The Nativity of Our Lord (Christmas - Midnight Mass)

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!

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 96

R. Today is born our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord! (2x)

Sing to the Lord a new song,
Sing to the Lord, all the earth;
Sing to the Lord,
bless his holy name!
R. Today is born our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord! (2x)

Announce his salvation, day after day
Tell His glory among the nations;
Among all peoples, his marvelous deeds.
R. Today is born our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord! (2x)

They shall rejoice before the Lord,
who comes to govern the earth,
to govern the world with justice
and all the peoples with faithfulness.
R. Today is born our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord! (2x)

2nd Reading –
Hebrews 1:1-6

Brothers and sisters:
In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe, who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word.
        When he had accomplished purification from sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high, as far superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

For to which of the angels did God ever say:
    You are my son; this day I have begotten you?
Or again:
    I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me?
And again, when he leads the firstborn into the world, he says:
    Let all the angels of God worship him.

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

Gospel Acclamation

Cantor: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

All: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Cantor: Good news and great joy to all the world: today is born our Savior Jesus Christ the Lord!

All: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Gospel –
Luke 2:15-20

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:

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
“Let us go, then, to Bethlehem
to see this thing that has taken place,
which the Lord has made known to us.”

So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.

Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

The Gospel of the Lord.

All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

(please sit)

Nicene Creed
(please stand)

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 - 427 - Of the Father’s Love Begotten

Of the Father’s love begotten
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the source, the ending he
Of the things that are,
that have been,
And that future years shall see
Evermore and evermore!

O that birth forever blessed,
When the Virgin, full of grace,
Overshadowed by the Spirit,
Bore the Savior of our race;
And the babe, the world’s redeemer,
First revealed his sacred face.
Evermore and evermore!

This is he whom seers and sages
Sang of old with one accord,
Whom the voices of the prophets
Promised in their faithful word;
Now he shines, the long-expected;
Let creation praise its Lord
Evermore and evermore!

Let the heights of heav’n adore him;
Angel hosts, his praises sing;
Pow’rs, dominions bow before him
And extol our God and King;
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Ev’ry voice in concert ring
Evermore and evermore!

Christ, to you, with God the Father,
And the Spirit, One in Three,
Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving
And unwearied praises be:
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory
Evermore and evermore!

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.

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.