Sunday Agape Liturgy – House Church
Christmas Eve Liturgy – December 24, 2021
Introductory Rites
(For private reading. Mark, the first of the known Gospels to be written says nothing of Jesus’ life before his public ministry. Matthew and Luke each add somewhat different infancy stories that place his birth in the family of Mary and Joseph (of the royal house of David) in the town of Bethlehem. John, writing later than all three synoptics and with more developed theological language, begins the Gospel with the same words as Genesis, “In the beginning….” In the beginning was the Word, who was God. Through the Word came life and light. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. John testified to this Word, who is Jesus.)
Prologue – Joan & Jim
In the beginning was the Word, God’s Wisdom.
Wisdom was with God, and Wisdom was God.
Wisdom, God’s Word, was in the beginning with God.
All things came into being through the Word.
Nothing came to be without Wisdom.
What has come into being was Life.
This Life was the radiance for all creation.
This radiance was not like the lights of this world,
but an eternal radiance born of nurturing darkness,
a flaring forth that has never ended.
Although not recognized, Wisdom, God’s Word,
brought the world into being and dwelt in the world.
In the fullness of time, the Word became flesh;
Wisdom pitched Her tent among us.
We have seen this glory, the very glory of God,
full of grace and truth.
No one has ever seen the Holy One;
but Wisdom, God’s Word, has made God known.
We take a few moments of Silence to deepen our awareness of God’s Presence.
Opening Song “O Come All Ye Faithful” (Martina McBride)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3egGjeiWEA
Greeting and Sign of the Cross:
Leader: We gather in the name of God, the Source of All Being,
Christ who is the Eternal Word, and the Holy Spirit who
accompanies us and guides us.
ALL: AMEN!
Leader: May the peace of Christ, the love of God our Creator,
and the friendship of the Holy Spirit be with you.
ALL: And also with you.
Prayer of Praise – Magnificat (adapted)
Leader: Together, let us raise our voices in praise to our God.
Our being proclaims the greatness of God and our spirits rejoice in God our Savior, who has looked with favor upon us in our lowliness.
From this day all generations will call us blest, for you have done great things for us and holy is Your name.
Your mercy is for those who fear You,
from generation to generation.
You have shown strength with Your arm; and have scattered the proud of mind and heart.
You have brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly.
You have filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
You, O God, have helped your servant Israel, in remembrance of Your
mercy, and according to the promise You made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and Sarah and their descendants forever. Amen.
Opening Prayer:
Leader: Let us pray,
O Sacred Mystery, on this Christmas Day we remember and celebrate the birth of
Jesus into this world. We remember that ‘in the darkness a Light is born’ in
Jesus the Christ who is always with us. We celebrate your gifts of hope, peace, joy
and love given to us this day. In Jesus and through him you show us the Way
to love and live a life of abundance. May this flaring forth of Your Wisdom lead
us into Your kin-dom, where we will know Your justice and Your peace.
ALL: AMEN.
Light candles and a minute of silence in preparation for hearing the Word of God.
Liturgy of the Word
(For private reading. The historical context of this poetic text by Isaiah of Jerusalem may have been hope in a new king of Judah, perhaps Hezekiah, who would break the rod of the Assyrian oppressor. However, the closing verses speak of a future child who is idealized and represents the fullness of God’s gifts, including a peace without end. This whole reading has a thrust toward a future messiah/anointed. It is traditionally read at Christmas Mass during the night or at midnight.)
First Reading: A reading from the Prophet Isaiah (9:1-7) – Kate
In darkness, a light was born.
From deep darkness, a crest of dawn shines.
You enlarged life, and Your people were born.
Even though they knew pain and suffering, You increased their joy.
They rejoice before You as with joy at the harvest,
as children exult at play, and delight in sharing gifts.
For You have shattered the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.
Every warrior’s boot that trampled in battle and every cloak
rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for fire.
For unto us a child is born. For unto us a child is given
on whose shoulders our future rests.
The child will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Strength of God,
Everlasting One, Voice of Peace.
And of the peace the Child brings,
there will be no end.
Reader: The Word of Our God
ALL: Thanks be to God
A Moment of Silence
(For private reading. Psalm 96 imagines God enthroned in majesty ruling over the universe.)
Responsorial Psalm 96 – Geri
Response: Let all the cosmos exult!
Sing a new song to God!
Sing a new song, all the earth!
Sing to God, and bless The Holy Name!
Response: Let all the cosmos exult!
Great is God, and greatly to be praised,
revered above all,
for God is Creator, maker of the galaxies.
Response: Let all the cosmos exult!
Splendor and mystery announce God’s presence!
Love and beauty are God’s sanctuary.
Say among all peoples, “God reigns!”
Response: Let all the cosmos exult!
Let the cosmos resound in symphonic majesty!
Let Earth rejoice and be glad!
Let seas resound, and all that is in them!
Let plains and fields exult, and all that is in them!
Let the trees of the forests rejoice before God who comes,
who comes to govern the earth,
to govern the world with healing justice,
and all peoples with faithfulness.
Response: Let all the cosmos exult!
A Moment of Silence
(For private reading. This is the exuberant beginning of the sermon found in Hebrews. It echoes John 1 in recognizing that the Christ is the fullness of God’s being, the creative word of God that sustains the universe. A quotation from Deuteronomy 32:43, “Let all God’s angels praise” is originally directed toward YHWH, the God of Israel. The preacher accords the same status to the Christ. We are led to anticipate the song of the angels in the Gospel that follows. The second quotation is from Psalm 45:7-8, a royal wedding song, “Your reign will last forever….” The ruler is anointed “with the oil of joy” which gives him the title of the anointed one/messiah/christos. This reign reminds us of the reign of the child in Isaiah 9.)
Second Reading: A reading from the Book of Hebrews (1:1-3, 6, 8-9) – Connie
In times past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways. In these last days, God has spoken to us through the Christ, the Messiah, whom God appointed heir of all things and through whom God made the cosmos. This Cosmic Christ is the radiance of God’s glory and the fullness of God’s being, sustaining all things by a powerful word. After Jesus’ life and death, the Cosmic Christ filled the majesty of the heavens.
When God brings a holy child into the world, God says:
“Let all God’s angels praise.”
About the Christ, God says:
“Your reign will last for ever and ever!
A scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kin-dom.
You have loved righteousness and shunned evil.
Therefore God, your God anointed you, Messiah, with the oil of joy.”
Reader: The word of our God
ALL: Thanks be to God
A Moment of Silence
(For private reading. Having followed Luke through the announcements of the birth of John and Jesus, the meeting of their mothers, and the birth of John, we now come to the high point of the narrative with the birth of Jesus. The event is situated in history, the reign of Emperor Augustus, whose oppressive power is shown in the command for people to travel long distances for a census. Joseph takes his family to the city of David, his ancestor. These were not wealthy people who could command a lavish room. They are God’s beloved poor using a manger for a crib. An angel messenger announces the birth of a Messiah/Anointed One/Christos in these humble circumstances and is joined by a host of angels. All this splendor is presented to shepherds, who are also part of God’s beloved poor. The shepherds return praising God (unlike the shepherd/leaders of Israel who will reject Jesus) and Mary is left to ponder these things in her heart. Perhaps the author’s intent is that readers will do the same.)
Gospel Acclamation:
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gospel: A reading from the Gospel of Luke (2:1-20) – Kay
This will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped
in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”
- Alleluia, Alleluia
Silently: May the Word of God be in my mind, on my lips, and in my heart.
In those days, a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first census and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David and Bathsheba. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was pledged to be married and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. She gave birth to her firstborn. She wrapped her newborn in swaddling clothes. She laid the baby in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. Then an angel, a messenger of God, stood before them. The glory of God shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid. For behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy
for all people: Unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Messiah,
the Anointed One. This will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped
in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly, with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host joined in, praising God and singing, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to all God’s people!”
When the angels departed from them, retreating into cosmic splendor, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which God has made known to us.” They went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
Mary treasured all these words, and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned to their pastures, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as they had been told.
Leader: The Good News of our Salvation
ALL: Praise to you, O Christ.
Reflection followed by Faith Sharing – “Silent Night” (Mannheim Steamroller)
Profession of Faith
Leader: Let us together profess our faith:
We reject Evil, and all the works of evil, and all the empty promises of pride, greed, envy and jealousy.
We believe in God, the Holy Mystery and Source of All Being, who created the heavens and the earth.
We believe in Jesus, the Christ, the Incarnate Word of God who was born into the human condition, walked upon this earth forgiving and healing those who cried out to him.
We believe in Jesus who fed the hungry, comforted those mourning, and set captives free; who calls us to love one another, to do good to those who harm us, and to pray for our enemies.
We believe in Jesus who suffered, died, and was buried, was raised from the dead, and whose presence now fills the Universe in all its parts.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy People of God, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life in abundance.
This is our faith. It is the faith of the People of God, and we joyfully profess it in Christ Jesus. Amen..
Leader: Let us bless ourselves remembering the water of our baptism.
Prayers of the Faithful – Pat & Lou Salcedo (petitions)
Leader: O Creator God, You are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.
Through You, everything came into being. Awaken us to your Incarnate
Presence. Hear our prayers and our longings, O Holy One. Our response is…
May we trust in your Eternal Presence and joyfully bring your gifts
into the world.
We are called to be awakened to You, who is in our midst. Every day You are loving us into something new, something more whole. Guide us so we may place our hope in what matters and what lasts. We pray… May we trust in your Eternal Presence and joyfully bring your gifts into the world.
We are grateful for all those who bring the light of Christ into our lives. We thank them and we bless them for tenderly showing You to us. Our joy is increased when we are aware of Your Presence. We pray… May we trust in Your Eternal Presence and joyfully bring your gifts into the world.
As Jesus the Christ was born in a stable, and later became, with his family refugees from death threats, protect all those who flee their homes around the world seeking safety.
Hold all those who, like Mary and Joseph, try to sustain their families and keep them safe, despite the risk. Calm their desperation. Pour out your love upon us so we become the home they seek, the welcoming INN they need. We pray… May we trust in your Eternal Presence and joyfully bring your gifts into the world.
May we look upon this beautiful world you created with the wonder and awe of a baby. May we praise the joy of dancing, the beauty of music and song, the birds, the fish, the winds, the rivers, the oceans and mountains you majestically created and entrusted to us.
Prompt us to protect our earth so the little ones, yet to be born, have clean air and water and healthy soil to sustain them, and beauty to uplift them. We pray… May we trust in your Eternal Presence and joyfully bring your gifts into the world.
For all of us gathered here this morning, may we be grateful for our many blessings. Bless our families and our friends. Bless those who are lonely. Enliven this faith community and help us grow. As Mary pondered the word of God in her heart, may we too be thoughtful and contemplative, seeking your guidance in all our decisions. Awaken us to greater truth, greater humility and greater care for one another. We pray… May we trust in Your Eternal Presence and joyfully bring your gifts into the world.
For what else and for whom else shall we pray…
God of love, who have chosen to dwell among us. Hear our prayers for our own transformation and the transformation of our world. Help us to hear and respond to the voice that cries out in our hearts and make straight your path. We offer these prayers in the name of Jesus, whose
vision guides our lives.
ALL: AMEN.
Breaking Bread
Presentation of the Bread and Wine
Leader: Blessed are you, God of all Creation.
Through your goodness we have this bread to offer.
With it we place before you ourselves the creative actions of all people throughout the ages: their aspirations, their work, their accomplishments, and their joys.
May we who eat this bread, which earth has given and human hands have made, be bread for others.
ALL: Blessed be God forever.
Leader: Blessed are you, God of all Creation.
Through your goodness we have this wine to offer.
With it we bring forward the pain and suffering of our world at this time.
May we who drink this fruit of the vine and work of human hands, pour out our love.
ALL: Blessed be God forever.
Prayer of Praise
Leader: We believe in an Ultimate Reality,
a reality beyond our words and beyond our images,
a reality that grounds and sustains everything that exists.
We see this Reality at work in the immensity of our universe,
in the incredible display of life-forms on this planet
and in the development of consciousness in the human species.
All our collected human wisdom is a visible expression of this Reality,
active for millions of years in human development
active in all places, at all times, individuals and cultures,
seeking expression in the betterment of humanity.
We rejoice in the birth of Jesus.
In him we see the fullness of human possibility:
to make God visible in our lives.
In him we have seen the Ultimate Reality, God, Breath of Life,
Wisdom, come to expression in human form.*
We lift our voices as we acclaim in song your gracious love:
Sung Response: We praise you, O God. For all your works are wonderful.
We praise you, O God. Forever is your love.
We give you thanks, God of Eternity,
for revealing yourself throughout history,
and inviting us into relationship with you.
To you, we sing: sung response
We give you thanks, God of Liberation,
For Jesus, who freed us from sin
And anointed us as your beloved children.
To you, we sing: sung response
We give you thanks, God of Hope,
For the Spirit of Life who empowers us to proclaim the good news
and who accompanies and unites us on our journey to fulfillment.
To you, we sing: sung response
Leader: Like all of us Jesus grew in wisdom as he aged.
He questioned, he searched for meaning,
he shaped his convictions, he experienced love
and came to know loves connectedness with his God.*
In the power of the creative Spirit, Jesus lived life to the full.
We, too, are blessed in the power of that same Spirit,
which we now call upon all gathered here,
to celebrate the transformative energy
symbolized in our gifts of bread and wine,
given to nourish and sustain us into the fullness of life.**
Prayer of Remembering
Leader: We remember the night before Jesus died, when he shared a meal with his
friends. He took bread, honoring the God of faithful presence in the ordinary
and in the ups and downs of life. He gave thanks for all the blessings in his life,
and shared the bread with his friends, saying:
ALL: “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Leader: After the meal, knowing his life was to be poured out, Jesus took the cup of wine,
gave thanks and shared the cup with his friends, saying:
ALL: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
Together, we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
ALL: When we eat this bread, and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, Christ Jesus. Until you come again.
Prayer of Thanks*
Leader: With hearts full of gratitude, we rejoice that Jesus led people to discover
the sacred in the ordinary: in the crowd, in the lowly, in everyday life,
in human yearnings to be better people, and in being neighbor to one another.
We rejoice that his teaching sets us free to believe that we live in God and
that God lives and comes to wonderful expression in us.
We give thanks for this intimate connectedness that gives meaning to who we are.
We give thanks for God being with us in the love from family and friends,
in whatever has been, in the circumstances of life now,
and in whatever the future holds for us.
Our Christmas prayer is that we may recognize and actively acknowledge
the presence of the sacred in places we are reluctant to look:
- in the stables of our own lives
- among the downtrodden in our society
- in refugees
- in people who are different from us.
May we recognize God-in-us and allow the Spirit of generosity
that took flesh and moved so boldly in Jesus to move in our lives.
ALL: Amen.
The Prayer of Jesus
Leader: Together, we pray as Jesus taught us:
ALL: O Most Holy God, who dwells in heaven and earth,
Holy is your name.
Your kin-dom come
Your will be done throughout creation.
Give us today our daily bread
And forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Do not let us fall into temptation
And deliver us from evil.
For all we do in your love, all that your love brings about, and the fullness of your love to come are yours, now and forever. Amen.
Sharing the Bread and Wine***
Leader: Let us share this bread and wine as Jesus taught and has been handed onto us, knowing that our lives are forever changed by this and every breaking of bread.
Silent Reflection – “Mary Did You Know” (Kenny Rogers & Wynonna Judd)
Closing Prayer and Blessing
Leader: Let us pray together:
Grant us, O God, a vision of your world
as your love would have it:
A world where the weak are protected,
and none go hungry or poor;
A world where the riches of creation are honored and shared
so everyone might enjoy them;
A world where different races, cultures and creeds
live in peace and harmony, with equal regard;
A world where peace is built with justice
and justice is guided by love.
Give us the inspiration and courage to go forth with willing hearts,
minds, and bodies to build such a world, through Christ Jesus. Amen.****
Leader: And may the God of hope fill us with every comfort and joy in believing.
May the peace of Christ abound in our hearts and minds.
and may the Holy Spirit gift and guide us
(making Sign of the Cross) now and forever,
ALL: AMEN
Closing Song “O Holy Night” (Josh Grogan)
*Adapted from Praying a New Story by Michael Morwood.
**From Eucharistic Prayer 2, Dairmund O’Murchu.
***Adapted from More than Word: Prayer and Ritual for Inclusive Communities by Janet Schaffran and Pat Kozak, pg 50-51.
****FutureChurch, Russ Petrus