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_.
THE EPISTLE. Hebr. 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.
THE GOSPEL. St John i. 1.
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 of 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-begottenof the Father)
full of grace and truth.
| _If there be two or more celebrations of the Holy Communion in_
| _any church on Christmas-day, the following Epistle and Gospel_
| _may be used at one of them_.
|
| THE EPISTLE. Titus ii. 11.
|
| 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.
|
| THE GOSPEL. St Luke ii. 1.
|
| 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.
|
| _Or_ St Matth. i. 18.
|
| The birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother
| Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was
| found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband,
| being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example,
| was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these
| things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a
| dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto
| thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the
| Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call
| his name JESUS; for he shall save his people from their sins.
| (Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was
| spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a Virgin
| shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they
| shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God
| with us.) Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel
| of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife; and knew
| her not till she had brought forth her first-born son: and he
| called his name JESUS.
|
| _An Additional Collect for Christmastide_.
|
| O God, who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance of the
| birth of thy 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 Collect, Epistle, and Gospel for Christmas-day may be used_
| _for six days after, unless another Collect, Epistle, and_
| _Gospel are provided_.