- "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. "By 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. (lively organ music) (congregation singing) 

- 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. (lively organ music) ♪ Angels we have heard on high ♪ ♪ Sweetly singing o'er the plains ♪ ♪ And the mountains in reply ♪ ♪ Echoing their joyous strains ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, Gloria ♪ ♪ In excelsis Deo ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, Gloria ♪ ♪ In excelsis Deo ♪ ♪ Shepherds, why this jubilee ♪ ♪ Why your joyous strains prolong ♪ ♪ What the gladsome tidings be ♪ ♪ Which inspire your heavenly song ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, Gloria ♪ ♪ In excelsis Deo ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, Gloria ♪ ♪ 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 ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, Gloria ♪ ♪ In excelsis Deo ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, Gloria ♪ ♪ In excelsis Deo ♪ 

- The angel Gabriel salutes the blessed virgin Mary. "At 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 to 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 matter "of 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 shall call his name Jesus. "He shall be great "and shall be called the Son of the Highest "and the Lord God shall give 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. (tranquil organ music) ♪ Ave ♪ ♪ Maria ♪ (choir singing in foreign language) ♪ Amen ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ 

- 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, "everyone into his own city "and Joseph also went up from Galilee "out of the city of Nazareth "and to Judea unto the city of David "which is called Bethlehem "because it was of the house and image 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 first born child "and wrapped him in swaddling clothes "and laid him in a manager "because there was no room for them in the inn." Thanks be to God. (tranquil organ music) (soloist singing) ♪ 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 so 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 angels "a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God "and saying, glory to the 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 even unto Bethlehem and see this thing "from which is come to pass "which is the Lord hath made known unto us "and they came with hast "and found Mary "and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger." Thanks be to God. (lively organ music) ♪ The holly and the ivy ♪ ♪ When they are both full grown ♪ ♪ Of all the trees that are in the wood ♪ ♪ The holly bears the crown ♪ ♪ The rising of the sun ♪ ♪ And the running of the deer ♪ ♪ The playing of the merry organ ♪ ♪ Sweet singing in the choir ♪ ♪ The holly bears a blossom ♪ ♪ As white as the lily flower ♪ ♪ And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ ♪ ♪ To be our sweet Savior ♪ ♪ The rising of the sun ♪ ♪ And the running of the deer ♪ ♪ The playing of the merry organ ♪ ♪ Sweet singing in the choir ♪ ♪ The holly bears a berry ♪ ♪ As red as any blood ♪ ♪ And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ ♪ ♪ To do us sinners good ♪ ♪ The rising of the sun ♪ ♪ And the running of the deer ♪ ♪ The playing of the merry organ ♪ ♪ Sweet singing in the choir ♪ ♪ The holly bears a prickle ♪ ♪ As sharp as any thorn, ♪ ♪ And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ ♪ ♪ On Christmas Day in the morn ♪ ♪ The rising of the sun ♪ ♪ And the running of the deer ♪ ♪ The playing of the merry organ ♪ ♪ Sweet singing in the choir ♪ 

- "The wise men are led by the star to Jesus. "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea "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 Judea "for thus it is written by the prophet "and thou Bethlehem in the land of Judea "are not the least of the princes of Judea "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 "'til 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. (tranquil organ music) (congregation singing) 

- Saint John unfolds the mystery of the incarnation. Stand. "In the beginning was the Word "and the Word was with God and the Word was God, "the same was in the beginning with God. "All things were made by him "and without him was not anything made "that was made. "In him was life "and the life was the light of all "and the light shineth in the darkness "and the darkness comprehended it not. "There was a man sent from God "whose name was John. "The same came for a witness "to bear witness to the light "and all through him might believe. "He was not that light "but was sent to bear witness "to that light. "That was the true light "which lighteth everyone that cometh into the world. "He was in the world "and the world was made by him "and the world knew him not. "He came into his own "and his own received him not "but as many received him, to them he gave power "to become sons of God "even to them that believe on his name "who were born not of blood or the will of the flesh "nor the will of humanity "but of God. "The word was made flesh and dwelt among us "and we beheld his glory, "the glory of the only begotten of the Father, "full of grace and truth." Thanks be to God. (lively organ music) ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ The kingdom of this world ♪ ♪ Is become ♪ ♪ The kingdom of our Lord ♪ ♪ And of His Christ, and of His Christ ♪ ♪ And He shall reign forever and ever ♪ ♪ And He shall reign forever and ever ♪ ♪ And He shall reign forever and ever ♪ ♪ For ever and ever, forever and ever ♪ ♪ And He shall reign forever and ever ♪ ♪ King of kings, forever and ever, hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ And Lord of lords ♪ ♪ Forever and ever, hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ King of kings ♪ ♪ Forever and ever, hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ And Lord of lords ♪ ♪ Forever and ever, hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ King of kings ♪ ♪ Forever and ever, hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ And Lord of lords ♪ ♪ King of kings ♪ ♪ And Lord of lord ♪ ♪ And He shall reign ♪ ♪ And He shall reign forever and ever ♪ ♪ And He shall reign ♪ ♪ And He shall reign forever and ever ♪ ♪ King of kings, forever and ever ♪ ♪ And Lord of lords ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ And He shall reign forever and ever ♪ ♪ King of kings ♪ ♪ And Lord of lords ♪ ♪ King of kings ♪ ♪ And Lord of lords ♪ ♪ And He shall reign forever and ever ♪ ♪ Forever and ever ♪ ♪ Forever and ever ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ 

- Let us pray. Oh God who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of thine only son, Jesus Christ. Grant that us we joyfully receive him for our redeemer, so may with sure confidence behold him and he shall come to be our judge who liveth and reignth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end, amen. (lively organ music) ♪ O come, all ye faithful ♪ ♪ Joyful and triumphant ♪ ♪ O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Come and behold Him ♪ ♪ Born the King of Angels ♪ ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ ♪ Christ the Lord ♪ ♪ Sing, choirs of angels ♪ ♪ Sing in exultation ♪ ♪ Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above ♪ ♪ Glory to God in the highest ♪ ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ ♪ Christ the Lord ♪ ♪ See how the shepherds, summoned to His cradle ♪ ♪ Leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze ♪ ♪ We too will thither bend our hearts' oblations ♪ ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ ♪ Christ the Lord ♪ ♪ Child, for us sinners ♪ ♪ Poor and in the manger ♪ ♪ We would embrace Thee, with love and awe ♪ ♪ Who would not love Thee ♪ ♪ Loving us so dearly ♪ ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ ♪ Christ the Lord ♪ (congregation singing) ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ ♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪ ♪ Christ the Lord ♪ 

- And now may the one who by his incarnation gathered all things earthly and heavenly into one grant you peace and the blessing of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be with you now and always. Amen. (lively organ music)