♪ Name ♪ ♪ Christ is the Lord ♪ ♪ Then ever, ever praise we ♪ ♪ His power ♪ ♪ And glory ♪ ♪ Ever proclaim ♪ ♪ His power ♪ ♪ And glory ♪ ♪ Ever more proclaim ♪ 

- The first lesson is from Genesis 3. God tells sinful Adam that he has lost the life of paradise and that his seed will bruise the serpent's head. And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam and said unto him, "Where art thou?" And he said, "I heard thy voice in the garden, "and I was afraid "because I was naked, "and I hid myself." And he said, "Who told thee that thou wast naked? "Hast thou eaten of the tree, "whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldst not eat?" And the man said, "The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, "she gave me of the tree, "and I did eat." And the Lord God said unto the woman, "What is this that thou hast done?" And the woman said, "The serpent beguiled me, "and I did eat." And the Lord God said unto the serpent, "Because thou hast done this, "thou art cursed above all cattle "and above every beast of the field. "Upon thy belly shalt thou go, "and dust shalt be thy eat "all the days of thy life. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman "and between thy seed and her seed. "It shall bruise thy head, "and thou shalt bruise his heel." And unto Adam he said, "Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife "and hast eaten of the tree of which I commanded thee, "saying thou shalt not eat of it, "cursed is the ground for thy sake. "In sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life. "Thorns also and thistles "shall it bring forth to thee, "and thou shalt eat the herb of the field. "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread "till thou return unto the ground. "For out of it wast thou taken. "For dust thou art, "and unto dust "shalt thou return." Thanks be to God. (majestic music) ♪ Hark the herald angels sing ♪ ♪ Glory to the newborn King ♪ ♪ Peace on earth and mercy mild ♪ ♪ God and sinners reconciled ♪ ♪ Joyful, all ye nations, rise ♪ ♪ Join the triumph of the skies ♪ ♪ With angelic hosts proclaim ♪ ♪ Christ is born in Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Hark the herald angels sing ♪ ♪ Glory to the newborn King ♪ ♪ Christ, by highest heaven adored ♪ ♪ Christ, the everlasting Lord ♪ ♪ Late in time behold him come ♪ ♪ Offspring of the Virgin's womb ♪ ♪ Veiled in flesh the Godhead see ♪ ♪ Hail the incarnate deity ♪ ♪ Pleased with us in flesh to dwell ♪ ♪ Jesus, our Immanuel ♪ ♪ Hark the herald angels sing ♪ ♪ Glory to the newborn King ♪ ♪ Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace ♪ ♪ Hail the Sun of Righteousness ♪ ♪ Light and life to all he brings ♪ ♪ Risen with healing in his wings ♪ ♪ Mild he lays his glory by ♪ ♪ Born that man no more may die ♪ ♪ Born to raise the sons of Earth ♪ ♪ Born to give them second birth ♪ ♪ Hark the herald angels sing ♪ ♪ Glory to the newborn King ♪ 

- The second lesson is from Genesis 22. God promises to faithful Abraham that in his seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time and said, "By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, "for because thou hast done this thing "and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, "that in blessing I will bless thee, "and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed "as the stars of the heaven "and as the sand which is upon the seashore. "And thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies, "and in thy seed "shall all the nations of the earth be blessed "because thou hast obeyed my voice." Thanks be to God. (stately music) ♪ It came upon the midnight clear ♪ ♪ That glorious song of old ♪ ♪ From angels bending near the earth ♪ ♪ To touch their harps of gold ♪ ♪ Peace on the earth, goodwill to men ♪ ♪ From heaven's all-gracious king ♪ ♪ The world in solemn stillness lay ♪ ♪ To hear the angels sing ♪ ♪ Still through the cloven skies they come ♪ ♪ With peaceful wings unfurled ♪ ♪ And still their heavenly music floats ♪ ♪ O'er all the weary world ♪ ♪ Above its sad and lowly plains ♪ ♪ They bend on hovering wing ♪ ♪ And ever o'er its Babel sounds ♪ ♪ The blessed angels sing ♪ ♪ For lo the days are hastening on ♪ ♪ By prophet seen of old ♪ ♪ When with the ever-circling years ♪ ♪ Shall come the time foretold ♪ ♪ When the new heaven and earth shall own ♪ ♪ The Prince of Peace, their king ♪ ♪ And the whole world send back the song ♪ ♪ Which now the angels sing ♪ 

- The peace that Christ will bring is foreshown. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light. They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. And the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called wonderful, counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace, there shall be no end, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. Thanks be to God. (solemn music) ♪ Lo, how a rose e'er blooming ♪ ♪ From tender stem hath sprung ♪ ♪ Of Jesse's lineage coming ♪ ♪ As men of old have sung ♪ ♪ It came, a flow'ret bright ♪ ♪ Amid the cold of winter ♪ ♪ When half-spent was the night ♪ ♪ Isaiah 'twas foretold it ♪ ♪ The rose I have in mind ♪ ♪ With Mary we behold it ♪ ♪ The virgin mother kind ♪ ♪ To show God's love aright ♪ ♪ She bore to men a savior ♪ ♪ When half-spent was the night ♪ 

- Christ's birth and kingdom are foretold by Isaiah. And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord, and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord. With righteousness shall he judge the poor and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed. Their young ones shall lie down together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain. For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Thanks be to God. (regal music) ♪ Angels we have heard on high ♪ ♪ Sweetly singing o'er the plains ♪ ♪ And the mountains in reply ♪ ♪ Echoing their joyous strains ♪ ♪ Glooooooooooooria ♪ ♪ In excelsis Deo ♪ ♪ Glooooooooooooria ♪ ♪ In excelsis Deo ♪ ♪ Shepherds, why this jubilee ♪ ♪ Why your joyous strains prolong ♪ ♪ What the gladsome tidings be ♪ ♪ Which inspire your heavenly song ♪ ♪ Glooooooooooooria ♪ ♪ In excelsis Deo ♪ ♪ Glooooooooooooria ♪ ♪ In excelsis Deo ♪ ♪ Come to Bethlehem and see ♪ ♪ Him whose birth the angels sing ♪ ♪ Come, adore on bended knee ♪ ♪ Christ the Lord, the newborn King ♪ ♪ Glooooooooooooria ♪ ♪ In excelsis Deo ♪ ♪ Glooooooooooooria ♪ ♪ In excelsis Deo ♪ 

- The angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary. And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her and said, "Hail, thou that art highly favored, "the Lord is with thee. "Blessed art thou among women." And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying and cast in her mind what manner salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, "Fear not, Mary, "for thou hast found favor with God. "And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb "and bring forth a son, "and thou shalt call his name Jesus. "He shall be great "and shall be called the Son of the Highest, "and the Lord God shall give unto him "the throne of his father David. "And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, "and of his kingdom there shall be no end." Then said Mary unto the angel, "How shall this be, "seeing I know not a man?" And the angel answered and said unto her, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, "and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee. "Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee "shall be called the Son of God." And Mary said, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord. "Be it unto me according to thy word." And the angel departed from her. Thanks be to God. (delicate music) (singing in foreign language) 

- Saint Luke tells of the birth of Jesus. And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 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 him in the inn. Thanks be to God. (sedate music) (singing in foreign language) ("Silent Night") (somber music) ♪ Silent night ♪ ♪ Holy night ♪ ♪ All is calm ♪ ♪ All is bright ♪ ♪ Round yon virgin ♪ ♪ Mother and child ♪ ♪ Holy infant ♪ ♪ So tender and mild ♪ ♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪ ♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪ ♪ Silent night ♪ ♪ Holy night ♪ ♪ Son of God ♪ ♪ Love's pure light ♪ ♪ Radiant beams ♪ ♪ From thy holy face ♪ ♪ With the dawn ♪ ♪ Of redeeming grace ♪ ♪ Jesus, Lord, at thy birth ♪ ♪ Jesus, Lord, at thy birth ♪ 

- The shepherds go to the manger. 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 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 Savior, 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, goodwill toward men." And it came to pass as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, "Let us now go unto Bethlehem "and see this thing which is come to pass, "which the Lord hath made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger. Thank God. (lively music) ♪ Ding dong, merrily on high ♪ ♪ In heav'n the bells are ringing ♪ ♪ Ding dong, verily the sky ♪ ♪ Is riv'n with angel-singing ♪ ♪ Glooooooooooooooria ♪ ♪ Hosanna in excelsis ♪ ♪ E'en so here below, below ♪ ♪ Let steeple bells be swungen ♪ ♪ And io, io, io ♪ ♪ By priest and people sungen ♪ ♪ Glooooooooooooooria ♪ ♪ Hosanna in excelsis ♪ ♪ Pray you, dutifully prime ♪ ♪ Your matin chime, ye ringers ♪ ♪ May you beautifully rhyme ♪ ♪ Your e'entime song, ye singers ♪ ♪ Glooooooooooooooria ♪ ♪ Hosanna in excelsis ♪ 

- The wise men are led by the star to Jesus. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? "For we have seen his star in the east "and are come to worship him." When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, "In Bethlehem of Judaea. "For thus it is written by the prophet, "'And thou Bethlehem in the land of Juda, "'art not the least among the princes of Juda. "'For out of thee shall come a governor "'that shall rule my people Israel.'" Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search diligently for the young child, "and when ye have found him, bring me word again "that I may come and worship him also." When they had heard the king, they departed. And, lo, the star, which they saw in the east went before them till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother and fell down and worshiped him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. Thanks be to God. (elegant music) ♪ We three kings of Orient are ♪ ♪ Bearing gifts we traverse afar ♪ ♪ Field and fountain ♪ ♪ Moor and mountain ♪ ♪ Following yonder star ♪ ♪ Ohhhhhhh ♪ ♪ Star of wonder ♪ ♪ Star of light ♪ ♪ Star with royal beauty bright ♪ ♪ Westward leading ♪ ♪ Still proceeding ♪ ♪ Guide us to thy perfect light ♪ ♪ Born a King on Bethlehem's plain ♪ ♪ Gold I bring to crown him again ♪ ♪ King forever ♪ ♪ Ceasing never ♪ ♪ Over us all to reign ♪ ♪ Ohhhhhhh ♪ ♪ Star of wonder ♪ ♪ Star of light ♪ ♪ Star with royal beauty bright ♪ ♪ Westward leading ♪ ♪ Still proceeding ♪ ♪ Guide us to thy perfect light ♪ ♪ Frankincense to offer have I ♪ ♪ Incense owns a deity nigh ♪ ♪ Prayer and praising ♪ ♪ All men raising ♪ ♪ Worshiping God on high ♪ ♪ Ohhhhhhh ♪ ♪ Star of wonder ♪ ♪ Star of light ♪ ♪ Star with royal beauty bright ♪ ♪ Westward leading ♪ ♪ Still proceeding ♪ ♪ Guide us to thy perfect light ♪ ♪ Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume ♪ ♪ Breathes of life of gathering gloom ♪ ♪ Sorrowing, sighing ♪ ♪ Bleeding, dying ♪ ♪ Sealed in the stone-cold tomb ♪ ♪ Ohhhhhhh ♪ ♪ Star of wonder ♪ ♪ Star of light ♪ ♪ Star with royal beauty bright ♪ ♪ Westward leading ♪ ♪ Still proceeding ♪ ♪ Guide us to thy perfect light ♪