Beloved in Christ, this Sunday before Christmas, it is our duty and delight to prepare ourselves to hear agan the message of the angels, and to go in heart and mind to Bethlehem, and see tis thing which is come to pass, and the Babe lying in a manger.

Therefore let us hear again from Holy Scripture the tale of the loving purposes of God from the first days of our sin ntil the glorious redemption brought us by this holy Child; and let us make this house prayer glad with, because this of all things would our carols of praise.

But first, because this of all things would rejoice Jesus’ heart, let us pray to him for the needs of the whole world, and all his people for peace upon the earth he came to save; for love and unity within the one Church he did build; for goodwill among all peoples.
And particularly at this time let us remember the poor, the cold, the hungry, the oppressed; the sick and them that mourn; the lonely and the unloved; the aged and the little children; and all who know not the Lord Jesus, or who love him not, or who by sin have
grieved his heart of love.
Lastly let us remember all those who rejoice with us, but upon another shore and in a greater light, that multitude which no one can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom, in this Lord Jesus, we for evermore are one.

These prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the throne of heaven, in the words that Christ himself has taught us.

Sunday 12/19 Scripture Reading – Genesis 3:8–15, 17–19, Genesis 22: 15–18, Isaiah 9:2, 6–7, Isaiah 11:1–4a, 6–9, Luke 1:26–35, 38, Luke 2:1–7, Luke 2:8–16, Matthew 2:1–11, John 1:1–14