First Sunday After Christmas

Collect
Almighty God, who hast poured upon us the new light of thine incarnate Word: Grant that the same light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

First Lesson:Isaiah 61:10 - 62:3
I delight greatly in the LORD;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise
spring up before all nations.

For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,
for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet,
till her righteousness shines out like the dawn,
her salvation like a blazing torch.
The nations will see your righteousness,
and all kings your glory;
you will be called by a new name
that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.
You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD's hand,
a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

Second Lesson: Galatians 3:23-25, 4:4-7
Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

4:4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Psalm: 147

1. Hallelujah!
   How good it is to sing praises to our God! *
   how pleasant it is to honor him with praise!
2. The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem; *
   he gathers the exiles of Israel.
3. He heals the brokenhearted *
   and binds up their wounds.
4. He counts the number of the stars *
   and calls them all by their names.
5. Great is our LORD and mighty in power; *
   there is no limit to his wisdom.
6. The LORD lifts up the lowly, *
   but casts the wicked to the ground.
7. Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; *
   make music to our God upon the harp.
8. He covers the heavens with clouds *
   and prepares rain for the earth;
9. He makes grass to grow upon the mountains *
   and green plants to serve mankind.
10. He provides food for flocks and herds *
    and for the young ravens when they cry.
11. He is not impressed by the might of a horse; *
    he has no pleasure in the strength of a man;
12. But the LORD has pleasure in those who fear him, *
    in those who await his gracious favor.
13. Worship the LORD, O Jerusalem; *
    praise your God, O Zion;
14. For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; *
    he has blessed your children within you.
15. He has established peace on your borders; *
    he satisfies you with the finest wheat.
16. He sends out his command to the earth, *
    and his word runs very swiftly.
17. He gives snow like wool; *
    he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.
18. He scatters his hail like bread crumbs; *
    who can stand against his cold?
19. He sends forth his word and melts them; *
    he blows with his wind, and the waters flow.
20. He declares his word to Jacob, *
    his statutes and his judgments to Israel.
21. He has not done so to any other nation; *
    to them he has not revealed his judgments.
    Hallelujah!

Gospel: John 1:1-18
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

Collect & Psalm from the Book of Common Prayer
Other excerpts from the New International Bible

Sts. Vidicon & Isidore