Christmas | Friday 26 Dec 2025: Psalm 148; Wisdom 4:7-15; Acts 7:59-8:8 ~ Persecution spreads the Good News about Jesus.

Christmas | Friday 26 Dec 2025

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening prayer:

Almighty God,
you have given your only-begotten Son
to take our nature upon him,
and to be born of a pure virgin:
Grant that we, who have been born again
and made your children by adoption and grace,
may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom with you and the same Spirit
be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

“But the believers who were scattered
preached the Good News about Jesus
wherever they went.”
(Acts 8:4)

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From the Psalms: Psalm 148 | Sons of Korah / duntymolly

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Reading from Apocrypha: Wisdom 4:7-15 (NCB)

Better To Die Young than To Die in Wickedness

4:7 But the righteous man, even if he dies prematurely, will be at rest.
+ For the honor that comes with age is not due to the length of life
or determined by the number of years.
+ Gray hairs for anyone consists in understanding,
and ripe old age consists in a blameless life.
+ He has sought to please God, so God has loved him;
while living among sinners, he has been taken up.
+ He has been snatched away so that evil would not pervert his understanding
or guile deceive his soul.
+ For the spell of wickedness beclouds what is good,
and the swirl of desire corrupts the simple heart.
+ Having achieved perfection in a short time,
he attained a lengthy span of years.
+ Since his soul was pleasing to the Lord,
he quickly removed him from the midst of wickedness.
People observed this yet failed to comprehend,
nor did they reflect on this fact,
+ that grace and mercy are reserved for God’s holy ones
and he shows concern for his elect.

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Almost Home | Matt Papa & Matt Boswell / KeithandKristyn Getty

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NT Reading: Acts 7:59-8:8 (NLT)

7:59 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.

8:1 Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.

Persecution Scatters the Believers

A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.

Philip Preaches in Samaria

8:4 But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city.

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Go Tell It On The Mountain | Josh Turner

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP 2019

O God, our heavenly Father, you manifested your love by sending your only-begotten Son into the world, that all might live through him: Pour out your Spirit on your Church, that we may fulfill his command to preach the Gospel to all people. Send forth laborers into your harvest; defend them in all dangers and temptations; and hasten the time when the fullness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and faithful Israel shall be saved; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God our Savior: Grant that our hearts may ache for a lost and broken world. May your Holy Spirit work through our words, deeds, and prayers, that the lost may be found and the dead made alive, and that all your redeemed may rejoice around your throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

May God, who has called us out of darkness
into his marvelous light,
bless us and fill us with peace.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Christmas Day | Thursday 25 Dec 2025: Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98; Hebrews 1:1-4; John 1:1-14 ~ We have seen his glory.

Christmas Day | Thursday 25 Dec 2025

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening prayer:

Almighty God,
you have given your only-begotten Son
to take our nature upon him,
and to be born this day of a pure virgin:
Grant that we, who have been born again
and made your children by adoption and grace,
may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom with you and the same Spirit
be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

“So the Word became human
and made his home among us.”
(John 1:14)

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Go tell it on the Mountain – for KING + COUNTRY

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OT Reading: Isaiah 52:7-10 (NLT)

52:7 How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of the messenger who brings good news,
the good news of peace and salvation,
the news that the God of Israel reigns!
+ The watchmen shout and sing with joy,
for before their very eyes
they see the Lord returning to Jerusalem.
+ Let the ruins of Jerusalem break into joyful song,
for the Lord has comforted his people.
He has redeemed Jerusalem.
+ The Lord has demonstrated his holy power
before the eyes of all the nations.
All the ends of the earth will see
the victory of our God.

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From the Psalms: Psalm 98 | “Break Out in Joy” | Scottish Psalmist

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NT Reading: Hebrews 1:1-4 (NLT)

Jesus Christ Is God’s Son

11:1 Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.

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Jesus, Name Above All Names | Terry MacAlmon / Chet Valley Churches

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Gospel Reading: John 1:1-14 (NLT)

Prologue: Christ, the Eternal Word

1:1 In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
+ He existed in the beginning with God.
+ God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
+ The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
+ The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.

1:6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

1:10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

1:14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

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Mary Did You Know? | Pentatonix

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP 2019

O God, you made us in your own image, and you have redeemed us through your Son Jesus Christ: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

May God, who has called us out of darkness
into his marvelous light,
bless us and fill us with peace.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Christmas Eve | Wednesday 24 Dec 2025: Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-20 ~ The birth of Jesus.

Christmas Eve | Wednesday 24 Dec 2025

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening prayer:

O God,
you have caused this holy night
to shine with the brightness of the true Light:
Grant that we,
who have known the mystery of that Light on earth,
may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven;
where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns,
one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

“And while they were in Bethlehem,
the time came for her baby to be born.”
(Luke 2:6)

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Light of the World (Here I am to Worship) | The African Children’s Choir / Chet Valley Churches

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OT Reading: Isaiah 9:2-7 (NLT)

9:2 The people who walk in darkness
will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
a light will shine.
+ You will enlarge the nation of Israel,
and its people will rejoice.
They will rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest
and like warriors dividing the plunder.
+ For you will break the yoke of their slavery
and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders.
You will break the oppressor’s rod,
just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.
+ The boots of the warrior
and the uniforms bloodstained by war
will all be burned.
They will be fuel for the fire.

9:6 For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
+ His government and its peace
will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
will make this happen!

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From the Psalms: Psalm 96 | Emu Music

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NT Reading: Titus 2:11-14 (NLT)

2:11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

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Once In Royal David’s City | Daniel O’Donnell / Easy Worship Resources

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Gospel Reading: Luke 2:1-14 (NLT)

The Birth of Jesus

2:1 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.

2:6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

The Shepherds and Angels

2:8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

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Hark! The Herald Angels Sing | Kaymaran

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2:13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

2:14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

2:15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

2:16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

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“For Unto Us a Child is Born” from Handel’s Messiah – American Bach Soloists

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP 2019

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

May God, who has called us out of darkness
into his marvelous light,
bless us and fill us with peace.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Advent Season | Tuesday 23 Dec 2025: Luke 1:46b-55; 2 Samuel 7:18, 23-29; Galatians 3:6-14 ~ Through faith the righteous have life.

Advent Season | Tuesday 23 Dec 2025

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening prayer:

Stir up your power, O Lord,
and with great might come among us;
and as we are sorely hindered by our sins
from running the race that is set before us,
let your bountiful grace and mercy
speedily help and deliver us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory, now and for ever.
Amen.

“It is through faith
that a righteous person has life.”
(Galatians 3:11)

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Mary’s Song of Praise: Luke 1:46-55 | Mary’s Song (Magnificat) | Calvin Institute of Christian Worship

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OT Reading: 2 Samuel 7:18, 23-29 (NLT)

David’s Prayer of Thanks

7:18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed,

“Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?

7:23 What other nation on earth is like your people Israel? What other nation, O God, have you redeemed from slavery to be your own people? You made a great name for yourself when you redeemed your people from Egypt. You performed awesome miracles and drove out the nations and gods that stood in their way. You made Israel your very own people forever, and you, O Lord, became their God.

7:25 “And now, O Lord God, I am your servant; do as you have promised concerning me and my family. Confirm it as a promise that will last forever. And may your name be honored forever so that everyone will say, ‘The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is God over Israel!’ And may the house of your servant David continue before you forever.

7:27 “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, God of Israel, I have been bold enough to pray this prayer to you because you have revealed all this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you—a dynasty of kings!’ For you are God, O Sovereign Lord. Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to your servant. And now, may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you have spoken, and when you grant a blessing to your servant, O Sovereign Lord, it is an eternal blessing!”

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Ha Bracha (The Blessing in Hebrew) at The Tower of David Jerusalem – Hila Ben David

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NT Reading: Galatians 3:6-14 (NLT)

3:6 In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.

3:8 What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would make the Gentiles right in his sight because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.” So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.

3:10 But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.” So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.”

3:13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.

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By Faith – Keith & Kristyn Getty / tranceseraph

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP 2019

Almighty God, we pray for the peace of Jerusalem: Protect your people from the machinations of the evil one; and grant Israel’s leaders your heavenly wisdom, and the courage to do what’s right in your sight. Unite all your people around the common goal of restoration and peace, that they might return to you – the one true God – through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

May the Lord, when he comes,
find us watching and waiting.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Advent Season | Monday 22 Dec 2025: Luke 1:46b-55; Isaiah 33:17-22; Revelation 22:6-7, 18-20 ~ Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

Advent Season | Monday 22 Dec 2025

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening prayer:

He who is the faithful witness to all these things says,
“Yes, I am coming soon!”
(Revelation 22:20)

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OT Reading: Isaiah 33:17-22 (NLT)

33:17 Your eyes will see the king in all his splendor,
and you will see a land that stretches into the distance.
You will think back to this time of terror, asking,
+ “Where are the Assyrian officers
who counted our towers?
Where are the bookkeepers
who recorded the plunder taken from our fallen city?”
+ You will no longer see these fierce, violent people
with their strange, unknown language.

33:20 Instead, you will see Zion as a place of holy festivals.
You will see Jerusalem, a city quiet and secure.
It will be like a tent whose ropes are taut
and whose stakes are firmly fixed.
+ The Lord will be our Mighty One.
He will be like a wide river of protection
that no enemy can cross,
that no enemy ship can sail upon.
+ For the Lord is our judge,
our lawgiver, and our king.
He will care for us and save us.

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Savior of the Nations Come | Poor Bishop Hooper

Savior of the nations, come,
Virgin’s Son, make here your home.
Marvel now, O Heav’n and Earth,
That the Lord chose such a birth.

From the Father forth he came
And returned hence to the same.
Captive leading death and hell—
High the song of triumph swell!

Here the chosen holy one
Has o’er sin the vict’ry won.
Boundless shall your kingdom be;
When shall we its glories see?

Brightly does your manger shine;
Glorious is its light divine.
Let not sin o’ercloud this light;
Ever be our faith thus bright.

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NT Reading: Revelation 22:6-7, 18-20 (NLT)

22:6 Then the angel said to me, “Everything you have heard and seen is trustworthy and true. The Lord God, who inspires his prophets, has sent his angel to tell his servants what will happen soon.”

Jesus Is Coming

22:7 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book.”

22:18 And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.

22:20 He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!”

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

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Come, Lord Jesus | Sovereign Grace Music

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP 2019

O God, the creator and preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech you for all sorts and conditions of men; that you would be pleased to make your ways known to them, your saving health to all nations. More especially we pray for your holy Church universal, that it may be so guided and governed by your good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to your fatherly goodness all those who are in any ways afflicted or distressed, in mind, body, or estate; that it may please you to comfort and relieve them according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we beg for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

May the Lord, when he comes,
find us watching and waiting.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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