CHRISTMAS PROPER I, years A, b, c
(24/25 December)

We suggest that Proper I be used for the first service at Christmas, especially if it takes place on Christmas Eve or during the night.

Note: For explanations and suggestions on the various resources provided, see the documents 'General notes and resources' and 'Christmas season' in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

LITURGY

Sentence
See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder for suggestions on using a Sentence.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. 
They lived in a land of shadows, but now light is shining on them.
(Isa 9:2 TEV)

OR
Do not be afraid; for see - I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:
to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 
This will be a sign for you: 
you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger. 
(Luke 2:10-12 NRSV)

OR, use the standard Christmas Sentence in the document 'Christmas season', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

OR, use one of the general Sentences in the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)
Tradiitonal
O God, since you have made 
this most holy night 
shine with the brightness of the true Light: 
Grant that as we have known on earth 
the mysteries of that Light, 
we may also come 
to the fullness of his joys in heaven; 
through your Son, 
Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

OR, alternative
(Let us pray for full life through Christ. [silence])
Loving Father, 
you sent your only Son into the world 
so that we might have life through him. 
May we who celebrate his birth 
on this most holy night 
come at last to full life in your heavenly kingdom; 
where he lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

OR, new (based on traditional)
(Let us pray for true Christmas joy. [silence])
Lord God, 
we thank you for making this holy night shine 
with the true light of your Son. 
As we celebrate his birth as a human child, 
fill us with the joy of heaven. 
For he lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

FIRST READING
Isaiah 9:2-7 A Son is given to us

PSALM 
Psalm 96
Antiphon: 
Today a Saviour has been born to us; he is Christ the Lord.

SECOND READING
Titus 2:11-14 The grace of God has appeared

ALLELUIA VERSE (Luke 2:10,11 comp)
Alleluia, alleluia.
I am bringing you good news of great joy:
to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, 
who is Christ, the Lord. Alleluia.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL
Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) Today the Saviour is born

The words 'Light of the world' could be added to the gospel acclamations, giving: 
Glory to you, O Lord, Light of the world.

Praise to you, O Christ, Light of the world.

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ (, Light of the world).
Lord Jesus, thank you for being born a baby in Bethlehem.
Help us always to give glory and praise to God. 
Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER
Lord, help us to take the angel's message to heart,
and to realise that the birth of Jesus our Saviour 
is good news for us and for all people.
Lead us to give glory to you
by a life of joyful service
to you and to other people.
Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
See the suggestions in the document 'Christmas season', under 'Prayer of the church', 'A litany of intercession' and 'A prayer of thanks and commitment', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

SEASONAL PREFACE
It is indeed right and good, 
Lord God, holy Father, 
that we should at all times and in all places 
give thanks to you, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
You have revealed your glorious presence to us 
in a new way 
through the mystery of the Word made flesh, 
so that as we see you in your Son, 
we are drawn to love you 
whom we cannot see. 
And so, with angels and archangels, 
and with all the company of heaven, 
we adore and praise your glorious name:

COMMUNION INVITATION
Jesus says: 'I am the living bread 
that came down from heaven. 
The bread that I will give you is my flesh, 
which I give so that the world may live.' 
(Thanks be to God.)
Come, everything is ready.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
For a Christmas post-communion prayer, see the document 'Christmas season', under 'Prayer after communion', in the 'General and seasonal' folder. Alternatively, use the second prayer of the day (as listed above). It may be modified as follows.

Loving Father,
you sent your only Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
May we who have celebrated his human birth 
in this most holy sacrament
come at last to full life in your heavenly kingdom;
where he lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

SEASONAL BLESSING
This seasonal blessing is used together with (ie before) the usual blessing in the order of service.

Christ the Son of God give you joy and peace by his presence with you; . . . 

DISMISSAL
Go in peace, and live in the joy of Christmas.
Thanks be to God.	OR  In the name of Christ. Amen.

HYMNS AND SONGS

FOR THE READINGS
Please note:	* =	Modernised version available
	G3, G4 . . . =	Guitar chords available in the Music Package 3, 4 . . . 
	GS =	Guitar chords in the Supplement to LH

	First reading: Isaiah 9:2-7
LHS 
21	Of the Father's love begotten G7
30	The people that in darkness sat 
33	Hark! the herald angels sing G4
740	For unto us a child is born GS
AT
33	For unto us a child is born
37	Unto us a child is born
55	His name is Wonderful
141	Mary's child
313	Christ, be our light
315	Drawn to the light
389	Light of the nations
TIS 
274	The people that in darkness walked
290	Of the Father's love begotten
293	Unto us a boy is born
303	Hark! the herald angels sing
308	To us a child of royal birth
320	Never in all human story
323	Born in the night, Mary's child

Second reading: Titus 2:11-14
LHS 
19	Come, Thou Saviour of our race* G4
24	All my heart this night rejoices G7
25	To shepherds as they watched by night* G4
27	Beside Thy manger here I stand
29	Come, your hearts and voices raising* G4
31	Arise, my soul, sing joyfully* G7
32	O rejoice, ye Christians, loudly G7
154	Amazing love that rent the heavens asunder* G4
156	Jesus our Saviour, of true joy the giver* G3
322	Dear Christians, one and all rejoice (vv 1,4,5,6)* G3
623	Now sing we, now rejoice G4
627	Joy to the world G7
743	On Christmas night cicadas sing GS
746	What child is this GS
AT 
141	Mary's child
227	Allelu!
244	We have seen the Word of life
TIS 
196	Dear Christians, one and all rejoice (vv 1,4,5)
208	Jesus has come, and brings joy as our Saviour
268	Joy to the world
295	Saviour of the nations, come
297	Come, your hearts and voices raising
313	Good Christians all, rejoice
319	Child in the manger

Gospel: Luke 2:1-14(15-20)
From Christmas sections, especially:
LHS 
20	O Jesus Christ, all praise to Thee* G4
23	From heaven above to earth I come* G4
24	All my heart this night rejoices (vv 1,4-6)* G7
25	To shepherds as they watched* G4
29	Come, your hearts and voices raising* G4
33 	Hark! the herald angels sing G4
34 	O come, all ye faithful G7
46	Angels from the realms of glory (vv 1,2) G7
624	While shepherds watched their flocks by night G7
625	Christians, awake, salute the happy morn G7
626	Come hither, ye children* G7
628	The happy Christmas comes once more G4
629	Silent night, holy night G7
630	O thou holiest, O thou happiest G7
632	Once in royal David's city G7
633	O little town of Bethlehem G4
634	Away in a manger G7
741	Infant holy G7
742	Jesus, tiny Jesus GS
744	The first Nowell G7
746	What child is this GS
AT 
128	I am the light of the world
141	Born in the night
317	Glory, glory, glory
318	Glory to God
338	God in human shoes (v 1 and chorus)
371	Singing glory
TIS 
292	Infant holy
296	From heaven above
297	Come, your hearts and voices raising
299	While shepherds watched their flocks by night
300	On Christmas night
301	The first Nowell
303	Hark! the herald angels sing
304	O come, all ye faithful
306	Christians awake, salute the happy morn
309	Angels from the realms of glory
311	Silent night
312	Once in royal David's city
316	O little town of Bethlehem
318	Away in a manger
323	Born in the night
330	O how joyfully (vv 1,2)
773	Glory to God (Taize)

As 'Glory to God in the highest':
LHS
136	All glory be to God on high* G7
895	Glory be to God in heaven G6
AT 
317	Glory, glory, glory
318	Glory to God
431	Glory to God
TIS 
142	Glory be to God the Father
221	Glory to God on high
773	Gloria, gloria, in excelsis Deo
775	Gloria, gloria, gloria

PSALM 96 
For musical settings of Psalm 96, see Music Packages 1, 4, 7 and 10. See also TIS 54 O sing a new song to the Lord.

For a song version, see ATW 468, 'Sing a new song'. Or the following paraphrase of Psalm 96 by David Schütz may be sung to the tune 'The happy Christmas comes once more' (LH 628) or 'Church Triumphant' (LH 227, TIS 98). If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Schütz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

Come, sing a new song to the Lord,
come, sing a new song, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, and bless his name,
that all may know his saving grace.

Let heav'n be glad, let earth rejoice;
let sea and all its creatures roar.
Let field exult, and all in it;
let trees and forests sing for joy.

Rejoice before the coming Lord,
for he shall come to judge the earth,
to judge the earth with righteousness -
he judges nations with his truth.

This second version of Psalm 96, also by David Schütz, may be sung to the alternative tune for 'O little town of Bethlehem', namely St Louis, which may be found in Lutheran Worship no. 60 or Gather Australia no. 296 (note: not Forest Green). If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Schütz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

O sing a new song to the Lord,
sing to him all the earth.
Sing to the Lord and bless his name;
tell of this saving birth.
Declare his marv'llous glory,
the works that he has done,
for he is greatly to be praised,
he's given us his Son.

We honour him who made the heav'ns,
above all other gods,
for they are only wood and stone,
but he's our living God.
All majesty and glory, 
all beauty, strength and might
shine from his humble manger-bed,
his santu'ry tonight.

O families of the nations, give
all glory to the Lord;
O come and bring an offering,
and come into his courts.
O worship him in splendour,
and tremble, all the earth:
and say tonight 'The Lord is King!'
and wonder at this birth.

He sets the world firm in its place,
and judges equally.
Let heav'n be glad, let earth rejoice
and all that fills the sea;
let field and beast and forest
rise up to greet with joy
the coming of our righteous King:
the Virgin's baby boy.

OTHER CHRISTMAS SONGS
Sing to Jesus (not in the Lutheran Hymnal and Supplement)
84	Angels we have heard on high
86	Come, dance and sing
91	Go, tell it on the mountain
93	In a little stable
94	Jesus, tiny Jesus
96	Little children, can you tell
101	Sleep, my Saviour, sleep
103	When Christmas morn is dawning

See also Together at Christmas (Lutheran Publishing House, 1987).

For other suggestions of hymns/songs for Christmas, see the document 'Christmas season', under 'Hymns and songs', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

See also the selections for Christmas Propers II and III.

VISUAL
MANGER SCENE
If a full manger scene has not been set up in the church, a manger made of wood, with straw in it, may be placed at the foot of the pulpit or lectern. During the reading of the gospel, an icon of Christ (rather than a doll!) may be laid on the straw. This visually connects the incarnation with the word of God. 

visuals for the READINGS
Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, during the first reading a picture like the one in TEV for Isaiah 9:2 could be displayed. During the reading of the gospel, a picture of Mary with the baby Jesus could be displayed, or a drawing/symbol of the crib.

DRAMA

'MEGA DRAMA'
See a drama for the day in Mega Drama resources (Openbook Publishers), originally included in these worship resources when they were released on disks.

dramatising the READINGS
The readings can be read by more than one person to make the dramatic meaning of the text clearer. For instance, the gospel could be read by various readers: narrator, angel, group of angels (children could be angels), shepherd.

Alternatively, consider using a gospel procession for the reading of the gospel. This is particularly appropriate for Christmas Day. For details, see the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Gospel procession', as well as the document 'Christmas season', under 'Gospel procession', both in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

PROCESSION TO THE MANGER SCENE
A procession to the manger scene may form part of the service. It may take place after the sermon or creed. For details, see the document 'Christmas season', under 'Procession to the manger scene', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

A CHRISTMAS DIALOGUE 
See the document 'Christmas season', under 'A Christmas dialogue', in the 'General and seasonal' folder for a dialogue which has been adapted by David Schubert from an 11th century Christmas trope (ie a chanted Latin dialogue). The short drama is conducted after the 'Glory to God in the highest' before the prayer of the day (collect).

CHILDREN

INVOLVING CHILDREN
See the document 'Service with the Christmas story' in the 'Rites and services' folder. 

With care, children can join in holding/carrying candles. They can be involved in making displaying symbols for Christmas. If there is a manger scene and/or Christmas tree, make sure they see it/them. Involve children in singing well-known Christmas carols - but not just as a performance for adult sentimental gratification. For more details on involving children, see the document 'Christmas season', under 'Children', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.