Preparation

Opening response

Favor us, Lord, and deliver us.
Lord, come quickly and help us.

I will thank you, Lord, with all my heart;
I will talk about all your wonderful acts.

Psalm 9:1

Praise

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.

from Gloria in Excelsis

The Word of God

Psalm 110

Refrain:
The Lord rules! He is robed in majesty.

What the Lord says to my master:
“Sit right beside me
    until I make your enemies
    a footstool for your feet!”
May the Lord make your mighty scepter
    reach far from Zion!
    Rule over your enemies!
Your people stand ready
    on your day of battle.
    “In holy grandeur, from the dawn’s womb, fight!
        Your youthful strength is like the dew itself.”
The Lord has sworn a solemn pledge and won’t change his mind:
    “You are a priest forever in line with Melchizedek.”
My master, by your strong hand,
    God has crushed kings on his day of wrath.
God brings the nations to justice,
    piling the dead bodies, crushing heads throughout the earth.
God drinks from a stream along the way,
    then holds his head up high.

Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and will be forever. Amen.

Refrain:
The Lord rules! He is robed in majesty.

Psalm prayer

Lord Jesus, divine Son and eternal priest,
inspire us with the confidence of your final conquest of evil,
and grant that daily on our way
we may drink of the brook of your eternal life
and so find courage against all adversities;
for your mercy’s sake.

Scripture reading
Luke 2:16-20

They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told.

Silence may be kept.

Response

Happy are people who have pure hearts,
because they will see God.

Matthew 5:8

Prayers

Intercession and thanksgiving

Prayers may include these concerns

The church, especially in places of conflict
The Holy Land, for peace with justice, and reconciliation
Refugees and asylum seekers
Homeless people
Families with young children

Other intercessions and supplications may be offered as the Holy Spirit leads.

Prayer

Almighty and everlasting God,
who stooped to raise fallen humanity
through the child-bearing of blessed Mary;
grant that we, who have seen your glory
revealed in our human nature
and your love made perfect in our weakness,
may daily be renewed in your image
and conformed to the pattern of your Son
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Collect of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Lord’s Prayer

Rejoicing in the presence of God here among us, as our Savior 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 forever.
Amen.

Conclusion

May the grace of Christ our Savior be with us all.
Amen.