Category Archives: Christmas

Christmas Resources 2020/2021

Nativity. 1974. Retrieved from the Digital Public Library of America, http://digital.library.illinoisstate.edu/cdm/ref/collection/icca/id/11235. 
(Accessed December 28, 2020.)

Christmas Lectionary Readings (Year B)

First Sunday after Christmas Day: Isaiah 61:10-62:3; Psalm 148; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:22-40

Holy Name of Jesus: Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 8; Galatians 4:4-7; Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 2:15-21

New Year’s Day: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13; Psalm 8; Rev. 21:1-6a; Matthew 25:31-46

Second Sunday after Christmas Day: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Luke 1:46b-55; Ps. 89:1-4, 19-26; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38

Poetry

“Nativity” by John Donne

“Kenosis” by Luci Shaw

Resource Links

Christmas Collects from the Book of Common Prayer

John Donne Christmas Sermon preached at St. Paul’s upon Christmas day, 1626

Pondering Christmas Preaching with Karl Barth by David Guretzki

Music

Sing We Noel by Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana

The Coventry Carol (arr. Michael McGlynn) song about The Massacre of the Innocents

“Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant-Jesus” (“Twenty Gazes Upon the Child Jesus”) by Olivier Messiaen. Read about the piece here.

Songs about the Flight to Egypt blog post by Victoria Emily Jones

Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Christmas Day and First Sunday of Christmas 2019 (Year A)

The Word was Made Flesh and Dwelt Among Us…
“We who have walked in deep darkness have seen a great light! For unto us a child is born, one who will bring eternal peace (Isaiah 9:2-7). We celebrate Christ’s birth (Luke 2:1-20) because he became what we are, giving his life freely that through his grace we might have the hope of salvation (Titus 2:11-14). Because of Jesus, we praise God and declare his glory (Psalm 96). ” 
– Thomas Oden in Ancient Christian Devotional

Isaiah 9:2-7; 52:7-10; 62:6-12 
Psalms 96-98
Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7
Hebrews 1:1-12
Luke 2:1-20
John 1:1-14

Click on the link above to read the newsletter…

Liturgy Letter Newsletter – First Sunday after Christmas Day 2018 (Year C)

The Word was Made Flesh and Dwelt Among us…

“The dogma of the Incarnation is the most dramatic thing about Christianity, and indeed, the most dramatic thing that ever entered the mind of man; but if you tell people so, they stare at you in bewilderment.” —Dorothy Sayers

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Liturgy Letter Newsletter – First Sunday after Christmas Day 2017 (Year B)

Liturgy Letter Newsletter – First Sunday after Christmas Day 2017 (Year B)

Christ is Born!
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice (Psalm 96), for Jesus Christ redeems us from all of our sins (Titus 2:11-14). The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light (Isaiah 9:2-7). Jesus Christ is born (Luke 2:1-20)!
– Thomas Oden, Ancient Christian Devotional

Click the link above to read the newsletter…