Sunday Lectionary Readings

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The Collect

The Nativity of Our Lord: Christmas Day
O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

-or this-

O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, on God, in glory everlasting. Amen

-or this-

Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born [this day] of a pure virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen
Preface of the Incarnation

Old Testament Reading

Isaiah 9:2-4,6-7
²The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined. ³You have multiplied the nation And increased its joy; They rejoice before You According to the joy of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. ⁴For You have broken the yoke of his burden And the staff of his shoulder, The rod of his oppressor, As in the day of Midian. ⁶For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ⁷Of the increase of His government and peace There will beno end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. -- NKJV

Psalm

Psalm 96
¹Oh, sing to the LORD a new song!
Sing to the LORD, all the earth.

²Sing to the LORD, bless His name;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.

³Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples.

⁴For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.

⁵For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the LORD made the heavens.

⁶Honor and majesty are before Him;
Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.

⁷Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
Give to the LORD glory and strength.

⁸Give to the LORD the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come into His courts.

⁹Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!
Tremble before Him, all the earth.

¹⁰Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns;
The world also is firmly established,
It shall not be moved;
He shall judge the peoples righteously."

¹¹Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
Let the sea roar, and all its fullness;

¹²Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it.
Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice

¹³before the LORD.
For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth.
He shall judge the world with righteousness,
And the peoples with His truth.
-- NKJV

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Psalm 96:1-4,11-12
¹Oh, sing to the LORD a new song!
Sing to the LORD, all the earth.

²Sing to the LORD, bless His name;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.

³Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples.

⁴For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.

¹¹Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
Let the sea roar, and all its fullness;

¹²Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it.
Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice

-- NKJV

New Testament Reading

Titus 2:11-14
¹¹For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ¹²teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, ¹³looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. -- NKJV

Gospel Reading

Luke 2:1-14(15-20)
¹And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ²This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. ³So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. ⁴Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. ⁶So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. ⁷And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. ⁸Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ¹⁰Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹²And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ¹⁴" Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" (¹⁵So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." ¹⁶And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. ¹⁷Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. ¹⁸And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. ¹⁹But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. ) -- NKJV

The Preface

Preface of the Incarnation
To be used on Sundays and weekdays alike, except as otherwise appointed for Holy Days and Various Occasions
Because you gave Jesus Christ, your only Son, to be born for us; who, by the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, was made perfect Man of the flesh of the Virgin Mary his mother; so that we might be delivered from the bondage of sin, and receive power to become your children.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version.
(Unless otherwise noted.)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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