Midnight Mass
Be amongst the first to see in Christmas, at Midnight Mass at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve to celebrate the Nativity with a service of lessons and carols.
Overview
Rejoice! Emmanuel has come, God is here to dwell with us. Just as the prophet foretold. Yet, it’s not quite what Isaiah 52:7-10 envisaged: he believed that God’s arrival would be: obvious, “in plain sight”; welcomed by all, as the people “break forth into singing”; and it would immediately impact everyone and everything: Jerusalem would be redeemed, the people comforted, the nations saved. Because when we turn to our gospel reading, John 1:1-14, God’s arrival is not in plain sight but unrecognized and unseen: “the world did not know him … his own people did not accept him”.
Isaiah offers us a perfect ending but John offers us a beginning, echoing the opening lines of Genesis, “in the beginning”. This is the story of a new creation. John does not tell us about the birth of Jesus, instead, he tells us about the possibility of our own rebirth: we are the ones who are invited to be born again “not of the will of flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God”. This story is about us, about our calling and the opportunity offered to us to be a part of new creation. We are to be the messengers foretold by Isaiah, we are the ones to announce peace, bring good news and live out, each in our particular way, the salvation of our God.
FIRST READING
Isaiah 52:7-10
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For all the boots of the tramping warriors
and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onwards and for evermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
GOSPEL
Luke 2:1-20
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
This year we are supporting Ace of Clubs, The Children’s Society, Tearfund and Holy Spirit Clapham
