Lord,
we beseech thee, give ear to our prayers,
and by thy gracious visitation
lighten the darkness of our hearts
by our Lord Jesus Christ;
who liveth and reigneth with thee
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Almighty God,
Give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness,
and put upon us the armour of light,
now in the time of this mortal life,
in which thy Son Jesus Christ
came to visit us in great humility;
that in the last day,
when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty
to judge both the quick and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who liveth and reigneth with thee
and the Holy Spirit, now and ever.

God our redeemer,
who prepared the blessed Virgin Mary
to be the mother of your Son:
Grant that, as she looked for his coming as our saviour,
so we may be ready to greet him
when he comes again as our judge;
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Almighty God,
Give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and to put on the armour of light
now in the time of this mortal life
in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;
that on the last day
when he shall come again in his glorious majesty
to judge the living and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Heavenly Father,
you have given us a pledge of eternal redemption.
Grant that we may always eagerly celebrate
the saving mystery of the incarnation of your Son.
We ask this through him whose coming is certain,
whose day draws near,
your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Gracious God,
you chose the Virgin Mary, by your grace,
to be the mother of our Lord and Saviour:
so fill us with your grace,
that with her we may rejoice in your salvation,
and in all things embrace your will;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

An asterisk (*) before the hymn number indicates that the hymn has been recorded for use in public worship by the Recorded Church Music Committee.

Isaiah 7: 10-16

*146 - A great and mighty wonder
*S2 - A sign shall be given
*151 - Child in the manger
*160 - Hark! the herald-angels sing
*133 - Long ago, prophets knew
*168 - Lord, you were rich beyond all splendour
*135 - O come, O come, Emmanuel
*174 - O little town of Bethlehem
*S149 - The virgin Mary had a baby boy

Psalm 80: 1-8, 18-20

*10 - All my hope on God is founded
*695 - God of mercy, God of grace
*614 - Great Shepherd of thy people, hear
305 - O Breath of life, come sweeping through us

Romans 1: 1-7

162 - In the bleak mid-winter
*524 - May the grace of Christ our Saviour
508 - Peace to you
*S136 - Spirit of holiness, wisdom and faithfulness

Matthew 1: 18-25

*146 - A great and mighty wonder
*S2 - A sign shall be given
*S4 - All hail the Lamb, enthroned on high
*250 - All hail the power of Jesu's name
*148 - As Joseph was a-walking
*152 - Come and join the celebration
*S27 - Come, sing the praise of Jesus
*119 - Come, thou long-expected Jesus
153 - Come, thou Redeemer of the earth
462 - For Mary, mother of our Lord
*159 - Good Christians all, rejoice
*160 - Hark! the herald-angels sing
*92 - How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
162 - In the bleak mid-winter
*94 - In the name of Jesus
*99 - Jesus, the name high over all
*S82 - Let me tell you about a baby
*S83 - Let us talents and tongues employ
*133 - Long ago, prophets knew
*168 - Lord, you were rich beyond all splendour
*102 - Name of all majesty
*135 - O come, O come, Emmanuel
*174 - O little town of Bethlehem
175 - Of the Father's heart begotten
472 - Sing we of the blessèd Mother
139 - The angel Gabriel from heaven came
*S149 - The virgin Mary had a baby boy
*S151 - This is the truth sent from above
*117 - To the name of our salvation
186 - What Adam's disobedience cost
*S160 - When Joseph went to bed one night