighty Word, O Lord, descended from the | royal throne.
C:
Why do the | nations rage* and the peoples | plot in vain?

P:
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel to- | gether,* against the Lord and against his anointed, | saying,
C:
He who sits in the | heavens laughs;* the Lord holds them in de- | rision.

P:
Then he will speak to them | in his wrath,* and terrify them in his fury, | saying,
C:
“As for me, I have | set my King* on Zion, my | holy hill.”

C:
Glory be to the Father and | to the Son* and to the Holy | Spirit; as it was in the be- | ginning,* is now and will be forever. | Amen.

Collect of the Day

O God, You make this most holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light. Grant that as we have known the mysteries of that Light on earth we may also come to the fullness of His joys in heaven; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Isaiah 9:2–7

The Old Testament reading is from Isaiah, chapter nine.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

This is the word of the Lord.

Titus 2:11–14

The Epistle is from Titus, chapter two.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

This is the word of the Lord.

Luke 2:1–20

The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the second chapter.

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 Savior, 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. [KJV]

Psalm 96

P:
Oh sing to the Lord a | new song;* sing to the Lord, | all the earth!
C:
Sing to the Lord, | bless his name;* tell of his salvation from | day to day.

P:
Declare his glory among the | nations,* his marvelous works among all the | peoples!
C:
For great is the Lord, and greatly | to be praised;* he is to be feared a- | bove all gods.

P:
For all the gods of the peoples are worthless | idols,* but the Lord made the | heavens.
C:
Splendor and majesty are be- | fore him;* strength and beauty are in his sanctu- | ary.

P:
Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the | peoples,* ascribe to the Lord glo- | ry and strength!
C:
Ascribe to the Lord the glory | due his name;* bring an offering, and come in- | to his courts!

P:
Worship the Lord in the splendor of | holiness;* tremble before him, | all the earth!
C:
Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall nev- | er be moved;* he will judge the peoples with | equity.”

P:
Let the heavens be glad, and let the | earth rejoice;* let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and every- | thing in it!
C:
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, | for he comes,* for he comes to judge the earth.

P:
He will judge the world in | righteousness,* and the peoples in his | faithfulness.
C:
Glory be to the Father and | to the Son* and to the Holy | Spirit; as it was in the be- | ginning,* is now and will be forever. | Amen.