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The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
(Christmas Day) |
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Lesson - Isaiah 52:7-10 |
Let Zion Rejoice
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good
tidings, who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of good, who publishes
salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns." Hark, your watchmen lift up their voice, together they sing for joy; for
eye to eye they see the return of the LORD to Zion. Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem; for the
LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and
all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
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Epistle - Hebrews 1:1-12 |
God Has Spoken by His Son
In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed
the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature,
upholding the universe by his word of power. When he had made purification
for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has obtained is
more excellent than theirs.
The Son is Superior to Angels
For to what angel did God ever say, "Thou art my Son, today I have
begotten thee"? Or again, "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me
a son"? And again, when he brings the first-born into the world, he says, "Let
all God's angels worship him." Of the angels he says, "Who makes his angels winds, and his servants
flames of fire."
But of the Son he says, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever, the
righteous scepter is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, thy
God, has anointed thee with the oil of gladness beyond thy comrades."
And, "Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, and the
heavens are the work of thy hands; they will perish, but thou remainest; they will all grow old like a
garment, like a mantle thou wilt roll them up, and they will be changed. But thou
art the same, and thy years will never end."
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Gospel - John 1:1-14 |
The Word Became Flesh
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made
that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might
believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.
The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world
knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to
become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will
of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth;
we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.
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