The Nativity of Our Lord (Christmas)

Preludes - to view prelude Christmas carols, click here

Opening Hymn - 439 - O Come, All Ye Faithful

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!

Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest:

O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord!

Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be all glory giv’n!
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:

O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord!

*if needed

Adeste Fideles laeti triumphantes,
Venite, venite in Bethlehem.
Natum videte, Regem Angelorum;
Venite adoremus,
venite adoremus,
venite adoremus
Dominum!

Gloria - Mass of Creation

Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace to people of good will.

We praise you, we bless you, we adore you,
We glorify you,
We give you thanks for your great glory.
Lord God, heavenly king,
O God, Almighty Father.

Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace to people of good will.

Lord, Jesus Christ,
Only Begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
You take away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
You take away the sins of the world,
Receive our prayer;
You are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.

Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace to people of good will.

For you alone are the Holy One,
You alone are the Lord,
You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father,
Amen, amen.

Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace to people of good will.

1st Reading –
Isaiah 62:1-5

For Zion’s sake I will not be silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her vindication shines forth like the dawn and her victory like a burning torch.
Nations shall behold your vindication, and all the kings your glory; you shall be called by a new name pronounced by the mouth of the LORD.
You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the LORD, a royal diadem held by your God.
No more shall people call you “Forsaken,” or your land “Desolate,” but you shall be called “My Delight,” and your land “Espoused.”
For the LORD delights in you and makes your land his spouse.
As a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you.

The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm –
Psalm 89

R. Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord, the goodness of the Lord.

“With my chosen one,
I have made a covenant;
I have sworn to David, my servant:
I will establish your dynasty forever
And set up your throne through all ages.”
R. Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord, the goodness of the Lord.

Happy the people who acclaim such a God,
Who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face,
Who find their joy ev’ry day in your name,
Who make your justice
the source of their bliss.
R. Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord, the goodness of the Lord.

He will say to me, “You are my father,
My God, the rock who saves me!”
I will keep my love for him always;
with him, my covenant will last.
R. Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord, the goodness of the Lord.

2nd Reading –
Titus 2:11-14

Beloved:
The grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age,  as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good.

The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.

Alleluia -Mass of Creation

Cantor: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

All: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Cantor: I proclaim to you good news of great joy: today a Savior is born for us, Christ the Lord.

All: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Gospel –
Matthew 1:18-25

Priest or Deacon: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.
Priest or Deacon: A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
All: Glory to you, O Lord.

Priest or Deacon:
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.

Joseph, her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.

Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, 

which means “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.
He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus.

The Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.

Prayers of the Faithful

(after each prayer intention)
We pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Prayer for Our Lady of Angels Parish

Heavenly Father, we thank you for gathering us together and calling us to serve as your disciples.
You have charged us through your Son, Jesus, with the great mission of evangelizing and witnessing your love to the world.
Send your Holy Spirit to guide us as we discern your will for the spiritual renewal of our parish.
Give us strength, courage, and clear vision as we use our gifts to serve you.
We entrust our parish family to the care of Mary, our mother, and ask for her intercession and guidance, as we strive to build a parish that loves God, embraces all people, and shares the Gospel joyfully.

Amen.

Offertory Hymn - 430 - Angels We Have Heard on High

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echo back their joyous strains.
Gloria In Excelsis Deo.
Gloria In Excelsis Deo.

Shepherds why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
Say what may the tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Gloria In Excelsis Deo.
Gloria In Excelsis Deo.

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Gloria In Excelsis Deo.
Gloria In Excelsis Deo.

See him in a manger laid
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.
Gloria In Excelsis Deo.
Gloria In Excelsis Deo.

Preface

Priest: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right and just.

Holy, Holy (sung)

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Memorial Acclamation (sung)

We proclaim your Death, O Lord,
And profess your Resurrection until you come again.

Doxology/Amen:

Priest: Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, for ever and ever.
All (sung): Amen, amen, amen. Amen, amen, amen!

Our Father

Sign of Peace

Priest The peace of the Lord be with you always.
All: And with your spirit.
To each other: Peace be with you.

Lamb of God (sung)

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

Communion Hymns - 424- Hark, the Herald Angels Sing

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!”

Christ, by highest Heav’n 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 us to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail the heav’n born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that we no more may die;
Born to raise us from the earth,
Born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Communion Hymn - 448 - Away in a Manger

Away in a manger,
No crib for His bed,
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky
Looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus,
Asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing;
The Baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes.
I love you, Lord Jesus!
Look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle,
'Til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask you to stay
Close by me forever,
And love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children
In Your tender care,
And fit us for heaven,
To live with You there

Communion Hymn - 441 - Silent Night

Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy Infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar;
Heavenly hosts sing 'Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

Silent night, holy night!
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace.
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth.

Communion Meditation Song- optional

Recessional Hymn - 437 - Joy to the World

Joy to the World, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let us our songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

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