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.

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.

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 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.

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.

1st Reading Isaiah 7: 10–16
146* A great and mighty wonder
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

Psalm Psalm 80: 1–8, 18–20 [A1B]
10* All my hope on God is founded
695* God of mercy, God of grace
614* Great shepherd of your people, hear
305 O Breath of life, come sweeping through us

2nd Reading Romans 1: 1–7
524* May the grace of Christ our Saviour
508 Peace to you

The Gospel Matthew 1: 18–25
250* All hail the power of Jesu’s name
148* As Joseph was a–walking
152* Come and join the celebration
119* Come, thou long–expected Jesus
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
94* In the name of Jesus
99* Jesus, the name high over all
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 blessed mother
139 The angel Gabriel from heaven came
117* To the name of our salvation
186 What Adam’s disobedience cost