St. Paul’s Cathedral The Anglican Church of Canada

Kamloops, British Columbia

ChristmasEve4:00pmDecember24,2020Pre-recordedDecember19,2020

Dean:TheVeryRev.KenGrayMusic:GailOvingtonMusician:PaigeFinleyReader:AveryDanyluk

Children,Youth&FamilyLifeMinistryCoordinator:MelissaGreen

WelcometothevirtualworshipservicefromSt.Paul’sAnglicanCathedral.OurfamilyChristmasEveworshipserviceis“repeat-after-me”style:whenthehandsoftheofficiantareoutstretchedyouareinvitedtorepeatthespokenwords,whenhandsarefoldedinfront,youareinvitedtolisten.Youwillfindtheliturgyinthisbulletinalongsidethewordstothehymns.OurserviceoriginatesfromthetraditionalterritoryoftheTk’emlúpsteSecwepemc–Kamloops&AreaFirstNation.WeacknowledgetheircareforandworkingofthelandpriortocontactwithEuropeans.AsCanadianAnglicans,wecontinuetoworktowardhealingandreconciliationandanewexperienceofsharingthelandtogether.

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PRELUDEWELCOMEHYMN:OHolyNightOholynight,thestarsarebrightlyshining,ItisthenightofthedearSaviour’sbirth;Longlaytheworldinsinanderrorpining,'Tillheappearedandthesoulfeltitsworth.Athrillofhopethewearyworldrejoices,Foryonderbreaksanewandgloriousmorn;

ChorusFallonyourknees,Ohheartheangelvoices!Onightdivine!OnightwhenChristwasborn.Onight,Oholynight,Onightdivine.

OPENINGWORDSSomeoneisshouting:GetreadyforGod.Someoneiswhispering:GetreadyforGod.Someoneissinging:GetreadyforGod.Godiscomingsoon.TonightweareexcitedBlessuswithwonder.TonightweareexpectantBlessuswithgladness.TonightweareontiptoeBlessuswithnewbirth.WhentheworldbeganGodsaidyes.WhenJesuscameGodsaidyes.WhenwewerebornGodsaidyes.Godsaidyestolifeandloving.

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THELIGHTINGOFTHECHRISTCANDLEJesusisborninBethlehem!Alleluia!Alleluia!Jesusisborninourhearts!TheblueandpinkcandlesontheAdventwreatharelit.Asthewhitecandleislitthefollowingisread:WelighttheChristcandletosymbolizeGod’spromisefulfilled.Forachildhasbeenbornforus,asongiventous;authorityrestsuponhisshoulders;andheisnamedWonderfulCounselor,MightyGod,EverlastingFather,PrinceofPeace.GlorytoGodinthehighestheaven,andpeacetoallonwhomhisfavourrests.LovingGod,onthisholynightwegather–tostandwithshepherds,amazedatyourglory;tosingwithangels,rejoicinginyourwork;towaitwithJoseph,trustinginyourpromise;tositwithMary,cradlingyourlove.Maythegoodnewsofthisnightinspireustotelltheworldofourgreatjoy:fortousisbornaSavior,theMessiah,theLord.Gloryandpraisetoyouforever!Amen.HYMN:AwayinaMangerAwayinamanger,nocribforabed,ThelittleLordJesuslaiddownhissweethead.Thestarsinthebrightskylookeddownwherehelay,ThelittleLordJesusasleeponthehay.Thecattlearelowing,thebabyawakes,ButlittleLordJesus,nocryinghemakes.Iloveyou,LordJesus-lookdownfromonhighAndstaybymysideuntilmorningisnigh.Benearme,LordJesus;IaskyoutostayClosebymeforeverandloveme,Ipray.Blessallthedearchildreninyourtendercare,Andfitusforheaventolivewithyouthere.

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READINGOFSCRIPTURETheHolyGospelofourLordJesusChristaccordingtoLukeGlorytoYouLordJesusChrist InthosedaysadecreewentoutfromEmperorAugustusthatalltheworldshouldberegistered.ThiswasthefirstregistrationandwastakenwhileQuiriniuswasgovernorofSyria.Allwenttotheirowntownstoberegistered.JosephalsowentfromthetownofNazarethinGalileetoJudea,tothecityofDavidcalledBethlehem,becausehewasdescendedfromthehouseandfamilyofDavid.HewenttoberegisteredwithMary,towhomhewasengagedandwhowasexpectingachild.Whiletheywerethere,thetimecameforhertodeliverherchild.Andshegavebirthtoherfirstbornsonandwrappedhiminbandsofcloth,andlaidhiminamanger,becausetherewasnoplaceforthemintheinn.Inthatregiontherewereshepherdslivinginthefields,keepingwatchovertheirflockbynight.ThenanangeloftheLordstoodbeforethem,andthegloryoftheLordshonearoundthem,andtheywereterrified.Buttheangelsaidtothem,‘Donotbeafraid;forsee—Iambringingyougoodnewsofgreatjoyforallthepeople:toyouisbornthisdayinthecityofDavidaSaviour,whoistheMessiah,theLord.Thiswillbeasignforyou:youwillfindachildwrappedinbandsofclothandlyinginamanger.’Andsuddenlytherewaswiththeangelamultitudeoftheheavenlyhost,praisingGodandsaying,

‘GlorytoGodinthehighestheaven,andonearthpeaceamongthosewhomhefavours!’

Whentheangelshadleftthemandgoneintoheaven,theshepherdssaidtooneanother,‘LetusgonowtoBethlehemandseethisthingthathastakenplace,whichtheLordhasmadeknowntous.’SotheywentwithhasteandfoundMaryandJoseph,andthechildlyinginthemanger.Whentheysawthis,theymadeknownwhathadbeentoldthemaboutthischild;andallwhohearditwereamazedatwhattheshepherdstoldthem.ButMarytreasuredallthesewordsandponderedtheminherheart.Theshepherdsreturned,glorifyingandpraisingGodforalltheyhadheardandseen,asithadbeentoldthem.LUKE2:1-20TheGospelofChristPraisetoYouLordJesusChrist

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VIDEOREFLECTION“TheChristmasStory”astoldbythechildrenofSt.Paul’sChurch,Auckland,NewZealand:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWq60oyrHVQ&feature=shareCHILDREN’SSTORY“AlltheColorsofChristmas”byMatthewPaulTurner.Storyreadduringthisservicewithpermissionfromtheauthor.VIDEOREFLECTION“NativityStory–KidsVersion”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSW9uxRNvE8PRAYERSOFTHEPEOPLELovingGod,onthisholynightyoursonourSaviourwasborn.Onthisholynighttherewasnoroomforyoursonintheinn.Protectwithyourlovethosewhohavenohomeandallwholiveinpoverty.HolyGod,Hearourprayer.Onthisholynight,Jesuscameasalightshininginthedarkness.Bringcomforttoallwhosufferinthesadnessofourworldthisnight.Bewithusinourfearsandsadnessthatweholdinthemidstofthecurrentpandemic.HolyGod,Hearourprayer.Onthisholynight,theangelssang,‘PeacetoGod’speopleonearth.’Strengthenthosewhoworkforpeaceandjusticeinourworld.Givestrengthtothosewhoworktomakedecisionsandtosupportthesickthisnight.HolyGod,Hearourprayer.Onthisholynight,shepherdsinthefieldheardgoodtidingsofjoy.Giveusgracetobeyourlightandloveintheworld.HolyGod,Hearourprayer.Onthisholynight,strangersfoundtheHolyFamily,andsawthebabylyinginthemanger.Blessourhomesandallwhowelove,especiallythosewhowewishtobegatheredwiththisnight.HolyGod,Hearourprayer.Onthisholynight,heavenhascomedowntoearth,andearthisraisedtoheaven.Holdinyourhandallthosewhohavepassedthroughdeathinto

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yourcomingkingdomandbewithusaswerememberthemthisnight.HolyGod,Hearourprayer.Onthisholynight,ChristiansaroundtheworldcelebrateChrist’sbirth.Openourheartsthathemaybeborninustoday.HolyGod,Hearourprayer.Onthisholynight,angelsandshepherdsworshippedatthemanger.Receiveourprayersandthanksgivingsonthisholynight.HolyGod,Hearourprayer.Amen.HYMN:HarktheHeraldAngelsSingHark!theheraldangelssing,“GlorytothenewbornKing,Peaceonearth,andmercymild,Godandsinnersreconciled!”Joyful,allyenations,rise,Jointhetriumphoftheskies;Withtheangelichostproclaim,“ChristisborninBethlehem!”Hark!Theheraldangelssing,“GlorytothenewbornKing.”Christ,byhighestheavenadored;Christ,theeverlastingLord;Lateintimebeholdhimcome,Offspringofavirgin’swomb.VeiledinfleshtheGodheadsee;Hail,theincarnatedeity,Pleasedasoneofustodwell,Jesus,ourEmmanuel!Hark!theheraldangelssing,“GlorytothenewbornKing.”APRAYEROFTHANKSWegiveyouthanks,HolyOne,fortheworldofwonderyouhavemade–forestandfieldseaandsky,andforthegiftofgracethatyouhavegiven–alittlechild,lyinginamanger.

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Receiveourgiftsoftendernessandlove,ofgratitudeandpraise,andusethemforyourglory;inthenameofJesusChrist,thechildofBethlehem,wepray.Amen.

THELORDSPRAYERAsourSaviourtaughtus,letuspray,OurFatherinheaven,hallowedbeyourname,yourkingdomcome,yourwillbedone,onearthasinheaven.Giveustodayourdailybread.Forgiveusoursinsasweforgivethosewhosinagainstus.Saveusfromthetimeoftrial,anddeliverusfromevil.Forthekingdom,thepowerandthegloryareyours, nowandforever.Amen.CLOSINGPRAYERGodofpromise,fromancienttimesyouhavesustainedyourpeople.WithMaryandJoseph,teachustotreasureinourheartsthebirthofJesus.Withshepherdsandangels,leadustopraisetheholyChildofBethlehem.MaywewhohavekneltatthemangeralwayshaveroomtoholdwithinourselvestheChristmasChild.Amen.

BLESSINGHYMN:SilentNightSilentnight!Holynight!Alliscalm,allisbrightRoundyonvirginmotherandchild.Holyinfantsotenderandmild,

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Sleepinheavenlypeace,Sleepinheavenlypeace.Silentnight!Holynight!Shepherdsquakeatthesight:Gloriesstreamfromheavenafar,Heavenlyhostssingalleluia,ChristtheSaviorisborn,ChristtheSaviorisborn.Silentnight!Holynight!SonofGod,love’spurelightRadiantbeamsfromthyholyface,Withthedawnofredeeminggrace,Jesus,LordatThybirthJesus,LordatThybirth.POSTLUDEThetextofthisservicecomesfromtheBookofAlternativeServices,EvangelicalLutheranWorship(2006),FeastingontheWord:AdventCompanion,theChurchofWales,andtheChurchofEngland.

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