Christmas Vigil Mass 2017 St Kieran’s Church

Introduction: Kate Lewis

Good evening. We gather as The Catholic Community of North Harbour to praise and thank our God who gives us Jesus as Lord and Saviour. My name is Kate Lewis and I’d like to say a warm welcome to everyone here tonight. Some of you are family members who live elsewhere and are home for Christmas. Some of you are not Catholics, but you are here to celebrate Christmas with other members of your family- - you honour us with your presence. Whoever you are, please join with us fully in our singing, prayer and responses.

If anyone has any spare seats near them please raise your hand (pause). The collections during Mass this evening will be for the works of the Parish and the Augustinians.

At communion time the ministers of communion will be stationed both at the front and the back of the Church. Please move to them as appropriate. Children wishing to participate as angels and shepherds who are seated with their families should now move to the back of the church.

We have all gathered to pray and worship. We celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and a respectful attitude and silence where appropriate is requested. Fr Francis will preside at this Celebration. Please stand and join in our entrance hymn.

Christmas Eve 5.30 pm Mass

Celebrant Fr Francis Belcina

Senior Server Edelvine Rigato Michael McMahon

Junior Servers Hannah Smith Seb & Josh Galang Grace Halloway

Readers Kate Lewis Heidi Galang Bob Burton

Communion Ministers Maria Dunn Margaret Koorey Claire Barry Smith Robyn Kathner Maria

Musicians Anne Hayson & the St. Kieran’s School Choir

Laptop Heidi Galang

Helpers Ursula Halloway Janette Davidson Jacky Worthington

Participants Mark & Mary Piggot (Holy Family) Ella Halloway (Angel)

Order of the Procession: Procession of Christmas Candle - carrying the Processional Cross Servers/Acolytes Presider - Fr. Francis

Entrance Procession: Come All Ye Faithful

O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem,

Come and behold Him, born the King of angels.

Refrain: O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him,

O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!

Glory to God, all glory in the highest. (Refrain)

Yea, Lord we greet Thee, born this happy morning: Jesus, to Thee be glory given. Word of the Father,

now in flesh appearing. (Refrain)

(Choir to sing)

Gospel Acclamation— Receive The Power

First Reading: A Reading from the Prophet Isaiah (62:1-5)

About Zion I will not be silent, about Jerusalem I will not grow weary, until her integrity shines out like the dawn and her salvation flames like a torch.

The nations then will see your integrity, all the kings your glory, and you will be called by a new name, one which the mouth of the Lord will confer. You are to be a crown of splendour in the hand of the Lord, a princely diadem in the hand of your God;

no longer are you to be named ‘Forsaken’, nor your land ‘Abandoned’, but you shall be called ‘My Delight’ and your land ‘The Wedded’; for the Lord takes delight in you and your land will have its wedding.

Like a young man marrying a virgin, so will the one who built you wed you, and as the bridegroom rejoices in his bride,

so will your God rejoice in you.

The Word of the Lord.

Greetings:

Collect Prayer Presider: O God, who gladden us year by year As we wait in hope for our redemption, Grant that, just as we joyfully welcome Your Only Begotten son as our Redeemer, We may also merit to face him confidently When he come again as our Judge. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen.

Responsorial Psalm (Sung) -

We Are The Light

Presider: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke 2:1-20 Instrumental—Angel enters and stands on the red carpet with arms out Fr Francis: In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.

Fr Francis: Joseph went to Bethlehem to register with Mary, who pledged to be married to him, and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born. And Mary gave birth to her first born, a Son.

(Holy family enters)

Stands on red carpet and presents Jesus while choir sings

Gloria in Excelsis Deo - once).

(Choir sing) Glo…….ri….a in Excelsis Deo, Glo…….ri….a in Excelsis Deo.

Fr Francis: She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Mary & Joseph sit )

(Angel on steps)

(Choir sing) Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,

The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head. The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay.

The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes.

I love thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky, And stay by my cradle until morning is nigh.

Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay, Close by me forever and love me, I pray.

Bless all the dear children in thy tender care, And fit us to heaven to live with you there.

Fr Francis: and there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

(Angel stands and Shepherds enter with Ursula)

(Choir sing) While shepherds watched their flocks by night,

all seated on the ground, The angel of the Lord came down, and glory shone around.

Fr Francis: But the angel said to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. (Angel returns to Mary and Joseph and sits down) (Shepherds sit) Fr Francis: Suddenly a great company of the heavenly hosts appeared with the angel, praising God and singing …… (Angels enter and stand at the front)

(Choir sing) Glo…….ri….a in Excelsis Deo,

Glo…….ri….a in Excelsis Deo. (2x)

Fr Francis: When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” (Angels sit)

Fr Francis: So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

(Choir sing) O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,

Christ, the Lord! Fr Francis: When the shepherds had seen the baby, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds had said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Presider: The Gospel of the Lord.

(Children to return to their parents)

(Choir sing)

Said the night wind to the little lamb, do you see what I see

Way up in the sky, little lamb, do you see what I see

A star, a star, dancing in the night With a tail as big as a kite With a tail as big as a kite

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,

do you hear what I hear Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy,

do you hear what I hear A song, a song, high above the trees

With a voice as big as the sea With a voice as big as the sea

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,

do you know what I know In your palace warm, mighty king,

do you know what I know

Homily:

A Child, a Child shivers in the cold Let us bring Him silver and gold Let us bring Him silver and gold

Said the king to the people everywhere, listen to what I say

Pray for peace, people everywhere! listen to what I say

The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night He will bring us goodness and light He will bring us goodness and light

Profession of Faith: (Apostles’ Creed)

Prayers of the Faithful:

Presider: On this holy day God has appeared among us. Let us join with all peoples and bring our prayer before the Lord of light.

Reader:

That the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem will strengthen the faith of every Christian and their friendship with Jesus.

That the presence of God’s Son in our world will bring peace to the land of his birth and to every place where there is war, violence, and political unrest.

That Jesus, surrounded by the love of the youthful Mary and Joseph, will help our Australian Catholic youth and young adults, in this Year of Youth, to relate to their parents and siblings with love and respect.

That Jesus, born in the poverty of a stable, will help us all never to pass judgements on the conditions of others, but always show respect, kindness and compassion.

That the wonder of the shepherds at the sight of Jesus, will inspire us to see the presence of God in all other people, especially in the poor and vulnerable, and in the whole of creation.

That the mystery of God-with-us in Jesus, will bring hope and comfort to Christians who are persecuted for their faith, who endure torture, who have fled to refugee camps around the world, or are discriminated against in their own communities.

May Jesus take into the heavenly home all of our departed relatives and friends along with our parishioners who have died since last Christmas. We especially remember those who have died recently including Nancy Burchard, Lolita Farmer, Moira Watkins,Morley Abala, Shirley Balang and those whose anniversaries occur including Eric McKinnon, Jean Coates, Douglas Watkins, may they rest in eternal peace. Lord, hear us.

Presider: Lord God, your son took on our humanity so that we all might one day share in your glory. Hear our prayers this glorious day and draw us ever

closer to you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collection as normal

PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS: As we look forward, O Lord, to the coming festivities, may we serve you all the more eagerly, for knowing that in them you make manifest the beginnings of our redemption. Through Christ our Lord. Amen

Presentation of Gifts: Hark the herald angels sing - Family TBA

Hark! The Herald Angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!" Joyful, all ye nations, rise. Join the triumph of the skies. With th' Angelic Hosts proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!" Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King."

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace,

Hail, the Sun of Righteousness

Light and life to all He brings,

Risen with healing in His Wings.

Now He lays His Glory by,

Born that man no more may die

Born to raise the sons of earth,

Born to give them second birth.

Hark! the herald angels sing,

"Glory to the New-born king!"

Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting lord Late in time behold Him come, Off-spring of a Virgin's womb Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail, the incarnate deity Pleased as Man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the New-born king!"

HOLY

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna in the highest.

We Three Kings

& While Shepherds Watch

Their Flocks

GREAT AMEN

Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen.

LAMB OF GOD

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world Have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world Have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world Grant us your peace. Grant us your peace.

MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION

We Proclaim

Communion: Ministers of Communion will be stationed around the church, please approach them as appropriate.

SILENT NIGHT

Prayer after Communion:

Grant, O Lord, we pray, that we may draw new vigour from celebrating the Nativity or your Only Begotten Son, by whose heavenly mystery we receive both food and drink. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Collections after communion:

Parish Notices:

Solemn Blessing & Dismissal:

O HOLY NIGHT

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining

It is the night of the dear Savior's birth! Long lay the world in sin and error pining

Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices For yonder breaks

a new and glorious morn!

Refrain: Fall on your knees

O hear the angel voices O night divine

O night when Christ was born O night divine

O night, O night divine

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming

With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming

Here come the wise men from Orient land

The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger In all our trials born to be our friend.

Refrain

Truly He taught us to love one another His law is love and His gospel is peace

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother

And in His name all oppression shall cease

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

Let all within us praise His holy name. Refrain

Silent night, Holy night. All is calm, All is bright.

Round yon virgin, Mother and Child. Holy infant so tender and mild.

Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, Holy night. Shepherds quake at the sight!

Glory streams from Heaven afar, Heavenly hosts sing alleluia. Christ the Saviour is born, Christ the Saviour is born.

Silent night, Holy night. Son of God, love’s pure light! Radiant beams from thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus, Lord at Thy birth, Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.

FINAL SONG: JOY TO THE WOLRD

Gratitude is expressed to all who assisted in the planning and those who participated in this evening’s prayer of adoration of the Christ,

born for us.

Joy to the World , the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room, And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Saviour reigns! Let men their songs employ;

While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love,

And wonders, wonders, of His love.