Christmas Day (Year C) 2015

Any of the following sets of readings may be used on the evening of Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day. Set 3 should be used at some service during the celebration of Christmas. Scroll down page to see all sets of readings and suggested hymns.

Hymns marked with an asterisk (*) are suggested for more than one reading

Lighting of Advent candles (using verses as appropriate)

Advent candles tell their story (StF 165)
‘Christmas is coming!’ The Church is glad to sing (StF 166)
Light a candle in a darkened place (StF 174)
Like a candle flame, flickering small in our darkness (StF 176)
Light a candle for Jesus the King (website only)

Set 1

Isaiah 9:2-7

Community of Christ, who make the cross your own (StF 681)
Darkness like a shroud covers the earth (StF 170)
Hark the glad sound! The Saviour comes (StF 171)
It came upon the midnight clear (StF 205)

Psalm 96

Hymns echoing the psalmist’s theme

Day of judgment! Day of wonder! (StF 732)
* Joy to the world, the Lord is come! (StF 330)
Let all the world in every corner sing (StF 57)

Titus 2:11-14

And I will wait now (website only)
Father, whose everlasting love (StF 320)
Jesus comes with all his grace (StF 326)

Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)

Born in the night, Mary's child (StF 193)
Christian awake , salute the happy morn (StF 195)
Come, divine interpreter (StF 154)
God is born among us: earth receives the Christ child (StF 200)
I cannot tell why he, whom angels worship (StF 350)
* Let my Saviour sleep (website only)
Night of peace: hail the holy child (StF 211)
Once in royal David’s city (StF 214)
* We do not look for angel choirs (website only)
When a young unmarried couple (StF 220)

Set 2

Isaiah 62:6-12

* Before the world began, one Word was there (StF 101)
Sing praise to God who reigns above (StF 117)
We sing your glory, we praise you again (StF 96)

Psalm 97

Hymns echoing the psalmist’s theme

In the wonder of creation (StF 110)
Lord of the boundless curves of space (StF 111)

Titus 3:4-7

Everyone needs compassion, love that's never failing (StF 627)
Stupendous height of heavenly love (StF 512)
The spirit lives to set us free (walk, walk in the light) (StF 397)

Luke 2:(1-7) 8-20

Glory to God, glory to God (StF 752 - Taize ver.)
Glory to God, glory to God, glory in the highest (StF 753 - Peruvian chant)
Hark! The herald-angels sing (StF 202)
I had a dream that I was standing on a hillside (StF 203)
* Let my Saviour sleep (website only)
See, amid the winter’s snow (StF 215)
* We do not look for angel choirs (website only)
We see the eyes of Mary shine (StF 219)
While shepherds watched their flocks by night (StF 221)

Set 3

Isaiah 52:7-10

Praise to the God who clears the way (StF 183)
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord! (StF 186)
There’s a light upon the mountains (StF 188)

Psalm 98

Hymns echoing the psalmist’s theme

* Joy to the world, the Lord is come! (StF 330)
You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace (StF 487)

Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12)

Christ triumphant, ever reigning (StF 319)
* God has spoken - by his prophets (StF 157)
Long ago, prophets knew Christ would come (StF 178)
Sing to him in whom creation (StF 14)

John 1:1-14

* Before the world began, one Word was there (StF 101)
* God has spoken - by his prophets (StF 157)
Light out of darkness (website only)
Lord, the light of your love is shining (StF 59)
Love came down at Christmas (StF 210)
On Jordan’s bank the Baptist's cry (StF 182)