Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Christmas Greetings . . . everybody!

Gerburt Christi by Franz von Rohden (1817-1903)

It is my sincere hope that all readers of this blog, especially parishioners, relatives, friends and colleagues, enjoy a happy and holy Christmas, and God's blessing for 2009.

May this be a time of rediscovering God's love and peace as we celebrate the wonderful gift of Jesus who came to rescue us from our sins and renew our lives with his presence.

May the Lord Jesus bless you and keep you, and may his Holy Mother enfold you in her prayers.

* * * * *

Yea, Lord we greet thee,
'Throned upon thine altar,
Jesu, to thee be glory given.
Word of the Father,
Sacrament Most Holy,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.

* * * * *

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 Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

(Collect for Christmas Day,
Book of Common Prayer)





A Christmastide Devotion at Benediction

Before thine altar, O most Holy Child,
we kneel today,
So long ago the shepherds knelt before thy cradle.
And, even as they,
beholding their God
in the face of a little Child,
fell down and worshipped;
so we, beholding thy sacred Presence
beneath the sacramental veil,
praise and adore our Lord and our God.

We give thee thanks for thy great mercy.
O Holy Child,
we give thee thanks for thy great humility.
For in the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
Hosanna in the highest!
And the Word was made flesh,
and dwelt among us;
And we have beheld his glory.

Word made Flesh
pray for us.
Emmanuel, God with us
pray for us
Wonderful Counsellor,
the Mighty God
Grant us thy peace.


0 comments:

Post a Comment