Collects, Epistles, and
Gospels
for Christmastide.
for Christmastide.
The Nativity of our Lord, or the Birthday of Christ,
commonly called Christmas Day. [December 25.
Missal Propers + Vigil Propers
The Collect.
ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin; Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.
¶ This Collect is to be said daily throughout
the Octave.
The Epistle. Hebrews i. 1.
GOD, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time
past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days
spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all
things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness
of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding
all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged
our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance
obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the
angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I
begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall
be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the first-begotten
into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship
him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits,
and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith,
Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness
is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness,
and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed
thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord,
in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the
heavens are the works of thine hands: they shall perish; but
thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed:
but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will or man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
¶ If in any Church the Holy Communion be twice celebrated on Christmas Day, the following Collect, Epistle, and Gospel may be used at the first Communion.
GOD, who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance of the
birth of thine only Son Jesus Christ; Grant that as we joyfully
receive him for our Redeemer, so we may with sure confidence
behold him when he shall come to be our Judge, who liveth and
reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without
end. Amen.
THE grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to
all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,
we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present
world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing
of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself
for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify
unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These
things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let
no man despise thee.
AND it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David :) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
O come, all ye faithful - Adeste Fideles
While shepherds watched their flocks - Winchester Old
While shepherds watched their flocks - Hampton
Now yield we thanks and praise - Was frog ich nach der Welt
Sion, the marvelous story be telling - Avison
Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming - Es ist em Ros
A great and mighty wonder - Rosa Mystica
It came upon the midnight clear - Carol
It came upon the midnight clear - Noel
Of the Father's love begotten - Divinum Mysterium
O little town of Bethlehem - Forest Green
O little town of Bethlehem - St. Louis
From heaven above to earth I come - Vom Himmel Hoch
Calm on the listening ear of night - St. Agnes
Break forth, O beauteous heavenly light - Ermuntre dich
Sing, O sing this blessed morn - England's Lane
Hark! the herald angels sing - Mendelssohn
Angels from the realms of glory - Regent Square
Dost thou in a manger lie - Dies est Laetitiae
Dost thou in a manger lie - Mauburn
The first Nowell - The First Nowell
Good Christian friends, rejoice - In Dulci Jubilo
All my heart this night rejoices - Ebeling
Silent night, holy night - Stille nacht
Silent night, holy night - the "original"
Unto us a boy is born - Puer Nobis Nascitur
He whom joyous shepherds praised - Quem Pastores
What child is this, who, laid to rest - Greensleeves
Gentle Mary laid her child - Weimar
Here betwixt ass and oxen mild - Gevaert
A babe lies in the cradle - Corner
God rest you merry gentlemen - God Rest You Merry
The snow lay on the ground - Venite Adoremus
Angels we have heard on high - Gloria
Away in a manger - Cradle Song
In the bleak mid-winter - Cranham
Joseph dearest. Joseph mine - Resonet In Laudibus
Joy to the world! - Antioch